PURPOSE: To prepare a oil-in-water type emulsion composition having low viscosity, suppressed tendency of fatty acid crystallization, and excellent stability and feeling to the skin, and useful as cosmetics, by compounding a specific α-monoglycerine ether to an emulsion obtained by the reaction of a basic amino acid with a higher fatty acid or beeswax.

CONSTITUTION: An oil-in-water type emulsion obtained by reacting (A) a basic amino acid (pref. L-arginine or L-lysine) with (B) a 14W22C higher fatty acid or beeswax, is mixed with (C) 0.1W2 parts by weight, pref. 0.2W1.5 parts, based on 1 part of the (B) component, of an α-monoglycerine ether of formula [R is ≥16C alcohol residue (pref. 16W18C saturated straight-chain alcohol residue or 24W44C saturated alcohol residue having a side chain at β-position)]. Since the ether of the formula has a low viscosity, and nevertheless suppresses the crystallization of the fatty acid, a stable emulsion having excellent feeling to the skin can be prepared.