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The INKEY List vs NIVEA

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

The INKEY List and NIVEA are distinguished skincare brands that build their offerings around hydrating glycerin. The British line features moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products tailored to sensitive and combination skin, while the German brand is deeply loved for its reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and nourishing moisturizers suited to oily and sensitive skin. Both manufacturers improve stratum corneum hydration and barrier function through thoughtful formulations, though they differ in their specific targeted solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature concerns.

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

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 The INKEY List and NIVEA products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs NIVEA products

People Say

The INKEY ListNIVEA
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Value and Price Point Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
  • Gentleness and Soothing Formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “calmed my menopausal redness — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “cleared my complexion in 7 days — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “reduces blackheads — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Other Positive Effects Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
    • “smells really nice — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Sticky, Tacky, or Greasy Finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “Leaves a tackiness that never goes away. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Breakouts and Skin Reactions Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “did cause major breakouts — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “New formula breaks me out — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Caused cystic acne — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”
  • Texture and Consistency Problems Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “very runny serum — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Forms a crust on the hole at the flick top cap. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “not super gritty — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

Buy NIVEA routine · AED 322.59 · 82% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · AED 474.43 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy NIVEA routine · AED 817.21 · 88% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · AED 776.59 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · AED 725.13 · 89% fitBuy NIVEA routine · AED 798.85 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or NIVEA: which is better?

The INKEY List is a better choice for gentleness and value, while both brands offer equal hydration and blemish control across the products on this page. Lovi rates The INKEY List fit for sensitive skin as Superior and NIVEA fit as High.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and NIVEA?

The INKEY List and NIVEA both offer strong routines across skin types, but The INKEY List features no fragrance in the products on this page and tends to do better for gentleness and value.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for dry skin on the products on this page.

The INKEY List or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers on this page, The INKEY List offers better value and gentleness, while NIVEA provides versatile multi-use options with intense deep hydration. Both brands feature glycerin as a key ingredient across their moisturizers.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or NIVEA?

The INKEY List does better than NIVEA for value and price point on the products on this page.

Between The INKEY List and NIVEA, which brand has better gentleness and soothing formulas?

The INKEY List does better than NIVEA for gentleness and soothing formulas among the products on this page.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between The INKEY List and NIVEA?

The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom, while NIVEA was founded much earlier in 1911 in Germany.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, The INKEY List or NIVEA?

The INKEY List has more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas NIVEA only has three fragrance-free products out of the nine on its page.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page for both brands feature glycerin as a key ingredient.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better choice for sensitive skin because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, while NIVEA receives a High fit.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers report that NIVEA provides blemish-clearing serums.

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?

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