To obtain a preparation for external use for skin that has high moisture retention effect in skin and excellent improvement of darkened and dulled skin by using acetylated hyaluronic acid and a specific amino acid derivative or the like as active ingredients.

The objective preparation for external use for skin includes (A) an acetylated hyaluronic acid bearing 2-4 acetyl groups per the structural unit of hyaluronic acid and (B) at least one selected from α-amino acid derivative represented by the formula (R1 is H, a lower alkyl or the like; R2 and R3 are each H, an acyl or the like) or its salt or its carboxylic ester or its quaternary ammonium salt in which one more lower alkyl group bonds to the nitrogen atoms in case of R2 and R3 = lower alkyl groups, as active ingredients. In a preferred embodiment the amount of the component A is 0.0001-10.0 wt.% and the compound of the formula is 0.01-10.0 wt.% based on the total amount of the preparation. This external preparation can be combined with hydrocarbons, fat and oil and the like.