Determinants of Purchase Decisions toward Influencer-Promoted Organic Creams among Students on Social Media
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37535/Keywords:
Social media influencers, organic creams, consumer behaviour, purchase decisionsAbstract
This study examines the determinants of purchase decisions toward influencer-promoted organic creams among female university students on social media in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study examines the social media platforms through which students most frequently encounter influencer-endorsed organic cream advertisements and factors shaping purchase decisions, and the challenges associated with influencer marketing within Nigeria’s beauty industry. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining a descriptive survey and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were obtained from 380 female students drawn from Chrisland University and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), using a structured questionnaire administered via Google Forms. Qualitative data were generated through in-depth interviews with five organic skincare industry experts and analysed thematically. The findings indicate that TikTok and Instagram are the most prominent platforms for influencer-endorsed organic cream advertising, with their visually rich and interactive features significantly enhancing audience engagement. Purchase decisions were largely influenced by perceived product effectiveness, peer endorsement, and ease of access to purchase links embedded in influencer content. The study concludes that social media influencers play a significant role in shaping organic cream purchase behaviour among female university students; however, their influence is largely dependent on perceived authenticity, transparency, and relevance to consumer needs. The study recommends that marketers prioritise TikTok and Instagram for influencer campaigns, emphasise authentic product testimonials, and promote ethical advertising practices to strengthen consumer trust and improve marketing outcomes in Nigeria’s beauty industry.
References
Al-Mu’ani, L., Alrwashdeh, M., Ali, H., & Al-Assaf, K. T. (2023). The effect of social media influencers on purchase intention: Examining the mediating role of brand attitude. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 7(2023), 1217–1226. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2023.5.003
Amin, M. (2005). Social science research: Conception, methodology and analysis. Makerere University Printery.
Alkan, Z., & Ulas, S. (2023). Trust in social media influencers and purchase intention: An empirical analysis. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 13(1), e202301. https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/12783
An, G. K., Ngo, T. T. A., Tran, T. T., & Nguyen, P. T. (2024). Investigating the influence of social media influencer credibility on beauty product purchase behaviours: A case study from Vietnam. Innovative Marketing, 20(3), 261–276. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/im.20(3).2024.21
Anam, A. (2024). Authenticity in influencer marketing: How to find authentic influencers. Sproutsocial. https://sproutsocial.com/insights/authenticity-in-influencer-marketing/
Andonopoulos, V., Lee, J., & Mathies, C. (2023). Authentic isn’t always best: When inauthentic social media influencers induce positive consumer purchase intention through inspiration. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 75, 103521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103521
Ananthsai, N. D., Vivekanandhan, & Muthu, K. H. (2023). A Study on the Influence of Social Media on the Purchase of Skin Care Products.
Ao, L., Bansal, R., Pruthi, N., & Khaskheli, M. B. (2023). Impact of social media influencers on customer engagement and purchase intention: A meta-analysis. Sustainability, 15(3), 2744. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032744
Araujo, C. J., Perater, K. A., Quicho, A. M., & Etrata, A. (2022). Influence of TikTok video advertisements on Generation Z’s behaviour and purchase intention. International Journal of Social and Management Studies, 3(2), 140–152.
Azeta, T., Drita, A., & Brunela, T. (2024). Accessing the TikTok Influencer Marketing on Consumer Behaviour: An Econometric Examination. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 14, 346. http://dx.doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2024-0048
Breves, P., Liebers, N., Abt, M., & Kunze, A. (2021). The perceived fit between Instagram influencers and the endorsed brand: How influencer–brand fit affects source credibility and persuasive effectiveness. Journal of Advertising Research, 59(4), 440–454. http://dx.doi.org/10.2501/JAR-2019-030
Brown, V. (2024). The Future Face of Marketing: TikTok Beauty Influencers and High School Consumer Behaviour. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.13749.08167
Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Carr, C., & Hayes, R. (2014). How sponsorship disclosure impacts consumer response to endorsements: The moderating role of prior familiarity. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 14(2), 99–112.
Castillo, R. A. V., Jaramillo, C. Z. C., & Sy, L. S. (2022). The effectiveness of social media influencers in the cosmetic and skincare industry to the purchase intention of the Generation Z Filipinos. Journal of Business and Management Studies.
Cheah, C. W., Koay, K. Y., & Lim, W. M. (2024). Social media influencer over-endorsement: Implications from a moderated-mediation analysis. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 79, 103831. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2024.103831
Chin, J. Y. (2019). The Effect of Social Media Influencers Featured in Beauty Care Products Advertisements on Purchase Intention among UCSI University Students. Jurnal Pengajian Media Malaysia / Malaysian Journal of Media Studies, 21(2), 103–116.
Coutinho, F., Dias, Á., & Pereira, L. (2023). Credibility of social media influencers: Impact on purchase intention. Human Technology, 19, 220–237. http://dx.doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2023.19-2.5
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE
Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4.
Freberg, K., Graham, K., McGaughey, K., & Freberg, L. A. (2011). Who are the social media influencers? A study of public perceptions of personality. Public Relations Review, 37(1), 90–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2010.11.001
Gani, M. O., Hiran, R., Muhammad, R., Vikas, G., & Anisur, F. (2022). Effect of social media influence on consumer’s purchase intention of organic beauty products: the role of customer’s engagement and generativity. International Journal of Spa and Wellness, 5(3), 1–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/24721735.2022.209629
Getahun, H. (2024). What is 'underconsumption core'? A new trend on TikTok aims to get Gen Z to buy less. Africa Business Insider. https://africa.businessinsider.com/retail/what-is-underconsumption-core-a-new-trend-on-tiktok-aims-to-get-genz-to-buy-less/2edbddx
Gesmundo, M., Jordan, M., Meridor, W., Muyot, D., Castano, M. C., & Bandojo, A. (2022). TikTok as a Platform for Marketing Campaigns: The effect of Brand Awareness and Brand Recall on the Purchase Intentions of Millennials. Journal of Business and Management Studies, 4, 343–361. https://doi.org/10.32996/jbms.2022.4.2.27
Guerrero, K. J. (2023). An Analysis of TikTok's Digital Marketing Capabilities and Its Effectiveness for Brands and Businesses Across Different Industries. Theses, 532. https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/532
Hasan, S., Zahid, H., & Qayyum, A. (2024). Influencer authenticity and intention to co-create brand value: an investigation of central and peripheral pathways. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2393236
Horton, D. & Wohl, R. R. (1956). Mass communication and para-social interaction: Observations on intimacy at a distance. Psychiatry, 19(3), 215–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1956.11023049
Jide, O. T. (2022). Social Media Influencer Marketing: Impact on Perceived Authenticity, Trust, and Purchase Intention Amongst Female Cosmetic Consumers in Nigeria (Master's thesis, National College of Ireland). Retrieved from http://trap.ncirl.ie/
Kaplan, A. M. & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons, 53(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003
Kayode-Adedeji, T., Okechukwu, I., & Oyedepo, T. (2024). Consumers’ Perception of Social Media Influencers: A Study of Skincare Brands in Nigeria. Proceedings of the 11th European Conference on Social Media (ECSM 2024), 401–410.
Keller, K. L. (1993). Conceptualizing, measuring, and managing customer-based brand equity. Journal of Marketing, 57(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224299305700101
Khwela, N. P., Msosa, S. K., & Ntshangase, B. A. (2024). Social Media Influencers and Their Role in the Purchase Pattern of Products Among Females: Gender Aspects of Business Leadership in the Skincare Industry. Business Ethics and Leadership, 8(4), 173–185. https://doi.org/10.61093/bel.8(4).173-185.2024
Kim, D. Y., & Kim, H. Y. (2021). Trust me, trust me not: A nuanced view of influencer marketing on social media. Journal of Business Research, 134, 223–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.05.024
Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2016). Marketing management (15th ed.). Pearson Education.
Lee, J. E., Hwang, J., & Yoo, C. (2021). Active engagement on social media enhances consumer trust in influencers. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 55, 91–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intmar.2021.01.012
Lin, X., Fan, W., & Zhao, K. (2018). Modeling the role of social media influencers in consumer purchase decisions: The mediating effect of parasocial relationships. Computers in Human Behaviour, 93, 115–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.10.022
Liu, F., & Wang, R. (2024). Fostering parasocial relationships with virtual influencers in the uncanny valley: Anthropomorphism, autonomy, and a multigroup comparison. Journal of Business Research, 186, 115024. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.115024
Liu, X., & Zheng, X. (2024). The persuasive power of social media influencers in brand credibility and purchase intention. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11, 15. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-02512-1
Maharani, S., & Suprayogo, D. (2024). The role of parasocial interaction as a mediator in the influence between trust and beauty influencer expertise on purchase intention (study on beauty influencer Abel Cantika). World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 22(2), 2152–2162. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.22.2.1596
Masuda, H., Han, S. H., & Lee, J. (2022). Impacts of influencer attributes on purchase intentions in social media influencer marketing: Mediating roles of characterizations. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 174, 121246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121246
Ogunyombo, O. E., Oyero, O., & Azeez, K. (2017). Influence of social media advertisements on purchase decisions of undergraduates in three Nigerian universities. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 9(2), 244–255. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320905607
Pechrová, M., Lohr, V., & Havlíček, Z. (2015). Social media for organic products promotion. AGRIS On-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, 7(1), 41–50.
Ruggiero, T. E. (2000). Uses and gratifications theory in the 21st century. Mass Communication and Society, 3(1), 3–37. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327825MCS0301_02
Schiffman, L. G., & Kanuk, L. L. (2010). Consumer behaviour (10th ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall.
Teng, S., Khong, K. W., & Goh, W. W. (2014). Conceptualizing persuasive messages using ELM in social media. Journal of Internet Commerce, 13, 65–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15332861.2014.910729
Tuten, T. L., & Solomon, M. R. (2017). Social media marketing. Sage Publications.
Ünalmış, E., Dirsehan, T., & Erdoğmuş, İ. E. (2024). Consequences of influencer-created content on influencers’ authenticity in the beauty and personal care industry. Journal of Marketing Communications, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527266.2024.2371833
Weismueller, J., Harrigan, P., Wang, S., & Soutar, G. N. (2020). Influencer endorsements: How advertising disclosure and source credibility affect consumer purchase intention on social media. Australian Marketing Journal, 28(4), 116–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ausmj.2020.03.002
Whiting, A., & Williams, D. (2013). Why people use social media: A uses and gratifications approach. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 16(4), 362–369. https://doi.org/10.1108/QMR-06-2013-0041













