This invention provides a sterol-modified silicone compound which is low melting, hydrophilic and very suitable for emulsifying, represented by the general formula R¹_aR²_bSiO_(4-a-b)/2, and having a melting point of 40 C. or less, and provides a cosmetic material containing this silicone compound having excellent stability and moisture retention properties R¹ in the general formula is a monofunctional alkyl group, aryl group, aralkyl group or fluorine-substituted alkyl group having 1-10 identical or different carbon atoms, which does not contain an aliphatic unsaturated bond, and R² is an organic group represented by the general formula —(C_pH_2pO(C_qH_2qO)_r—X, where X is a monofunctional residue excepting the hydroxyl group of sterol, a and b are integers satisfying the relations 1.0a2.5, 0.001b1.0, and 1.5a+b2.6, respectively, p is an integer in the range 2-6, q is an integer in the range 2-4, and r is an integer in the range 3-200.