To obtain a preparation for external use for skin high in safety, further improved in skin whitening effect, and capable of further improving dull skin, containing a combination of at least one kind of substance selected from L-ascorbic acid derivatives and other six kinds of compounds with an escinol (salt).

This skin preparation for external use contains a combination of at least one kind of substance selected from L-ascorbic acid derivatives, placenta extract, kojic acid and derivatives therefrom, azelaic acid and derivatives therefrom, glucosamine and derivatives therefrom, hydroquinone glycosides and derivatives therefrom and licorice extracts with an escinol (salt) of the formula (R1 is H or OH; R2 is a pyranose residue).The contents of the above two kinds of ingredients in the whole amount of the preparation are pref. 0.001-20wt.%, respectively (esp. 0.1-7wt.% for the latter). The L-ascorbic acid derivative is pref. an L-ascorbic phosphoric ester, while the hydroquinone flycoside is pref. as the hydroquinone-α-D-glucose.