A skin-whitening cosmetic material which contains an unsaturated fatty acid or a derivative thereof as the active ingredient, is highly effective in making the color of pigmentation on the skin lighter at a lower concentration, and is highly safe. The skin-whitening cosmetic material comprises (A) at least one member selected from unsaturated fatty acids having from 18 to 22 carbon atoms and having from 2 to 6 double bonds in the molecular structure, and derivatives thereof, (B) a phospholipid, (C) an antioxidant, (D) at least one member selected from proteins and hydrolyzates thereof, and (E) at least one member selected from muco-polysaccharides and salts thereof.