A hydrophilic inorganic powder having excellent self-dispersibility in water or an aqueous solvent, which could not be conventionally achieved, and a cosmetic preparation containing the hydrophilic inorganic powder are provided by combining a hydrophilic surfactant and lipophilic surfactant. There is provided the hydrophilic inorganic powder comprising an inorganic powder as a base material; a hydrophobic-coat that covers the surface of the inorganic powder; and a hydrophilic-coat that covers the hydrophobic-coat, wherein ingredients of the hydrophilic-coat comprises both a hydrophilic surfactant and a lipophilic surfactant, and each of the hydrophilic surfactant and the lipophilic surfactant has a branched alkyl moiety in their molecules, wherein the hydrophilic inorganic powder has self-dispersibility in water or an aqueous solvent.

A hydrophilic inorganic powder having excellent self-dispersibility in water or an aqueous solvent, which could not be conventionally achieved, and a cosmetic preparation containing the hydrophilic inorganic powder are provided by combining a hydrophilic surfactant and lipophilic surfactant. There is provided the hydrophilic inorganic powder comprising an inorganic powder as a base material; a hydrophobic-coat that covers the surface of the inorganic powder; and a hydrophilic-coat that covers the hydrophobic-coat, wherein ingredients of the hydrophilic-coat comprises both a hydrophilic surfactant and a lipophilic surfactant, and each of the hydrophilic surfactant and the lipophilic surfactant has a branched alkyl moiety in their molecules, wherein the hydrophilic inorganic powder has self-dispersibility in water or an aqueous solvent.

Particles having excellent touch properties are achieved with a water-soluble material having excellent biodegradability. Particles according to the present invention contain a starch having an amylopectin content of 90% by weight or more. The average particle diameter d.sub.1 of the panicles is 0.5 to 20 μm, and the maximum particle diameter d.sub.2 is less than 30 μm while being within 3.0 times the average particle diameter.

The present invention provides a powder surface treatment method comprising (i) a step for mixing 0.001-20 parts by mass of a surface treating agent composition with 100 parts by mass of a power, and (ii) a step for adding an acidic liquid, followed by mixing, wherein the surface treating agent composition contains (a)-(d) below: (a) one or more selected from among an N-acyl amino acid having a carbon chain length of C8-C22 and a salt thereof; (b) one or more selected from among monohydric and polyhydric alcohols; (c) water; and (d) one or more selected from among (dl) an amino acid having an isoelectric point of 7.5-11, and (d2) a compound which generates an ion selected from among an aluminum ion, a magnesium ion, a calcium ion, a zinc ion, a zirconia ion, and a titanium ion, in the surface treating agent composition.

Disclosed are porous resin particles which contain a polymer of a monomer mixture containing, as monomers, at least a monofunctional (meth)acrylic acid ester and a crosslinking monomer. The monofunctional (meth)acrylic acid ester accounts for 1 wt % to 50 wt % of the monomer mixture, and the crosslinking monomer accounts for 50 wt % to 99 wt % of the monomer mixture. The porous resin particles have a specific surface area of 190 m.sup.2/g to 300 m.sup.2/g and a bulk specific gravity of 0.25 g/mL to 0.45 g/mL.

Disclosed are porous resin particles which contain a polymer of a monomer mixture containing, as monomers, at least a monofunctional (meth)acrylic acid ester and a crosslinking monomer. The monofunctional (meth)acrylic acid ester accounts for 1 wt % to 50 wt % of the monomer mixture, and the crosslinking monomer accounts for 50 wt % to 99 wt % of the monomer mixture. The porous resin particles have a specific surface area of 190 m.sup.2/g to 300 m.sup.2/g and a bulk specific gravity of 0.25 g/mL to 0.45 g/mL.

Zinc oxide coated with silicon oxide of the present invention is zinc oxide which is coated with silicon oxide wherein surfaces of zinc oxide particles are coated with silicon oxide coatings, and the coated zinc oxide particles comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ca, and Ba.

Zinc oxide coated with silicon oxide of the present invention is zinc oxide which is coated with silicon oxide wherein surfaces of zinc oxide particles are coated with silicon oxide coatings, and the coated zinc oxide particles comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ca, and Ba.

A process for the preparation of dedifferentiated and elicited plant cells suitable for topical cosmetic composition, in which dedifferentiated plant cells are elicited following a cycle comprising at least 10 successive darkness period of 20 to 180 minutes separated the one from the other by a lighting period of 1 to 6 hours, under an atmosphere comprising from 1 to 10% by volume CO.sub.2.

A process for the preparation of dedifferentiated and elicited plant cells suitable for topical cosmetic composition, in which dedifferentiated plant cells are elicited following a cycle comprising at least 10 successive darkness period of 20 to 180 minutes separated the one from the other by a lighting period of 1 to 6 hours, under an atmosphere comprising from 1 to 10% by volume CO.sub.2.