A cosmetic comprising (A) a phosphoric triester represented by the general formula (1): ##STR1##

wherein R¹ and R² are independently an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R³ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, X, Y and Z are independently an alkylene group having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, l and m are independently a number of 1 to 10, and n is a number of 0 to 10, and (B) a skin activating component.