Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the casual relationships of self-monitoring, face satisfaction, and demographic variables on the purchasing behavior and use of cosmetics of women. Samples wre 479 women in their 20's to 50's in Seoul, Korea. Three factors of the purchase criteria of cosmetics derived by factor analysis : F.1 'intrinsic trait', F.2 'sales promotion and fashion', F.3 'economy. Women high in self-monitor purchased and used cosmetics more than those low in self-monitor. There were significant relationships between the purchasing behavior and use of cosmetics and age, education, and social stratification. Women in their 20's and 30's perceived purchase criteria associated with intrinsic trait such as color and becomingness as more important, 20's sales promotion and fashion, women with less education perceived economy more than did the others. Upper class women showed more concern for intrinsic trait such as quality and color of cosmetics than did lower class. Social stratification, age, self-monitoring, and education had a direct effect on the degree of cosmetics purchase. Self-monitoring and education had a direct effect on the degree of cosmetics use. Age, education, social stratification, and face satisfaction had an indirect effect on the degree of cosmetics purchase and use. The causal relationship of self-monitoring on the use of coloring cosmetics was stronger than the connection between self-monitoring and total cosmetics. The present findings provide that personal trait associated with self-monitoring of women is important variable in understanding of the purchasing behavior and use of cosmetics.

Keywords

• the purchasing behavior of cosmetics;
• the use of cosmetics;
• self-monitoring;
• purchase creteria;
• face satisfaction