NIVEA Soft for oily skin
Jojoba Oil
Vitamin E
Glycerin
Mineral Oil
DimethiconeLow
- CautionOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin due to glycerin and jojoba seed oil, but lacks specialized ingredients to manage oily shine, potentially worsening the condition.
- Mineral oil and petrolatum provide emollient and occlusive actions that can exacerbate oiliness, making it unsuitable for your oily skin type.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 98.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is frequently praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that effectively hydrates and softens normal to dry skin on the face, hands, and body without a greasy feel. It is also noted for being versatile and affordable. Some users with sensitive or acne-prone skin report breakouts, and a moderate number of reviews mention dissatisfaction with recent formula changes, citing a less moisturizing, waxy, or tight finish. A low frequency of users dislike the lingering scent.
Highlights
Lightweight, absorbs fast Mostly Mentioned
- “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen.”
- “Once applied to my skin, it dried in under 2 minutes.”
- “It absorbs quickly and retains moisture all day without making my skin hot or tacky.”
- “Its lightweight, creamy texture absorbs quickly, leaving skin feeling soft and hydrated without a greasy residue.”
Softens and smooths Mostly Mentioned
- “Makes my face feel smooth and soft.”
- “My hands and body felt very soft and moisturized.”
- “Today I feel like my skin has never been so smooth and soft.”
- “Great for daily use, keep skin soft and smooth.”
Versatile multi-use Often Mentioned
- “Applying is easy, you can use on your face, hands, and body.”
- “I just use it at night, primarily on my feet, legs and hands. I do put a little on my face if it feels dry.”
- “I've used this on my face, hands and body. It's perfect.”
- “Great work desk companion to keep your hands from feeling dry... but also at home in your bathroom.”
Affordable, accessible Sometimes Noted
- “Best affordable vegan moisturizer.”
- “This one is very cheap compared to most moisturizers.”
- “For the price per ounce, you can't beat this quality.”
- “Financially affordable and work wonderfully for keeping skin soft.”
Causes acne Sometimes Noted
- “I noticed some acne breakouts on my chin after using this crème for a while.”
- “I definitely wouldn't recommend this cream to anyone who is acne prone or prone to clogged pores.”
- “It caused me to break out and also didn't keep my oily skin at bay.”
- “I think this crème is too heavy to be continually used on my face.”
New formula disappointing Sometimes Noted
- “HATE NEW FORUMULA... Leaves my skin dryer and does not provide with the same amount of moisture.”
- “New formula is horrendous... changed an amazing formula to something I would rather throw in the bin.”
- “The recent modified one is not good at all.”
- “I actually came to the Nivea website hoping to find the original (non-vegan) formula, as I've seen many others share similar frustrations.”
Lingering scent Rarely Noted
- “Has a heavy, baby powder smell.”
- “I'm not a fan of the way Nivea Soft Moisturizing Crème smells... it resembles baby powder or an old lady smell.”
- “The smell doesn't dissipate either; it stays with you for a long time.”
- “Scent definitely lingers on the skin for a while.”
Waxy, tight finish Rarely Noted
- “After it absorbs it doesn't feel moisturized it feels like a thin layer of tight wax on your face.”
- “Leaves my skin dryer and does not provide with the same amount of moisture.”
- “New formula seems to give this mild burn feeling on the face.”
- “The new tub i bought is no longer the same nor does it feel the same and it does [not] make my foundation apply properly.”
Sources: lovi.care, target.com, walmart.com, niveausa.com, kroger.com, moisturizers.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is NIVEA Soft a weak match for oily skin?
This moisturizer is a weak match for your oily skin because it contains mineral oil and petrolatum, which can trap moisture and worsen your skin's shine. Oily skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with peptides and hydrating agents that balance hydration without heavy oils.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily skin?
Mineral oil and petrolatum make this cream a poor fit for oily skin because their heavy, sealing action can trap natural oils and worsen shine. Oily skin needs a moisturizer with peptides and lightweight hydrating agents that provide moisture without heavy oils or pore-clogging ingredients.
What does Jojoba Oil do for oily skin?
Jojoba oil helps calm oily and breakout-prone skin by reducing blemishes and inflammation. It is unlikely to clog pores and helps keep the skin feeling balanced and smooth.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2013
What does Vitamin E do for oily skin?
Vitamin E helps balance oily skin by reducing excess oil and calming redness. It is also unlikely to clog pores while helping to keep your skin smooth and properly hydrated.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cream is a weak match for your oily skin because heavy ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum may worsen shine and oiliness. Oily skin needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with balancing ingredients that hydrate without feeling heavy or blocking pores.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
This cream is a weak match for your oily skin because it contains heavy ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum that can easily worsen your shine and clog pores. To use it alongside retinol, apply your retinol first on clean skin, let it absorb, and then follow with this moisturizer to help keep your skin soft. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients to stay balanced without feeling greasy.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a weak match for oily skin because heavy ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum may add too much shine and worsen oiliness. Oily skin needs lightweight moisturizers with oil-controlling ingredients to stay balanced without feeling heavy.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream may clog pores and trigger breakouts on oily skin, because heavy ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum can trap extra oil. Oily skin needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help keep pores clear and control shine.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is safe to use on your body and around the eyes, where the skin is much thinner. However, because it contains heavier ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum that can worsen oiliness, oily skin needs a lighter lotion with oil-controlling ingredients and water-binding elements instead.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains 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, 2017Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Topical 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, 2024The 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, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment 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, 2007
Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Myristyl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Stearic Acid, Petrolatum, Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Dimethicone, Jojoba Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lanolin Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
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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