Abstract: Provided is an inorganic powder which can impart feeling, which is equivalent to or greater than that of resin beads, and in particular, softness and smoothness to cosmetics. In the composite surface-treated inorganic powder, a base material powder whose main constituent includes an inorganic material or inorganic materials is surface-treated by a cationic surfactant and higher aliphatic alcohol.

Abstract: Provided are porous spherical silica particles whose oil absorption is suppressed while the porous spherical silica particles have a large specific surface area; and a method for manufacturing such spherical silica particles. According to the present invention, provided are spherical silica particles whose specific surface area obtained by employing a BET method is 300 m2/g or more, total pore volume is 0.3 ml/g or less, and oil absorption is 50 ml/100 g or less, the spherical silica particles obtained by subjecting silica gel particles obtained by employing a sol-gel method, for example, in which an alkali silicate is emulsified and coagulated, to only drying at a low temperature without subjecting the silica gel particles to calcination at a high temperature; and a method for manufacturing such spherical silica particles.