RESEARCH PAPER

REASONS WHY NUMEROUS WOMEN STILL PREFER TO WEAR MAKEUP EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF RISKS AND DISADVANTAGES THAT COMES WITH IT

A Research Paper Presented to

The Faculty of the English Research Resource Center

School of Multimedia Arts

Asia Pacific College

Magallanes, Makati City

In Partial Fulfilment

of the Requirements for the Course

ERESWRT / Research Writing

Julie Ace A. Dumaoal

September 2014

Chapter I - Introduction

A. Background of the Study

There are so many downsides on wearing makeup, like for one, makeup is expensive and there's no doubt about that, but many women still support them. The price of cosmetics is affiliated based on the image of the brand. If a brand is well known and is well established, it is definitely pricey. This gives the well known products a right to be expensive. Well known cosmetic companies also hire well known endorsers to market the products to ensure that the mass will support them.

Anneli Rufus wrote an article with the title "The Cosmetics Racket: Why the Beauty Industry Can Get Away with Charging a Fortune for Makeup". She said the article people who buys makeup actually believe "more expensive" means "better". Premium brands demand premium prices. Sometimes they will have expensive packaging, which adds to the price. Fancy bottles, seductive names, and the fees of creatives who design them add up to the price of the product. Spokesmodels is also a huge impact on why a cosmetic product is very expensive, this leaves an impression to the consumers that if you buy the buy the product you will end up looking like the model who is endorsing it.

According to Anneli Rufus, "The prices of cosmetics are based not on the value of their ingredients but rather on other factors like packaging, marketing, and the simple fact. They also believe that certain products or brands, such as those boasting European provenances convey higher class. The words, the ads, the whirl of milks and muds and minerals and miracles, half-promise metamorphosis and happiness" (http://www.alternet.org/story/148140/the_cosmetics_racket%3A_why_the_beauty_industry_can_get_away_with_charging_a_fortune_for_makeup).

Makeup companies take this as an opportunity to gain money from the people who patronize their products. Marketing is really an effective tool to spread the word about a company's product, and with a famous endorser to back up their product, women surely splurge a huge amount of money just to get their hands on the product because they think that if they purchase the product they will end up looking like the endorser.

Flora Stay stated on his article "Potential Health Effects of Cosmetic Ingredients", cosmetic brands are a multibillion-dollar industry and women are willing to spend any price for beauty. According to the article, wearing makeup can have a very bad side effects on the skin. Many harmful substances are found on many cosmetic products, and the most common substances are Phthalates, Triclosan, Parabens and Salicylic Acid. These harmful substances can trigger asthma like symptoms, itching, skin rash or hives, headaches, and swelling of hands, feet or face.

Stay said, "It's very difficult finding totally salicylate free products. Many brands depend on "natural" on their labels with a few herbs thrown in for marketing purposes. Plus, salicylates come in different chemical forms and names, and unless you are a chemist, you will not recognize them" (http://www.totalhealthmagazine.com/features/womens-health-articles/potential-health-effects-of-cosmetic-ingredients.html).

It is really hard to find makeup products that are safe to use because it is not easy to check one by one the substances that a makeup product contains. Even though the components of a makeup product is listed behind the packaging, there is no point of reading it because it is impossible that a consumer knows all the effects of that every single ingredient. So it is very important to know the frequently used toxic ingredients. People don't even take the time to read the ingredients behind the label because as long it makes them look better, women will still buy the product even though they know its very harmful for their skin. One probably reason why makeup is expensive is because many companies spend a lot on testing. Many companies use animals as test subjects.

Jim Bridgeport wrote an article entitled, "Do Cosmetic Companies Still Test on Live Animals?", according to him animal testing is one downside that comes with makeup. Testing products on animals is very wrong and very inhumane. Mostly all the cosmetic companies before used to do animal testing especially when they have a new product to release.

Bridgeport said, "Another reason many companies are moving away from the Draize Test is that considerable information has already been yielded and recorded from past testing. Many companies are taking closer looks at the result of tests done years ago to glean information on how safe similar ingredients in their new products are without having to carry out new tests on new generations of lab animals" (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cosmetics-animal-testing/).

This is actually true, why should they test the same products again when they have already been tested before, and they should just use those results as basis for future use. Alternatives to animal testing are conducted on cell cultures, human and animal corneas from eye banks, corneal tissue cultures and frozen cornea supplied by hospitals.

Some companies nowadays have started to reduce the use of lab animals as subjects. It is also said that companies have used the test results done years ago to improve the products they are making now, so in a way they are saving a lot. Sadly there are only few countries that have started to ban the use of animals as test subjects, and there is still conflict in promoting the ban to the other parts of the world.

It's very clear that wearing makeup has a number of negative consequences, both for the individual and society. However, women still continue to patronize makeup even though it’s very damaging and harmful. There is a need for this research because information about the factors that compel women to patronize makeup would allow readers to gain a better understanding of the situation. Moreover, it would encourage readers to reconsider their relationship with the cosmetic industry.

The purpose of this study is to determine why numerous women still prefer to wear makeup even though their are a lot of risks and disadvantages that comes with it.

B. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer this question:

1. Why numerous women still prefer to wear makeup even though there are a lot of risks and disadvantages that comes with it?

C. Significance of the Study

Students. Students will be able to benefit from this information because they will know what are the advantages and disadvantages of makeup. It can also benefit them by having the knowledge of what particular products are safe to use.

Corporate Women. Knowledge of this study would help corporate women to know how makeup can help them improve their performance at the work place. It can also help them know the efficiency of wearing makeup in the work place. 

Parents. They will be able to learn a lot from this paper, like how important it is to know what are age appropriate makeup products for their children to use. This paper will also allow them to know the limitations of makeup when it comes to teens.

Future Researchers. This study is essential for future researchers for reference purpose and to make similar studies because only a few groups of people only knows about the true influence of wearing makeup and why women still continue wearing makeup even with the presence of its downside. 

D. Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on why women still continue to use cosmetic products even with the awareness of how harmful it is for the skin. 

Due to time constraints, this paper will no longer discuss the deeper negative effects of makeup. This is to give emphasis to the reasons of why women still prefer to makeup. Aside from time constraints, most of the resources would be coming from online blogs.

E. Materials and Methods
The researcher will follow a method to find some information and connections to the reasons why women still prefer to wear makeup even though there are a lot of risks and disadvantages that comes with it. 

The materials that the researcher will be using in gathering information are from online sites, sources or other articles on the Internet to widen the knowledge of the readers.

F. Definition of Terms

1. Makeup - substances (such as lipstick or powder) used to makeup someone's face look more attractive (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/makeup)

2. Cosmetics - A substance (such as cream, lotion or powder) that you put on your face or body to improve ones appearance (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmetic)

3.  Risk - The possibility that something bad or unpleasant will happen (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/risk)

4. Negative - harmful or bad (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negative)

5. Prefer - To like (someone or something) better than someone or something else (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefer) 

6. High-end - upscale, superior quality or sophistication and usually high in price (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high-end)

7. Drugstore - low cost makeup dupes 

Chapter II Discussion 

Why numerous women still prefer to wear makeup even though there are a lot of risks and disadvantages that comes with it.

I. Why women wear makeup

Makeup disguises any imperfection that a person might have, but there are so many negative effects that comes with makeup like skin diseases, allergic reactions, ageing and unwanted dependency in makeup.  But despite of the said negative effect that comes with makeup, many women still prefer to use it. Advancements in technology have led to the creation of better synthetic cosmetics that are used as makeup. The benefits of make-up are great for all women. There is a huge ratio of women who uses makeup not just occasionally but also on a day-to-day basis. According to statistics, 4 out 5 women uses makeup. One million women, based on census projections are wearing only one makeup product a day

According a study conducted by The Beauty Company, “Nearly half of U.S women surveyed believe wearing makeup gives them an advantage at work and makes them feel more in control. About 82% of women surveyed believe wearing makeup gives them an advantage at work and makes them feel more in control. 86% of women believe that wearing makeup improves their self-image” (http://www.thebeautycompany.co/downloads/Beyer_BeautyNumbers.pdf).

This only shows that despite the negative effects of makeup there are still a huge number of makeup users worldwide. There are so many negative effects that comes with wearing makeup, but there is also some advantages of using it. This means that even in makeup there is a balance between the positive and negative when it comes to the effects of it.

A. Physical Benefits

Wearing makeup makes women look more attractive and makes them more confident. We live in a material world where looks matter. Many people think that the reason why women wear makeup is to be able to seek attention or recognition, but this is not true. It very important to most women, especially when it comes to the corporate world where women are competing against the male, women wear makeup because it helps them build a good impression and somehow uplifts their self-esteem. During interviews, it is very important to look pleasing because this is one way to show the management that a woman can be capable of being trustworthy. It may also be a way to stand out in the crowd, thus being a step ahead from the competition.

Some studies have shown that being attractive helps a lot in terms of looking for an employment. An article written by Susan Krauss Whitbourne entitled "Want to Boost Your Job Prospects? Try a Beauty Makeover" said that when people see a beautiful face, they assume that the person behind the face is more socially adept, confident and successful. Employers are more likely to hire a person with an attractive face. It is also said in the article that a survey had been sponsored by Proctor & Gamble and conducted by Harvard Medical school suggests that wearing makeup can help promote the image as a person who is competent, likeable, attractive and trustworthy. The study was about participants that were given just 250 milliseconds to look at several photos of women in various degrees of makeup- no makeup, natural, professional and glamorous- with the ratings increasing with the amount of beauty product used.  When those same participants were given time to study the images for a lengthier amount of time, the ratings changed. Instead, for the dramatic makeup looks, people saw them as equally likeable and much more attractive and competent, but less trustworthy.

Susan Krauss Whitbourne said, "Your face only tells part of the picture about who you are and how competent you will be at your job. Make sure that you develop your inner abilities as well as your outer appearance. In a perfect world, there would be no beauty premium. However, given today's economy and the fact that this is less than a perfect world, you might as well use it to boost your own job premium" (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201110/want-boost-your-job-prospects-try-beauty-makeover).

Looks matter, especially proper grooming, it will give a more polished and more professional look. The measurement of the work being done is not based on how a person looks but on how the job was delivered. It doesn't matter if a person is attractive enough, its what that person can bring to the table that matters the most. What can a pretty face do in the company if she can't do any job correctly, that's the reason why companies conduct interviews of applicants before they get hired. 

One physical benefit of wearing makeup is that it seems to be appealing to the opposite sex. According to an article written by Seth Meyers entitled, "Is Makeup Good or Bad for your Sexual & Dating Self- Esteem" , dating for women is often made more difficult and more uncomfortable because of the pressure many of them feel to meet a certain standard of attractiveness and thinness. There is this double standard that exist for women in terms of dating.

Seth Meyers said, "I always tell my clients that one of the best ways to get over certain fears or hang-ups is to face the fears head on, in the most direct way possible. Instead of giving those fears and insecurities about attractiveness so much power, I suggest that women consider giving themselves more of a break and challenging some of those societal expectations on a first date" (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/insight-is-2020/201301/is-makeup-good-or-bad-your-sexual-dating-self-esteem).

Women Should face their fear that they are lacking on something just because they feel that they are not good enough. When two people are in a relationship, having the looks doesn't really matter, because as long as both of them gets along well, its enough to make a relationship work. Being attractive physically is just a bonus in terms of being in a relationship, and it shouldn't be the other way around.

B. Emotional Benefits

Women sometimes depend on their mood when it comes to wearing makeup. When it comes to the time of the month state, women can be very moody and irritated to many things or persons. Women even get irritated to their selves once they see their reflection in the mirror. There comes a time that women just feel like they are so ugly and fat and all other negative things one person can have. This is where makeup comes in; there are many proven tests that makeup can certainly help women feel good about themselves. Makeup makes women feel good, that’s part of the “I wear it for myself” argument that people always fail to tack on. 

Some women feel they need to wear makeup because they have to. Some depends on how they feel the moment they wake up in the morning and as soon as they see their face in that bathroom mirror, that sudden urge to wear makeup instantly kicks in. According to an article written by Cara, "Natural Cosmetics- Why I'm Wearing Makeup Again", she feels happier when she wears makeup.

According to Cara, "I felt like makeup wasn’t something I was interested in spending time on for quite a while, and thus didn’t wear it other than some mascara and colored lip gloss occasionally.  I knew that I never wanted to have wearing makeup be a requirement for me to be seen in public or photographed- I wanted to make sure I was comfortable with how I looked naturally and didn’t want to have makeup be an unhealthy priority for me, displacing what really is important, even just for a few minutes" (http://www.healthhomehappy.com/2010/06/natural-cosmetics-why-im-wearing-makeup-again.html).

It doesn't matter how bad or good a person's appearance is, the most important is that as long as that person is comfortable, that's what matters the most. If a woman is wearing makeup and suddenly realize that she is not comfortable with it, her wearing makeup is no longer considered being happy and contented, because at the end of the day comfort must be the first thing to consider.

Wearing makeup can also be a form of self-expression. An article written by Alyssa Matthews entitled "4 Reasons Why Women Wear Makeup (For Those Who Just Don’t Get It)" said that some women expresses a hint of their personality by how they choose to convey it by their makeup. 

Alyssa Matthews said, "When I see a woman with dramatic plum shadow, high-blushed cheekbones, and nude glossy lips, I can immediately sense a way in which she expresses herself. Some girls go for the natural look and others go for the dramatic, sexy look. Either way, I can gage a tiny part of their personality" (http://thoughtcatalog.com/alyssa-mathews/2014/03/4-reasons-why-women-wear-makeup-for-those-who-just-dont-get-it/).

This can be an effective tool to express how a person feels. Some women uses makeup as masks to hide their insecurities while some women also uses makeup to show off their best features and through makeup they feel more happy and thus gaining more self-respect. Some people may think that women don't need makeup and it is just a waste of time because applying makeup can be very time consuming but many women would argue to that, for them, the application of makeup is quite simply a necessary, exceptionally pleasurable part of their day.

 C. Psychological Benefits

Women perceive that they look more attractive once they have started using makeup. Some women think that they can’t manage to leave the house when they are not wearing any makeup. They feel like they are naked and robbed when they are not wearing any colors in their skin.  Women still continue to wear makeup even though they know it’s very harmful for them because they have probably proven it to be very useful in a way.  Somehow it made women think that they can be more trustworthy and confident once they have put on some makeup in their face.

According to an article entitled "Study: Makeup makes women look competent, trustworthy" by Rina Raphael, positive perception declines as makeup gets heavier. There has been a study funded by Procter and Gamble in which they have carried out some scientist from various organizations. The study was about participants that were given just 250 milliseconds to look at several photos of women in various degrees of makeup- no makeup, natural, professional and glamorous- with the ratings increasing with the amount of beauty product used.  When those same participants were given time to study the images for a lengthier amount of time, the ratings changed. Instead, for the dramatic makeup looks, people saw them as equally likeable and much more attractive and competent, but less trustworthy.

Raphael said, "Makeup can help empower and express a sense of self-worth, but it's not the guiding factor in a woman's image. It comes down to a fine line between confidence and fear or insecurity" (http://www.today.com/style/study-makeup-makes-women-look-competent-trustworthy-1C8544392).

Another article entitled "Mineral Makeup Can Help Boost Confidence" by Jason Ladock, stated that mineral makeups are made of all natural ingredients that can increase the beauty and freshness of the skin. Many people like using mineral makeup because it is made up of ingredients that are not harmful to the skin, and it can suit any skin type. 

According to Jason Ladock's article, "Other cosmetics products may say that they are natural but some of them still contain chemical. You have to look for products that are trusted and has been in the industry for years to ensure the quality of makeup"  (http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12899/1/Mineral-Makeup-Can-Help-Boost-Confidence.html).

This is actually true, some makeup claims that they are all natural but the truth is there not. Best way to know if your mineral makeup is legit is to ask experts or read reviews about mineral makeups, whether online or by print. If you have very sensitive skin, it is required to the makeup by putting small amount of it on your hand, then wait for a few minutes to see if your skin will produce rashes. Mineral makeup is very useful to a lot of women, because its not only natural but it also helps prevent skin from getting rashes especially for people with sensitive skin. 

A huge ratio of women uses makeup to hide their insecurities and imperfections. Women also use makeup as a power-up to boost their self-esteem. Many studies have shown that makeup can improve self-esteem. According to an article written by Alice Kahn with the title, "How Makeup Can Improve Self Esteem", its up to a person whether or not that person is comfortable with oneself. 

Alice Kahn said in the article, "A person with healthy self esteem is one who is comfortable in his or her own skin, situation in life and with what are other’s attitudes towards him or her. We all struggle with self-esteem at some point in our lives. Some struggle more than others. Our negative self-perceptions are usually caused by what others say about us. Self-image is the commonest area of low self-esteem. We are constantly facing images and messages from the media that tell us we need to better ourselves"  (http://makeupandbeauty.com/how-makeup-can-improve-your-self-esteem/).

It really goes down to where a person is comfortable. One major reason why women feel they to improve their self-esteem is because of media, they tell people they need to become better.  

D. Social Benefits

Many women enjoy using makeup because it’s very interesting. Another reason why many people wear makeup is because it is fun, many people get hook into makeup because they enjoy painting faces with different types of products to make them appear more nice and colorful. Many magazines use makeup as an art in conveying messages thru the models. It is also a way to be expressive. Some women take makeup very seriously. For some, it is a form of art. Makeup says things about a woman they usually do not say on their own. Makeup is also one way of distinguishing a woman’s personality according on her preference of look.

According to an article written by Amrita with the title "Let's Face It, Makeup Is Now an Art Form", makeup has been present for a long time now and people may not notice it but even our ancestors had been huge fans of it. Before they have been using all natural products as makeup, but as time pass and technology evolved, some makeup products had become good and bad at the same time. Good in a sense that many products have been created so that means there is a huge selections of products to choose from and bad at the same time because many of these new products are consisting hazardous and life threatening chemicals. But still many women would still prefer wearing makeup even with the presence of its downsides.

Amrita said in her article, "But time and the river move on, and one day you stare into the water and say, "Well, maybe a little blusher."And that is how I found myself in a suburban full-service salon, awaiting the bell for my first makeup lesson. Makeup in the '90s is a complex art form. Although I had vowed, after my fourth diploma, never to go back to school again, I was moved to reenter when I had to make a TV appearance. The station lady told me to arrive in "full" makeup. Somehow this sounded like more than a little lipstick and mascara" (http://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-04/news/vw-2440_1_art-form).

One other reason why women still prefer wearing makeup is that it is very cheap. Although there are a lot of high-end brands, there is a huge ratio of women who would rather purchase drugstore brands rather than high-end brands. When comparing the difference of high-end and drugstore brands, many women will choose to buy high-end products but it tends to be very expensive. So that’s the reason why many drugstore brands have been popping out, it’s because they can produce an equivalent product to match with the high-end brands. That’s one reason why drugstore brand is very competitive in the makeup industry.

When shopping for cosmetics, it’s easy to be swayed by flashy displays and alluring designer-brand advertising. According to an article "Drugstore Swaps for Department Store Makeup" written by Becky Worley, More and more cosmetics are being introduced into drugstores, which are aimed at helping consumers save money and claim to produce results comparable to designer lines.

"Expensive designer makeup is all the rage, but what if you could find cheaper drugstore brands that look similar enough to fool the eye? Beauty blogs around the Web tout products from Revlon, Loreal, and smaller cosmetic companies that have either intentionally or accidentally made products that closely replicate the shades in high-end products like lipsticks from Mac, bronzer from Benefit and blush from Nars" (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2013/07/drugstore-swaps-for-department-store-makeup/).

This is probably why many women are hooked in wearing makeup, its fun and somehow very affordable. Women all over the world are getting hooked to makeup because of the feeling of fulfillment 

Chapter III - Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations

Summary

This paper is intended to know why many women would still prefer to wear makeup even though there are a lot of risks and disadvantages that comes with it.

The Research design used in this study is the observational research method wherein the data from all the articles and documents that gathered were used to answer the questions that posted. The research findings are the following: 

1. There is still a huge ratio of women uses makeup even with the presence of its downsides.

2. The influences on why women still prefer to wear makeup are either because of psychological, emotional, physical and social benefits that comes with it. 

3.  Makeup has become a statement for women all over the world. 

Conclusions

Based on the findings of the study. The following conclusions are drawn: 

1.Women use makeup to boost their confidence and self-esteem.  

2. Women all over the world had become very dependent on makeup.

3. The physical benefits of makeup to women is that its appealing to the opposite sex and its one tool that women uses to obtain employment.

4. Makeup is being used as a way of art. There are so many cheap makeup products that’s why many women patronizing it.

5. The emotional benefit of wearing makeup is women feel happier when they are wearing makeup.

Recommendations:

After drawing the conclusions of the study, the researchers hereby make the following suggestions / recommendations:

1.  Students must raise their awareness when it comes to choosing the right makeup products.

2. Corporate women should not depend on makeup itself because in the end, how the job is being delivered is what's more important.

3. Women should know the limitations of makeup, whether on how or why they wear it, what matters the most is where they are most comfortable.

References

A. Electronic Media

Bridgeport, Jim "Do Cosmetic Companies Still Test on Live Animals?”

         (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cosmetics-animal-testing/)

Cara  "Natural Cosmetics- Why I'm Wearing Makeup Again”

          (http://www.healthhomehappy.com/2010/06/natural-cosmetics-why-im-wearing-       makeup-again.html)

Kahn, Alice "Let's Face It, Makeup Is Now an Art Form” 

         (http://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-04/news/vw-2440_1_art-form)

Ladock, Jason "Mineral Makeup Can Help Boost Confidence”  

         (http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12899/1/Mineral-Makeup-Can-Help-Boost-Confidence.html)

Matthews, Alyssa  "4 Reasons Why Women Wear Makeup

         (For Those Who Just Don’t Get It)”  (http://thoughtcatalog.com/alyssa-mathews/2014/03/4-        reasons-why-women-wear-makeup-for-those-who-just-dont-get-it/)

Meyers, Seth  "Is Makeup Good or Bad for your Sexual & Dating Self- Esteem”

          (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/insight-is-2020/201301/is-makeup-good-or-bad-                       your-sexual-dating-self-esteem)

Raphael, Rina  "Study: Makeup makes women look competent, trustworthy” 

         (http://www.today.com/style/study-makeup-makes-women-look-competent-                                   trustworthy-1C8544392)

Anneli Rufus   "The Cosmetics Racket: Why the Beauty Industry Can Get Away with Charging a Fortune for Makeup” 

                    (http://www.alternet.org/story/148140/the_cosmetics_racket                                         %3A_why_the_beauty_industry_can_get_away_with_charging_a_fortune_for_makeup)

Stay, Flora "Potential Health Effects of Cosmetic Ingredients”

(http://www.totalhealthmagazine.com/features/womens-health-articles/potential-health-effects-of-cosmetic-ingredients.html)

Whitbourne, Susan Krauss “Want to Boost Your Job Prospects? Try a Beauty Makeover” 

(http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201110/want-boost-your-job-prospects-try-beauty-makeover)

Becky Worley "Drugstore Swaps for Department Store Makeup"  (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2013/07/drugstore-swaps-for-department-store-makeup/)