Esthetician Practice Exam FREE Esthetician Practice Cosmetic Chemistry and Ingredients Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ingredient is commonly used as a humectant in skincare products to attract moisture from the environment?
- Hyaluronic acid (Correct answer)
- Mineral oil
- Zinc oxide
- Salicylic acid
Correct answer: Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, drawing moisture from the surrounding environment into the skin.
Question 2: What is the primary function of an emulsifier in a cosmetic formulation?
- To preserve the product from bacterial growth
- To blend oil and water phases together (Correct answer)
- To increase the product's SPF rating
- To exfoliate dead skin cells
Correct answer: To blend oil and water phases together
Emulsifiers reduce the surface tension between oil and water, allowing them to mix into a stable, uniform product.
Question 3: Which of the following is classified as an occlusive moisturizing agent?
- Glycerin
- Petrolatum (Correct answer)
- Sodium hyaluronate
- Aloe vera
Correct answer: Petrolatum
Petrolatum is an occlusive agent that forms a physical barrier on the skin's surface to prevent transepidermal water loss.
Question 4: What role does tocopherol play in cosmetic formulations?
- It acts as a surfactant to cleanse the skin
- It serves as an antioxidant and helps stabilize the product (Correct answer)
- It functions as a chemical sunscreen filter
- It works as a keratolytic exfoliant
Correct answer: It serves as an antioxidant and helps stabilize the product
Tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, protects both the skin and the product itself from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
Question 5: Which acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) commonly used to treat acne-prone skin?
- Glycolic acid
- Lactic acid
- Salicylic acid (Correct answer)
- Mandelic acid
Correct answer: Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is the most widely used BHA in skincare and is oil-soluble, allowing it to penetrate into clogged pores to reduce breakouts.
Question 6: What is the purpose of a chelating agent such as EDTA in cosmetic products?
- To thicken the product consistency
- To bind metal ions that could destabilize the formula (Correct answer)
- To provide broad-spectrum UV protection
- To lower the pH for better exfoliation
Correct answer: To bind metal ions that could destabilize the formula
EDTA binds to metal ions like calcium and iron that can degrade preservatives, cause discoloration, or reduce product efficacy.
Esthetician Practice Exam FREE Esthetician Practice Cosmetic Chemistry and Ingredients Questions and Answers 2
Which ingredient is commonly used as a humectant in skincare products to attract moisture from the environment?