Abstract: Disclosed herein are benzylidene compounds represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein A represents ##STR2## (wherein B represents hydrogen atom or an acetyl group, W represents hydrogen atom or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CO--O--R, X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and X.sup.3 represent independently hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a methoxyl group (two or three of them may be the same or all of them may be different), Y represents oxygen atom or imino group (--NH--), Z represents a methyl group or a phenyl group, and R represents a straight chain alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or branched or cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 18 carbon atoms, provided that when A is ##STR3## R is not an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, and when A is ##STR4## and X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and X.sup.3 are hydrogen atom, R is not an alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms), a cosmetic composition containing the same and an ultraviolet absorber comprising the same.