When I reviewed Creme De La Mer, I compared it to Nivea Creme. The two have more in common than the fancy seaweed cream dares to admit. But just how similar are they? Could you just use Nivea Cream as a dupe of La Mer – and save yourself hundreds of dollars each year without compromising the youthfulness and brightness of your skin? To find out, let’s take a look at the ingredients of all three creams. No, that’s not a typo. There are two versions of Nivea Creme. The German version (sold in Europe and almost impossible to find in the US), and the US version (sold, well.. in the US). Let’s get started:
What Ingredients Do Creme De La Mer And Nivea Creme Have In Common?
MINERAL OIL TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Mineral oil gets a bad rep because it’s derived from oil. But half of the ingredients used in cosmetics are, and most of them don’t attract the same vicious criticism… And nope, they’re not dangerous. Not even mineral oil. All the nasty and toxic stuff in petroleum has been removed through a rigorous purifying process.
Cosmetic grade mineral oil is safe, and one of the most moisturizing ingredients available today. It works by creating a barrier on the skin that slows down water loss. But that’s not the only reason why it is so widely used. Mineral oil is also non-irritating and noncomedogenic (but if you use products with comedogenic ingredients, they will get trapped under the barrier mineral oil creates, and that could lead to breakouts).
Related: 5 Myths You Need To Stop Believing About Mineral Oil
PETROLATUM TO WATERPROOF AND MOISTURISE SKIN
Like mineral oil, petrolatum is derived from oil, purified and safe. It doesn’t penetrate skin, but remains on its surface, where it forms a water-repellent film that keeps skin moisturized. It also helps reduce inflammation and heal skin. But only Creme De La Mer and the US version of Nivea Creme use this ingredient. It’s why they are greasier and stickier than the German version.
GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN
It seems like every skincare product contains glycerin, doesn’t it? That’s because glycerin is a good humectant that can attract water from the environment into the skin, hydrating it. Together with mineral oil and petrolatum, it makes these thick creams godsends for dry skin.
Related: Why Is Glycerin In All My Skincare Products?
What Else Is In Creme De La Mer And Nivea Creme?
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
CREME DE LA MER INGREDIENTS
- Seaweed (Algae) Extract: La Mer’s Miracle Broth, it has seaweed extract that underwent a fermentation process to make it produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that has exfoliant properties: it can make skin look brighter, smoother, and more even-toned. But there really is no need to spend so much for it. So many products have lactic acid or other exfoliant that work better for a fraction of the cost.
- Isohexadecane: A solvent that dissolves other ingredients in the formula.
- Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Extract: A citrusy extract that makes the cream smell good, but can irritate sensitive skin.
- Microcrystalline Wax \Cera Microcristallina\Cire Microcristalline: It thickens skincare products and gives them a smooth texture.
- Lanolin Alcohol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
- Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil: Derived from sesame seeds, it creates a protective barrier on the skin that keeps moisture in, making skin softer and plumper.
- Eucalyptus Globulus (Ecalyptus) Leaf Oil: It makes the cream smell good, but it’s a common allergen that can irritate sensitive skin.
- Magnesium Sulfate: Known as Epsom salt, it thickens the texture of skincare products.
- Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed: It’s loaded with fatty acids that deeply moisturise skin.
- Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder: This plant extract is said to have collagen-boosting properties that work as well as retinol. If that were true, everyone would be using it. Just saying…
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake: a residue from the expression of oil from theseedcake of the sunlfower, it has moisturising properties.
- Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal: It lubricates skin, providing a soft feel to it.
- Sodium Gluconate: A humectant that increases moisture level in your skin while keeping the formula stable.
- Potassium Gluconate: Another humectant that increases moisture level in your skin, leaving it softer and smoother.
- Copper Gluconate: It has soothing properties that keep skin in a constant state of repair, helping it to always look its best.
- Calcium Gluconate: It has soothing properties for skin.
- Magnesium Gluconate: It makes skin softer and smoother.
- Zinc Gluconate: A preservative that keeps skincare products safe from nasty bacteria for longer.
- Paraffin: It provides a protective barrier on the skin that keeps it hydrated and safe from environmental aggressors.
- Tocopheryl Succinate: A form of Vitamin E that has powerful antioxidant benefits for skin.
- Niacin: A type of Vitamin B3, like niacinamide. It has powerful antioxidant properties.
- Beta-Carotene: Another powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals.
- Decyl Oleate: A skin conditioning agent that quickly increases skin’s moisture levels.
- Aluminum Distearate: A stabilizer and thickening agent.
- Octyldodecanol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother. It’s also an emollient that improves the texture of skincare products.
- Citric Acid: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
- Cyanocobalamin: A form of Vitamin B12, an antioxidant. It gets a yellow rating cos there’s not much proof it does much for skin.
- Magnesium Stearate: A lubricant that makes skin softer.
- Panthenol: A humectant that soothes and hydrates skin.
- Limonene: Found in citrus fruits, it makes skincare products smell great. But it must be listed separately on the packaging because it’s a common allergen.
- Geraniol: A fragrance ingredient extracted from geranium. It makes the cream smell good, but it’s a common allergen.
- Linalool: Found in citrus fruits and lavender, it makes skincare products smell good. But it can irritate skin.
- Hydroxycitronellal: It has a floral scent that makes the cream smell good. You’ve guessed it, it’s irritating.
- Citronellol: Another fragrant ingredient. Smells good, may irritate skin.
- Benzyl Salicylate: A fragrance additive. It helps the cream smell good, but it can irritate skin.
- Citral: It smells like lemon, but it can irritate skin.
- Alcohol Denat.: It thins the texture and enhances the penetration of skincare ingredients. In high doses, it can irritate skin, but it’s unlikely to do it in the trace amounts present here.
- Fragrance (Parfum): The most irritating ingredient in skincare products, it does make them smell good.
NIVEA CREME (GERMAN VERSION) INGREDIENTS
- Aqua: The main solvent in the cream, it helps to dissolve other ingredients. It hydrates skin, too.
- Cera Microcristallina: It thickens skincare products and gives them a smooth texture.
- Lanolin Alcohol (Eucerit): An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
- Paraffin: It provides a protective barrier on the skin that keeps it hydrated and safe from environmental aggressors.
- Panthenol: A humectant that soothes and hydrates skin.
- Decyl Oleate: A skin conditioning agent that quickly increases skin’s moisture levels.
- Octyldodecanol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother. It’s also an emollient that improves the texture of skincare products.
- Aluminum Stearate: A thickening agent and stabiliser.
- Citric Acid: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
- Magnesium Sulfate: Known as Epsom salt, it thickens the texture of skincare products.
- Magnesium Stearate: A lubricant that makes skin softer.
- Parfum: The most irritating ingredient in skincare products, it does make them smell good.
- Limonene: Found in citrus fruits, it makes skincare products smell great. But it must be listed separately on the packaging because it’s a common allergen.
- Geraniol: A fragrance ingredient extracted from geranium. It makes the cream smell good, but it’s a common allergen.
- Hydroxycitronellal: It has a floral scent that makes the cream smell good. You’ve guessed it, it’s irritating.
- Linalool: Found in citrus fruits and lavender, it makes skincare products smell good. But it can irritate skin.
- Citronellol: Another fragrant ingredient. Smells good, may irritate skin.
- Benzyl Benzoate: A volatile fragrance ingredient that makes the cream smell good, but is a common allergen.
- Cinnamyl Alcohol: A fragrance ingredient that contains extracts from cinnamon and balsam of Peru. It smells great, but can irritate skin.
NIVEA CREME (US VERSION)
- Water: The main solvent in the cream, it helps to dissolve other ingredients. It hydrates skin, too.
- Microcrystalline Wax: It thickens skincare products and gives them a smooth texture.
- Lanolin Alcohol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
- Beeswax (Apis Mellifera): A thicken agent that also has emollient properties for skin.
- Panthenol: A humectant that soothes and hydrates skin.
- Alcohol: It thins the texture of skincare products, but can be drying. There are enough emollients to counteract that here, but if you know your skin is very sensitive to it, be careful.
- Magnesium Sulfate: Known as Epsom salt, it thickens the texture of skincare products.
- Decyl Oleate: A skin conditioning agent that quickly increases skin’s moisture levels.
- Octyldodecanol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother. It’s also an emollient that improves the texture of skincare products.
- Aluminum Stearate: A thickening agent and stabiliser.
- Fragrance: The most irritating ingredient in skincare products, it does make them smell good.
- Citric Acid: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
- Magnesium Stearate: A lubricant that makes skin softer.
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast in your skincare products. But it can irritate sensitive skin.
- Methylisothiazolinone: Another preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast in your skincare products. But it can irritate sensitive skin.
WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?
All these creams use the same emollients and thickening agents, including mycrocrystalline wax and lanolin alcohol. This means the base of Creme De La Mer and Nivea Creme (US version) is pretty much identical.
Although super similar, Nivea and La Mer aren’t 100% identical. Creme De La Mer contains a bunch of antioxidants, which, at first sight, makes it a much better option than the cheaper Nivea Creme. Unfortunately, it’s packaged in a jar that makes the antioxidants go bad quickly. Antioxidants are very delicate ingredients and they lose a bit of their effectiveness every time they are exposed to light and air (every time you open the jar, basically).
But what about the Miracle Broth that makes Creme De La Mer so popular? It has seaweed extract that underwent a fermentation process to make it produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that has exfoliant properties: it can make skin look brighter, smoother, and more even-toned. But there really is no need to spend so much for it – especially when it works better as a single ingredient than in an algae.
The base of Creme De La Mer and Nivea Creme (US version) is pretty much identical. The main difference is that the German version doesn’t contain petrolatum, so it’s lighter.
Nivea Cream lacks the algae and antioxidants in Creme De La Mer. But, the algae can’t really exfoliate skin as claimed, and the jar packaging won’t keep antioxidants effective for longer.
Even if you use Creme De La Mer, I’d still recommend a separate antioxidant serum and a separate exfoliant. You can get Nivea + the other two products for less than the price of Creme De La Mer. Just saying…
Related: My Full Review Of Creme De La Mer
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What’s The Texture Like?
Creme De La Mer has a rich and creamy texture that takes a minute or so to absorb.
Nivea Cream has a rich and creamy texture too. The German version of Nivea Creme is the smoothest and less greasy of all of them. That’s what happens when you take Petrolatum out of the equation.
Review: My Full Review Of Nivea Creme
What’s The Packaging Like?
Creme De La Mer comes in a white jar. I don’t like it because it has antioxidants that get spoiled when exposed to light and air. It may have some antiaging properties when you first open the jar, but they won’t last too long if you leave it open.
Nivea Cream comes in a blue jar. I don’t mind it as much. There’s nothing here that can go bad quickly when exposed to light and air.
Related: Why You Should Avoid Jar Packaging
How To Use Them
Like all moisturisers, you can use them twice a day. In the morning, apply them just before sunscreen. At night, they’re the last step of your skincare routine. You don’t need to use a facial oil with these – unless you want to.
Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
I’m not a huge fan of either cream. Nivea Creme is too basic: it only moisturises dry skin. Creme De La Mer is a fancier version that’s not worth the high price tag, in my opinion. If you really need a basic moisturizing cream, go with Nivea. Why pay more when you don’t have to?
Availability
Creme De La Mer ($200): available at Creme De La Mer, Cult Beauty, Net-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Sephora, and SpaceNK
Nivea Creme (US version) ($6.97): available at Target and Walmart
Nivea Creme (German version) ($5.99): available at Boots and Superdrug
Is Nivea Creme A Dupe For Creme De La Mer?
| CREME DE LA MER | NIVEA CREME (EU) | NIVEA CREME (US) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE INGREDIENTS | Mineral oil, petrolatum, glycerin. | Mineral oil and glycerin. | Mineral oil, petrolatum, glycerin. |
| OTHER INGREDIENTS | Antioxidants and exfoliating algae. | Nothing of note. | Nothing of note. |
| TEXTURE | Rich and creamy, takes a couple of minutes to absorb. | Creamy, but lighter than the other two versions. | Rich and creamy, takes a couple of minutes to absorb. |
| PACKAGING | Jar. If you leave it open, you compromise the effectiveness of the antioxidants. | Jar, but there’s nothing that goes bad when exposed to light and air here. | Jar, but there’s nothing that goes bad when exposed to light and air here. |
| PERFORMANCE | Makes skin softer and smoother, protects it from environmental aggressors and has some antioxidant properties. But it doesn’t exfoliate skin well. | Makes skin softer and smoother and protects it from environmental aggressors. | Makes skin softer and smoother and protects it from environmental aggressors. |
| IRRITATING POTENTIAL | Low. | Low. | Low. |
So, Is Nivea Creme A Dupe For Creme De La Mer? Creme De La Mer and Nivea Creme are very similar but not exact dupes. They’re both basic moisturizers that make even the driest of skin feel soft and smooth for hours. Creme De La Mer is slightly better because it contains seaweeds that produce lactic acid, but that’s not enough to justify the high price tag imo.
Personally, I’d go with Nivea and use the money so saved to buy a AHAs exfoliant or antioxidant rich serum. And, that way, I’d still have plenty of money left to splurge on makeup. 😉
Creme De La Mer Ingredients
Seaweed (Algae) Extract , Mineral Oil\Paraffinum Liquidum\Huile Minerale , Petrolatum , Glycerin , Isohexadecane , Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Extract , Microcrystalline Wax \Cera Microcristallina\Cire Microcristalline , Lanolin Alcohol , Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil , Eucalyptus Globulus (Ecalyptus) Leaf Oil , Magnesium Sulfate , Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed , Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder , Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake , Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal , Sodium Gluconate , Potassium Gluconate , Copper Gluconate , Calcium Gluconate , Magnesium Gluconate , Zinc Gluconate , Paraffin , Tocopheryl Succinate , Niacin , Beta-Carotene , Decyl Oleate , Aluminum Distearate , Octyldodecanol , Citric Acid , Cyanocobalamin , Magnesium Stearate , Panthenol , Limonene , Geraniol , Linalool , Hydroxycitronellal , Citronellol , Benzyl Salicylate , Citral , Alcohol Denat. , Fragrance (Parfum)
Nivea Creme (German Version) Ingredients
Aqua, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cera Microcristallina, Glycerin, Lanolin Alcohol (Eucerit), Paraffin, Panthenol, Decyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearates, Citric Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Magnesium Stearate, Parfum, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol.
Nivea Creme (US Version Ingredients)
Water, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Petrolatum, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Beeswax (Apis Mellifera), Panthenol, Alcohol, Magnesium Sulfate, Decyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearate, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
I love Nivea, it’s a classic for me that I always have to have somewhere:)
Helena, it’s a nice basic cream, isn’t it?
Great article. I happen to be in Mexico City and picked up some Nivea, usually I order it from Germany, however I did notice that the mexican brand did NOT contain petrolm. any thoughts?
Rye, they probably took it out because not everyone likes to use it. But I’m sure it’s still very moisturising.
I JUST RETURNED A $500 JAR OF LA MER BECAUSE AFTER MINIMAL USE I BROKE OUT IN RED BLOTCHY RASHES PLUS BURNING AND SWELLING SKIN AND TEARING, ITCHY EYES!
I NOW USE THE GERMAN FORMULA NIVEA ON NOT ONLY MY FACE; RATHER MY BODY AS WELL WITH GREAT RESULTS AND FOR $15 FOR 13.5 OZ IN A HANDY TIN CONTAINER MAKING IT FAR SUPERIOR TO LA MER IN POSITIVE RESULTS, PRICE AND AFFORDABILITY. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT GERMAN NIVEA WAS ON THE MARKET MANY YEARS BEFORE LA MER WAS DEVELOPED AND LA MER’S INGREDIENTS ARE TOO SIMILAR TO NIVEA’S TO MAKE IT AN ORIGINAL FORMULA! I BELIEVE THE RUMOR: NIVEA WAS TWEAKED TO CREATE LA MER AS MORE THAN JUST A POSSIBILITY…TWEAKING IS COMMON PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE COSMETIC AND RETAIL INDUSTRY SO IT’S NOT SURPRISING!
Joan, sorry to hear about your awful experience with La Mer. I’m not sure which cream was made first by Nivea is the better option indeed. It does the same thing but at a fraction of the cost. Plus, it has fewer ingredients so there’s less chance it’ll irritate your skin.
I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT MY WONDER DOG GINGI; A RARE WIRE HAIR CHIHUAHUA, HAD A BREAK OUT ON HER BELLY OF ITCHY BLEMISHES. NIVEA WORKS FOR ME SO WHY NOT FOR GINGI? I CLEANED THEN APPLIED A THIN LAYER OF NIVEA OVER THE AFFECTED AREA ON GINGI’S BELLY AT NIGHT AND IN THE MORNING , LIKE MAGIC, MOST OF THE BLEMISHES WERE GONE. A WONDER CREAM FOR ALL TYPES OF SKIN FOR ALL LIVING CREATURES. ( NOT RECCOMENDED FOR FISH, OR REPTILES) …?
Joan, so glad it helped Gingi too. What a multitasking cream! 🙂
Nivea has been a wonderful cream for all your skincare needs. Especially for dry skin and hair! Can also be used on nails and can be combined with other ingredients for a facial if you wish just a little goes a long way. You will be happy always having Nivea cream handy!!
I keep coming back to Nivea, mainly because everytime I splash out on expensive moisturisers, they often irritate my skin or eyes, and never moisturises my skin like the Nivea does. Is my skin addicted to Nivea?
great review…i have used nevia only
Purva, glad you enjoyed it.
Mineral oil and petrolatum are derived from PETROL NOT FROM OIL, petrol is not good for our skin, and the skin becomes dry and sensitive if you keep using nivea stuff. It’s the worse brand after Dove.
Nora, in my neck of these woods, they are synonyms. Sorry if that confused you.
Yes, they are derived from petrol, but, they are not petrol. These both go through purifying processes at the end of which their molecular structures look different from that of petrol.. Slathering mineral oil on your skin is not the same as slathering petrol. They are two (or three in this case) different things, with different properties, and different side effects.
EVERYONE”S SKIN IS DIFFERENT AND THEREFORE WHAT’S NOT GOOD FOR YOU MAY BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER = DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. YES! PETROLEUM
DERIVITIVES ARE NOT USUALLY THE GREATEST CHOICE FOR SKIN CARE UNLESS THEY
ARE EXTRACTED AND PROCESSED SAFELY TO REMOVE ALL IRRITANTS AND NEGATIVE QUALITIES . THE MOLECULAR MAKE UP OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS CHANGE DURING PROCESSING RESULTING INTO A SAFE COMPOUND FORMULA WHICH HAS TO BE DONE IF SOLD HERE IN THE USA; WHERE THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION MUST DIAGNOSE TEST AND APPROVE ALL SKIN CREAM INGREDIENTS SINCE THEY ARE ABSORBED THROUGH THE CELLS INTO THE BLOOD STREAM! I HAVE NEVER USED DOVE SKIN BUT NO MATTER THE CLAIMS OF HYPOALLERGENIC OR NONCOMEDEMIC….THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO WILL GET A NEGATIVE REACTION TO ANYTHING NO MATTER THE CLAIMS!
Joan, couldn’t agree more. It’s not the most beneficial but it’s safe. And you’re right, everyone could get a negative reaction to anything.
Hi!
Yeah they can be purified, but they still derived from something bad like the petrol… they don’t have any good benefit for the skin…just doing an artificial barrier on the skin, which yes can keep the water in the skin tissues but it doesn’t give nothing to the skin in terms of for example fatty acids, vitamins or something that it can work good with our skin.
The big brand like Nivea, Or Dove but also some famous brand put this ingredients in the cream just because are cheap and in the most part of cases they don’t cause reactions because are neutral and they give this sensation of hydration while you apply on the skin… But your skin still dry, and if you keep using for a while and then you stop all the skin damages are going to appear, because there wasn’t nothing in it.. If your skin miss something you need to give active ingredients, possibly natural or chemical made in the right way of course.
This is my opinion.
Thank you
Nora, that is a good point. It’s true they only create a barrier on the skin, but that can be extremely helpful if your skin is very dry and needs water to stay in. Having said that, I believe they should be used together with more nourishing ingredients, like vitamins and fatty acids, that can benefit skin at a deeper level. When they are the only thing in the formula then, yes, the product is very underwhelming.
I use la mer at a friends,& Nivea at home?& wasn’t aware of their similarities till I googled as the cream consistency was similar. As I live in a mainly hot climate, I can only use in the cooler months. Both suit my sin well, but I will investigate la mer duty get in the future,& continue with Nivea . I cleanse with jojoba oil ,& leave the excess on my skin, I use baby clear zinc 50 plus by day, simple,& all seems to work
Annie, sometimes, simple is just what skin needs. But don’t waste money on La Mer. Nivea does the same thing at a fracyion of the cost.
Omg, I totally disagree. LA Mer vs a drugstore brand, I don’t think so. I tried Oil of Olay after reading so many 5 star reviews, My face literally was puffy and red after one use of the regenerative serum, moisturizer and eye cream. Sure a fraction of the cost of La Mer, but you get what you pay for. I don’t even use Nivea body lotion, the quality is poor in comparison to higher end brands. And how can you compare the ingredients in Nivea to La Mer, there are at least 15 additional ingredients listed on the La Mer brand. I use La Mer and I promise I will. not venture off again to try an cheap store brand. After the fiasco with Oil of Olay, I gently washed my face and applied my La Mer products and honestly within a couple of hours, my face was relieved from the puffiness and the redness subsided. I know some people can buy a drugstore brand and have no problem, but to say it’s better just isn’t true.
Roseyk, I have to disagree with you here. Just because you had a bad experience with Oil of Olay, it doesn’t mean that all drugstore products are inferior to La Mer. La Mer uses the same ingredients all other companies, both high-end and drugstore, do. Yes, there are some duds in the Oil of Olay line but I like them because they are one of the first brands that used niacinamide, which is one of the best things you can use for your skin. There is nothing nearly as good in La Mer. In fact, the base is simple mineral oil and petrolatum! They form a film on the skin that prevents moisture from evaporating, but that’s all. Compare that with niacinamide, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots, treat acne, hydrate skin and soothe irritations. Of course, even the best products don’t work for everyone. There is always the chance you can be allergic to something, which is what I think happened to you. But the truth is that there isn’t anything special in La Mer. It’s the first five ingredients that make up the bulk of the product. In La Mer, these 5 are the standard stuff used by the cheapest brands. All that extra stuff in La Mer is present in way too low amounts to do anything. Keep using it if it works so well for you but it’s wayyy overpriced for what you’re getting.
I do think so! Just because something is sold at a higher price doesn’t always necessarily mean it’s better. Have you never heard of brands charging ridiculous prices for basic, sometimes useless products just for their famous name? I agree that just because you have one bad experience with a product doesn’t make them all bad. I for example broke out from a Lancôme creme… is your head blowing up yet? Because that is an pricey high end brand.
I have been through a ton of moisturizers before, including a overhyped Kiehls one, and always keep coming back to the good old Nivea. It has never ever caused any issues, in fact my skin has never looked any better since I started using it.
Don’t be a consumer sheep- not all that costs a bomb means it’s the best for you. A lot of the times you pay for the name, other times it’s a hit or miss.
All I know is that La Mer with its fancy price tag is never replacing my trusty good old Nivea. Sometimes the most basic ingredients are the magic!
Bee, well said! I have to say I’m not the biggest fan of Nivea either because it is a bit too basic for my needs, but La Mer is just an overpriced version of it. There really is no need to splurge that much for it when you can get the same thing at a much cheaper price.
I came across your review when I googled “are their similarities between creme de la mer and nivea?” I got a sample of la mer over the holidays with a neiman marcus order and just started using it (a very generous sample at .25 ounces…a .5 ounce jar is $85). I noticed an improvement in my skin almost overnight and was very surprised, and so happy I went and bought the 1 oz size while NM was doing another gift with purchase promotion (plus I had a $50 gift card to soften the blow of the price a little). I don’t mind spending money on skin care, but it has to work. Anyway, so I’m using this cream at night and thinking the scent is so familiar, I’ve smelled it before, but couldn’t think of what it was. The days go on, I’m smelling it and smelling it and finally it came to me…it smells exactly like Nivea!! My grandmother was from Germany and used it on all of us as kids from head to toe and everywhere in between (literally…lol). I thought to myself “did I just pay $178 for Nivea???” The cream has been working for me so I’m not going to be too upset about it, but I must be the last one to know about the major similarities in the two! Thanks for your article, it answered my questions 🙂
Caroline, thanks for sharing your story. The jars and marketing are so different, it can be deceiving. But what’s inside is very similar. If you like and it works for you, don’t feel bad about it. But if you want to save a lot of money, Nivea will work just as well. 🙂
I have extremely dry skin after a shower. I was using ponds for dry skin and I didn’t feel that was enough. My mom told me to try nivea. I bought the little tin for a buck. It’s a little too thick for my taste so I mix it with coconut oil. I keep both jars next to each other. I don’t have the patience to pat at the nivea until it’s absorbed either. Lol I finally purchased the large jar last week. I’m glad I made the switch. You can tell that I’m not a teen anymore, I’m 31, but my skin looks younger than some 20 year olds. I don’t have wrinkles around my eyes, the creases on my heck have lessened a lot. I love the combination that I use.
Lorena, thanks for sharing. So glad it’s working well for you.
lorena,
i really think u shouldnt use coconut oil for dry skin. i have used it for years because of all the hype and i really was in love, the smell especially i love. i would buy huge gallons of it and use it for everything, my whole body head to toe and all types of cooking and frying….and now im paying the price w/ dry skin that im repairing w/ avocado oil, shea butter, hyaluronic acid and much more. im not sure if its safe for me to eat but i will NOT use it on my skin ever again! i would literally make me wake up w/ dry arms and hands that no amount of lotion would help (thats cuz i was using a coconut-based lotion not to mention the straight oil everywhere). its a very astringent oil which means its DRYING. if u suffer from acne it will make it worse though maybe not in the very beginning, for me it took like 2 years….point is i will only use it for my hair (maybe). goodbye coconut oil 🙁
Hello Gio – thanks for the article comparisons. Now, I feel more informed which I know will help my decision making when it comes to skin care. I agree with all the opinions stated here whether they are pro/against…one thing though we must always remember – as one stated here, “different strokes for different folks” and we all have to consider age, hormones…etc…ALL are factors that help determine what products/brands work best for EACH of us.
It took until my mid-40’s to realize that I really need to pay attention and take care of myself overall. I’ve always coveted the Crème de la Mer but was always out of financial reach for me but have seen quite GREAT results from my aunt who swears by it and have been using for the past 30+ years and she looks d@mn good! 😉 Now she offered me a 1 oz jar (her BFF works for Este Lauder so she gets really good discount) and I will say that it does what is claims and really pretty much all of the products I use. The one thing I do that I don’t hear a discussion about is that I do interchange my products routinely and has worked very well for my skin. I find that if I use a certain product on a continuous basis, it somehow looses its efficacy…please correct me if I’m wrong with my thinking but that’s just how I noticed with my skin.
Brands I have in my “beauty box” – all year round are – Crème de la Mer (sparingly and only at night), Cerave moisturizing cream, Nivea crème (German version – I don’t know why I chose that but I prefer the consistency of it compared to the US version) and LXMI (Nilotica Shea Butter/relatively new on the market – the brand I mean not Nilotica) – ALL works awesome for MY combo skin – oily with dry patches and sometimes eczema. The amount I use is all dependent how dry my skin is. All of the products I use have skin loving ingredients that helps with age, sun/toxins protection and hydration/healing components. With all of that sai, I just wanted to share my experience as well as say Thank You for the comparison breakdown.
Grace, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m not surprised Creme de La Mer works so well for your dry skin. It’s a very moisturizing cream and, like the other creams in your stash, really helps a ton to keep skin soft and smooth. My only concern with Creme de La Mer is that it’s pretty low in antioxidants. When skin is well-hydrated, it looks plumper, which in turn makes wrinkles look smaller. But, without retinol, vitamin C, antioxidants etc you can’t significantly up the production of collagen or fight the free radicals that cause wrinkles. I’m not saying you should give up Creme de La Mer if you love it, but the products you mentioned don’t contain as many antioxidants as your skin needs. At the very least, add an antioxidant serum to your stash.
Some products may lose efficacy overtime… if something changes. For example, if the weather conditions change or hormones trigger your skin to produce more or less oil, changing your skin type, then you need to tweak your skincare routine accordingly, too. 🙂
Thanks Gio. Appreciate your reply.
Grace, my pleasure.
Thanks for the article! Does Nivea creme (german) contain any ingredients that may clog pores?
Jules, if used alone, not it doesn’t. But it has paraffinum liquidum, so if you apply any products with comedogenic ingredients before Nivea Cream, the cream will trap them into your skin, increasing your risk of breakouts.
I have used both Nivea and La Mer. Currently have them both in rotation. I love Nivea for these winter months. Provides enough moisture for the harsh cold that typically make my skin dry. La Mer is very expensive for me, so I use sparingly. It’s great for blemishes, cuts, abrasions from waxing, threading, microdermabrasion or laser treatment. 3-5 days use the La Mer. Marks are gone and you look fabulouss! I love them both for different reasons.
Chichat526, thanks for sharing your experience. Glad to hear they both work well for you. 🙂
Hello there, thank you for the great review. However, you did not mention that Crème de la Mer has Algae as it’s first ingredient so it cannot be compared to Nivea creme which first ingredient is water! We know that the ingredients are listed based on the highest concentration, meaning that La Mer has as its main component Algae (which according to their website is fermented a certain way), whereas Nivea only uses water. I am not saying the Algae alone justifies the price (it’s still expensive according to me) but at least it has a different major ingredient…so it’s a bit unfair to compare the two 🙂
Candice, I understand where you’re coming from. It’s not always possible to find dupes with 100% identical ingredients. Sometimes, something that’s close enough will have to do. And as algae is hardly a miracle worker and the other ingredients are pretty much the same, I think both creams will give you the same results. Either way, Creme De La Mer definitely isn’t worth its outrageous price tag.
My mom turns 64 next month and has only used Nivea cream (RELIGIOUSLY…multiple times a day, she carries the little tins everywhere she goes) for as long as I can remember. Granted she has never worn any sort of skin makeup and only washes her face with warm water, but she was a sun worshipper for YEARS (im talking using COOKING OIL to tan darker and laying out for HOURS + tanning bed use) and never did nor does she now use sunscreen and her skin looks amazing!!! I’m sure there’s a “good genes” factor there but I think the Nivea part is huge. I use it also but saw Kate Hudson post about how she has used La Mer since she was 13 so I was like, “maybe I need this in my life??!”. I’m 37 and I have some smile lines I don’t like. When I saw the price tag tho I about fell over!!!! Thanks for this…I think I’ll stick with my giant pot of Nivea!!
Beth, if it works why change? Nivea’s definitely the better of the two
Hi, I work with skinnare and make-up and have Done that for 27 years. I have tried so many products and brands within these years and have to say that cheaper brands like Loreal work just as good as lancome and biotherm. My favorite right now is Rodial that have really good and affektive products.
My dad is 75 and have used Nivea cream since I was a child and his skin is really good.
I use it on my dry hands and on my lips during the night and I love it.
Petra, I agree, a lot of the stuff at the drugstore is just as good as high-end skincare. There’s a reason why you rarely see skincare reviews from Dior, Chanel, Lancome etc. They make great makeup but the skincare leaves a lot to be desired 🙁
I’ve used so many moisturizers for my dry, sensitive, red skin. I recently tried La Mer for the first time (I’m 38) and will never use anything else. It has truly changed my skin. Not saying it’s right for everyone, but it has made a world of difference for me.
Nicole, glad it’s working well for you. 🙂
I’ve used La mer for a year and yes it’s a very good cream, BUT I agree not magical and not very different from other creams, including Nivea. Usually the difference in skin appearance is coming from the diligent use of a new and richer product, not so much the product it self. I would recommend using sea weed extract which is pretty affordable , which is apparently the secret inside the cream. So in other words a drop of the extract in a bit of Nivea is offering about 100% or more the benefits of the famous creme La Mer. Same thing like all the famous expensive products containing hyaluronic acid which is a very cheap product on its own, and anyone can mix a bit in their products. Also people should look around for similar products, like Weleda skin food which is also a thick cream containing sea weed extracts.
Loved the article.
Lily, thanks for sharing. I completely agree, no need to pay more when you can get the same thing for much less.
Hi Gio!
Great article. Was wondering if the German or US version iof Nivea is better? Appreciate it!! Xx
Michelle, the German version is better just because it contains less irritating preservatives.
Oh boy lol!!! I found a little tub of this at a college rental I cleaned and it looked familiar, it was brand new unopened, last night I tryed it. OMG. Ok so then started research, I can afford 100 a month on this, but then I came across this forum and am DEFINITELY trying the nivea, I haven’t found ever a cream I like, I’m 50 but people say I’m 39, I take care of my self, 100 a month is one thing but then I saw 500 and up seriously what a rip! Today after leaving the hotel I only had on the lamer cream and got a compliment, I liked how I looked Dewey, and also had a few blemish spots that flaked off just now, I live on the beach in Miami too and in the sun a lot so this is all new, I’m getting the Nivea tomorrow and compare them, I hope the Nivea works!
Kai, I’m sure you’ll like the Nivea too and it’s so much cheaper!
where can i buy Nivea german version
Kelly, try looking for a German website that ships worldwide.
You can find the German version at Smallflower. https://www.smallflower.com/ I just ordered it based on this review. A friend sent it to me and said she’s been using it and really likes it.
Kathryn, thanks for sharing!
Nivea is older than La Mer (1945) so can’t see how they are dupes. Nivea ( Beiersdorf founded in 1882) hit the market in 1911. So La Mer imo is the copycat.
Nivea creme is the only creme i used including as a lip balm and post shave balm ect… I can’t stand the men version even if I am a bloke. Lol
Paul, I use the word dupe loosely for products that have very similar formulas. Nivea Cream and La Mer aren’t that different. The cheaper version will do just as well.
All you Ladies out there – NIVEA from Germany is the thing to use! I put it on my face and neck every nite, and all over during colder months – I used to break out in rashes from dry skin and now NO MORE RASHES. And my skin is softer than it ever was – my husband told me that my skin is perfect and line-free, even my neck (where women always have problems). I cannot believe how this crème works – I found it on the internet and ordered it right away after reading rave reviews (only for the one made in Germany!) and now would not live without it! Ladies – don’t waste your money, try the German version today!! And the price is incredibly inexpensive!!
I have used both n frankly when I put la mer I thought it smelled n felt like Nivea. Once that went into my head I couldn’t shake the feeling off!!
Thankfully it was a free sample, so didn’t hurt that much 🙂
Well I purchased cream de la Mer for $510 dollars and I was using it, but then I heard la Mer is the same as Nivea so I went ahead and purchased Nivea cream from Germany and compared both by putting Nivea cream on the left side of my face and la Mer on the right side of my face for one week. I’ve been asking people randomly if there’s any difference on my face and I monitored my face very closely. La Mer is exactly the same as Nivea both side of my face looked and felt the same. I’m not sure why La Mer is charging all this money. Maybe people would like to believe if they paid more it works better so they keep fooling and charging us.
Is it possible to get the German Nivea Creme here in the USA?
Cheryl, I’m not sure. Have you tried ordering online?