Undeserved Prices

The grandly-named Missha Time Revolution Immortal Youth Cream is one of the few products that actually shows a light effect.
The grandly-named Missha Time Revolution Immortal Youth Cream is one of the few products that actually shows a light effect.

 

SK-II Stem Power Cream, which costs 129,000 won (US$125), is actually less effective at fighting wrinkles than ordinary lotions. And Soseonbo Cream of Sulhwawoo and Lift Cream of Lancome, 150,000 won (US$145) each, do not have many differentiating functional features from normal lotions.

Consumers Korea announced such results on August 4 after quality tests on 12 anti-wrinkle creams sold in Korea, together with International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT) members.

They examined the wrinkles around the eyes of 30 women aged between 31 to 70, putting anti-wrinkle cream on one side of their faces and ordinary lotion on the other side for four weeks.

Two test criteria were gradual wrinkle improvements over time and the relative effectiveness of anti-wrinkle cream compared to normal lotions. Consumers Korea divided the effects into six levels, the lowest being 0.5 points and the highest 5.5 points.

SK-II Stem Power Cream, 129,000 won (US$125), received the lowest score out of 12 products at 1.5 points. This cream in fact was less effective at getting rid of wrinkles than normal lotions, except it had gradual improving effects over time.

Six creams received the second lowest score of 2.5 points. They were Sulhwasoo Soseonbo Cream (150,000 won, US$145), Lancome Rénergie Multi-Lift Cream (150,000 won, US$145), Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream (110,000 won, US$106), Isaknox X2D2 Wrinkle A440 Cream (85,000 won, US$82), Shiseido Wrinkle Resist 24 Day Cream (74,000 won, US$71), and Loréal Revital Lift Day Cream (35,000 won, US$33). These products had no discernable difference from ordinary lotion in wrinkle improvement.

Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15 (70,000 won, US$68), Vichy Lift Active Day Cream (58,000 won, US$56), and Weleda Pomegranate Firming Day Cream (42,000 won, US$40) scored 3.0 points, having slightly better effects than ordinary lotion in wrinkle improvement.

Two products, Missha Time Revolution Immortal Youth Cream (60,000 won, US$58) and Eucerin Hyaluron Filler Day Cream (56,000 won, US$54), scored the highest at 3.5 points. These products are definitely better than normal lotions in wrinkle improvements.

Products with high quality but relatively cheap prices are Loréal Revital Lift Day Cream (35,000 won, US$34), Eucerin Hyaluron Filler Day Cream (56,000 won, US$54), Vichy Lift Active Day Cream (58,000 won, US$56), and Missha Time Revolution Immortal Youth Cream (60,000 won, US$58).

An associate of Consumers Korea suggested, “When selecting a cosmetics product, consider your skin type first. Do not jump into expensive products expecting better effects. And once you buy one, try to use it for more than two months.”

Copyright © BusinessKorea. Prohibited from unauthorized reproduction and redistribution