When I was growing up, there were a few skincare products that could always be found in my motherâs vanity, including Aquaphor Healing Ointment, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, and last, but certainly not least, Nivea Creme. I knew if I reached into the navy blue jar Iâd feel the rich, buttery cream and smell the classic floral scent, and back in the day this made me feel luxurious. Itâs been years since Iâve used Nivea Creme, but after reading about a case study that demonstrated how Nivea Creme performed better than Crème de la Mer a $345 cream, if you arenât familiar, I had to find out more about the thatâs exactly what Iâm going to cover in this Nivea Creme review. Iâll give you all the details on the key ingredients in this formula, as well as the research that supports or doesnât support their use in skin care. Iâll also highlight some Nivea Creme reviews from real customers so that you can get a better idea of how this cream performs. Is Nivea Cream Worth The Money?A common question about this brand is if the products are worth the cost. In our opinion, Nivea products deliver value for money, but take a look at other brands that donât require you to sacrifice your precious money. We recommend brands that are committed to developing clean yet effective products. One brand is Carrot & Stick, a clean skincare brand that perfectly balances the gentle nurturing of plants with the powerful results of innovative science. Carrot & Stick intro bundles deliver great value for money because you can bundle 3 full-size products worth up to $240 for $88. Is Nivea Creme Right For You?Before I get into the details, hereâs the TL;DR if you just want to know whether or not Nivea Creme is right for you. Key ingredients? Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Lanolin Alcohol, Paraffin Skin type? Recommend for all skin types; ideal for dry skin Texture? Thick cream Fragrance? Yes Cruelty free? No Cost? Depends on where you purchase $ USD for oz on EWG Rating? 4 What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2023?What Are The Key Ingredients in Nivea Creme?In order to determine how well Nivea Creme performs, Iâll have to evaluate the key ingredients in this formula. Letâs get Nivia Creme lacks tried-and-true active ingredients like vitamin C and retinol. If youâve tried Nivia Creme and havenât seen results, you may want to consider products that combine innovative science with tried-and-true active ingredients. One brand we recommend is Carrot & Stick. Occlusives Create a Physical Barrier to Lock in MoistureThe majority of the Nivea Creme formula consists of occlusives like mineral oil, petrolatum, lanolin alcohol, and paraffin. These ingredients create a physical barrier on top of the skin. They feel thick and heavy after application since they are not absorbed into the to a publication in the journal Clinical Medicine & Research, the barrier created by the occlusive agents prevents evaporation of the skinâs natural moisture and increases skin hydration by causing buildup of water in the stratum corneum the outermost layer of skin. Ultimately, this results in soft, moisturized skin. While many people worry about these thick occlusives clogging pores, they are actually hereâs the catch If you arenât cleaning your skin properly or if youâre using products with comedogenic ingredients underneath, then itâs possible that the occlusives in Nivea Creme will trap them into the skin and lead to why itâs vital to follow a proper skincare routine and avoid comedogenic ingredients, especially if you have acne-prone skin. Of note, since Nivea Creme includes lanolin alcohol, it is not suitable for those with a lanolin Draw Much-Needed Moisture Into The SkinNivea Creme also contains two humectants glycerin and panthenol provitamin B5. A humectant has a molecular structure with several hydrophilic water loving groups, such as hydroxyl groups OH and/or amine groups NH2. These groups hydrogen bond with water, essentially âgrabbingâ it and holding it on the pull water from the dermis to the epidermis and stratum corneum in order to hydrate the upper layers of skin. In addition, humectants can draw water vapor from the air to help moisturize the skin if the humidity is over 50 Fragrance Blend A Major Red Flag!In my opinion, fragrance in skincare is a major red flag, especially synthetic fragrance ingredients. This is because all fragrance ingredients whether natural or synthetic impart scent through a volatile reaction, and this natural reaction almost always causes a sensitizing reaction on the use of synthetic fragrance ingredients can be a problem because the brand can use a proprietary blend of chemicals to create the fragrance. On average, this consists of 30 to 50 chemicals but it can have as much as 200 components. Want to know the worst part? The brand does not have to disclose which chemicals they use on the label. They are allowed to list this blend as âFragrance Parfumâ on the ingredient a 2018 study by Womenâs Voices for the Earth discovered that in over 3,000 chemicals reportedly used for fragrances, 1,242 were chemicals of concern â and that included at least 7 possible carcinogenic cancer-causing agents. Related Best MoisturizersHow to Use Nivea Creme?Smooth Nivea Creme over face, hands, and body as needed to hydrate and protect to Buy Nivea Creme?Nivea Creme is not sold on the brandâs website. You must buy Nivea Creme on third party online retailers, such as Ulta, Walmart, Target, Amazon, and more. Itâs also available in drugstores throughout the United States. How Much is Nivea Creme?The cost of Nivea Creme will depend on where you purchase the product. For instance, Nivea Creme costs $ USD for oz on while a ounce jar costs $ USD on is The Nivea Return Policy?Nivea does not have a return policy on their website since they do not sell products on their website and, therefore, donât accept returns. Is Nivea Cruelty Free?Nivea is not cruelty free because Nivea skin care products are sold in mainland China where animal testing is required by law. Is Nivea Creme Vegan?Nivea Creme is not vegan because the formula contains lanolin alcohol derived from sheepâs wool. Nivea Creme ReviewsThere arenât many Nivea Creme reviews on the brandâs website, so I went to to evaluate the customer reviews. After nearly 10,000 Nivea Creme reviews, this product has earned an average rating of out of 5 stars. There are many 5-star reviews for Nivea Creme from long time customers who love how well it moisturizes, even better than more expensive creams. For example, one review says, âMy mother always used this and she would have been 101 this year. Iâve used it for almost 60 years. I always get compliments on my skin. Iâvetried other expensive creams but always come back to Nivea. It just doesnât make sense to spend a lot of money on the latest fads when this is so reliable.âAnd another 5-star review says, âAs a lady of a certain age, I am very particular about what products I put on my face. Iâve purchased expensive moisturizers and drug store items, and this one is the best so far. I recently read a review comparing the ingredients of this product to those in La Mer. The ingredients are similar, but the price is not. Iâve been using this twice a day for nearly a week. I love the creamy way it goes on. It is easily absorbed and doesnât leave a film. My skin feels baby butt soft. I also use it on my hands and feet at bedtime. The price is minimal for the enormous container of product you get. This is a must buy!âHowever, there are a handful of negative reviews for the Nivea Creme from customers who found this cream to be way too thick and heavy. For example, one review says, âThis is extremely heavy on the skin. It also feels like it would block up my pores. I used it on my body, but still wasnât a fan. I donât know if I got a bad product, but it seemed old. Maybe that is just how it a similar Nivea Creme review says, âItâs like youâre trying to spread butter on your skin. It doesnât absorb for hours. Pass.âOther negative reviews comment on the fragrance in this product, as one reviewer shares, âSeems very moisturizing but canât tell for how long. The scent was so heavy I couldnât stand it.âFinal VerdictWhile Iâd like to recommend Nivea Creme as a basic moisturizer for those with dry skin, I cannot recommend this product due to the inclusion of fragrance. Pros Affordable Petrolatum, humectants, and occlusives are beneficial ingredients Many positive Nivea Creme reviews Cons Formula contains a synthetic fragrance blend Very basic formula that wonât do anything else besides moisturize Not suitable for those with lanolin allergy Some people find it to be too thick and/or greasy What Are Some Alternatives to Nivea Creme?If youâre looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin. ReferencesWomenâs Voices for the Earth âUnpacking The Fragrance Industryâ 2018