NIVEA Men Creme for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Mineral Oil
Dimethicone
Tocopheryl Acetate
Alcohol Denat
Caution
- CautionOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for oily acne-prone skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Low suitability for oily skin as paraffinum liquidum and microcristallina cera provide emollient and occlusive actions that can be too heavy and clog pores. Glycerin offers moderate hydration, but the formula lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product offers moderate moisturizing benefits due to glycerin and dimethicone, which can smooth the skin, but these do not sufficiently address your primary concerns of oiliness or breakouts.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this creme as a versatile, non-greasy solution for dry skin on the face, hands, and body, noting its ability to absorb rapidly without leaving a sticky residue. It is frequently cited as effective for soothing post-shave irritation and combating winter dryness, leaving skin matte and soft.
Highlights
Versatile application Mostly Mentioned
- “Great for face, body, and hands”
- “Use it after shaving”
- “One product for everything”
- “Perfect all-rounder for travel”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “Heals dry hands quickly”
- “Keeps face soft all day”
- “Prevents winter flaking”
- “Leaves skin velvety smooth”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “Soaks in fully within seconds”
- “No greasy overlay”
- “Absorbs quickly without residue”
- “Disappears into skin instantly”
Masculine scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells like fresh cologne”
- “Pleasant masculine-fresh scent”
- “Clean and subtle smell”
- “Nice manly fragrance”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Scent is too overpowering”
- “Smells too much like perfume”
- “Fragrance lingers too long”
- “Clashes with my cologne”
Insufficient moisture Rarely Noted
- “Not rich enough for very dry skin”
- “Lighter than original Nivea”
- “Need to reapply frequently”
- “Feels too thin for winter”
Packaging design Rarely Noted
- “Tin dents very easily”
- “Lid hard to open with slippery hands”
- “Container is too small for body use”
- “Screw top can be finicky”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “Stung my sensitive skin”
- “Caused minor breakout”
- “Alcohol content dried me out”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, walmart.com, influenster.com, chemistwarehouse.com.au, hometesterclub.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Nivea Men Creme for oily acne-prone skin?
Lovi advises caution because heavy ingredients like mineral oil and wax can clog pores and feel too heavy on oily skin, and the formula lacks ingredients to target breakouts. An oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free hydrators, peptides, and ingredients that target blemishes without adding excess oil.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Paraffinum liquidum and microcristallina cera make this cream a poor fit because they provide heavy sealing actions that can clog pores on oily skin. Oily acne-prone skin needs a moisturizer of this type that is lightweight, free of heavy oils, and contains ingredients that target blemishes, clear pores, and support the skin barrier.
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Mineral Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Mineral oil helps lock in moisture and calm dry or irritated skin with a very low chance of causing allergies or irritation. Because it sits on top of the skin rather than absorbing deep into pores, it is unlikely to clog them, though oily acne-prone skin generally needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that help balance oil production.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is used as the last step of your morning and evening routine, right before sunscreen in the morning. Because it can feel heavy and clog pores on oily skin, this skin type needs lighter hydrators and ingredients that target breakouts without trapping excess oil.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
It is generally best to avoid using this cream with retinol on oily acne-prone skin, as heavier ingredients like mineral oil and waxes may clog pores and trigger breakouts. To safely use a moisturizer alongside retinol, this skin type needs lightweight, non-clogging hydrators like glycerin and specialized ingredients that target blemishes without adding extra weight.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for oily acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients can clog pores, and it lacks acne-fighting components. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with balancing and clarifying ingredients to help keep pores clear.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Yes, this cream may clog pores and cause breakouts on oily acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like mineral oil and microcristallina cera can trap oil, and the formula lacks specialized ingredients to fight blemishes. A product for this skin needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that target acne and breakouts.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is generally safe to use on the body and around the eyes, where skin is much thinner. Oily acne-prone skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with ingredients that clear breakouts and do not clog pores.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (geraniol and parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Petrolatum-based skin protectants demonstrated protection against irritants and maceration while providing skin hydration, whereas dimethicone and zinc oxide products showed varying or limited performance across parameters among 18 healthy volunteers compared to positive and negative controls.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2005The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Repeated application of concentrated water-in-oil emulsions over four weeks caused no skin irritation, positively affected skin properties, and delivered almost 50% of the applied fluorescein sodium, with isopropyl myristate showing superior penetration performance compared to liquid paraffin in healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Externally applied substances such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, licorice extracts, dimethicone, petrolatum, and paraffin wax treat skin disease resulting from damage to the skin barrier.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2012Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Alcohol Denat, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Stearyl Alcohol, Microcristallina Cera, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Carbomer, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Oleic Acid, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Geraniol, Parfum
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.