Nivea Face Cream for Sensitive Skin
Works for
1 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 15 · 2 UV filters · Broad spectrumWeak protectionSPF under 30
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection, but it is weak. We recommend to use a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
MoisturizingPanthenol, Vitis vinifera seed oil + 6 moreStrong evidence
“Provides intensive moisture”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin, glyceryl glucoside.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: vitis vinifera seed oil, c12-15 alkyl benzoate.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy10 flagged ingredientsLow risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Glycerin~5.3–6.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinCetearyl alcohol~4–4.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholMethylpropanediol~3.4–4.2%
Tapioca starch~2.5–3.1%
C12-15 alkyl benzoate~2.1–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Enhances the product texture and makes it more spreadable. Helps reduce water loss from the outer layer of skin. Extands the shelf life by preventing bacteria growth
More about C12-15 alkyl benzoateDicaprylyl ether~1.7–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin while creating a non-greasy feel on the skin. Helps to dissolve other ingredients
More about Dicaprylyl etherSodium phenylbenzimidazole sulfonate~2–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane~1.7–2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneOctocrylene~1.4–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocryleneHydrogenated coco-glycerides~0.75–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together while creating a nice finish on the skin
More about Hydrogenated coco-glyceridesOctyldodecanol~0.6–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps to soften the skin and create a pleasant product texture and stabilize the formulation
More about OctyldodecanolGlycyrrhiza inflata root extract~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that can help lighten the skin and calm down inflammation. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals
More about Glycyrrhiza inflata root extractVitis vinifera seed oil~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
More about Vitis vinifera seed oilPanthenol~0.4–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about PanthenolGlyceryl glucoside~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can help to restore skin barrier function and soften its upper layer
More about Glyceryl glucosideCarbomer~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations
More about CarbomerEthylhexylglycerin~0.25–0.45%
Sodium stearoyl glutamate~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sodium stearoyl glutamateSodium chloride~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chlorideTrisodium edta~0.15–0.25%
Phenoxyethanol~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolPiroctone olamine~0.15–0.25%
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Tapioca starch, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, Dicaprylyl ether, Sodium phenylbenzimidazole sulfonate, Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Hydrogenated coco-glycerides, Octyldodecanol, Glycyrrhiza inflata root extract, Vitis vinifera seed oil, Panthenol, Glyceryl glucoside, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Sodium chloride, Trisodium edta, Phenoxyethanol, Piroctone olamine
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| NiveaFace Cream for Sensitive SkinYOUR PRODUCT | No7Men Sensitive Care Moisturiser | OlayRegenerist Collagen Peptide24 SPF30 day face cream | Hello SundayThe Everyday One - Face Moisturiser SPF 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 57% | 57% | 55% |
| Price | $5.27 | $13.85+$8.58 | — | $15.00+$9.73 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 6 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Butyrospermum Parkii Butter | Niacinamide | Butyloctyl Salicylate |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| SPF | SPF 15 | SPF 15 | SPF 30 | SPF 30 |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
"Nivea - Face Cream for Sensitive Skin" offers broad spectrum protection. It means that it protects from both UVA and UVB rays (you can remember UVB as "burning" sunlight - they cause sunburn. You can remember UVA rays as "aging" - they do not lead to sunburn, but they cause photodamage and contribute to early signs of skin aging and hyperpigmentation). On the negative side, the SPF of this moisturizer is not high enough. We recommend to use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily.
Because it includes good moisturizing ingredients, it can also work as a hydrating day cream.
Sunscreen filters
This sunscreen uses so-called "chemical", or organic UV filters (organic simply means that their molecules contain atoms of carbon). These filters typically give good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for sensitive skin. Here are the exact UV filters in this sunscreen: avobenzone 1.70% - 2.00% and octocrylene 1.40% - 1.70%.
Irritation risk
This product does not contain known common irritants and is suitable for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be low. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails from 2.25£ up to 4.99£ in the United Kingdom, for 17.97CA$ in Canada, for 11.99A$ in Australia and for 19.50$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 6 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulationspdfs.semanticscholar.org
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
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