Pucker Up: Putting Long-Lasting Lipstick to the Test

Overview

Objectives/Goals Many people spend money on lipsticks marketed as long-lasting (eg,"16-hour kiss-proof lip color",etc.). My goal was to i.d. which brand of 6 long-lasting lipsticks is the most durable when tested in 2 conditions (Blot & Humidity). Based on previous research, I believed Maybelline would prove to be the most durable, & L'Oreal would be the 2nd most durable. My study saves consumers money & time by proving what brands are more durable & also reveals what key ingredients to look for when buying lipsticks claiming to be long-lasting. Methods/Materials A Blot Test simulated what causes color to fade/smear as lips press against a surface (speaking, kissing). A Humidity Test simulated what causes color to transfer/run in heat & moisture (eating/drinking, humid weather). I applied each color to 3-D synthetic lips (soft flexible silicone), since real lips vary in size,shape,firmness,& texture.I conducted both tests 8 times x 6 brands (98 total data points).I devised a 1-6 rank order scale to score brand durability (1 is most durable;6 least durable), then analyzed & score the data & pre/post photos. Results Maybelline proved to the the most durable brand in both test conditions. The L'Oreal brand didn't perform as expected, scoring a 2 (2nd most durable) in the Blot Test but only a 6 in the Humidity Test (tied for least durable). MAC brand costs the most but was the 2nd least durable in the Humidity Test & just average (3) in the Blot Test. Wet N Wild was the 2nd most durable of the 6 brands, which was unexpected given the limited research on it & its low price. Conclusions/Discussion Maybelline was the most durable in both tests because it contains 3 ingredients key to sustaining color, while other brands have just 1 or 2. Somewhat surprising is the performance of Wet N Wild, the least costly, yet proved to be the 2nd most durable. My study proves Maybelline to be more durable than Wet N Wild, Revlon, MAC, & Covergirl or L'Oreal. As a result, consumers know what ingredients to look for in a long-lasting lipstick, saving time & money. My findings also support previous research that more expensive cosmetics don't necessarily guarantee higher quality.

Awards (1)

• Honorable Mention

Competition history

• CSEF 2017 Product Science (Physical) (Junior Division Only) · Entry J2110

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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