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Chances are, you didn't really think you could lose weight by rubbing Nivea's skin lotion on your belly and thighs. But now even the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says the company has gone too far, ordering the maker of the cream to pay $900,000 and saying it can no longer claim in ads that regular use of its product Nivea My Silhouette! skin cream can reduce your body size.
In one such TV ad, a woman getting dressed after applying the cream to her stomach and thighs discovers that an old pair of jeans now fit, while a voice-over intones "New Nivea My Silhouette! with Bio-Slim Complex helps redefine the appearance of your silhouette and noticeably firm skin in just four weeks." The company also allegedly purchased sponsored search results so that when people typed "stomach fat," "Nivea slim silhouette," or "thin waist" into Google, they got results from ads implying that Nivea My Silhouette! could tone their stomachs, thin their waists, and help them slim down.
Bottom line: "The real skinny on weight loss is that no cream is going to help you fit into your jeans," said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz in a press release. We couldn't agree more. Save your money and your sanity—don't buy body creams that make dubious health claims. Stick with the tried-and-true weight loss strategy: diet and exercise. For more help, see our recently updated diet Ratings and treadmill Ratings, as well as our advice on how to control your weight.
Source
FTC Settlement Prohibits Marketer from Claiming that Nivea Skin Cream Can Help Consumers Slim Down [Federal Trade Commission]
—Ginger Skinner
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