🇩🇪Germany

CeraVe vs NIVEA

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

CeraVe and NIVEA are renowned skincare brands offering versatile moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens. The American brand is universally loved for its thoughtful array of products formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, suiting dry skin and acne-prone skin best. Conversely, the German brand is deeply loved for its nourishing formulations featuring glycerin, suiting sensitive skin and oily skin best. Ultimately, they differ through their key ingredient profiles, with one utilizing both hyaluronic acid and glycerin for extended hydration and the other focusing on glycerin to maintain a healthy, calm complexion.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.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 CeraVe and NIVEA products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs NIVEA products

People Say

CeraVeNIVEA
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
  • Gentle Care for Sensitive Skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “no redness after washing — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks in immediately — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Value and Affordability Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Skin Texture and Blemish Improvement Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels smooth — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Fragrance and Scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “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”
  • Texture and Consistency Problems Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “feels like washing with conditioner — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “hard to spread — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Pills under my makeup — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Consistency is like a thick paste or sunblock — NIVEA Creme”
  • Greasy or Oily Residue Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “too sticky — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”

CeraVe vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

CeraVe vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or NIVEA: which is better?

Both CeraVe and NIVEA are good brands, as Lovi shows high routine fit for both across all skin types. CeraVe offers fragrance-free products on this page and is rated better for gentle care of sensitive skin, while NIVEA provides better value and affordability.

What is the difference between CeraVe and NIVEA?

CeraVe and NIVEA offer similar routine fit levels across various skin types, but CeraVe features products on this page that list no fragrance while NIVEA includes fragrance in several of its products. Additionally, CeraVe provides specialized barrier repair lipids and ceramides that help restore skin health, whereas NIVEA is often noted for delivering blemish-clearing serums and versatile moisturizers.

CeraVe or NIVEA for dry skin?

For dry skin, both CeraVe and NIVEA offer routines with a High Lovi fit level. The products on this page for CeraVe are fragrance-free, whereas some NIVEA products may contain fragrance.

CeraVe or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe features moisturizers on this page that are mostly mentioned by reviewers as lightweight and non-greasy, whereas NIVEA moisturizers are mostly noted as versatile multi-use options with deep hydration.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or NIVEA?

NIVEA does better for value and affordability among the products on this page.

Between CeraVe and NIVEA, which brand offers fragrance-free products?

CeraVe offers fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, NIVEA includes fragrance in six of the nine products on its page.

How do CeraVe and NIVEA compare in terms of gentle care for sensitive skin?

CeraVe does better than NIVEA for gentle care for sensitive skin, as CeraVe products on this page list no fragrance while several NIVEA products contain fragrance. Furthermore, the products on this page help restore the skin barrier using ceramides, which is beneficial for sensitive skin.

Which brand has a longer history, CeraVe or NIVEA?

NIVEA has a longer history, as it was founded in Germany in 1911, whereas CeraVe was founded in the United States in 2005.

CeraVe or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both brands provide a High routine fit for oily skin, making them equally suitable options on this page. CeraVe offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and effective cleansers for oil and acne, while NIVEA features blemish-clearing serums and sunscreens like UV Deep Protect & Care Gel that suit oily skin well.

CeraVe or NIVEA: which sunscreen is better?

When it comes to sunscreens, CeraVe offers products on this page with High to Superior fit levels across almost all skin types, while NIVEA provides a mix of high and lower ratings depending on the formula. Both brands include options that provide deep hydration and skin protection.

CeraVe or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. CeraVe does better for gentle care for sensitive skin, and every product on the CeraVe page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while NIVEA includes fragrance in some of its products on this page.

CeraVe or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both CeraVe and NIVEA offer high routine fit for acne-prone skin on this page, with CeraVe featuring fragrance-free options like its Acne Control Gel. NIVEA also includes blemish-clearing serums, though some of its products may cause strong fragrance or a greasy residue.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play