Benefits of
cosmetics
While some people believe that cosmetic and
personal care products are a recent invention, discoveries of their use and
widespread benefits go back thousands of years.
Today, Europe’s 500 million consumers use them to protect their health,
enhance wellbeing and boost their self-esteem.
Functional
benefits
Cosmetics contribute to wellbeing and healthy
lifestyles. Our hands carry pathogens from contaminated sources; so simple
tasks such as washing hands with soap can help prevent serious illness. Indeed,
multiple studies have shown that the leading causes of child mortality in
developing countries, diarrhoea and respiratory infections, can be prevented by
hand washing with soap. The use of toothpaste, particularly when containing
fluoride, reduces the prevalence of dental caries. Toothpaste reduces plaque
and tartar, which can lead to tooth damage and gum disease. Beyond health,
there are economic advantages to dental care: there is strong evidence that the
benefits of preventing tooth decay far exceed the costs of treatment. Indeed,
if we assume that, without toothpaste, total expenditure on oral health would
be 5% higher, the total benefits of using toothpaste (in terms of avoided
costs) would be approximately €26.5 billion by 2020.
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the only
established exogenous causal factor for melanoma, a type of skin cancer that
can spread to other organs of the body. Consistent and optimal use of sunscreen
may prevent the incidence of melanoma. A study carried out between 1992 and
2006 and reported in ‘Reduced melanoma after regular sunscreen use: randomised
trial follow up’ in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011) examined the cancer
rates of two groups of adults aged between 25 and 75 years old. One used
sunscreen daily and the other did so at their discretional frequency. It was
found that invasive melanoma was reduced by 75% for approximately 15 years
after trial cessation in the group that applied sunscreen daily.
Emotional
benefits
Beyond physical health, cosmetics can help to
improve our mood, enhance our appearance and boost our self-esteem. They can
also help to exhibit personal style and, as such, are an important means of
social expression. In a study by FEBEA, over
60% of respondents claimed that cosmetics have a positive impact on well-being,
image, self-confidence and mood, with a large proportion (+40%) also
identifying benefits in terms of social life, love life, family life,
professional life and health.
A study published
by IKW, the German Cosmetic,
Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association, assessing the self-perception of
adolescents and young adults, found that 73% believe body and beauty care is
very important in their lives. Moreover, 85% feel safer when they use cosmetics
products, and 63% feel more attractive when they do so.
A study by the Renfrew Centre Foundation
found that women wear make-up because they like the way it makes them look (48%
of respondents), and because cosmetic use makes them feel good (32%). Indeed,
multiple studies have found that wearing cosmetics can improve people’s
self-confidence and self-image.
The Look Good Feel Better
(LGFB) charity is dedicated to improving the self-esteem,
confidence and wellbeing of women undergoing cancer treatment and is supported
by over 50 leading companies and brands from the cosmetics industry. LGFB helps
to improve self-image and appearance through free group and self-help skincare
and make-up workshops. The service is available in 26 countries worldwide and
over 1.8 million people have been supported since 1989. A major research project by LGFB in
the UK during 2012 found that 97% of respondents felt more confident after
attending a LGFB workshop and that the effects of this are enduring, with 96%
of respondents still feeling more confident three months later (out of 2,000
beneficiaries contacted).
Maintaining
and extending benefits of cosmetics
All cosmetic products and their ingredients
are governed by the comprehensive and stringent European Cosmetics Regulation
to ensure they are safe for use. The Regulation dictates the colours, UV
filters and preservatives that are allowed for use in cosmetics, which
ingredients are restricted for certain types of use or by percentage, and which
may not be used at all. Every cosmetic product must also be assessed for safety
by a qualified professional safety assessor and this takes into account how the
product is made, how it will be used and by whom.
Furthermore, all cosmetics made available in
the EU must display a complete list of ingredients and have the same name in
all countries: this helps consumers identify products with ingredients to which
they know they are sensitive. The ingredients must comply with European
requirements and use the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients,
known as INCI. Read about understanding the label for further detail.
Innovation in our industry is never static. Constantly
evolving consumer expectations with regards to product attributes and safety
means new products or iterations are always in development, increasingly geared
towards personalised solutions for individual skin and hair types, for
instance.
Innovation to
shelf: The story of cosmetic product development
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