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The INKEY List vs NIVEA

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

The INKEY List and NIVEA are established skincare brands known for dependable products built around glycerin. The British brand offers targeted serums, moisturizers, and toners suited best for sensitive and combination skin, while the German brand is deeply loved for reliable sunscreens, nourishing moisturizers, and targeted serums tailored best for mature and sensitive skin. Both lines utilize glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function. Ultimately, the brands differ in their founding eras, global ownership, and specific formulation approaches for individual skin concerns.

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

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

Popular The INKEY List vs NIVEA products

People Say

The INKEY ListNIVEA
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Value and Price Point Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
  • Gentleness and Soothing Formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “calmed my menopausal redness — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “cleared my complexion in 7 days — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “reduces blackheads — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Other Positive Effects Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Sticky, Tacky, or Greasy Finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “Leaves a tackiness that never goes away. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Breakouts and Skin Reactions Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “did cause major breakouts — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “New formula breaks me out — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Caused cystic acne — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”
  • Texture and Consistency Problems Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “very runny serum — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Forms a crust on the hole at the flick top cap. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “not super gritty — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or NIVEA: which is better?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer strong everyday options, with The INKEY List doing better for value and gentleness, while every product on the INKEY List page lists no fragrance compared to some scented NIVEA items.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and NIVEA?

The INKEY List offers fragrance-free products on this page and tends to be better for gentleness and value, while NIVEA includes some fragranced items and is often noted for versatile multi-use moisturizers and blemish-clearing serums.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for dry skin. The INKEY List features products on this page with no fragrance added, while NIVEA provides versatile multi-use moisturizers like Creme.

The INKEY List or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List offers the products on this page with fragrance-free formulas, while NIVEA includes fragrance in several options. Reviewers often mention The INKEY List for affordable moisturizers and NIVEA for versatile multi-use moisturizers.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or NIVEA?

The INKEY List is more affordable than NIVEA, offering budget-friendly options across the products on this page for both serums and moisturizers.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between The INKEY List and NIVEA?

The INKEY List was founded more recently in 2018 in the United Kingdom, whereas NIVEA has a much longer history, having been founded in 1911 in Germany.

Which brand has more products that list no fragrance in their ingredients, The INKEY List or NIVEA?

The INKEY List has more products on this page that list no fragrance in their ingredients, as every product from the brand lists no fragrance. In contrast, only three of the nine NIVEA products on this page list no fragrance.

Which brand performs better for gentleness and soothing formula according to the review themes?

The INKEY List performs better for gentleness and soothing formula.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page for The INKEY List feature fragrance-free formulas, while some NIVEA items contain added fragrance.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both The INKEY List and NIVEA are good options, though Lovi rates The INKEY List as Superior and NIVEA as High. Reviewers note that every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The INKEY List or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin with the products on this page. The INKEY List features no fragrance across its range, which helps sensitive skin types avoid irritation.

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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