PURPOSE: To provide an O/W-type gelatinous cosmetic containing an oil-soluble hydroxy acid, a water-soluble alcohol, water, a specific oil and a nonionic surfactant, having high stability, free from oiliness and stickiness and exhibiting excellent skin feeling and sebum-secretion suppressing effect.

CONSTITUTION: This gelatinous cosmetic contains (A) 0.01-20wt.% of an oil- soluble hydroxy acid, (B) 1-50wt.% of a water-soluble alcohol (e.g. 1,3-butylene glycol), (C) 1-50wt.% of water, (D) 50-98wt.% of an oil keeping liquid state at 25°C (e.g. octyldodecanol) and (E) 0.01-10wt.% of a nonionic surfactant (e.g. polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether) as active components. The cosmetic may properly contain other conventional components and can be prepared in the form of skin cream, milky lotion, creamy foundation, body cleaning agent, face-washing agent, cleaning agent, etc. having a viscosity of ≥10,000CS, especially 20,000-100,000CS at 25°C.