Assessment of ocular irritation potential of moisturizing and sunscreen cosmetic creams marketed in Algeria using the HET-CAM test.

Cosmetic products applied around the eyes, such as moisturizing and sunscreen creams, can come into contact with the conjunctiva, potentially causing irritation due to the thinness of the ocular epithelium. These products, widely used by the general population, remain in contact with the skin for extended periods. In this study, 41 cosmetic creams marketed in Algeria (moisturizers and sunscreens) were evaluated using the Hen's Egg Test on the Chorioallantoic Membrane (HET-CAM), an alternative to the Draize test. The results showed that 36.6 % of the tested creams induced irritation, with varying degrees of severity. Moisturizing creams were more frequently associated with irritation (44.0 %) compared to sunscreens (25.0 %). Among products intended for children, 44.4 % elicited an irritation response, and 60 % of irritating products carried the precautionary statement "avoid contact with eyes." These findings provide the first data on the ocular irritation potential of cosmetic creams available in the Algerian market and contribute to regional safety assessment by identifying specific product categories with irritant potential.