News + Trends

Stiftung Warentest: Face creams from the drugstore beat high-priced brand products

19.3.2024

Translation: machine translated

A study by Stiftung Warentest shows that quality is not always a question of money: According to the test, the inexpensive Lidl product, for example, moisturises your skin better than the €20 face cream from Lancôme.

Dry skin? A moisturiser could help. The Stiftung Warentest has now analysed how well different products care for the skin in a new study of 14 face creams: Each one was applied daily for a fortnight by 22 test subjects. The moisturisation of the cream was checked using a measuring device that determines the water content of the skin layer. The first time was measured before the first application and the last time 16 hours after the last application.

Expensive versus cheap

The costs of the 14 products ranged from 60 euros (Ringana) to 1.65 euros (Cien) per 50 millilitres. There were surprises when it came to the price-performance ratio: it was noticeable that the test results of more expensive products were no better than those of the cheaper ones. Instead, the own brands from Lidl, Rossmann and Dm - from the lower price segment - all scored "good". Their scores were between 2.0 and 2.2, while the last places were taken by expensive brands. The most expensive cream tested, at 60 euros per 50 millilitres, was Ringana's "Fresh Cream Rich". It landed in fourth-last place with a score of 2.3. It was followed by Cetaphil for €11.30 per 50 millilitres (2.8) and the "Nø Cosmetics All-In Barrier Cream" for €17 per 50 millilitres (2.9). Lancôme brought up the rear with a score of 3.5 at a price of €23.10 per 50 millilitres.

Face creams

Lancôme Nutrix

50 ml, 24h cream

Test winner and midfield

Independently of the price, only the first place winner was able to moisturise the skin "very well". This was the "Aqua Crème" from Neutrogena. In addition to its StiWa score of 1.9, it is also rated positively in our shop: our customers almost always gave it five stars.

Neutrogena Aqua cream (50 ml, 24h cream)

Face creams

CHF11.90 CHF238.–/1l

Neutrogena Aqua cream

50 ml, 24h cream

Some creams from the mid-price category also landed in the solid midfield between the drugstore products. You can also find some of them in our shop: These include the "Sebamed Face Cream Urea Acute" (2.1), the "Weleda Skin Food Light" (2.1) and the Lavera Basis Sensitive (2.2).