🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

Clinique vs NIVEA

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Clinique and NIVEA are distinguished skincare brands that respectively offer thoughtful moisturizers, serums, makeup removers, and sunscreens powered by ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine. While the American brand best suits dry sensitive skin and oily skin through comforting, balancing formulations, the German brand caters ideally to oily skin and sensitive skin by respecting delicate barriers. They primarily differ in their foundational heritages, founding years, and targeted active ingredients, giving readers distinct pathways to healthy, radiant complexions.

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

beiersdorf.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular Clinique and NIVEA products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Clinique vs NIVEA products

People Say

CliniqueNIVEA
  • Sensitive Skin and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No strong scent — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Effective Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Absorbs quickly without feeling sticky — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Skin Exfoliation and Texture Smoothing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels smooth — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Great Value and Affordability Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Melts waterproof mascara — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
  • Sticky and Greasy Finish Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “hard to rinse off — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “feels sticky to the touch — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “Left an oily film on my T-zone — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Causes Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”
    • “I noticed some acne breakouts on my chin after using this crème for a while. — NIVEA Soft”
  • High Price and Value Complaints Often MentionedNot noted
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Unpleasant or Strong Scent Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like nail polish remover — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Smells like old oil — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “Scent is too overpowering for sensitive noses — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Has a heavy, baby powder smell. — NIVEA Soft”

Clinique vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

Buy NIVEA routine · AED 322.59 · 82% fitBuy Clinique routine · AED 1,605.23 · 66% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Clinique vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy NIVEA routine · AED 817.21 · 88% fitBuy Clinique routine · AED 1,002.51 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Clinique vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy NIVEA routine · AED 798.85 · 87% fitBuy Clinique routine · AED 790.89 · 72% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Clinique or NIVEA: which is better?

Clinique is better for fragrance-free formulations and lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizers, whereas NIVEA offers greater value and affordability alongside high routine fit across various skin types.

What is the difference between Clinique and NIVEA?

Clinique and NIVEA offer different skincare benefits, with Clinique providing fragrance-free options and lightweight moisturizers, while NIVEA offers greater value and affordable multi-use moisturizers. NIVEA delivers a High routine fit for dry skin, whereas Clinique achieves an Average fit for dry skin.

Clinique or NIVEA for dry skin?

Clinique has an Average routine fit for dry skin, while NIVEA has a High routine fit for dry skin. Reviewers mention that NIVEA offers intense deep hydration and versatile multi-use moisturizers.

Clinique or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

Clinique is better for lightweight and fast-absorbing moisturizers, while NIVEA offers great value and affordability with versatile multi-use options like its Creme. Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as Average for Clinique and High for NIVEA.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or NIVEA?

NIVEA is more affordable, as reviewers often mention Clinique for its high price point and NIVEA for great value and affordability.

Clinique or NIVEA for reducing dark spots?

For reducing dark spots, both Clinique and NIVEA products on this page achieve an Average fit level. Hyaluronic acid helps improve overall skin quality and hydration, while niacinamide may reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Clinique or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both Clinique and NIVEA are a High fit for oily skin. Reviewers mention that the products on this page for Clinique provide oil-controlling and smoothing moisturizers, while NIVEA offers intense deep hydration.

Clinique or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Both Clinique and NIVEA are good for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates their routines as High for this skin type. Reviewers note that Clinique offers gentle formulas and no fragrance is listed on its page, while NIVEA offers intense hydration.

Clinique or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

NIVEA is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page achieve a High routine fit compared to Clinique's Average fit level.

Clinique or NIVEA for mature skin?

Both Clinique and NIVEA offer products on this page that may help with mature skin, as their routines achieve High fit levels for this skin type. NIVEA provides versatile multi-use moisturizers, while Clinique features fragrance-free hydrating options that reviewers often mention as fast-absorbing.

Clinique or NIVEA for dry sensitive skin?

For dry sensitive skin, Lovi rates both Clinique and NIVEA as having a High routine fit level. Reviewers mention that the products on this page for Clinique are fragrance-free, whereas NIVEA lists fragrance in some of its products.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play