cosmetics contamination awareness
TRANSCRIPT
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Cosmetic Contamination AwarenessAmong Adolescent Females
Leah Persaud
Brooklyn Technical High SchoolBrooklyn, NY
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AbstractCosmetic Contamination Awareness Among Adolescent Females
Many people use cosmetics unaware of the potential dangers that can threaten
their health while using them. From previous studies, researchers concluded that
cosmetics such as lotions, shampoos and old facial and eye makeup have the ability to
induce microbial growth and possibly cause infections. Makeup can get contaminated
by in use contamination, poor handling procedures during manufacturing and defects in
preservative capacities of makeup. Preservative capacity is the ability to inhibit spoilage
organisms and prevent growth of pathogens. The objective of this study is to determine
whether female teenagers know the dangers of makeup contamination. This was tested
by observing makeup use practices of adolescent females through the medium of
analyzing questionnaires. These surveys included questions that asked the female
about their makeup practices such as how often they use makeup, if they share or
borrow makeup, etc. A method similar to the Likerts Scale was used to calculate the
score of each individual to determine how well they know how to use makeup. After
factoring in the recommended procedures for using makeup and calculating the
possible points for each answer, the participant whose score is 40 or more uses
makeup poorly while the participants score below 15 points uses makeup properly.
Scores from 16-25 is deemed decent use and scores from 26- 39 is less acceptable.
Overall, the probability of infection due to poor makeup use cannot be determined
because there are numerous factors such as how often makeup is used, that affect the
chances of a person developing an infection. Even so, there should be more emphasis
put on informing females about makeup contamination.
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Introduction
Makeup. Humans apply it for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or
altering ones appearance (FDA.gov). Whether its for putting on a show or just to play
dress up, weve all used or seen it being used at least once in our lives. Makeup, which
includes eye shadow, liquid foundation, lipstick, or mascara, is used by both genders,
but is predominantly used by more females than males. Makeup can easily alter a
womans appearance and this is why its exceedingly popular among todays younger
generation. Makeup can do wonders for women, but if not handled properly makeup can
pose a threat to their health.
How would one know if makeup was contaminated? Would you be able to smell
it? See it? Mostly likely the answers to these questions are no. Many women do not
know that makeup can harbor bacteria and spread an infection. Some women even
share makeup and applicators with friends and family, increasing their chances of facial
infection. Others do not replace makeup until its completely finished despite how long
ago they purchased it. Cosmetic contamination awareness is even worse at a younger
age.
There are several ways makeup can be contaminated. It could be caused by in-
use contamination, with the user repeatedly applying makeup to the skin using an
applicator, or finger and then putting it back into the makeup. Another possible way
makeup can be contaminated is by poor handling procedures during manufacturing,
which can cause defects in the preservative capacities of makeup. How makeup is
stored can also determine whether it is more likely for bacteria to grow or not. Clearly,
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there are many ways makeup can become contaminated but what is already known
about how makeup is that it can cause infections.
Microbial contamination of cosmetics has been studied since the 1960s. It is
known that eye cosmetics have the ability to harbor numerous microorganisms. Also,
the unrestricted use of cosmetic testers, for which there are no sterile applicators, can
spread bacteria from one person to another and possibly cause eye infections (Dawson
et al, 1981). Proper use of makeup may drop the risk of infection, but it has been shown
that closure design plays an important role in the safety of cosmetics. Flip caps and
pump tops are the best ways of closing shampoos and lotions (Brannan et al, 1990). It
is even concluded that poorly preserved cosmetics can be protected with the right
packaging. In other words the risk of bacteria growing in these products can be
lessened with proper packaging.
The quality of makeup is also an important factor in whether makeup can
become contaminated or not. Preservative systems in cosmetics inhibit the spoilage of
organisms and prevent the growth of pathogens (Perry, 2001). Preservative systems,
however, can loose their effectiveness, as the makeup gets older. Within a month of
purchase mascara can begin to harbor bacteria (if exposed). If the conditions are
sufficient, then bacteria can still continue to grow after 24 months, showing that the
preservative systems can become less powerful with age (Badauria, 1980). Products
that come from local manufacturers, which are presumably less expensive, can be more
prone to microbial contamination. Bacteria found in these locally made cosmetic
products include E.coli, which indicates that there may have been fecal contamination
before use. Contamination rates of cosmetics in North America and Europe are 2 - 43%
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and considering that undeveloped countries may not have strict regulations for
manufacturers, it is important to be aware of foreign cosmetics imports (Okeke, 2001).
Labels on cosmetics may also lack essential information to ensure the safety of the
product. In some studies, labels did not have dates of manufacture or dates of
expiration (Hugbo et al, 2003). Research has also revealed many defects in makeup
manufacturing. More companies are taking better precautions and the quality of makeup
is being improved thanks to studies that have been previously conducted. Even so, it is
still up to the consumer to properly handle makeup and applicators to avoid infection.
Nowadays the age range of female makeup users is very wide. The age that
females begin wearing makeup gets younger and younger with every new generation. If
consumers are knowledgeable about general handling methods of cosmetics then
adolescent females should be able to have a low incidence of infection. The purpose of
this study is to determine the awareness of cosmetic contamination among adolescent
females.
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Methodology
This cross-sectional study examined the awareness of cosmetic contamination
among adolescent females. It determined whether females knew how to properly handle
makeup, specifically, how to use and remove it when to replace it, where to keep it, etc.
Adolescent females were chosen for this study because females are the primary users
of makeup. Also in the high school environment, cosmetics are used frequently among
female adolescents because most of them are concerned of how they look.
Data collected in this study came from a twenty-question survey that was
administered to female high school students. The survey was distributed in a New York
City public school during the months of October to November 2007. Teachers who had
female students in their classes were asked by the researcher to handout the
questionnaire to female students who have not previously taken the survey. This was
done to prevent overlapping of results. The grade range of these students was from
ninth to twelfth grade. Participants were asked to check off the answers that applied to
them in the questionnaire.
A survey was used as a means of data collection because it provided the best
possible way to determine the awareness of female adolescents regarding the use of
cosmetics. The closed institutional environment allowed surveys to be administered and
taken in an easy manner in which results could be collected quickly. In terms of
secondary data, there were no completed surveys that concerned the use of cosmetics
among female teenagers. The Brooklyn Technical High School Institutional Review
Board approved the survey and parental consent was not needed because each survey
was anonymously and there was no risk.
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The survey was arranged in four sections, general use, specific use, background
information of prior cosmetic infections, and shopping techniques when buying makeup.
The first section asked of general use of facial makeup in which the responses where
yes or no. If the response were yes, the participant would continue with the rest of the
survey and check of the types of makeup that she used and how often it was used
within a week. The next section of the survey concerned how makeup was applied, who
used it, when it was replaced, where it was stored and how it was removed. This section
was included to determine whether the participant knew how to properly handle makeup
and its applicators. The third section asked whether the participant had a prior facial or
eye infection due to makeup only. This would reveal the general frequency of infections
due to cosmetics among adolescent females. The last section of the survey pertained to
where the participant bought their makeup and whether she used cosmetic testers in
stores when shopping for cosmetics. This fourth section would be used to determine the
probability of female teenagers developing a facial or eye infection along with section
three.
In terms of statistical analysis, the response from sections three (specific use)
and four (shopping techniques) would be applied to a method similar to the Likerts
scale to determine the probability of females developing a facial or eye infection. The
responses elicited will be coded from a point scale of 1 to 5, 1 meaning least likely it is
to develop an infection and 5 meaning the most likely it is to develop an infection. For
example, a question that asked How often do you replace your makeup? in which the
answers include every 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, etc., the answer choices would
be given a specific number from 1 5. Since the recommended amount of time to
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replace makeup is 3 months, the answer of 3 months would be given the lowest number
of points, 1 and the answer of over 12 months would be given the maximum number of
points, 5.
For each of these questions that pertain to the use of makeup (ex. How often it is
replaced) and contains answer choices that concerns the recommended use of makeup
(every 3 months, 6 months etc.), this type of statistical analysis would be applied. In
total it would include twelve of the twenty questions. Each participants score will be
summed. After factoring in the recommended procedures for using makeup and
calculating the possible points for each answer, the participant whose score is 40 or
more uses makeup poorly while the participants score below 15 points uses makeup
properly. Scores from 16-25 will be deemed decent use and scores from 26- 39 will be
less acceptable.
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Results
In total, approximately 500 copies of the survey were given out to teachers to hand
out to their female students. 450 copies of the survey were returned. Even with this
outcome, only 322 copies could be used because 129 copies were invalid due to
incomplete and incorrect answering of questions. Out the 322 remaining surveys, 258 of
the students said that they use makeup and 64 said that they do not. The rest of the
analysis focuses on other factors that affect makeup use based on the surveys that
were answered yes.
Table 1:
Makeup Use Percent
Uses Makeup258
80%
Do not UseMakeup
64 20%
Chart 1:
The pie chart shows the types of makeup used among the female students who
were surveyed. The most common type of makeup used was lip makeup (lipstick, lip
liner, and lip-gloss), while the least common was blush.
Types of Makeup Used
14%
5%
12%
7%
20%
25%
17%
Eye Shadow
Blush
Foundation
Powder
Eyeliner
Lip Makeup
Mascara
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Times a Week Makeup Is Used In Relation
Females' Scores
0
10
20
30
40
50
60 Occasionally
1 to 2 times aweek
3 to 4 timesweek
5 to 6 times aweek
8 or moretimes a week
Range of Participant's Scores
78
109
63
8
1 to 15
16 to 15
26 to 39
40 or