Preparation of face powders MCQs With Answer

This quiz series on “Preparation of Face Powders” is designed specifically for M.Pharm students studying Herbal Cosmetics (MPG 204T). It focuses on formulation principles, raw material selection, processing techniques, quality control tests, and safety/regulatory considerations relevant to herbal-based face powders. Questions emphasize particle technology, oil control agents, pigments, milling methods, flow and compaction aids, stability of herbal actives in dry matrices, and practical manufacturing challenges. Use this set to reinforce theoretical concepts and to prepare for exams or practical formulation work. Answers are provided to facilitate self-assessment and targeted revision of critical formulation and processing topics.

Q1. Which is the most commonly used primary base mineral for traditional face powders providing bulk and a smooth feel?

• Talc
• Kaolin
• Corn starch
• Titanium dioxide

Correct Answer: Talc

Q2. Which ingredient is primarily used in face powders to provide high oil absorption and a mattifying effect?

• Zinc oxide
• Silica (silica microspheres)
• Mica
• Iron oxides

Correct Answer: Silica (silica microspheres)

Q3. Which milling technique is most appropriate to achieve ultrafine particle sizes (sub‑10 µm) without excessive contamination for cosmetic powders?

• Hammer milling
• Ball milling
• Jet milling
• Cutting mill

Correct Answer: Jet milling

Q4. To improve powder flow and reduce caking in loose and pressed face powders, which class of excipients is commonly added in low concentrations?

• Binders (e.g., polyvinylpyrrolidone)
• Glidants (e.g., fumed silica)
• Humectants (e.g., glycerin)
• Preservatives (e.g., parabens)

Correct Answer: Glidants (e.g., fumed silica)

Q5. Which ingredient is typically used as an opacifier and whitening pigment in face powders and also contributes to UV scattering?

• Iron oxide
• Titanium dioxide
• Kaolin
• Mica

Correct Answer: Titanium dioxide

Q6. Which pair of inorganic actives is commonly incorporated into face powders to provide broad‑spectrum physical sun protection and sebum control?

• Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
• Iron oxides and mica
• Kaolin and talc
• Magnesium carbonate and starch

Correct Answer: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide

Q7. What is the primary cosmetic function of pearlescent pigments (e.g., mica coated with titanium dioxide) in face powders?

• Act as primary oil absorbers
• Provide shimmer, reflectance and soft focus to skin
• Serve as preservatives in dry formulations
• Increase SPF to high levels

Correct Answer: Provide shimmer, reflectance and soft focus to skin

Q8. Which laboratory test is most relevant for assessing the covering power and concealment ability of a face powder formulation?

• Opacity/coverage test
• pH determination
• Viscosity measurement
• Disintegration test

Correct Answer: Opacity/coverage test

Q9. Regarding microbial preservation of dry herbal face powders, which statement is most accurate?

• Broad‑spectrum liquid preservatives are mandatory in all loose powders
• Powders generally do not require preservatives because of low water activity
• Alcohols are the preferred preservative system in powders
• Preservatives must be microencapsulated before addition to powder

Correct Answer: Powders generally do not require preservatives because of low water activity

Q10. For incorporating heat‑sensitive herbal actives into a powder without thermal degradation during size reduction, which milling method is preferred?

• Cryogenic milling (liquid nitrogen cooling)
• High‑speed dry blade milling
• Convection oven drying followed by milling
• Conical screw extrusion

Correct Answer: Cryogenic milling (liquid nitrogen cooling)

Q11. Which formulation parameter most directly influences skin feel, spreadability, and visual smoothness of a face powder?

• Particle size distribution
• Perfume concentration
• Packaging color
• Packing pressure during shipment

Correct Answer: Particle size distribution

Q12. In pressed face powder tablets, what is the primary role of binders such as isopropyl myristate‑based binders or polyvinylpyrrolidone?

• Improve oil absorption capacity
• Promote cohesion and compaction of powder granules
• Provide SPF enhancement
• Act as primary colorants

Correct Answer: Promote cohesion and compaction of powder granules

Q13. Which lubricant is commonly used in pressed powder formulations to prevent sticking to tooling and improve ejection?

• Magnesium stearate
• Calcium carbonate
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Polyethylene glycol 400

Correct Answer: Magnesium stearate

Q14. When an herbal extract is sticky or hygroscopic and difficult to blend uniformly into a powder matrix, which process is most useful to improve handling and uniformity?

• Direct dry blending at high speed
• Pre‑granulation/agglomeration or spray‑drying of the extract
• Omitting the herbal extract
• Increasing perfume level to mask stickiness

Correct Answer: Pre‑granulation/agglomeration or spray‑drying of the extract

Q15. What is the major safety concern historically associated with the use of talc in cosmetic powders?

• Asbestos contamination risk leading to respiratory disease
• High systemic absorption causing renal toxicity
• Photosensitization on UV exposure
• Strong antimicrobial resistance development

Correct Answer: Asbestos contamination risk leading to respiratory disease

Q16. Although powders are dry, when a powder is evaluated as a skin dispersion the target pH to minimize irritation is approximately:

• pH 2.0
• pH 5.5
• pH 8.5
• pH 11.0

Correct Answer: pH 5.5

Q17. Which anticaking agent is commonly used in face powders to maintain free flow and prevent lumping under moderate humidity?

• Calcium silicate
• Sucrose
• Propylene glycol
• Sodium chloride

Correct Answer: Calcium silicate

Q18. Which analytical instrument is routinely used to characterize the particle size distribution of cosmetic powders during development?

• Laser diffraction particle size analyzer
• UV‑Vis spectrophotometer
• pH meter
• Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR)

Correct Answer: Laser diffraction particle size analyzer

Q19. To assess thermal stability and potential interactions between herbal actives and excipients in a powder, which thermal analysis techniques are most appropriate?

• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
• pH titration and conductivity
• UV stability in solution
• Rheological flow curves

Correct Answer: Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)

Q20. In India, under which legal framework are cosmetic products such as face powders regulated for safety, labeling and manufacture?

• Indian Cosmetic Regulation 2020 (provisional)
• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules framed thereunder
• Food Safety and Standards Act
• The Clinical Trials Registry

Correct Answer: Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules framed thereunder

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