NIVEA Creme for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Lanolin Alcohol
Mineral Oil
Panthenol
Microcrystalline Wax
Caution
- AverageOily 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 your oily skin and acne concerns due to occlusive ingredients like paraffinum liquidum and paraffin, which can clog pores and worsen breakouts, despite glycerin offering some hydration.
- The presence of lanolin alcohol provides moderate barrier support, but its emollient properties may not be ideal for managing oiliness.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 12.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently describe this product as a heavy-duty moisturizer that excels at healing extremely dry, flaky, and rough skin, particularly during harsh winter months. While widely praised for its ability to soften tough areas like elbows, knees, and hands, results on the face are mixed; many love the glow it provides, but those with acne-prone or oily skin frequently report clogged pores and breakouts.
Highlights
Intense deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight”
- “Relieves tightness and discomfort caused by dry skin”
- “Keeps me moisturized all winter long”
- “Heals cracked hands and rough elbows instantly”
Versatile multi-purpose use Often Mentioned
- “Use it on face, body, hands, and feet”
- “Great as a night cream and makeup primer”
- “A staple for the whole family”
- “Perfect for dry spots anywhere on the body”
Greasy/oily residue Often Mentioned
- “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away”
- “Takes forever to absorb into the skin”
- “Too oily to use during the day”
- “Leaves fingerprints on everything I touch”
Classic nostalgic scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smell brings me back to childhood”
- “Clean, fresh, and comforting scent”
- “Loves the signature Nivea fragrance”
- “Smells like clean laundry and comfort”
Unbeatable value Sometimes Noted
- “Works better than expensive luxury creams”
- “Affordable price for such high quality”
- “A little goes a long way, lasts months”
- “Best budget moisturizer on the market”
Causes breakouts (face) Sometimes Noted
- “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne”
- “Too heavy for my face, caused whiteheads”
- “Woke up with new pimples after one use”
- “Not safe for acne-prone skin types”
Thick/hard to spread Sometimes Noted
- “Consistency is like a thick paste or sunblock”
- “Have to drag it across skin to apply”
- “Needs to be warmed up in hands first”
- “Difficult to rub in completely”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Scent is too overpowering for sensitive noses”
- “Wish they had an unscented version”
- “Fragrance irritated my sensitive skin”
- “Smell lingers too long”
Sources: lovi.care, influencer.com, walmart.com, hometesterclub.com, shespeaks.com, target.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Nivea Creme for oily acne-prone skin?
Lovi advises caution because this cream contains heavy, pore-clogging ingredients like mineral oil and paraffin that can worsen breakouts on oily skin. While it contains glycerin to provide hydration, its rich, heavy texture is not ideal for managing excess oil. A moisturizer for this skin type needs lightweight hydrating agents, soothing extracts, and zero heavy oils to maintain a clear complexion without clogging pores.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Paraffinum liquidum and paraffin make this cream a poor fit because they can clog pores and worsen breakouts on oily acne-prone skin. A moisturizer for this skin type needs to avoid heavy oils while containing lightweight hydrating ingredients, peptides, and barrier-supporting agents that do not contribute to excess oiliness.
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 Lanolin Alcohol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Lanolin alcohol can be too heavy for oily, acne-prone skin and may clog pores, leading to breakouts. Oily and acne-prone skin types need lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that help balance oil without trapping dirt or causing pimples.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a poor match for your oily acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like mineral oil and paraffin may clog your pores and worsen breakouts. To properly care for oily, acne-prone skin, a moisturizer needs to be a lightweight, oil-free formula with hydrating ingredients that will not block pores.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
Using this heavy cream with retinol on oily acne-prone skin is a poor match because its heavy, pore-clogging ingredients may worsen breakouts. Oily and acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to keep skin hydrated without blocking pores.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for oily acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like mineral oil and paraffin may clog pores and worsen breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin that keep skin soft without blocking pores.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Yes, this cream may clog pores and worsen breakouts on oily acne-prone skin because it contains heavy, pore-blocking ingredients like mineral oil and paraffin. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and non-pore-clogging ingredients that provide moisture without trapping oil.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream on the body, and on the thin skin around the eyes as well, because body skin and periorbital skin tolerate heavier moisturizers well. However, oily acne-prone skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with water-binding ingredients and non-clogging formulas that hydrate without heavy barrier sealants.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, geraniol, linalool, and citronellol).
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, 2017The 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, 2001Repeated 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, 2019Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
Ingredients
Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Microcristallina Cera, Glycerin, Lanolin Alcohol Eucerit, Paraffin, Panthenol, Magnesium Sulfate, Decyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearates, Citric Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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