Eye creams tested: These are the test winners from ÖKO-TEST

Women in their mid-20s are considered the target group of the anti-wrinkle industry. The focus is on combating the causes rather than the symptoms. However, treatment is excessive at this age. Those who protect their skin from sun exposure with creams at a young age can achieve more. Sun exposure is considered one of the main causes of premature skin aging.

ÖKO-TEST has examined 22 eye creams priced between 1.95 euros and 31.80 euros. All of them promise to smooth the skin and successfully combat wrinkles. ÖKO-TEST also asked the manufacturers to provide evidence of the effectiveness of their anti-aging promises

The result: If it is purely about the ingredients, the majority of the creams are recommendable. Nevertheless, none of the eye creams in the test achieved the grade “very good”. However, according to ÖKO-TEST, it cannot be credibly proven whether the products can actually keep their promises. You can read all the test results and the complete ranking in the complete ÖKO-TEST article, which you can also download as a Single item (2.50 euros) can purchase.

ingredients
In addition to the effect, the content of the product is also crucial for eye creams. ÖKO-TEST was able to test the majority of the creams, but some of the products received poor test results due to questionable ingredients.

The primary focus is on perfumes, which can irritate the skin, particularly due to their allergenic fragrances. One example is the substance hydroxycitronellal. If you want to avoid such ingredients and the associated consequences for the sensitive skin around the eyes, it is better to use unscented creams.

But even if you don’t have allergies, you should avoid creams that contain perfumes. Some fragrances, especially butylphenyl methylpropional, also known as Lilial, can have completely different consequences. Animal tests have shown that Lilial can have reproductive toxic effects on users – but the effects on humans have not yet been proven. Nevertheless, ÖKO-TEST is consistent here and has given eye creams with Lilial a lower rating.

Before buying an eye cream, you should take a close look at the ingredients. Organic halogen preservatives such as chlorphenesin can also cause skin irritation. In addition, some creams contain silicones, i.e. liquid plastic, which are not only unhealthy for the skin, but also harmful to the environment if they end up in the wastewater. It is always worth taking a closer look at the small print on the packaging.

durability
If you think that the expiration date only plays a role for food, you are wrong. It is also important to pay close attention to the expiration date for cosmetic products, especially eye creams. Otherwise, germs can have unpleasant consequences that can be avoided by simply looking at the packaging.

Opinions differ on the question of whether eye cream is useful. On the one hand, we have the cosmetics industry, which wants to convince us at all costs that we cannot live without eye cream. On the other hand, we have those who doubt the effectiveness of eye care, and not without reason.

During our research, it became clear that the reasons for using eye creams are actually quite sensible. Our skin around the eyes is much thinner than the rest of the skin on our face. According to the manufacturer, a conventional face cream is not sufficient to optimally care for this particularly sensitive area. In addition, this area is particularly active and is subject to a lot of stress. This means that wrinkles develop more quickly.

However, the long-term effect of the eye creams tested by ÖKO-TEST has neither been confirmed nor refuted. The suppliers were unable or unwilling to provide insight into long-term studies, which is why it is impossible to evaluate the actual, long-term effect.

It is clear that the eyes need to be cared for, but whether you need a special eye cream for this is up to you. Eye creams can be useful in many ways, as they often contain nourishing oils and more sensitive ingredients that prevent skin irritation. However, if you come to the conclusion that you can do without eye cream, make sure that the face cream you use is free of perfume and other questionable ingredients.

To achieve good and long-term results in preventing and reducing wrinkles, the cream should be applied in the morning and evening. If you forget to do this in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, there is no need to panic. The way you apply the eye cream is much more important. Experts advise against simply smearing the cream around the eye; instead, you should gently tap it in with your index or middle finger. This not only helps the active ingredients penetrate the skin better, but also reduces swelling, similar to lymphatic drainage.

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* This article was created by CHIP authors and is based on the results of the article “Test eye creams: old fool!” by ÖKO-Test. The content is based on the March 2022 version. You can read the full article buy onlineThe CHIP test center was not involved in the investigation.