Can anti-wrinkle eye creams really do the magic and turn the clock back to your tender-skinned youth?
The Consumer Council jointly with ICRT (International Consumer Research and Testing) has put to test a total of 8 anti-wrinkle eye creams available in the market locally.
The object is to assess their efficacy in reducing wrinkles and fine lines near the eye areas.
This is the first test of its kind by the Council on a cosmetic product often heavily advertised to the beauty-conscious consumers. So, just how effective can they be?
The test involved a group of between 9 and 11 trial users for each product over a six-week period. The users, aged 35 to 65, were mostly Caucasian and non-smokers, applying the cream twice a day - in the morning and evening.
High-definition photos were taken before using the product, an hour after the first application and after 6 weeks of use.
Five expert panelists then evaluated the photos and judged whether there had been any visible improvement in the length and depth of wrinkles near the eye areas.
Neither the users nor the panelists knew which cream was being used.
The verdict: on average, the anti-wrinkle eye creams tested could achieve at best only slight improvement in wrinkle reduction, and none came close to completely eliminating the appearance of wrinkles.
The test showed that the effects of even the best-performing eye creams seemed to vary from individual to individual, improving wrinkle for some but not for others.
Their cost also varied vastly from a low $106 to a high $867 per 10g (or ml) but cost is no indicator of effectiveness.
The 3 top performers in the test, categorized as "slightly more effective" in wrinkle reduction, were priced respectively at $106, $107, and $433 per 10g (or ml).
4 products were categorized as of "average wrinkle reduction" and 1 "slightly less effective".
In the report were offered a few sure ways to minimize eye wrinkles:
- Wear sunglasses, a hat or use an umbrella when outdoors.
- Apply also sunscreens to the face and the eye areas; some eye cream products may contain sunscreen ingredients.
- Avoid excessive exposure to UV radiation, such as sunbath and sun tanning facilities.
- Do not smoke.
- Always have good rest and a balanced diet.
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