A technology for delivering a ceramide across the horny layer of skin to sufficiently exert the effects of the ceramide is disclosed. Specifically, an external preparation for skin containing a ceramide delivers the ceramide across the horny layer to near the dermis when the skin preparation is applied on the skin surface. The described skin external preparation contains a ceramide, an organically modified clay mineral, a diester of N-acylglutamic acid, and a phytosterol as components in the form of water-in-oil emulsion.