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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 established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily care. The Canadian line features serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and sensitive skin best while also addressing acne-prone, dark spot, and mature concerns through targeted formulations. Conversely, the German line is dearly loved for reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and nourishing moisturizers formulated with skin-softening glycerin, suiting sensitive and mature skin best while offering gentle care, dependable daily protection, and specialized solutions for acne-prone skin and dark spots. While both brands share a commitment to effective ingredients like glycerin, they differ in their heritage, foundational compounds, and specific product ranges.

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

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

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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 · 99% 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 · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or NIVEA: which is better?

The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit for dry, sensitive, and dark spot-prone skin compared to NIVEA's High fit, making it the better choice for targeted skin concerns and value.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and NIVEA?

The Ordinary is a Canadian brand founded in 2016, whereas NIVEA is a German brand founded in 1911. For routine fit across all listed skin types, Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and NIVEA as High. The products on this page for The Ordinary list no fragrance, while several NIVEA products contain fragrance.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for dry skin?

For dry skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit while NIVEA has a High routine fit. Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance, whereas NIVEA includes products with fragrance.

The Ordinary or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, NIVEA offers intense deep hydration and versatile multi-use applications, while The Ordinary features fragrance-free options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA which provides a Superior routine fit for dry skin. Topical hyaluronic acid, found across key ingredients for the products on this page, helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

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

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or NIVEA?

The Ordinary offers better value and price among the products on this page.

Which brand has a better routine fit for mature skin?

The Ordinary has a superior routine fit for mature skin compared to NIVEA, which has a high fit. The products on this page help provide targeted care for aging skin with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

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

Do The Ordinary products contain fragrance?

The products on this page from The Ordinary list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Which brand offers better hydration and plumping according to reviews?

NIVEA offers better hydration and plumping according to reviews. The products on this page help deliver intense deep hydration.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit while NIVEA has a High routine fit. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free options and is praised on the page for great value and price.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit, while NIVEA has a High routine fit. Every product from The Ordinary on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas several NIVEA products contain added fragrance.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas NIVEA has a High routine fit. The products on this page from The Ordinary are completely fragrance-free, making them a gentler choice for blemish-prone complexions.

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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