To obtain a preparation for external use for skin having excellent effect for the prevention and amelioration of roughened skin by including an extract of a plant selected from the family Cupressaceae, Myrtaceae, Labiatae, etc., and a specific alcohol.

The objective preparation contains (A) an extract of a plant of the family Cupressaceae, Myrtaceae, Labiatae, Compositae, Tiliaceae or Hamamelidaceae such as hiba arborvitae, eucalyptus or Rabdosia japonica and (B) a 5C dihydric alcohol such as 1,2-pentanediol or 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol. The content of the component A in the total composition is preferably 0.00001-5 wt.% in terms of dried solid component and that of the component B is preferably 0.001-15 wt.%. The preparation for external use may be used in the form of liquid, emulsion, solid, etc., and applied as a skin cosmetic, a drug for external use, a quasi-drug for external use, etc.