Nivea Creme was the first moisturiser I ever used.
I wish I could tell you it was love at first swipe. All it did was give me a bad breakout after another. Would its lighter sibling, Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream, do the same?
I’ve put it to the test to find out:
What’s In Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream?
GLYCERIN
When your skin needs hydration, turn to glycerin. It’s a moisture magnet that attracts and binds moisture to the skin.
Your skin then uses the extra moisture to thrive. It plumps up so fine lines and wrinkles look smaller. It gets softer to the touch. And it glows as if it lit from within.
Related: Why Is Glycerin In ALL My Skincare Products?
PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM
This is the Latin name for mineral oil. Yep, the one derived from oil.
It’s not as bad as it seems. Mineral oil undergoes a strict purifying process that removes ALL toxic impurities from it. The end result is 100% safe and non-toxic.
Mineral oil is so popular because it’s a great occlusive. This means it creates a barrier on the skin that slows down water loss. Remember all the extra moisture glycerin is bringing in? Mineral oil won’t let it out.
But why is Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream using mineral oil instead of other occlusives? It’s dirt cheap. If you want to keep the price this low, you don’t have many options.
P.S. Mineral oil itself doesn’t cause breakouts. But it can trap dirt and comedogenic ingredients underneath your skin – and that can lead to breakouts. This cream has Myristyl Myristate, a comedogenic ingredient that could give you pimples. For me it didn’t, probably because there’s not too much of it here anyway.
Related: 5 Mineral Oil Myths You Need To Stop Believing Right Now
ALCOHOL DENAT
Alcohol Denat is one of the most misunderstood ingredients in skincare.
Critics say it’s terribly drying and irritating. They’re right… to an extent. Alcohol Denat can be problematic when used alone. But pair it with moisturising ingredients (like glycerin and mineral oil) and you can easily counteract its drying effects.
Having said that, if you have very dry or sensitive skin that can’t tolerate Alcohol Denat (some skin types just don’t like it), then Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream isn’t for you.
So why is Alcohol Denat here anyway? It thins the texture so it’s not too heavy.
Related: What Does Alcohol Free In Skincare Really Mean?
Texture
It’s lighter than Nivea Cream. The soft, not too thick texture feels refreshing on the skin and glides on easily.
A little goes a loooong way. Be careful not to apply too much – this stuff takes a few minutes to sink in and leaves a slight greasy residue behind.
Fragrance
It has a forgettable, clean scent that’s not too strong.
How To Use It
It’s a multitasker you can use on your face, body, and hands. When used as a face moisturzer, it’s the last step of your skincare routine at night. In the morning, you can use it after serums but before sunscreen.
Performance & Personal Opinion
I have combination skin and Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream didn’t exactly make every area happy… It hydrated my dry cheeks enough to make them soft and smooth for hours, I’ll give you that.
My oilier t-zone? There, the cream went totally overboard. It was sooooo moisturising, my oily patches were shinier than ever. If you’re looking for a mattifying cream, this so ain’t it.
Another con? It has no antioxidants to fight premature wrinkles. That’s cool if you’re a teenager, but if you’re approaching your mid 20s, this cream may be too basic for you.
Who Is This For?
I’d recommend this cream only to teenagers with dry skin.
Who Isn’t This For?
Anyone else. Especially anyone with oily skin or interested in anti-aging.
Packaging
If you decide to give it a go, the cream will last you for ages. Look at how huge that jar is. But jars ain’t the most hygienic… Wash your hands well before dipping your fingers in.
Does Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| The light formula with Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil is quickly absorbed and refreshes the skin. | Yes! |
| Provides refreshing body and face care in one handy pot. | Yes, it’s a multitasker. |
| A highly effective, revitalising and moisturising cream that leaves your skin soft and supple. | It’s very moisturizing, I’ll give you that (even too much, for most skin types). |
Price & Availability
Do You Need It?
Nope. This is a moisturiser I’d personally leave on the shelf.
[penci_review]
Dupes & Alternatives
- Revolution Skincare Hydration Boost Lightweight Hydrating Gel Cream ($10.00)
- The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA ($5.80)
- YourGoodSkin Instant Dryness Rescue ($9.99)
- Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Cream (£13.00)
Have you tried Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Ingredients
Aqua, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Myristyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Stearic Acid, Myristyl Myristate, Cera Microcristallina, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Coco- Glycerides, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lanolin Alcohol (Eucerit?), Polyglyceryl- 2 Caprate, Dimethicone, Sodium Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Citronellol, Alpha- Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum.
Hmm…I’ve never tried Nivea soft, but I am a fan of the original Nivea cream as a night moisturizer. Not so thrilled to hear about some of the potential effects of its ingredients, though.
.-= Emilita´s last blog ..Casual Mens Clothes Shopping Adventure =-.
Hmm, I was actaully planning tobuy this, but if it left your skin oily, I guess I shall stay away from it. Maybe this is better for just the hands and body? The ingredients are a bit “eh” to me.
.-= Dee´s last blog ..Lavshuca 2009 Autumn Collection =-.
I am thinking hard at the moment, this product looks familiar! Either I’ve tried it on testers or I’ve just seen this, can’t seem to remember..thanks for the review though! I have to look again!
i have something the same frm nivea too. although they say its for face and body, i tried it once on my face and it became horribly oily and sticky. so i guess..it’s better for them to just market it as body cream right?
.-= prettybeautiful´s last blog ..How to maximize the use of ONE cotton pad =-.
Emilita: I’ve tried quite a few products from Nivea but never the original cream. I’m glad it works well for you. As for this one, the ingredients are one of the (many) reasons I gave it such a low rating. I don’t like the fact it contains Alcohol Denat as that is one of the few alcohols that should be avoided in skincare products. It’s not very beneficial for the skin and has too many side effects.
Dee: I think it could work for the face if the skin there is normal or dry. But if it is oily or has a few oily patches it won’t work for you. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend products containing Alcohol Denat to anyone. Even if it may not dry or irritate skin, it can always cause free radical damage which is bad for skin.
Nikki: you’re welcome and I hope you remember. 🙂 I don’t like the ingredients used in this, but if you don’t mind that, the cream does a good job at hydrating dry skin. 🙂
prettybeautiful: that’s too bad, I’m sorry! I guess it depends on your skin type. If the cream is too rich or oily it may react bad to oily/combination skin. This one definitely works best for my bad than my face though 🙂
hi, i was linked here by one of your comments on makeupandbeautyblog!
i actually happen to love this cream, bad ingredients or not. i have sensitive dry-combo skin (tight in the cheek/eye area and a little oily in the t-zone), and this has moisturized well, even in the summer months, no breakouts or itchiness! i prefer it in the tube packaging you can get in north america though, because it’s more hygenic. my mom has also been using it for years – she’s 57 this year but everyone thinks she’s in her 40s. asians age well but i think the cream is the secret.
anyhow, enough rambling – i do love your blog 🙂 i’m still relatively new to the beauty blogging scene, so i don’t get very regular comments on mine, but you’re welcome to drop by when you have a minute!
.-= lareinarumbera´s last blog ..Quick Beauty Tip of the Day – Fighting Sticky Lip Glosses =-.
Lareinarumbera, hi and thanks for your comment. I’m glad you like my blog and I hope to see you around often! I’ve had a look at your blog and I like it a lot! It’s hard to get comments at the beginning, but stick to it and keep delivering good content and people will start commenting more often 🙂
I’m not fond of the ingredients of this cream but if that doesn’t bother you then it does a good job at moisturizing dry skin and keeping it hydrated fo most of the day. I don’t think I saw the tube packaging here, but that is definitely better and more hygenic than the jar. 🙂
i use this stuff for my face. it does leave an oily layer, but after like a few days (maybe less) of using it my face felt SOO damn soft, i was shocked. i really like it.
Romey, I’m glad you enjoy it. It does make skin soft indeed. I just wish it didn’t contain alcohol though.
Nivea…one of the best moisturisers I have ever used…great on hands, face, anywhere that you can suffer from dry skin. Great in the winter months to prevent a chapped face from the biting winds and wonderful on hands under rubber gloves (when washing up)…afterwards your hands feel smoother.
Meryl, I’m glad it’s working well for you. My sister likes it too but sadly it just won’t work for me.
nivea creme is a bit oily but.. after using it for few days, my skin got smoother and baby soft! I jus luv it!
rimjhim, I’m glad it made your skin soft. I just wish it didn’t contain alcohol, as that’s really bad for skin.
I have been using nivea soft moisteriser for a number of years and have found it to be a great product, i will be disapointed if it is taken off the market as i dont seem to be able to find it in the shops.
Elizabeth, I’m glad it works well for your skin. But I can’t help but wish it contained less alcohol and more beneficial ingredients.
I do have a combo skin type and its my first time to bought and use this product. I bought a jar of it (its 50% off by the way) because I haven’t seen only a tube of this. anyways, when I apply it, it leave a greasy and oily feeling but after some few hours it dries and leave my skin soft. so far it works for me but I try to see if this works in the long run…
Jaja, I hope you have a better experience with it than I had. That greasy feeling is really annoying, isn’t it?
I’m thinking if I should buy this product, my skin is combination and sensitive and I’m searching for a moisturizer for my face.. You think It can work for my skin?
Ma-Anne, if your skin is sensitive, you should definitely stay away from this one. It contains both alcohol and fragrance, which could irritate it. Sorry!
I slather this stuff on my arms and legs when I get out of the shower. Love it. That said, I wouldn’t put it on my face.
i have bad acne. and where i live its hella hot weather now. should i use it?( i only use moisturizer at night)
TJ, no. This is NOT for people with acne.