Earticle

Women are considered as one of the major consumer groups of cosmetics. The information about their buying pattern of cosmetics will be very helpful to improve the quality of cosmetic products and services. And a lack of consumers in different markets, taking into consideration separate cultural backgrounds. The present study compares the cosmetics buying patterns of Canada and Korean women. Cosmetics buying patterns were measured by self-administerd questionnaires which were developed on the basis of previous studies, and back translated for validity. The samples consisted of 260 women: 138 korean women located in kyunggi, and 122 canada women in Toronto. The survey was implemented during January~April, 2009. Data were analyzed by frequency, mean, t-test and the results are as follows. Significant difference about cosmetics buying patterns of the two countries' women was found in information sources, the criteria of cosmetics selection, cosmetics store preference, level of satisfaction with cosmetics, and local product preference level.

A color light therapy device has been developed in 2009 and the efficacy of the device has been tested both on chakra and acupuncture point as a basis study. The efficacy of the color light therapy device was studied with 10 young healthy youths by measuring various physiological parameters before and after the color light therapy. The measured parameters were body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and heart rate variability (HRV). Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet color lights were separately projected onto the main chakra point for 10 minutes. The results showed that the body temperature and HRV parameters increase, but the pulse rate and blood pressure parameters decrease after color light therapy. In terms of the acupuncture point test, we projected red, green and blue color lights for long, middle, short wave length on LI 11 and LI 18. The results showed that there was a suitable color light for each acupuncture point when performing effective color light therapy. From the above results, our color light therapy device is effective in reducing stress and relaxing mind and body. This color light therapy device can be useful in the field of esthetic and home healthcare.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vacuum suction and moxibustion on abdominal obesity in adult women. A total of 20 women (control group, n=10; case group, n=10) participated in this study. Each woman in the control group and case group was provided with care including vacuum suction and moxibustion 20 times for 10 weeks (control group: massage and vacuum suction using aroma oil, and case group: massage, vacuum suction and moxibustion). Weight, BMI and waist circumference (WC) were measured to compare “before and after 10 weeks”. After then, questionnaires were given out to the subjects to find out their satisfaction level. After care, a significant decrease in weight, BMI and WC were found in both groups (p<0.01). After comparing the amount of change in weight(p<0.05), BMI(p<0.05) and WC(p<0.01) between the case and control group, a more significant decrease was found in the case group. After surveying the satisfaction level of abdominal massage for improving abdominal obesity, the results were high in both groups, and no stark difference between control group and case group was found. As a consequence, the results found through this study indicate that vacuum suction and moxibustion contributes to a beneficial chan ge in obese index for abdominal improving.

The purpose of this study is to find out satisfaction levels of mid-aged women when they use cosmetic products or medical skin care for facial whitening. The study carried out questionnaires to 199 women who live in Gangbuk, Seoul from Oct. 15 to Oct. 30, 2009 in order to find results. 42.9% out of 177 women who were using whitening cosmetics were satisfied with their products. Essential lotions were mainly chosen for whitening, and 56.8% answered that they always use sunscreen. B.B cream was used instead of foundation when leaving the house. The study found that women put more weight on the effects than on the brand of the cosmetics when they purchase whitening products. 59.8% out of 107 women who were using medical skin care answered that they are satisfied. The satisfaction level was higher for those who had bad skin compared to those who had fair skin. Meanwhile, the study found that satisfaction levels go up with good health conditions. According to the survey, women who had normal skin type and moderate health answered that they receive Fraxel Laser, IPL frequently at the clinic and would continue to use medical care if it is affordable. The research found that mid-aged women should consistently use facial whitening products that fit their skin after purchasing and consider the practical effects of the products. When using medical skin care, women should follow doctor’s recommendations through accurate counseling in order to get a better result.

The purpose of this study is to reveal the blood composition change after abdominal meridian massage. The main survey was conducted for 30 college women attending K Women's University in Gwangju city who had more than BMI 23 and WHR 0.80 and consented to this experiment, from March 31 to April. 17, 2008 five times a week total 15 times. Subjects were divided into career oil group, essential oil group and control group to analyze abdominal meridian massage effects. Before and after massage, blood composition change was analyzed. SPSS WIN 12.0 program was used for the statistical processing of this study. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) method was used to examine the group difference, and paired t-test was used to investigate the difference before and after the experiment by group. Finally this study obtained the following results. There was a significant difference in the Hb of basic blood and the AST, ALT, and r-GTP of liver function, but there was no significant difference in hyperlipidemia and stress hormone among groups. Essential oil group showed the highest Hb level in basic blood and the control group the lowest, suggesting difference among groups (p<0.05). The AST of liver function showed the lowest level in career oil group suggesting difference among groups (p<0.05). ALT showed the lowest level in career oil group suggesting difference among groups (p<0.05). The r-GTP of liver function showed the highest level in the control group, the daily essential group showed the lowest level, suggesting difference among groups (p<0.05).

The study is to analyze the elements in nail art materials that were considered just as ‘aesthetic tools’ and find which ingredients are harmful and safe in nail art and nail accessories. Because there is not much restriction or safety information for nail art materials nowadays, this study focused on detecting heavy metals that are considered as the major harmful properties based on standards of textile ingredients. Method for Determination of Extractable Heavy Metal was followed. After liquid samples were extracted by analysis samples based on the testing method guidelines, contents of Chrome in liquid extracts were determined using UV/VIS spectrophotometer and contents of extractable heavy metal remains were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer(ICP). The test results based on detecting toxic heavy metals in elements of various nail art materials and accessories are as follows. A tremendous amount of lead (Pb) was detected in all the samples, antimony (Sb) was detected in almost all the samples excluding one, D-2, cadmium (Cb) was detected in 11 of the samples and cobalt (Co), arsenic (As), tin (Sn) were detected in 10 samples, respectively. Barium (Ba) was detected in D-17 (330 ppm) and D-15 (11.1 ppm) both, and selenium (Se) was only detected in D-6 (361 ppm). All in all, the study found that materials in nail art included heavy metals and they were detected in an orderly manner: lead (Pb) > antimony (Sb) > cadmium (Cd) > cobalt (Co) > arsenic (As) > tin (Sn) > nickel (Ni) > chrome (Cr). The study found that all samples containing line stone designs have many kinds of heavy metals but orange-colored line stones (dangle D-9) are relatively safe besides lead detection. Since a huge amount of lead was detected in line stones which are the most popular materials in nail art, it needs attention when being used. Although it is a small amount, in prolonged exposure, materials containing line stones should be used carefully. Due to their dangerousness, lead, cadmium, chrome, arsenic and mercury have been noticed as subjects of restriction. All of them excluding mercury were detected in nail art materials. The detected amount of chrome and arsenic was below the safety limits, but the amount of lead, cadmium, and tin exceeded considerably. Especially, extra attention is need when detecting lead.

The antioxidant activity of Rucommia ulmoides Oliver's bark extracts was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. The extraction yields increased with increasing the extraction temperature, and an optimal extraction temperature is 78℃. Major antioxidant components of the extracts are 5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, and tannin. IC50(1,140mg L-1 at 100mM ,2-diphenyl-lpicrylhydrazyl(DPPH)), maximum radical scavenging ability(24∼26μg-DPPH mg-extract-1), and reaction constant of the extracts are have similar values, irrespective of extraction temperature. As a new analytical method for the radical scavenging ability of antioxidant, the kinetic analysis of DPPH scavenging were suggested. The DPPH scavenging by antioxidants was expressed with the first order reaction, and the rate constants of DPPH scavenging reaction by the extracts and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were 1.18∼1.28×10-5 and 3.02× 10-5 mg-antioxidant-1 min-1 L, respectively. In conclusion, instead of IC50, the kinetic analysis presented in this study can be applied to assess the radical scavenging ability of antioxidant.

This research is intended to analyze the trends of foot reflexology studied in the Korean esthetics. For final analysis were selected 75 thesis published from 2000 to 2010, not including thesis related to patients among ones of foot reflexology printed in the journal of esthetics for masters and doctors. The seventy-five thesis were classified and studied according to publication year, research design, subjects, objectives, and tools. According to the results, researches on food reflexology became active since 2002 and continued steadily until 2010. The most were researches on foot reflexology and leg relaxation massage and adults for research subjects. Questionnaire-and experiment-based researches are most frequently used and various researches on physical and mental changes were conducted. The research subjects were the most in age 10-20, and 2 per week, totally 6-10 times and 30 minutes for one massage were the most in the researches. It is believed that it is required to present scientific evidences related to foot reflexology in order to develop and advance foot reflexology in the esthetics. It is also expected that it would be greatly helpful for presenting future research plans and directions related to foot reflexology to analyze the research trends of foot reflexology.

This research is designed to study the basic skin condition, erythema, melanin, elasticity, and changes in infrared thermograph for middle-aged women. Seven for experimental group and control group respectively were selected among middle-aged women in the forties and fifties. Basic skin conditions (moisture, sebum, pH), erythema, melanin, elasticity, and skin temperature were measured after totally eight times of messages for one month with twice a week and 15 minutes per one massage from March 15 to April 9, 2010. The results has revealed that as the frequency of massage increased moisture and sebum in forehead, jaw, and neck increased in the experimental group and on the contrary melanin decreased; roughness decreased in cheeks, eye rims, jaw, and neck; elasticity decreased in neck. Skin temperature, low before the experiment, increased and neck temperature, high before the experiment, decreased, which meant that temperature in face and neck was similar after facial massage. For this reason, it was believed that the increased blood circulation subsequent to the facial massage caused increase in the skin temperature.