Lit Review

            According to the UC Santa Cruz University Library, a literature review is using sources such as scholarly articles and books, that are relevant to a particular area of research, theory, or issue.  With these sources, a description summary, and critical evaluation is done on each piece of work (UC Santa Cruz University Library).  The purpose of a literature review is to give a summary of significant literature that is published on a topic (UC Santa Cruz University Library).  The development of the literature review has four stages (UC Santa Cruz University Library).  These are the problem formulation, literature search, data evaluation, and analysis and interpretation (UC Santa Cruz University Library). When analyzing each piece the provenance, objectivity, persuasiveness, and value of the author are very important things to consider (UC Santa Cruz University Library).

           In the second article I found, it says that ”a literature review discusses published information in a particular subject area, and sometimes information in a particular subject area within a certain time period” (Handout and Links).  A literature review is organized and usually contains both a summary and a synthesis (Handout and Links).  Literature reviews show the reader how credible the writer’s information is (Handout and Links).  They are especially helpful when there is limited time to conduct research (Handout and Links).

            In both of these two articles the thing that I found most important was, that literature reviews shows the writer’s credibility.  Choosing the sources used in the literature review are also very important because, they need to really contribute to the research topic.  I think that literature reviews are very helpful to do because ,it helps give an overview of specific sources.

Works Cited

“Literature Reviews.” The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Web. 27 Feb. 2010. http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature_review.html.

 ”Write a Literature Review |.” UC Santa Cruz University Library. Web. 27 Feb. 2010. http://library.ucsc.edu/help/howto/write-a-literature-review.

         Pre-Writing:  When writing my literature review, I hope to give good examples of what some of my sources demonstrate.  I also hope to show similarities and differences between the authors of my sources.  Also, having my lit review flow is another thing that I hope to accomplish. 

      Literature Review

         While researching, I came across numerous sources that exemplify some of the different methods used when advertising.  One example of this is what Rose Marie Williams describes as “Makeup’s Ugly Secrets.”   Makeup is very relative to me, it is one thing that I use every day of my life.   This is why becoming more aware of this industry’s advertising methods is necessary to study.  The article discusses just what the title of it is implying; unveiling the dirty secrets the makeup industry is hiding.  The cosmetic industry is a 35 billion-dollar enterprise and is one of the nations most profitable.  It spends more money on television advertising than any other business (Rose Marie Williams).  Rose Marie Williams focuses her article on how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), misleads their consumers.  The FDA neither tests nor determines the safety of cosmetics; instead the cosmetic industry is “self-regulated” through a panel of experts whom it appoints (Rose Marie Williams).  To help support her data, Rose an investigate report that was conducted in 2004 by the Environmental Working Group.  The Environmental Working Group had examined 711 lipstick products and discovered that 28% of these, contained ingredients that are associated with cancer risk (Rose Marie Williams).  Also, in June 2004 the Environmental Working Group had filed a cosmetic safety petition (Rose Marie Williams).  It was not until 2005 when the FDA issued its written response to the petition, revealing its serious deficiencies to protect public health, and failing to include warning labels on products with safety concerns (Rose Marie Williams).  According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, “884 chemicals that are available for use in cosmetics are toxic substances.  The reason why the FDA fails to let the consumers have knowledge of this is because, they have no resources for assessing the safety of the chemicals; which then causes genetic damage, biological mutation, and cancer (Rose Marie Williams). 

         The cosmetics law claims that “Each ingredient used in a cosmetic product and each finished cosmetic product shall be adequately substantiated for safety prior  to marketing.  Any such ingredients or product whose safety is not adequately substantiated prior to marketing is misbranded unless it contains the following conspicuous statement on the principle display panel: Warning – The safety of this product has not been determined” (Environmental Working Group).

         The Environmental Working Group spent 2 years of reviewing more than 20, 000 product labels, and failed to find one that displayed this warning (Environmental Working Group).  The FDA admits that it has little if any authority to enforce provisions of the law requiring manufacturers to “substantiate the safety of products being sold (Environmental Working Group).

        Similar to Rose Marie Williams article on “Makeup’s Ugly Secrets,” the United States Food and Drug Administration seems to say otherwise, according to their “Summary of Regulatory Requirements for Labeling of Cosmetics that are Marketed in the United States” (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).  The FD&C Act defines cosmetics as “articles intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body’s structure or functions (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).  The FD&C states that they prohibit the distribution of cosmetics that are “adulterated or misbranded,” meaning that the labeling is false or misleading, if it does not show the required labeling information, of it the container is made or filled in an unreliable manner (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).   Cosmetics that may be dangerous to consumers when they are misused, must contain label warnings and directions for safe use (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).  The FD&C proclaims that “they do not require cosmetic manufacturers or marketers to test their products for safety; however, they do urge manufacturers to conduct appropriate tests to validate the safety of consumers.  The FD&C Act says that a product will not be considered “misbranded” if it contains the statement: “Warning – The safety of this product has not been determined” (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).

Works Cited

“Summary of  Regulatory Requirements for Labeling of Cosmetics Marketed in the United States.” U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. Web. 3 Mar. 2010. http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/CosmeticLabelingLabelClaims/CosmeticLabelingManual/ucm126438.htm.

Williams, Rose Marie. ”Makeup’s ugly secrets.(Health Risks and Environmental Issues). .” Townsend Letter: The Examiner of Alternative Medicine.  271-272 (Feb-March 2006): 140(3). General OneFile. Gale. Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 17 Feb. 2010 
http://find.galegroup.com/gps/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=IPS&docId=A143164538&source=gale&userGroupName=indi68545&version=1.0.