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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 accessible, science-led formulas built around hydrating glycerin. The British brand features targeted serums, moisturizers, and toners that suit combination skin and sensitive skin best, while the German brand is deeply loved for reliable sunscreens, nourishing moisturizers, and targeted serums that suit oily skin and sensitive skin best. Both brands harness key ingredients to support delicate barriers, though they differ in their specific product lineups and founding eras.

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 The INKEY List routine · $106.98 · 82% fitBuy NIVEA routine · $119.46 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy NIVEA routine · $297.86 · 88% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $261.57 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · $254.57 · 90% fitBuy NIVEA routine · $289.45 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or NIVEA: which is better?

The INKEY List is better for value and gentleness, while NIVEA offers more versatile multi-use options and other positive effects, with both brands providing equal routine fit levels across most skin types on this page.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and NIVEA?

The INKEY List and NIVEA are both popular skincare brands, but they differ in company background, product pricing, and formulation fragrance. The INKEY List was founded in the United Kingdom in 2018 and offers fragrance-free products on its page, whereas NIVEA was founded in Germany in 1911 and includes fragrance in some of its formulas.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer a high routine fit for dry skin, making them equally good options depending on your preference for formulation. Reviewers mention that the products on this page help deliver intense deep hydration and hydrating moisturizers.

The INKEY List or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer well-liked moisturizers, but The INKEY List is known for being affordable and fragrance-free across its range, while NIVEA reviewers often mention strong fragrances in some items.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or NIVEA?

The INKEY List does better for value and price point, with affordable moisturizers and serums mostly mentioned by reviewers.

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 has more fragrance-free products listed on the page, The INKEY List or NIVEA?

The INKEY List has more fragrance-free products listed on the page, as every product from this brand lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

How does the routine fit for combination skin compare between The INKEY List and NIVEA?

For combination skin, the products on this page show that The INKEY List has a Superior routine fit, while NIVEA has a High routine fit.

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 help provide good options for this skin type.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to NIVEA's High fit level for the products on this page.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer a high routine fit for acne-prone skin, so either brand helps depending on your specific preferences. The INKEY List features fragrance-free products on this page and ranks better for gentleness and soothing formulas, while NIVEA reviewers mostly mention 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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