Abstract: A metal oxide doped cerium oxide has an excellent ultraviolet ray shielding effect and transparency and reduced catalytic activity. The doping mextal oxide is an oxide of a metal ion having larger ion radius than that of Ce4+ and/or lower valence metal ion than Ce4+, such as Ca2+, Y3+, La3+, Nd3+, Eu3+, Tb3+, Sm3+, Mg2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Ce3+. The metal oxide doped cerium is prepared by reacting aqueous solution of cerium salt, aqueous solution of metal ion having larger ion radius than that of Ce4+ and/or lower valence metal ion than Ce4+ and alkali at a temperature lower than 60° C. and at pH higher than 5. An oxidizing agent may be present together with the alkali or added subsequently. Resin compositions or cosmetic compositions blended with the metal oxide doped cerium oxide have improved ultraviolet shielding effect without spoiling transparency in the visible ray region.