Women and cosmetics : an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

The makeup and cosmetic industry has undergone numerous changes throughout the years, to arrive to what many women know and experience today. Such changes have led to this phenomenon of makeup and cosmetic use to be revolutionised with regards to society’s perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours. This research aims to explore women’s lived experience of makeup and cosmetic use, and the meanings they attach to this. By doing so, this study provided the participants with an opportunity to dive deeper within their lived experience of makeup and cosmetic use, which is often an automatic behaviour in their lives, with not much attention being given to its significance. Six semi-structured interviews were carried out with female participants who made regular use of makeup and cosmetic products. The transcribed interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, resulting in four superordinate themes along with their respective sub themes. The findings of this study suggest that makeup and cosmetic use holds different roles in women’s lives. Apart from the indisputable function of making oneself more attractive, multiple meaningful responsibilities were linked to this phenomenon implications in women’s lives. Furthermore, the advantages and limitations behind the participants’ lived experience of makeup and cosmetic use were discussed, along with their experience of prejudice with regards to societal perceptions.