Usage patterns and self-esteem of female consumers of antiaging cosmetic products

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding authors.Aging is an irreversible process of the human body, resulting from a progressive decrease in the biological functions of the organs, including the skin. This study analyzed the relationship between usage patterns of different types of anti-aging cosmetic products, sociodemographic variables, appearance schemes, psychological morbidity, perfectionism, and aging perception of aging with self-esteem. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 260 women, aged between 25 and 64 years, who are users of anti-aging cosmetics and/or aesthetic treatments. Participants were assessed on psychological morbidity (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), appearance schemes (Appearance Schemas Inventory—Revised), perfectionism (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale), aging perceptions (Brief Aging Perceptions Questionnaire), and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). The use of facial-firming cosmetics positively correlated with self-esteem. The results of regression analysis revealed that psychological morbidity and perfectionism contribute negatively to self-esteem, while marital status, professional status, and aging perceptions (positive consequences) contribute positively. According to the results, intervention programs to promote women’s self-esteem should focus on the reduction in psychological morbidity and the promotion of adaptive patterns of perfectionism and address aging perceptions. Longitudinal studies might help explain the complex relationship between the use of anti-aging cosmetic products and psychological variables, particularly self-esteem in women.This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psy chology, University of Minho, supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget (Ref.: UIDB/01662/2020). This work was also supported by national funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Northern Re gional Operational Programme (NORTE2020) under the project 47239-Cork2Cosmetic (NORTE-01- 0247-FEDER-047239). S.M. acknowledges the research fellowship (NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-047239), fully supported by national funding by Project 47239-Cork2Cosmetic (NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-047239)