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Ethics Problems in Cosmetic Industry

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Submitted By fenzhishutan
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Ethics problems in cosmetics industry
St. Thomas University
MAN 510 Management Ethics
Professor Raúl Fernández-Calienes
3/05/2014
Rong Li

Abstract
A cosmetics industry is called “beauty economy’, which includes the make-up, skincare and hair production and so on. Due to the beauty of nature, there is a huge demand for the cosmetics in the economic market. The corporations of cosmetics are the main supplies of the beauty products. As the blooming development of cosmetics industries, some phenomenon is involved in argument, which have exert an harm on people and the society even though they do not violate the current law. In this research paper, three main ethics problem will be discussed. This paper will give a brief background on each phenomenon, and then give the arguments and problems of it by using the ethics theories and case. Finally, some suggestions and measurement will be given to each problem.
Key words: ethics, animal-test, advertising manipulate, double standard, Corporate social responsibility

Introduction

Cosmetics industry is called “the beauty economy”, devoted to develop the products of skincare and make-up both for woman and man. Due to the pressure from employment and mating (lipstick effect), people, especially woman most likely tend to spend their money on buying cosmetics, in order to enhance their beauty on their appearance and body. Consumers in America spend $45 Billion on cosmetics and beauty products the cosmetics industry makes billions of dollars each year from people's quest for great skin. Different from other industries like clothing or automobile, beauty products are directly applied to consumer and absorbed by people. Thus, standards and rules in cosmetics industry are strictly high for protecting consumer from harm. Although companies followed standards and laws in

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