A survey and health assessment of cosmetic products for children

Among others, a number of products in the product category “Bath
confetti/bath caviar/fizzle salt” are bought. This category covers product types
like bath confetti, bath caviar and bath salt. These three product types are
products to be used in the bath tub. The products are put into the bath water
and will slowly be dissolved. Typically, they have both a soap function and a
scent function and generally this product type is designed as colourful flowers,
petals, hearts or similar. These products might primarily appeal to the female
gender and they appeal to both women and girls. The products have been
included in the survey as we ourselves have seen that they also appeal to girls
below 15 years in a buying situation and as a few of this type of products are
also found on the same shelf as other products for children.
Furthermore, a number of hair dyes (rinsing colours) has been bought.
According to the shop assistant the hair dye series is addressed towards young
girls as the products are rinsing colours which are washed out after a couple of
hair washes so the girls can make experiments with the hair dyeing. On the
packaging drawings of young girls with bare stomachs can be seen. Even if the
hair dyes might also appeal to an older audience it is estimated that also girls
below 15 years will buy these.
One cosmetics series is bought as there are drawings of Snoopy and strong
colours – green or pink – on the packaging. It can be discussed whether a
picture of Snoopy only appeals to adults and young persons or whether it also
appeals to children (teenagers). Fact is that the cosmetics series was exhibited
in the shop together with decorative cosmetics and hair slides etc. which also
appeal to older children and the youngest teenagers.
Similarly, a skin care series is bought as these products are for teenagers
according to the shop assistant. Thus the products also appeal to somewhat
older persons than the target group of this project but also to the older part of
the target group of this project.
Finally, a cosmetic series is bought despite that neither name nor design
necessarily is directed towards children but because it is sold in a shop
exclusively selling toys, children’s clothes and baby articles.
4.2 Database of cosmetic products for children
For the Danish Environmental Protection Agency a database in Microsoft
Access 2000 is developed with in total 208 mapped cosmetic products for
children. The purpose of the database of the cosmetic products for children is
to create an overview of the products and their content of chemical substances
in a relatively simple way. Furthermore it is possible in the database to sort the
information and to extract information of the entered data criss-cross.
The database is built around a product overview where the following is
recorded for each product:
- Content of chemical substances
- Various information about the product (type, place of purchase etc.)
Appendix A (chapter 1) is an overview of the content in the database.
In Table 4.2 is stated the information which is recorded in the database for all
of the mapped cosmetic products for children.
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