PURPOSE: To provide a clear cosmetic containing nonionic surfactant and a synthetic smectite modified with a cationic surfactant, having excellent usability and temperature stability, exhibiting skin-adhesivity and water-resistance owing to oil-based substrate and giving a durable make-up.

CONSTITUTION: The objective oil-based clear cosmetic contains (A) 2-15wt.% of a synthetic smectite modified with a cationic surfactant and (B) 0.1-5 pts.wt. (based on 1 pt.wt. of the component A) of a nonionic surfactant. The component A can be produced e.g. by dissolving a cationic surfactant (e.g. dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride) in ion-exchanged water, adding a synthetic smectite to the solution, filtering the dispersion and drying the filter cake. The component B is preferably a surfactant having an HLB of 2-12, e.g. polyoxyethylene-added oleyl ether. The clear cosmetic is used as make-up cosmetic, hair cosmetic, foundation cosmetic, antisuntan cosmetic, etc.