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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 established skincare brands offering moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, sunscreens, and nourishing formulations built around glycerin. The British brand features targeted treatments for combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin, while the German brand suits dry and sensitive skin best with gentle, lasting comfort. Both utilize glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function, yet they differ in their specific product ranges and targeted solutions.

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 · CA$163.12 · 89% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · CA$118.83 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy NIVEA routine · CA$298.37 · 88% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · CA$258.98 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · CA$206.30 · 90% fitBuy NIVEA routine · CA$265.46 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or NIVEA: which is better?

Both brands offer solid options, but The INKEY List is a better choice if you prefer fragrance-free formulas and better value for money. NIVEA stands out for its versatile multi-use moisturizers and blemish-clearing serums, though some of its products contain strong fragrance.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and NIVEA?

The INKEY List offers fragrance-free products on this page and tends to be more affordable, while NIVEA includes fragrance in some of its products and is often noted for deep hydration. Both brands featurelycerin across their products and achieve equal routine fit levels for most skin types, though The INKEY List has a Superior routine fit for combination and sensitive skin.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for dry skin. Every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance, whereas several NIVEA products contain added fragrance.

The INKEY List or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List is better for moisturizers on this page, as every product lists no fragrance and reviewers mostly mention them as affordable, lightweight, and hydrating. NIVEA moisturizers offer versatile multi-use options, but reviewers note strong fragrance in some products and greasy residue.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or NIVEA?

The INKEY List does better than NIVEA for value and price point among the products on this page. Reviewers frequently mention affordable serums and moisturizers for The INKEY List.

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 has fragrance in 6 of its 9 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, whereas NIVEA was founded earlier in 1911 in Germany.

Which brand performs better for gentleness and soothing formula according to review themes?

The INKEY List performs better for gentleness and soothing formula.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for oily skin?

For oily skin, both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer routines with a High fit level. Reviewers mention that the products on this page from The INKEY List provide affordable serums, while NIVEA options are noted for intense deep hydration.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, The INKEY List is a better fit with a Superior routine level compared to NIVEA at High. Additionally, every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer high routine fit for acne-prone skin with the products on this page.

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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