Nivea Men Active Energy Face Care Gel

Nivea Men Active Energy Face Care Gel

Efficacy37/100IrritancyHigh
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Works for

1 of 2 advertised claims delivered

Moisturizing
5 ingredients credited for this claim
Good support
What the product description says
“✓ Revitalizes and refreshes instantly ✓ Instantly moisturizes ✓ Reduces signs of fatigue ✓ Improves skin texture ✓ With caffeine and guarana from 100% natural sources ✓ Absorbs quickly”
Source: German Drugstore

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin.

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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~4.2–6.2%
Cetearyl alcoholKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~2.4–3.7%
Dicaprylyl carbonate· EmollientEffect: LowHelps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin~1.7–2.5%
Isopropyl palmitate· EmollientEffect: LowHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a thicker product consistency~1.9–2.9%
TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.55–1.25%
Anti-aging
1 ingredient credited for this claim
Weak support
What the product description says
“✓ Revitalizes and refreshes instantly ✓ Instantly moisturizes ✓ Reduces signs of fatigue ✓ Improves skin texture ✓ With caffeine and guarana from 100% natural sources ✓ Absorbs quickly”
Source: German Drugstore

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.

TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.55–1.25%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
6 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Linalool + 4 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 14 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Alcohol denat.Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve productsHigh~3–4.5%est.
Paullinia cupana seed extract—High~0.85–1.3%est.
LinaloolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.4%est.
LimoneneA common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heatHigh~0.05–0.3%est.
CitronellolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.25%est.
Alpha-isomethyl iononeA fragrance. Potential allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.2%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.05–0.1%est.
Tapioca starchUsed to create a thicker product consistencyMedium~3.7–5.6%est.
Isopropyl palmitateHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a thicker product consistencyMedium~1.9–2.9%est.
CaffeineMight be helpful in neutralizing free radicals. Can have a dehydration effect that might somewhat decrease the look of puffy eyesMedium~1–1.5%est.
Tocopheryl acetateA more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.Medium~0.5–1.1%est.
Sodium sulfateUsed to improve the product consistency and stabilize formulationsMedium~0.3–0.75%est.
EthylhexylglycerinA preservativeMedium~0.15–0.7%est.
Ci 42090A colorant (dye)Medium~0.01–0.1%est.
Comedogenic
2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
2 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Isopropyl palmitateHelps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a thicker product consistency3/5~1.9–2.9%est.
Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~2.4–3.7%est.
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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Glycerin~4.2–6.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

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 Glycerin
Tapioca starch~3.7–5.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Tapioca starch
Alcohol denat.~3–4.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products

More about Alcohol denat.
Cetearyl alcohol~2.4–3.7%
Key activeComedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol
Isopropyl palmitate~1.9–2.9%
Comedogenic 3/5Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a thicker product consistency

More about Isopropyl palmitate
Dicaprylyl carbonate~1.7–2.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin

More about Dicaprylyl carbonate
Sodium polyacrylate~1.6–2.3%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying

Used to create a gel-like product texture, as well as to stabilize emulsions

More about Sodium polyacrylate
Caffeine~1–1.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
De-puffingAnti-oxidation

Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals. Can have a dehydration effect that might somewhat decrease the look of puffy eyes

More about Caffeine
Paullinia cupana seed extract~0.85–1.3%
Irritant · high
Tocopherol~0.55–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-inflammatoryMoisturizingAnti-aging

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Tocopheryl acetate~0.5–1.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.

More about Tocopheryl acetate
Maltodextrin~0.45–1.05%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Mattifying

Used to stabilize the product formulation and can help absorb oil

More about Maltodextrin
Xanthan gum~0.4–0.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Xanthan gum
Sodium sulfate~0.3–0.75%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Used to improve the product consistency and stabilize formulations

More about Sodium sulfate
Ethylhexylglycerin~0.15–0.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A preservative

More about Ethylhexylglycerin
Phenoxyethanol~0.15–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Linalool~0.1–0.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Linalool
Limonene~0.05–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat

More about Limonene
Citronellol~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Citronellol
Alpha-isomethyl ionone~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Potential allergen and can be irritating

More about Alpha-isomethyl ionone
Parfum~0.05–0.1%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Ci 42090~0.01–0.1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

A colorant (dye)

More about Ci 42090
Ingredient list view

Water, Glycerin, Tapioca starch, Alcohol denat., Cetearyl alcohol, Isopropyl palmitate, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Sodium polyacrylate, Caffeine, Paullinia cupana seed extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl acetate, Maltodextrin, Xanthan gum, Sodium sulfate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol, Alpha-isomethyl ionone, Parfum, Ci 42090

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Amazon USPrice as of 10/12/2026 12:10 GMT
$9.99
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German Drugstore
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 5 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
    Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
  5. 5
Nivea Men Active Energy Face Care Gel
NiveaMen Active Energy Face Care Gel

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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.