A Consumer NZ test of moisturisers has found paying for a top-shelf cream doesn’t guarantee superior results.
In a test of nine moisturisers, a $13 cream outperformed a $520 dollar rival – the luxury-priced La Mer: the Moisturising Gel Cream.
Most of the creams delivered good results, providing performance on a par with the standard cream used in the test as a control. But the $520 La Mer gel cream was an exception, delivering only average results.
“If you’re looking for a moisturiser, you don’t need to splash out on a high-priced product,” said Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin. “You can find creams for less than $20 that will do the job.”
Testing measured the moisturising efficacy of the creams after four weeks of daily use. Products were blind tested by women aged between 25 and 66 years with a normal to dry skin type.
Consumer NZ is also advising shoppers not to place much store in claims products are “hypoallergenic” or “dermatologically tested”.
“There’s no standard definition of these terms. Products carrying the claims can also contain potential allergens such as fragrances and preservatives. If you have sensitive skin or want to avoid certain chemicals, your best bet is checking the ingredients list,” Chetwin said.
Moisturisers are regulated by the Cosmetic Products Group Standard. The standard requires products to display an ingredients list, a batch code and contact details for the manufacturer or supplier.
