Purpose: This study investigated how consumers perceive beauty dupe products and the attributes they prioritized in their purchase decision. Methods: Two online surveys were conducted with Korean female consumers in their 20s and 30s who had previously searched for or purchased beauty dupe products. In the first survey, 52 respondents evaluated the pairwise similarities among 10 lipstick options, and non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) was conducted using the smacof package in R. In the second survey, 103 respondents completed 12 choice tasks involving combinations of four two-level attributes. A conditional logit model with respondent-clustered standard errors was then estimated using the survival package in R. Results: MDS revealed three distinct clusters, indicating that beauty dupes occupy a perceptual position separate from both high-end and affordable beauty products. In the choice-based conjoint analysis, country of manufacture emerged as the most important attribute, with a relative importance of 70.9%, followed by price (13.7%), brand awareness (10.8%), and visual similarity to the high-end product (4.5%). Domestic manufacture, the higher price level, and greater brand awareness were associated with positive utility, whereas visual similarity to high-end products did not have a significant effect on purchase decision. Conclusion: Although visual similarity to high-end products constitutes a basic condition for the product to be perceived as a dupe, consumers’ heavy reliance on product information cues associated with quality and credibility highlights their potential significance in consumers’ evaluations and decision to purchase beauty dupes.
Purpose: This study aims to examine how job dissatisfaction influences turnover behavior among estheticians working in franchise skin care salons, with turnover intention serving as the mediating variable. Methods: A survey was conducted in September 2025 among estheticians employed at 78 franchise skin care salons, yielding 320 valid questionnaires for analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0 and AMOS 19.0, including frequency analysis, reliability and validity analysis, and structural equation modeling. Model fit was evaluated using the following fit indices: root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), root mean square residual (RMR), goodness-of-fit index (GFI), normed fit index (NFI), Tucker–Lewis index (TLI), and comparative fit Index (CFI). The Sobel test was used to assess the mediating effect of turnover intention. Reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s α) ranged from 0.740 to 0.759. Results: The Sobel test results indicated that turnover intention significantly mediated the relationship between job dissatisfaction factors and turnover behavior. Significant mediation was observed for wages (Z=2.307, p<0.05), working hours (Z=1.997, p<0.05), work environment (Z=2.019, p<0.05), coworker relationships (Z=2.507, p<0.05), and supervisor relationships (Z=2.649, p<0.01). Conclusion: Reducing job dissatisfaction among estheticians requires effective communication systems and institutional improvements.
Purpose: In a previous study, two-spotted cricket oil (GBO) was characterized for terms of its fatty acid composition and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, while its antimicrobial activity remained unexamined. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of GBO against five animal pathogenic bacteria and to investigate the correlations among the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of GBO. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of GBO was evaluated against five animal pathogens (Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium, Lactococcus garvieae, and Vibrio anguillarum) using the broth dilution method. Spearman correlation analysis was performed between the pathogen growth inhibition data and previously reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell viability data for GBO. Results: GBO exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 3.125% to 6.25% (v/v) against the five animal pathogenic bacteria, well below its previously established cytotoxic threshold. Bacterial growth was strongly negatively correlated with total flavonoid content (TFC) and DPPH radical scavenging activity, and strongly positively correlated with nitric oxide (NO) production. Conclusion: GBO exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all five pathogens tested and Spearman correlation analysis showed that this activity varied in a coordinated manner with its flavonoid-driven antioxidant capacity and suppression of NO production. These findings suggest an interconnected, rather than independent, basis for its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and support its potential as a functional ingredient in veterinary cosmeceutical formulations for companion and aquatic animals.
Purpose: This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-photoaging activities of water extract (LAFDE), 50% ethanol extract (LAFEE), and fermented extract (LAFFE) prepared from Lavandula angustifolia flowers and evaluated their potential as functional cosmetic ingredients. Methods: Antioxidant activities were determined by measuring total polyphenol and flavonoid contents as well as DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities. Anti-photoaging effects were evaluated in UVB-irradiated HaCaT keratinocytes by assessing elastase inhibition, type I procollagen production, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, and skin barrier- and hydration-related gene expression. Results: Among the tested extracts, LAFFE exhibited the highest levels of total polyphenols and flavonoids and demonstrated the strongest radical scavenging activities. In UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells, LAFFE significantly increased elastase inhibitory activity and type I procollagen production in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, LAFFE markedly reduced MMP-1 production and suppressed the mRNA expression of MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-13, which are closely associated with collagen degradation and skin photoaging. In addition, LAFFE enhanced the expression of skin barrier- and moisturizing-related genes, including filaggrin (FLG), keratin 1 (KRT1), hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS-2), hyaluronidase 3 (HYAL3), and aquaporin 3 (AQP3). Conclusion: These findings indicate that fermented L. angustifolia flower extract possesses potent antioxidant, anti-wrinkle, and skin barrier-enhancing activities. Therefore, it may serve as a promising natural cosmetic ingredient for preventing UVB-induced skin photoaging and improving skin health.
Purpose: This study analyzes differences in customer service and job satisfaction across Myers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI)-based personality types to identify how practitioner traits influence service quality in the beauty industry to provide evidence for strategic human resource management. Methods: An online survey involving beauty professionals was conducted between November 27 and December 31, 2025. Data gathered from 295 participants were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 to examine differences across MBTI types. Results: Extraversion was identified as the most prevalent trait, while Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging (ISFJ) and Extraverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving (ENFP) were identified as the predominant types. Customer service performance was higher among individuals with Introversion and Thinking traits. Greater job satisfaction was observed among individuals with Introversion and Intuition characteristics, whereas individuals Thinking traits demonstrated higher satisfaction with their supervisors. Conclusion: The findings indicate that personality traits play a critical role in determining service quality. Despite sample bias, the finding suggest that personality-based personnel strategies may enhance industry competitiveness within the beauty industry.
