A Study on the Consuming Condition of Cosmetics of Female Students in Middle and High Schools

서울시내(市內) 여중고생(女中高生)의 화장품(化粧品) 소비실태(消費實態) 조사연구(調査硏究)

The purpose of this study is to offer basic data to adolescents' cosmetic culture by investigating and analysing the choices made by female students who have been becoming principle consumers of cosmetics these days. Firstly, social and cultural backgrounds and concepts of N generation, and then characteristics and influencing powers of female students were reviewed. And this study also included questionnaire surveys of 500 female students in middle and high schools located in Seoul. Data were processed using a SPSS$^+$ program and analyzed by using frequency, percentage and the $X^2$-test. The major findings run as follows: Female students have the effects of spreading their words quickly and abilities of making a decision what to buy. And they accept consuming behaviors itself as a part of cultural lives. Therefore, industries have acknowledged them as new principal consumers with a powerful influence in the market. They also play an important role in active consumer as emotional generation who has distinct personalities and prefer fashion trends, changes and innovations. They show conformities with their peer groups and they also want to identify themselves with characters or stars. The cosmetic behaviors of female students relating to demographic characteristics showed a significant relation to grades, majors, school groups and places of residence. Female students have a lot of interest and knowledge about cosmetics. And they use various cosmetic products. This study demonstrated the age for using make-up for the first time has been becoming younger more and more. Recently, female adolescents tend to use face powder, lip gloss, mascara and eye shadow. It is assumed that cosmetic purchases of female students can be considered as an impulsive aspects. However, before purchases, the proportion of students having any particular cosmetic brand in mind previously has been increasing. They take into consideration skin safety, the quality of product and color, when purchasing cosmetic products.