Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Nivea Crème German Version versus Nivea Crème American Version .

Last updated on February 28, 2024. Published on October 26, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin and sensitive skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, oils, parabens or silicones

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

General Moisturizer German Brand Germany
General Moisturizer German Brand Germany

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Price

Shop

Buy Crème

Shop

Buy Crème

Starts at $1.39

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Nivea Crème 21 ingredients

Nivea Crème 17 ingredients

alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Nivea Crème 21 ingredients

Nivea Crème 17 ingredients

Benefits

Hydrating
Reduces Irritation
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema

Benefits

Hydrating
Reduces Irritation
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Rosacea
Eczema (3)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 1.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Emollient, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Paraffinum Liquidum is also known as liquid paraffin. It is a type of highly refined mineral oil.

Like other oils, Paraffinum Liquidum has emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture within, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.

Paraffinum Liquidum does not irritate the skin and is non-comedogenic. However, this ingredient may not work well for those with oily skin or fungal acne.

If you have concerns about using this ingredient in your routine, we recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Paraffinum Liquidum

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 2.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 4.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

A complex combination of organic alcohols obtained by the hydrolysis of lanolin and is classified as a fatty alcohol.

Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as traditional alcohols.

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 5.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 6.

5
What it does: Perfuming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Paraffin is a solid created from petroleum. The term 'paraffin' can also refer to either petroleum Jelly or mineral oil.

It has natural occlusive properties which can worsen oily skin. Due to its petrolatum base, this ingredient is not fungal-acne safe.

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 6.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 7.

6
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Panthenol (also referred to as pro-vitamin B5) is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin.

lt is a humectant, meaning that it helps the skin attract and retain moisture.

Another benefit is the anti-inflammatory abilities. This means that it's great for sensitive, irritation-prone skin.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

Learn more about Panthenol

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 7.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 8.

7
What it does:
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Magnesium Sulfate is a salt. It can be naturally found in sea water or mineral deposits.

In cosmetics, Magnesium Sulfate is used to thicken a product or help dilute other solids. It is a non-reactive and non-irritating ingredient.

You might recognize Magnesium Sulfate as epsom salt, or the bath salt used to help relieve muscle aches.

One study shows magnesium deficiency may lead to inflammation of the skin. Applying magnesium topically may help reduce inflammation.

Learn more about Magnesium Sulfate

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 8.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 9.

8
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Decyl Oleate comes from decyl alcohol and oleic acid.

Decyl Oleate is an emollient. It helps moisturize the skin by creating a thin barrier on top to prevent moisture from escaping.

This ingredient may not be fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Decyl Oleate

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 9.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 10.

9
What it does: Emollient, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol. It is primarily used to enhance the texture of products.

As an emulsifier, Octyldodecanol helps prevent the oils and waters from separating. It also prevents ingredients from creating foam when shaken.

Octyldodecanol is created by reducing fatty acid to an alcohol.

Due to its high molecular weight, it does not get absorbed into the skin.

Learn more about Octyldodecanol

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 10.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 11.

10
What it does: Emollient, Emulsion Stabilising

We don't have a description for Aluminum Stearates.

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 11.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 12.

11
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 12.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 14.

12
What it does: Cosmetic Colorant, Moisturising
Community Rating: Disliked

Magnesium Stearate is a salt that is 2 parts stearic acid and 1 part magnesium.

It is a white powder that can be used to add bulk and color to products by binding to oil ingredients.

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 13.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 15.

13
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Nivea Crème German Version contains this as ingredient number 21.

Nivea Crème American Version contains this as ingredient number 13.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

Nivea Crème 21 ingredients

Nivea Crème 17 ingredients

14% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
76% are disliked or very disliked
10% have no rating yet
18% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
76% are disliked or very disliked
6% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Nivea Crème 21 ingredients

Nivea Crème 17 ingredients

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Nivea Crème 21 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating

Nivea Crème 17 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 12 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Nivea Crème German Version.

See 12 alternatives

We haven't detected any alternatives for Nivea Crème American Version.

Loading similar comparisons...