Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream versus Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK .
Last updated on February 01, 2024. Published on February 07, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both day moisturizers. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain SPF
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin
Free From
They both do not contain any oils, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Day Moisturizer
Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.
Day Moisturizer
Day Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin during the daytime.
Ingredient Info
Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream 31 ingredients
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 26 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream 31 ingredients
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 26 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream 31 ingredients
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 26 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Alcohol Denat. • Cyclomethicone • Tapioca Starch • Ethylhexyl Salicylate • Methylpropanediol • Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate • Cetearyl Alcohol • Glucosylrutin • Isoquercitrin • Calcium Pantothenate • Magnesium Chloride • Zinc Oxide • Sodium Chloride • Cetearyl Isononanoate • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Dimethiconol • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane • Carbomer • Sodium Polyacrylate • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Trisodium EDTA • Sodium Hydroxide • Phenoxyethanol • Benzophenone • Benzyl Alcohol • Linalool • Geraniol • Citronellol • Parfum
Water • Glycerin • Ethylhexyl Salicylate • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Alcohol Denat. • Cetearyl Alcohol • Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Distarch Phosphate • Glyceryl Stearate • Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate • Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid • Tocopheryl Acetate • Nymphaea Alba Root Extract • Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Ethylhexylglycerin • Hydroxyacetophenone • Tapioca Starch • Xanthan Gum • Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine • Sodium Chloride • Trisodium EDTA • Sodium Hydroxide • Phenoxyethanol • Parfum
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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 WaterNivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinNivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 2.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol and other additives. It has a low molecular weight and will evaporate quickly. This helps other ingredients become better absorbed and dry once applied.
Alcohol Denat. is volatile and may cause irritation. It helps draw out natural oils in skin and dry out your skin.
One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased irritation.
Alcohol is antibacterial by nature. This can help preserve products and increase their shelf life.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 5.
We don't have a description for Tapioca Starch.
Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 5.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 19.
Ethylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.
Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.
The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.
According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.
Learn more about Ethylhexyl SalicylateNivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 6.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 3.
Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholNivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 9.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 6.
Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.
This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.
The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.
Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideNivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 15.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 22.
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is an emulsifier and helps condition the skin. It is amino acid-based.
In higher amounts, it may act as a cleansing agent.
Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 15.
Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.
Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.
Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.
However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.
Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!
The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.
Learn more about Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneNivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 19.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 7.
We don't have a description for Trisodium EDTA.
Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 23.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 23.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideNivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 24.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 24.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 25.
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 ParfumNivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream contains this as ingredient number 31.
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK contains this as ingredient number 26.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream 31 ingredients
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 26 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream 31 ingredients
Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 26 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 5 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Nivea Daily Essentials Mattifying Day Cream.
See 5 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Nivea Refreshing Day Cream SPF 15 UK.
See 50 alternatives