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NIVEA vs Simple

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

NIVEA and Simple are heritage skincare brands known for nurturing different complexions with glycerin. The German line offers nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, and sunscreens that suit mature and sensitive skin, whereas the British brand provides gentle cleansers, makeup removers, toners, and moisturizers featuring niacinamide and glycerin for oily and acne-prone skin. While both incorporate barrier-supporting ingredients, the former focuses on rich formulations for delicate barriers, and the latter emphasizes lightweight care for blemish-prone complexions.

NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

beiersdorf.comen.wikipedia.org

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

This page compares some of the most popular NIVEA and Simple products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular NIVEA vs Simple products

People Say

NIVEASimple
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “Doesn't burn my eyes — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Value and Affordability Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Sensitivity and Gentle Formula Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Fragrance and Scent Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
    • “smells really nice — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “Love that it has absolutely no scent. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Cleansing and Makeup Removal Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “removes last traces of makeup — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “unclogs pores — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Greasy or Sticky Residue Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels slimy on skin — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Still feeling a little bit of a film on my skin. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “leaves a tacky film — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”

NIVEA vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

NIVEA vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

NIVEA vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

NIVEA or Simple: which is better?

Both NIVEA and Simple are equal, achieving a High Lovi fit across all skin types on this page. Simple does better for sensitivity and gentle formulas, while NIVEA does better for fragrance and scent.

What is the difference between NIVEA and Simple?

Simple stands out for having every product on this page list no fragrance and for doing better with sensitivity and gentle formulas, while NIVEA does better with fragrance and scent. Both brands offer equal levels of routine fit across different skin types.

NIVEA or Simple for dry skin?

Both NIVEA and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for dry skin. Glycerin helps provide moisture across the products on this page.

NIVEA or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Both NIVEA and Simple offer moisturizers with equal routine fits for dry skin, where NIVEA achieves a High Lovi fit and Simple achieves a High Lovi fit. Simple features entirely fragrance-free products on this page, while NIVEA provides versatile multi-use moisturizers.

Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2012

Which is more affordable, NIVEA or Simple?

Both NIVEA and Simple are equal in terms of value and affordability according to the products on this page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, NIVEA or Simple?

Simple has more fragrance-free products than NIVEA, as every product on the Simple page lists no fragrance while only 3 of 9 NIVEA products on this page list none.

How do the founding years and current parent companies of NIVEA and Simple compare?

NIVEA was founded in Germany in 1911 and has been owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004. In comparison, Simple was founded in the United Kingdom in 1960 and is owned by Unilever PLC.

Which brand performs better for sensitivity and gentle formulas according to review themes?

Simple performs better for sensitivity and gentle formulas on this page. Reviewers frequently note its gentle and sensitive-skin-friendly products.

NIVEA or Simple for oily skin?

Both NIVEA and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for oily skin based on the products on this page. NIVEA features specialized blemish-clearing serums and sunscreens well-suited for oily skin, while Simple offers fragrance-free options like its Micellar Cleansing Water that helps manage excess oil.

NIVEA or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both NIVEA and Simple achieve a High Lovi fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Simple offers a more gentle and sensitive-skin-friendly formula, while NIVEA provides fragrance-free options for some of its products.

NIVEA or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both brands offer an equal High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Simple provides fragrance-free formulations, while NIVEA features blemish-clearing serums.

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?

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