Impact of Cosmetic Products on The Development and Clarity of Latent Fingerprints on Different Non-Porous Surfaces

he present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of cosmetic products on the development and clarity of latent fingerprints deposited on different non-porous surfaces. A total of 120 fingerprint samples were collected from ten volunteers under control and cosmetic-treated conditions. The fingerprints were deposited on glass, plastic, and metal surfaces and developed using the powder dusting technique. The clarity and visibility of the fingerprints were evaluated using the CAST Grading Scale. The results of the study demonstrated that cosmetic products significantly influence the quality of latent fingerprints. Among the cosmetic products tested, lotion produced the clearest fingerprints due to the presence of moisturizing oils that enhanced the transfer of fingerprint residues onto the surfaces. Moisturizing cream also showed good fingerprint clarity, although slightly lower than lotion. Sunscreen samples produced comparatively lower clarity scores, which may be attributed to the thicker formulation that can lead to smudging or distortion of ridge patterns. The study also revealed that the type of surface plays an important role in fingerprint development. Glass surfaces consistently produced the clearest fingerprints because of their smooth and non-porous nature, which allows fingerprint residues to remain intact. Plastic surfaces showed good clarity, while metal surfaces produced relatively moderate fingerprint quality. Overall, the findings of this research indicate that both cosmetic products and surface characteristics influence latent fingerprint development. Understanding these factors is important for forensic investigators when collecting and interpreting fingerprint evidence from crime scenes.

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