Nivea Creme Review

Nivea Creme
7.8
/ 10
Moisturizing
5.5 Humectancy icon Humectancy
10.0 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
Review

Does Nivea Creme Work?

 
According to CreamScan AI's analysis of the ingredient list, here’s what Nivea Creme has to offer:
 
  • Significant moisturizing. It has a moisturizing rating of 7.8 out of 10.

Key Benefits of Nivea Creme

 
These are the key benefits you can expect from using Nivea Creme:
 

Very Rich Moisturizer with the Right Occlusivity for Very Dry Skin

According to CreamScan analysis, Nivea Creme is highly moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 7.8 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? Significantly more occlusive. It has a moderate humectancy of 5.5 out of 10, primarily due to the substantial concentration of Glycerin (est. ≈4.0%), and a maximum occlusivity of 10 out of 10, mainly due to the high content of Mineral Oil (est. ≈9.0%) and Petrolatum (est. ≈6.0%).

This type of product, when used as a standalone moisturizer, can deliver an exceptional level of occlusive hydration that is adequate for dry to very dry skin. The occlusive profile of Nivea Creme suggests a rich, thick texture, making it perfectly suited for dry skin.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Please note that this is not a complete list of benefits. We are in the process of enhancing our AI model to incorporate anti-pigmentation, exfoliation and anti-acne ratings.

Things to Be Aware Of: Nivea Creme

 
CreamScan AI identified a few things to consider before adding Nivea Creme to your skincare routine:
 

Best for Very Dry Skin - May Be Too Thick for Other Skin Types

With exceptional occlusivity, this product is optimal for moisturizing dry and very dry skin but may be too thick for other skin types, including normal, and especially combination and oily skin.

If you have oily, combination, or normal skin and are considering purchasing this product for the first time, it might be a good idea to try a sample before buying.

If It’s Your Only Moisturizer, It’s Better When Paired with Some Humectants

An ideal moisturizer for any skin type should balance the right level of occlusivity (depending on skin type) with a significant amount of humectants, while Nivea Creme contains a moderate level of humectants.

People with dry skin would definitely benefit from adding more humectants to their moisturizing routine beyond what this product offers. If this is your only moisturizer, it may be worth including a humectant-rich product, such as a serum, in your skincare routine.

Pros & Cons of Nivea Creme

 
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of Nivea Creme to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine:
 

Pros:

  • Provides the right level of occlusivity to moisturize dry to very dry skin

Cons: 

  • May feel too rich and thick on skin types other than dry
  • Ideally needs to be paired with extra humectants for optimal moisturizing efficacy

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
70
9
6
4
3
2.5
2
1.5
1.3
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Water
Function:
Origin:
Mineral Oil
Function:
Origin:
Petrolatum
Function:
Origin:
Glycerin
Function:
Origin:
Microcrystalline Wax
Function:
Origin:
Lanolin Alcohol
Function:
Origin:
Paraffin
Function:
Origin:
Panthenol
Function:
Origin:
Magnesium Sulfate
Function:
Origin:
Decyl Oleate
Function:
Origin:
Octyldodecanol
Function:
Origin:
Aluminum Stearates
Function:
Origin:
Fragrance
Function:
Origin:
Citric Acid
Function:
Origin:
Magnesium Stearate
Function:
Origin:
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Function:
Origin:
Methylisothiazolinone
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
5.5
4
1.5
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
28.5
9.0
6.0 x 2
3.0
2.5
2.0
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
7.8
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 5.5 10
5.5
4
1.5
Occlusivity All occlusives 28.5 20
10.0
9.0
6.0 x 2
3.0
2.5
2.0
Moisturizing rating
7.8
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
4
1.5
All humectants 5.5 10
5.5
All humectants
5.5
4
1.5
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
9
6 x 2
3
2.5
2
All occlusives 28.5 20
10.0
All occlusives
28.5
9.0
6.0 x 2
3.0
2.5
2.0
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
None
Total
0
None
Anti-wrinkle rating
0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
None
All antioxidants 0 3 No
All antioxidants
0
None
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
1.5
All soothing 1.5 5 No
All soothing
1.5
1.5
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Water
Est. %70
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Mineral Oil
Est. %9
Function
Origin
Mineral OilAlso known as liquid paraffin, it is an amazing moisturizer (the second most occlusive one after Petrolatum). It is also an excellent emollient that fills the micro-cracks on the surface of the skin, making it appear smoother. Mineral oil is considered safe.
Petrolatum
Est. %6
Function
Origin
PetrolatumAlso known as Vaseline, this is the most powerful occlusive moisturizer and at least twice as effective as other occlusives. This is why we multiply the petrolatum score by 2 when calculating the Occlusivity of the product. Petrolatum is not comedogenic.
Glycerin
Est. %4
Function
Origin
Glycerin

The most popular moisturizing ingredient in the world. It is a powerful humectant – cheap yet very effective.

Microcrystalline Wax
Est. %3
Function
Origin
Microcrystalline WaxA white, highly purified, solid substance consisting of petroleum hydrocarbons. It is used in skincare as a strong occlusive and emollient similar to Petrolatum, and also as a formula helper that thickens and stabilizes the product.
Lanolin Alcohol
Est. %2.5
Function
Origin
Lanolin AlcoholAn emollient and occlusive moisturizing mixture of fatty alcohols obtained from lanolin, a substance from sheep wool. It is also used as a formula helper.
Paraffin
Est. %2
Function
Origin
ParaffinParaffin is a petroleum-based, very oily, emollient and extremely occlusive mixture of purified hydrocarbons, also known as mineral oil. Depending on the molecule's size, it can either be a liquid, a solid, or anything in between. To learn more about liquid paraffin and its effects on our skin, read here.
Panthenol
Est. %1.5
Function
Origin
PanthenolA popular soothing and moisturizing derivative of vitamin B5. Panthenol is particularly beneficial for dry, flaking, burned, or damaged skin. It is used to alleviate the symptoms of a rash, dermatitis, eczema, chapped lips, and sunburn.
Magnesium Sulfate
Est. %1.3
Function
Origin
Magnesium SulfateA naturally occurring mineral that is commonly used in skincare products as a bulking agent. It helps to control the viscosity of products by making them thicker.
Decyl Oleate
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Decyl OleateA vegetable-derived or synthetically produced ester that feels velvety and makes the skin feel soft. It is non-greasy and helps reduce stickiness in formulas and improve spreadability.
Octyldodecanol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
OctyldodecanolAn emollient fatty alcohol that spreads easily without leaving a greasy residue on the skin. It is also used as a solvent and dispersing agent for other ingredients.
Aluminum Stearates
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Aluminum Stearates
Fragrance
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
FragranceUnder trade secret law, manufacturers have the right not to disclose what exactly went into the fragrance and use the unspecific word Fragrance or Parfum instead. Many fragrances are highly allergenic.
Citric Acid
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Citric AcidA gently exfoliating AHA that helps to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. In comparison to other AHAs, citric acid has been shown to be one of the least effective. It is also very commonly used as a stabilizing and pH-controlling agent.
Magnesium Stearate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Magnesium StearateA multifunctional ester that thickens and prevents clumping.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
MethylchloroisothiazolinonePartners in crime, methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone are preservatives that usually come as a package deal. These preservatives are effective but have reports of irritation and are now used mostly in wash-off products where the contact time is lower.
Methylisothiazolinone
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
MethylisothiazolinoneA synthetic preservative often paired with methylchloroisothiazolinone. It has been reported to cause some irritation, which is why it is mostly used in wash-off products.