To obtain a new benzooxazole derivative useful as a sun screen agent in cosmetic compositions and as a photostabilizer for protecting synthetic polymers.

A compound of formula I {R, R1 are each H, a 1-8C alkyl, OR5 (R5 is a 1-4C alkyl), COOR6 (R6 is a 1-24C alkyl, a 7-12C aralkyl, a 5-8C cycloalkyl, a group of formula II [A is a 1-8C alkyl, a 6-10C aryl, etc.; R7 is H, methyl; (n) is 1-10], etc.; R2 is a group of formula III (R9, R10 are each R), etc.; R3 is an alkyl, a group of formula III, etc.; R4 is H, an alkyl; R3 and R4 form a five to seven-membered heterocyclic ring together with N}, e.g. 2-(p- aminophenyl)benzooxazole. The compound of formula I is obtained by reacting a compound of formula IV (Z is preferably Br, Cl) with a compound of the formula: R2-NH2. The compound of formula I exhibits excellent compatibility with components usually used in cosmetics.