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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 focuses on targeted serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the German brand is deeply loved for versatile sunscreens, targeted serums, and nourishing moisturizers formulated with hydrating glycerin. Both options suit sensitive skin and dry sensitive skin best, with specific formulations also addressing acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature concerns. They ultimately differ in their exact ingredient combinations and historical origins, with the former emphasizing specific acids and the latter relying on balanced moisture.

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

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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 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

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 814.57 · 90% fitBuy NIVEA routine · SAR 974.09 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 867.55 · 92% fitBuy NIVEA routine · SAR 1,178.96 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 981.41 · 92% fitBuy NIVEA routine · SAR 1,165.77 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or NIVEA: which is better?

The Ordinary is superior for most skin types and offers better value, while NIVEA provides greater hydration and multi-use versatility.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and NIVEA?

The Ordinary offers superior routine fit levels for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, mature, dark spot, and dry sensitive skin, while NIVEA provides high fit levels for all these skin types. Every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance, whereas 6 of 9 NIVEA products on this page list fragrance in their ingredients.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas NIVEA has a High fit level. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration, which is beneficial for dry skin.

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

The Ordinary or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

The products on this page show that The Ordinary offers superior routine fit for dry skin compared to NIVEA, which reaches a high fit level. The Ordinary features fragrance-free moisturizers like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan, whereas NIVEA provides options like Creme and Soft.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or NIVEA?

The Ordinary is more affordable as it has a review theme of great value and price.

Which brand has more products containing fragrance?

NIVEA has more products containing fragrance, with 6 out of 9 products on its page listing fragrance in their ingredients. In contrast, every product on The Ordinary page lists no fragrance.

How do The Ordinary and NIVEA compare regarding skin texture smoothing?

The Ordinary and NIVEA are equal regarding skin texture smoothing. The products on this page help improve skin smoothness through various ingredients.

Which brand offers better hydration and plumping benefits?

NIVEA is noted for better hydration and plumping benefits. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin moisture and elasticity.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or NIVEA for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary provides a Superior routine fit, whereas NIVEA offers a High fit. Every product from The Ordinary lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while NIVEA includes fragrance in some of its formulations.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to NIVEA's High fit on this page.

The Ordinary or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary provides a Superior routine fit for acne-prone skin, whereas NIVEA has a High fit level. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free acne-clearing serums and a strong focus on targeted treatments.

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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