NIVEA Men Creme for dry skin
Glycerin
Mineral Oil
Dimethicone
Tocopheryl Acetate
Alcohol Denat
Low
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for dry skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Offers moderate moisturizing for your dry skin due to glycerin and dimethicone, which hydrate and smooth the skin surface.
- While it provides general skincare benefits, it lacks specialized ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to significantly address your dry or flaky skin concerns.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a 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 is NIVEA Men Creme a weak match for dry skin?
This moisturizer is a weak match for your dry skin because, while it offers moderate hydration from glycerin and dimethicone, it lacks specialized ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to significantly address dry or flaky skin. A product of this type needs soothing, highly effective moisturizing ingredients and emollients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides that provide deep hydration and skin barrier support.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for dry skin?
This cream is a weak match for dry skin because it lacks specialized moisture-binding ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to significantly address flaky areas. A moisturizer for this skin type needs barrier-supporting components and deep hydrators such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and nourishing emollients to keep dry skin soft and smooth.
What does Glycerin do for dry skin?
Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
What does Mineral Oil do for dry skin?
Mineral oil helps soothe and soften dry skin by locking in moisture and protecting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and is effective at keeping the skin smooth and hydrated.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This moisturizer goes toward the end of your morning and evening skincare routines, after any cleanser, toner, or treatment. Because it is only a weak match for dry skin, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to deeply hydrate and soothe dry or flaky skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it dry, and then applying your moisturizer to help keep your skin smooth. A product of this type needs specialized ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to significantly address dry or flaky skin when used with stronger treatments.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer daily in your morning and evening routines to help keep your dry skin feeling smooth and hydrated. Applying it regularly helps maintain skin moisture and supports the skin barrier throughout the day.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin, though it may not provide enough moisture for very dry or flaky areas. A product for this skin needs richer ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to deeply soothe and soften rough patches.
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, though the skin on the body and the thin skin around the eyes have very different thicknesses and needs. It helps hydrate and smooth the skin surface with glycerin and dimethicone, but dry skin in these areas often needs rich moisture from ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides to stay smooth and comfortable.
Is it 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, 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, 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
Why other moisturizers fit dry skin better
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Nanoemulsions containing Macadamia integrifolia seed oil successfully enhanced skin hydration and reduced wrinkles in human volunteers, outperforming conventional emulsions in skin hydration enhancement.
Nanomaterials, 2024Topical oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions containing glyceryl glucoside, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramide significantly improved skin hydration and barrier function while reducing visible dryness and tactile roughness in subjects with very dry skin compared to untreated sites and vehicles.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012
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.
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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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.