🇺🇸United States

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 · $119.46 · 82% fitBuy Clinique routine · $370.23 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clinique vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy NIVEA routine · $297.86 · 88% fitBuy Clinique routine · $440.07 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Clinique vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy NIVEA routine · $289.45 · 87% fitBuy Clinique routine · $440.07 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Clinique or NIVEA: which is better?

Clinique is better for sensitive and lightweight formulas since the products on this page list no fragrance, while NIVEA offers greater affordability and a high routine fit for dry and combination skin.

What is the difference between Clinique and NIVEA?

Clinique is known for fragrance-free products with strong reviews for hydrating moisturizers and gentle cleansers, whereas NIVEA offers versatile multi-use moisturizers and blemish-clearing serums while often featuring added fragrance. Lovi indicates that NIVEA generally provides a high routine fit across a broader range of skin types, including dry and combination skin, compared to Clinique.

Clinique or NIVEA for dry skin?

NIVEA offers a High routine fit for dry skin, whereas Clinique provides an Average routine fit. Reviewers mention that NIVEA delivers intense deep hydration, while the products on this page for Clinique feature hydrating moisturizers.

Clinique or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

Both Clinique and NIVEA offer great moisturizers, with Clinique known for its hydrating, lightweight, and fragrance-free formulas, while NIVEA provides versatile multi-use options and intense deep hydration at a better value. For dry skin specifically, NIVEA achieves a High routine fit while Clinique reaches an Average fit.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or NIVEA?

NIVEA is more affordable, as review themes note it offers great value and affordability compared to Clinique which faces frequent high price complaints.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Clinique or NIVEA?

Clinique has more fragrance-free products, as every product on the Clinique page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only 3 of 9 NIVEA products on this page do.

Clinique or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both Clinique and NIVEA are good for oily skin, as the products on this page achieve a High Lovi fit level for this skin type. Reviewers often mention that Clinique provides lightweight, fast-absorbing, oil-controlling and smoothing moisturizers, while NIVEA offers blemish-clearing serums.

Clinique or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Both Clinique and NIVEA are a High fit for sensitive skin. Clinique's products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients, while NIVEA offers versatile multi-use moisturizers and intense deep hydration.

Clinique or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both Clinique and NIVEA are well-suited for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates their routines as High for this skin type. NIVEA offers blemish-clearing serums on the page, while Clinique products on this page list no fragrance.

Clinique or NIVEA for mature skin?

Both Clinique and NIVEA are good for mature skin, as Lovi rates their routines as High. Clinique lists no fragrance in any of the products on this page, whereas several NIVEA products may contain fragrance.

Clinique or NIVEA for skin with dark spots?

NIVEA is a better fit for skin with dark spots, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High compared to an Average fit for Clinique. The products on this page for NIVEA include LUMINOUS630 ANTI-DARK SPOT SERUM, which helps address pigmentation issues.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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