Abstract: A cosmetic composition for forming a peelable skin mask is provided based on a combination of polyvinyl alcohol and a hydrophobically-modified acrylate or methacrylate polymer. Most effective is a combination of two weight grades of polyvinyl alcohol, a low weight grade having a number average molecular weight ranging from about 15,000 to about 27,000 and a high weight grade having a number average molecular weight ranging from about 44,000 to about 65,000. The hydrophobically-modified acrylate or methacrylate polymer preferably is a copolymer formed from a carboxylic monomer and a C.sub.8 -C.sub.30 acrylate ester.