A Study on the Usage status of Cosmeceuticals in High School Girl's Perception of Cosmetics Safety and Hazardous Ingredients

Abstract

This study attempted to examine consumers' awareness of the safety of cosmeceuticals and analyze harmful ingredients against high school girls who have recently emerged as a new consumer group in the cosmeceutical market with a goal of providing basic data needed to buy cosmeceuticals by investigating their consumption patterns and satisfaction with the cosmetic products. For this, an online questionnaire survey was performed against a total of 377 high school girls born in 2003-2005 in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The collected data were analyzed, using IBM SPSS Statistics 20, and the results found the followings: The respondents' awareness of the safety of cosmetics was neither high nor low while awareness of harmful ingredients was high. Among cosmeceuticals, it was sunscreens acne-care products that they have bought frequently. As their awareness of the safety of cosmetics was higher, they tended to check the effects and efficacies of ingredients. Depending on their skin concerns, they planned and bought the cosmeceuticals they needed by comparing their information. In addition, they have examined cosmetic information through apps and web portals in consideration of the efficacies and effects of cosmeceuticals and their skin type and conditions. Concerning cosmeceutical use patterns by the awareness of harmful ingredients, the perception of the hazard of synthetic color additives, synthetic flavors and mineral oil had an influence on the use of cosmeceuticals. Depending on the awareness of the safety and harmful ingredients of cosmetics, furthermore, the respondents were more satisfied with the cosmeceuticals. Under these circumstances, it is required to provide accurate information about cosmetic ingredients and help consumers have a better awareness of the safety of cosmetics by developing and distributing educational programs on harmful ingredients and decent contents.