🇪🇸Spain

The Ordinary vs NIVEA

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

The Ordinary and NIVEA are distinguished skincare brands that offer thoughtfully formulated serums, moisturizers, and cleansers built around hydrating ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane. The Canadian brand centers its science-driven lineup on targeted acids and hydrators, making it best suited for dry and dry sensitive skin. Meanwhile, the German brand is deeply loved for reliable sunscreens and nourishing formulas that best suit combination and sensitive skin by respecting natural balance. Ultimately, the two differ through the former's precision active ingredients addressing specific aging and textural concerns, and the latter's versatile daily care protecting against sun and environmental stressors.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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 Ordinary and NIVEA products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs NIVEA products

People Say

The OrdinaryNIVEA
  • Great value and price Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
  • Smooths skin texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
  • Clears acne and blemishes Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “cleared my complexion in 7 days — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “doesn't leave skin dry or stretched — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
  • Hydration and plumping Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Versatile body and multi-use application Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Use it on face, body, hands, and feet — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Applying is easy, you can use on your face, hands, and body. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “Absorbs quickly — The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Oily residue Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sits on top of the skin and does not absorb — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “Scent is too overpowering for sensitive noses — NIVEA Creme”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “gave me cystic acne — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”

The Ordinary vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The Ordinary vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or NIVEA: which is better?

The Ordinary is superior for most skin types and offers better value, while NIVEA provides great options for intense hydration. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin moisture and elasticity.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between The Ordinary and NIVEA?

The Ordinary offers fragrance-free products with superior value and fit levels for most skin types, particularly dry and oily skin. NIVEA delivers intense hydration and versatile multi-use options, though several of its products contain added fragrance. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin moisture for both brands.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or NIVEA for dry skin?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to NIVEA, which has a high fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary are fragrance-free and feature key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps hydrate and supports skin health.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and NIVEA offer effective moisturizers, with The Ordinary featuring fragrance-free options and NIVEA known for providing intense deep hydration. Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior for dry skin routines and NIVEA as High for dry skin routines.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or NIVEA?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers better value and price. Review themes state that The Ordinary does better for great value and price.

The Ordinary or NIVEA: which brand has fragrance-free products?

The Ordinary offers fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In contrast, NIVEA has a mix, with only 3 of its 9 products on the page listing no fragrance.

Which brand performs better for hydration and plumping according to review themes?

NIVEA performs better for hydration and plumping according to review themes. Lovi shows that NIVEA fits dry skin at a High level and offers intense deep hydration.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while NIVEA offers a High routine fit. The Ordinary features oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid, whereas NIVEA provides lightweight options such as the UV Deep Protect & Care Gel.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for sensitive skin, whereas NIVEA is a High fit. The products on this page for The Ordinary list no fragrance in their ingredients, while several NIVEA items contain added fragrance.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and NIVEA are a High fit for acne-prone skin. The Ordinary offers products on this page that help clear acne and blemishes, while NIVEA also features blemish-clearing serums.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for skin with dark spots?

Both The Ordinary and NIVEA offer effective options for skin with dark spots, but The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit while NIVEA reaches a High fit. The Ordinary features fragrance-free products on this page and key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to support skin health.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Drug Delivery, 2017

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