Cosmetics Contamination Awareness

8/6/2019 Cosmetics Contamination Awareness

1/21

1

Cosmetic Contamination AwarenessAmong Adolescent Females

Leah Persaud

Brooklyn Technical High SchoolBrooklyn, NY


2/21

2

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.


3/21

3

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,


4/21

4

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%


5/21

5

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.


6/21

6

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.


7/21

7

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


8/21

8

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.


9/21

9

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


10/21

10

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

Cosmetics Contamination Awareness

Documents

Transcript of Cosmetics Contamination Awareness