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In its new issue, the magazine 60 million consumers reviews nine slimming creams. The results are disappointing.
Sensoriality, efficiency, naturalness… For several months, the magazine 60 million consumers had nine so-called slimming creams tested by a panel of 28 to 30 women. The goal? Detect the real effectiveness of these creams with powerful marketing arguments. According to the magazine, the result is not conclusive.
Blind and anonymized tests
To arrive at this observation, a blind test was carried out for each anonymized product with 28 to 30 panelists for 28 days. Their thigh circumference was measured in the laboratory on D-day, 14 days later and on the 28th day. Finally, a questionnaire was sent to them in order to collect their appreciation on several criteria such as thinning, smell, color, texture but also the ease of application.
The products analyzed come from the brands Weleda, Clarins, Esthederm, Elancyl, Somatoline Cosmetic, Dr Pierre Ricaud, Cinq Mondes, Garancia and Linéance.
Few convincing results
Eight years earlier, the magazine had already carried out a survey on this subject. Their first observation reveals that no real innovation has been implemented since this last survey. Regarding product formulations, these remain heavy with no less than thirty ingredients present in the compositions of slimming products.
The Cosmeto’Score, a device used to assess the risks of compositions on health and the environment, reveals relatively poor scores ranging from 6.5/20 for Linéance and Garancia creams to 12.5/20 maximum for those by Clarins and Esthederm.
If the brands do not hesitate to put forward many marketing arguments such as a thinner thigh circumference than before, this is however not the observation made by the panelists. “None of our testers got -3.6cm in 28 days”, can we read in the magazine. Allegations which can however be sanctioned. The magazine recalls that in 2014 L’Occitane had to pay $450,000 to the American supervisory authority for false promises.
The effectiveness of massage
After having the testers try a placebo and realizing that it was at the top of the rankings, it would appear that the effective solution would ultimately be massage. It is by massaging that the blood circulation is activated and it is then possible to observe results on the quality of the skin and possibly on the circumference of the thighs. But, the products having the quality of easily penetrating the epidermis, they do not require a massage of several minutes. Thus, impossible to realize real results.
If the slimming products then do not seem to keep their promises, the trial conducted reveals that the panelists were still able to appreciate some results. Among them, we speak of smoother, firmer and more hydrated skin with an improvement in orange peel skin for Clarins, Dr Pierre Ricaud and Somatoline Cosmetic products. A note specific to odors was also valued for the Esthederm, Weleda and Elancyl creams.
Slide: Slimming creams: you are going to be a hit!