PURPOSE: A skin external preparation applicable to exodermis, such as cosmetic, drug, quasi-drug, etc., having improved effects on chapped skin, etc., by adding ascorbigen to a skin external preparation.

CONSTITUTION: A skin external preparation containing 0.001W30wt%, especially 0.01W20wt% based on total amount of skin external preparation of ascorbigen shown by formula I or formula II. This skin external preparation can shown a wide shape such as aqueous solution system, solubilized system, emulsion system, powder system, oily solution system, gelatinous system, ointment system, water-oil two layer system, water-oil-powder three layer system, etc. The skin external preparation can be properly blended with an oily component, wetting agent, drug, perfume, water, alcohol, thickening agent, coloring agent, etc., besides the above-mentioned essential component, as necessary.