NIVEA vs Elemis
NIVEA and Elemis are established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily care. NIVEA is a German brand founded in 1911 that provides reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and nourishing moisturizers formulated with hydrating glycerin, suiting oily skin and sensitive skin best. Conversely, Elemis is a British brand founded in 1989 that features serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners harnessing glycerin and shea, suiting mature skin and dry sensitive skin best. While both utilize glycerin to improve barrier function, the German brand focuses on gentle care for delicate barriers, whereas the British brand delivers deeply conditioning components for mature and dry types.
NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.
beiersdorf.comen.wikipedia.org
Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.
elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org
This page compares some of the most popular NIVEA and Elemis products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular NIVEA vs Elemis products
People Say
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
- “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
- “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
- “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
Fragrance and Scent Praise Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
- “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
- “smells like a spa — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “smells like a holiday — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
Exfoliation and Blemish Reduction Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “cleared my complexion in 7 days — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
- “unclogs pores — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
- “reduces blackheads — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
- “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
Gentle Care Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
- “doesn't leave skin dry or stretched — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
- “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “Feels incredibly gentle and instantly rebalances my skin's pH. — Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner”
Value and Affordability Often MentionedNot noted
- “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
- “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
- “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
Product Ineffectiveness or Minor Issues Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
- “didn't see a difference — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “tends to flake off — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
- “It peels horribly no matter how I apply it. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “not super gritty — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
Value and Pricing Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Fragrance and Scent Complaints Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “Scent is too overpowering for sensitive noses — NIVEA Creme”
- “Has a heavy, baby powder smell. — NIVEA Soft”
- “smell is too strong — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
- “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
NIVEA vs Elemis routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 32.95
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Moisturizer
Creme
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 6.50
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SPF
Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+
Morning
AED 50.32
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Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
AED 35.29
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Cleansing Toner
ROUND LAB 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Water
Evening
AED 38.99
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Serum or Treatment
Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub
Evening · Once a week
AED 45.92
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Enzyme Powder
VT Cica Mild Powder Wash
Once a week
AED 47.62
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Nourishing Mask
Mediheal Watermide Essential Mask
Once a week
AED 65.00
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Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 173.82
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Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Night Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 771.00
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SPF
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning
AED 345.41
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Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
AED 315.65
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Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
AED 210.00
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Serum or Treatment
Pro-Collagen Glow Boost Exfoliator
Evening · Once a week
AED 340.00
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Enzyme Powder
VT Cica Mild Powder Wash
Once a week
AED 47.62
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Nourishing Mask
Mediheal Watermide Essential Mask
Once a week
AED 65.00
Buy NIVEA routine · AED 322.59 · 82% fit
Buy Elemis routine · AED 2,268.50 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
NIVEA vs Elemis routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 49.95
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Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
AED 49.99
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Moisturizer
Soft
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 16.49
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SPF
Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+
Morning
AED 50.32
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Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
AED 179.45
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Cleansing Toner
Pixi Glow Tonic
Evening
AED 120.00
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Serum or Treatment
Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub
Evening · Once a week
AED 45.92
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Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
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Cleansing Mask
Revision Skincare Black Mask
Once a week
AED 204.00
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Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 173.82
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
AED 49.99
-
Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 345.41
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
AED 315.65
-
Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
AED 210.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Papaya Enzyme Peel
Evening · Once a week
AED 230.98
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Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
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Cleansing Mask
Revision Skincare Black Mask
Once a week
AED 204.00
Buy NIVEA routine · AED 817.21 · 88% fit
Buy Elemis routine · AED 1,630.94 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
NIVEA vs Elemis routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 84.53
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Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
AED 145.00
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Moisturizer
Soft
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 16.49
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SPF
Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+
Morning
AED 50.32
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Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
AED 179.45
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Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
AED 53.12
-
Serum or Treatment
Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub
Evening · Once a week
AED 45.92
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Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
AED 122.93
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Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 173.82
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
AED 145.00
-
Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 345.41
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
AED 315.65
-
Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
AED 210.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Papaya Enzyme Peel
Evening · Once a week
AED 230.98
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
AED 122.93
Buy NIVEA routine · AED 798.85 · 87% fit
Buy Elemis routine · AED 1,644.88 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Questions and answers
NIVEA or Elemis: which is better?
NIVEA and Elemis both offer products on this page that achieve equal fit levels across all skin types. Choosing between them depends on your preference, as NIVEA excels in affordability and blemish care while Elemis stands out for hydration and luxurious textures.
What is the difference between NIVEA and Elemis?
NIVEA focuses on affordable blemish-clearing and exfoliating products, whereas Elemis offers luxurious, higher-priced moisturizers and treatments tailored for mature skin.
NIVEA or Elemis for dry skin?
Both NIVEA and Elemis have a High routine fit for dry skin, so you can choose either depending on your preferences. NIVEA offers versatile multi-use moisturizers, while Elemis is noted for its hydrating moisturizers.
NIVEA or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?
When it comes to moisturizers, Elemis helps deliver more luxurious textures and deep hydration, while NIVEA offers versatile multi-use options with high affordability.
Which is more affordable, NIVEA or Elemis?
NIVEA is more affordable, as Elemis is noted for a high price point. Reviewers rank NIVEA better for value and pricing.
Which brand has more fragrance-free products, NIVEA or Elemis?
NIVEA has more fragrance-free products than Elemis, with 3 of its 9 products on this page listing no fragrance compared to only 4 of the 22 Elemis products.
How do the founding years and corporate owners of NIVEA and Elemis compare?
NIVEA was founded in Germany in 1911 and is owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA, while Elemis was established in the United Kingdom in 1989 and is owned by the L'Occitane Group.
Which brand performs better for exfoliation and blemish reduction according to review themes?
NIVEA performs better for exfoliation and blemish reduction according to review themes. Shoppers on the products on this page often mention its blemish-clearing serums.
NIVEA or Elemis for oily skin?
Both NIVEA and Elemis match oily skin at a High routine fit level, though NIVEA is known for better exfoliation and blemish reduction while Elemis stands out for hydration.
NIVEA or Elemis for sensitive skin?
Both NIVEA and Elemis fit sensitive skin well, with Lovi rating both brands as a High routine fit. Reviewers note that NIVEA focuses on non-drying and blemish-clearing serums while Elemis offers hydrating moisturizers.
NIVEA or Elemis for acne-prone skin?
Both NIVEA and Elemis achieve a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that NIVEA does better for exfoliation and blemish reduction, while Elemis stands out for hydration and moisture.
Research behind their key ingredients
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Effects of glyceryl glucoside on AQP3 expression, barrier function and hydration of human skin
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Topical beta-carotene protects against infra-red-light-induced free radicals
Exotic Vegetable Oils for Cosmetic O/W Nanoemulsions: In Vivo Evaluation
A Rose Extract Protects the Skin against Stress Mediators: A Potential Role of Olfactory Receptors
In vivo and in vitro evaluation of octyl methoxycinnamate liposomes
Comparison of methods for assessing photoprotection against ultraviolet A in vivo
Comparative measurement of hydration effects of herbal moisturizers
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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