PURPOSE: To provide the subject shielding agent containing a specific compound such as lanosteryl cinnamate as an active component, protecting the skin and hair from harmful ultraviolet ray and useful in the field of cosmetics.

CONSTITUTION: The objective shielding agent contains at least one kind of compound selected from (A) lanosteryl cinnamate of formula I, (B) dihydrolanosteryl cinnamate of formula II, (C) cholesteryl cinnamate of formula III and (D) dihydrocholesteryl cinnamate of formula IV. The agent is preferably compounded in an amount of 0.1-5wt.% to a cosmetic such as cream, milky lotion, face powder, foundation, cheek rouge, lipstick, hair oil, hair cream, set lotion, hair spray and hair-styling gel.