Recently, liquid cleansing oils which have an affinity for makeup fouling and can be easily washed away with water have come to be the mainstream. A composition for cosmetic preparations is provided which has an affinity for makeup fouling and rapidly floats the fouling. It has excellent cleansing power even when the skin is wet, has satisfactory rinsability, leaves no oily feeling after washing with water to give a good use feeling, and has excellent dispersibility in water. The composition comprises: polyhydric alcohol/fatty acid esters characterized in that they are esters of a C_6-12 fatty acid with a polyhydric alcohol having two to four hydroxy groups and that the sum of monoesters and diesters accounts for 50% or more of the esters and the proportion of the monoesters to the diesters is 4 or lower; and a nonionic surfactant.