Consumer-focused Study on Cosmetics and Quasi-drugs

Abstract

The Korean cosmetics recorded the biggest production in spite of the global economic crisis. Also cosmetics consumption in form of quasi-drugs increased. In 2011, the production of multi-functional cosmetics marked as the 1st place, Ultraviolet protection cosmetics as the 2nd, anti-winkle cosmetics as the 3rd place and whitening cosmetics as the 4th place. It found that consumers prefer functional cosmetics. On the other hand, the history of the safety management for cosmetics in Korea is limited. The Safety management plan of cosmetics from the consumer perspective is especially insufficient. The comprehensive survey of 500 consumers living in the metropolitan area was performed. The purchasing, usage and attitude of cosmetics were investigated and then it was analyzed through SPSS20.0. Overall, purchasing and consumption behaviors and differences in perception between cosmetics and quasi-drugs was analyzed. Also, comprehensive safety and risk was assessed through consumer complaints and side effects of cosmetics. Consequently, this study could be used as important information for risk communication of cosmetics and consumer policy from the perspective consumer safety.