Many people use a day cream to avoid dry skin on the face, especially when moving towards colder times with lower humidity. We have previously tested anti-wrinkle creams that do not live up to expectations. When it comes to day creams, the results are significantly better.
To find out how well the creams cope with the main task, we have tested each cream on 22 women with normal skin between the ages of 25 and 66 years to moisturize the skin. A total of 330 women participated in this technical part of the test. To test the creams, an area on the forearm has been lubricated twice a day for a month.
Day Creams – Best in Tests
That we do it on the arm instead of on the face is because it is easier to measure on the arm, and it gives a safer result. The moisturizing effect of each cream has been compared to a reference cream and an area of skin that has not been lubricated. The measurements have been made with a chronometer which electrically measures the skin’s fluid content.
Of the 15 creams tested, all but the most expensive, The Moisturizing Gel Cream from La Mer, have the same moisturizing properties as the reference cream. That is a good result. The cream from La Mer, on the other hand, makes only a small difference compared to not using any cream at all. This may seem remarkable considering that the cream costs $520.82 per 100 milliliters.
We have also let a test panel of 30 women try the different creams for a week in a blind test. Here, the differences between the different brands are greater than in the technical test. According to the panel, the test’s cheapest cream, Cien Aqua Moisturizing Cream from Lidl, is perceived as the most moisturizing. The Lidl cream is also the one that the test panel finds the most emollient. Together with Moisture Soft from Garnier Skin Naturals, it is the panel’s favorite.
However, the Aco Face Day cream, which receives a good grade in the technical moisturizing test, is not perceived as effective by the test panel. Even Dr. Hauschka Creme de Jour au Coming is perceived as less good by the panel when it comes to moisturizing. Together with the creams from La Mer and Lumene, it gets the worst rating in the user test.
Regarding the content of the creams, we have concentrated on whether they contain substances that are dangerous to the environment or are suspected to be endocrine disruptors. We have also looked at whether there are substances in perfumed creams that can cause allergies.
Three creams in the test, Lidls, La Mers, and Avenues, contain substances that are suspected to be endocrine disruptors – such as Cyclopentasiloxane. Therefore, we have chosen to reduce their overall rating.
12 of the 15 creams contain substances that are harmful to the environment in various ways. A common substance added in perfumed creams is the citrus-scented substance limonene, which is harmful to aquatic organisms. Several of the creams also contain disodium EDTA, which, among other things, acts as a preservative in the creams and which in nature can bind heavy metals and contribute to their spread in watercourses.
Parabens, a family of substances used as preservatives, have been active in the debate over endocrine disruptors in cosmetics. In our test, Lidl’s cream is the only one that contains parabens. Other manufacturers have replaced them with other preservatives. However, the parabens found in Lidl’s cream are approved for use in face cream.
Last Words
Some brands say that they do not contain parabens on their packaging, but this often means that they have replaced them with other preservatives that are not necessarily better for you or the environment.
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