Preparation of cleansing creams MCQs With Answer

Introduction: This quiz collection on “Preparation of Cleansing Creams” is tailored for M.Pharm students studying Herbal Cosmetics (MPG 204T). It covers formulation principles, selection of herbal and conventional excipients, emulsification theory, manufacturing techniques (hot/cold process, phase inversion, homogenization), stability and evaluation tests, preservative and antioxidant strategies for plant-based ingredients, and regulatory and safety considerations. Questions emphasize practical decision-making: HLB matching, surfactant choice, rheology modification, pH optimization, sebum-removal testing, and microbiological control. Use these MCQs to deepen your conceptual understanding and prepare for advanced coursework, research projects, and formulation-based examinations.

Q1. Which parameter is most critical when selecting an oil phase for a herbal cleansing cream intended to remove sebum while maintaining skin moisturization?

• Color of the oil
• Refractive index
• Spreading coefficient and polarity
• Boiling point

Correct Answer: Spreading coefficient and polarity

Q2. The Hydrophilic–Lipophilic Balance (HLB) system is primarily used in cleansing cream formulation to:

• Determine the odor-masking agent
• Select appropriate emulsifier blends for desired emulsion type
• Estimate preservative efficacy
• Choose the perfume concentration

Correct Answer: Select appropriate emulsifier blends for desired emulsion type

Q3. Which surfactant class is preferred in herbal cleansing creams for mildness and reduced irritation risk?

• Anionic surfactants (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate)
• Cationic surfactants
• Nonionic surfactants (e.g., polysorbates, sorbitan esters)
• Zwitterionic surfactants

Correct Answer: Nonionic surfactants (e.g., polysorbates, sorbitan esters)

Q4. Phase inversion temperature (PIT) technique in cleansing cream manufacture is primarily used to:

• Improve fragrance retention
• Facilitate emulsification and produce stable fine emulsions
• Reduce microbial load
• Increase preservative solubility

Correct Answer: Facilitate emulsification and produce stable fine emulsions

Q5. For a herbal cleansing cream containing sensitive plant actives, which antioxidant strategy is most appropriate?

• Omit antioxidants and package in clear jars
• Use chelator alone (e.g., EDTA) without antioxidants
• Combine lipophilic antioxidants (e.g., tocopherol) with chelators and oxygen-impermeable packaging
• Rely only on high preservative concentration

Correct Answer: Combine lipophilic antioxidants (e.g., tocopherol) with chelators and oxygen-impermeable packaging

Q6. Which rheology modifier is commonly used to increase viscosity in oil-in-water herbal cleansing creams without causing greasiness?

• Hydrogenated vegetable oils
• Carbomers or associative thickeners
• Mineral waxes
• Silicone oils

Correct Answer: Carbomers or associative thickeners

Q7. The primary role of co-surfactants (e.g., short-chain alcohols or glycols) in a cleansing cream formulation is to:

• Act as primary preservatives
• Lower interfacial tension and improve emulsion stability
• Increase the fragrance intensity
• Neutralize fatty acids

Correct Answer: Lower interfacial tension and improve emulsion stability

Q8. Which in vitro test best quantifies the sebum-removing efficacy of a herbal cleansing cream?

• Viscosity measurement using a Brookfield viscometer
• Rheological flow curve analysis
• Sebum index measurement using synthetic sebum and spectroscopic assay
• Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) measurement

Correct Answer: Sebum index measurement using synthetic sebum and spectroscopic assay

Q9. When incorporating aqueous herbal extracts prone to microbial contamination, the best manufacturing control is to:

• Add extracts at room temperature post-packaging
• Sterilize extracts by filtration and add under hygienic conditions with preservative compatibility testing
• Omit preservatives and refrigerate final product
• Add high sugar content to extracts for preservation

Correct Answer: Sterilize extracts by filtration and add under hygienic conditions with preservative compatibility testing

Q10. Which preservative system is often challenged by high levels of nonionic surfactants common in cleansing creams and thus requires careful selection?

• Paraben-based preservatives
• Isothiazolinones (e.g., methylisothiazolinone)
• Quaternary ammonium compounds
• Alcohol-only systems

Correct Answer: Paraben-based preservatives

Q11. During accelerated stability testing of a herbal cleansing cream, which observation is most indicative of impending emulsion failure?

• Minor increase in fragrance intensity
• Phase separation or significant droplet coalescence
• Small decrease in viscosity within expected range
• Slight color evolution within specification

Correct Answer: Phase separation or significant droplet coalescence

Q12. The cold-process method for preparing an oil-in-water cleansing cream is chosen primarily to:

• Reduce energy costs by avoiding heating
• Allow incorporation of heat-sensitive herbal actives without degradation
• Ensure faster cooling times for packaging
• Increase the HLB requirement of the emulsifier

Correct Answer: Allow incorporation of heat-sensitive herbal actives without degradation

Q13. Which analytical parameter is essential to monitor after formulation to ensure skin compatibility of a herbal cleansing cream?

• pH and irritation potential (patch test)
• Melting point of oil phase
• Viscosity at 100°C
• Peroxide value of emulsifier

Correct Answer: pH and irritation potential (patch test)

Q14. In formulating a rinse-off herbal cleansing cream, an advantage of using amphoteric surfactants is:

• They are highly foaming and aggressive to skin lipids
• They provide mildness and good compatibility with anionic surfactants
• They replace the need for preservatives
• They act as a primary thickening agent

Correct Answer: They provide mildness and good compatibility with anionic surfactants

Q15. Which excipient is commonly added to cleansing creams to improve deposition of hydrophobic herbal actives onto the skin surface during rinsing?

• Volatile silicones
• Film-forming agents or mild cationic conditioning agents
• Strong anionic detergents
• High concentrations of ethanol

Correct Answer: Film-forming agents or mild cationic conditioning agents

Q16. For a herbal cleansing cream, chelating agents such as EDTA are included primarily to:

• Enhance fragrance solubility
• Bind divalent metal ions that catalyze oxidation and reduce preservative efficacy
• Increase emulsion viscosity
• Act as a primary surfactant

Correct Answer: Bind divalent metal ions that catalyze oxidation and reduce preservative efficacy

Q17. Which microscopic technique is most useful for assessing droplet size distribution and coalescence in a herbal cleansing cream?

• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
• Optical microscopy with image analysis or laser diffraction particle sizing
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy
• Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

Correct Answer: Optical microscopy with image analysis or laser diffraction particle sizing

Q18. Which regulatory consideration is particularly important for herbal cleansing creams marketed as “natural” or “herbal”?

• They are exempt from preservative efficacy testing
• Claims must be supported by safety, stability, and ingredient provenance documentation and comply with cosmetics regulations
• They can use any concentration of restricted botanicals without notification
• Labeling is optional for herbal origin of excipients

Correct Answer: Claims must be supported by safety, stability, and ingredient provenance documentation and comply with cosmetics regulations

Q19. Which factor most influences the sensorial attribute (skin feel) of a herbal cleansing cream after rinsing?

• Type and concentration of emollients and silicones used
• Color of the herbal extract
• pH indicator used in formulation
• Ambient humidity during packaging

Correct Answer: Type and concentration of emollients and silicones used

Q20. During scale-up of a lab-formulated herbal cleansing cream, which process parameter is critical to reproduce to ensure batch-to-batch consistency?

• Cooling rate, mixing shear, and order of addition of phases
• Color of pilot plant walls
• Time of day when mixing is performed
• Personnel names involved in mixing

Correct Answer: Cooling rate, mixing shear, and order of addition of phases

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