🇸🇬Singapore

CeraVe vs NIVEA

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

CeraVe and NIVEA are established skincare brands known for their reliable moisturizers, targeted serums, and gentle cleansers enriched with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The American brand suits mature skin and dry skin best, whereas the German brand suits combination skin and sensitive skin best. Both names differ in their primary formulation approaches, as the former focuses on barrier health and moisture retention while the latter emphasizes natural balance.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.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 CeraVe and NIVEA products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs NIVEA products

People Say

CeraVeNIVEA
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
  • Gentle Care for Sensitive Skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “no redness after washing — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks in immediately — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Value and Affordability Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
  • Skin Texture and Blemish Improvement Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels smooth — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Fragrance and Scent Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”
    • “I noticed some acne breakouts on my chin after using this crème for a while. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Texture and Consistency Problems Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “feels like washing with conditioner — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “hard to spread — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Pills under my makeup — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Consistency is like a thick paste or sunblock — NIVEA Creme”
  • Greasy or Oily Residue Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “too sticky — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”

CeraVe vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

Buy CeraVe routine · S$195.54 · 88% fitBuy NIVEA routine · S$227.16 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

CeraVe vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy NIVEA routine · S$458.64 · 84% fitBuy CeraVe routine · S$238.51 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy NIVEA routine · S$354.54 · 86% fitBuy CeraVe routine · S$262.69 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or NIVEA: which is better?

CeraVe has a Superior fit level for mature skin, while NIVEA has a High fit level. For the rest of the skin types on this page, both brands offer an equal routine fit.

What is the difference between CeraVe and NIVEA?

CeraVe is owned by L'Oréal and was founded in the United States, whereas NIVEA is owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA and was founded in Germany. Every product on the CeraVe page lists no fragrance, while several NIVEA products contain added fragrance. CeraVe offers a superior fit level for mature skin compared to NIVEA's high fit level, though both brands share equal fit levels for most other skin types on these pages.

CeraVe or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for dry skin, with CeraVe featuring fragrance-free formulas and NIVEA providing versatile moisturizers. CeraVe's products on this page often use ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help repair the skin barrier and deliver deep hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

CeraVe or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe offers a wider range of moisturizers with fragrance-free formulas and ceramides, making it a reliable choice for deep hydration and barrier repair, while NIVEA provides versatile multi-use moisturizers like Creme that help lock in moisture.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or NIVEA?

NIVEA is more affordable, as the products on this page win on value and affordability compared to CeraVe.

Which brand has better options for mature skin, CeraVe or NIVEA?

CeraVe has better options for mature skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, compared to High for NIVEA. This performance is supported by formulations that incorporate key ingredients like retinol, which helps improve naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Do CeraVe and NIVEA products contain fragrance?

The products on this page from CeraVe list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas NIVEA has both fragrance-free options and products with fragrance. Specifically, 3 of 9 NIVEA products on this page list no fragrance while the rest contain it.

Which brand provides better gentle care for sensitive skin?

CeraVe provides better gentle care for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates it superior for this purpose across the products on this page. Its fragrance-free formulas help deliver gentle care with ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

CeraVe or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that CeraVe features effective cleansers for acne and oil, while NIVEA provides versatile multi-use moisturizers.

CeraVe or NIVEA: which sunscreen is better?

CeraVe provides a better range of sunscreens on this page, achieving a High fit for both dry and oily skin types. Its products help protect the skin while avoiding added fragrance.

CeraVe or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

CeraVe fits sensitive skin better than NIVEA as a gentle skincare option, as Lovi rates its products with high consistency and the brand focuses on fragrance-free formulations. NIVEA formulations on this page frequently include added fragrance, which may cause irritation for sensitive skin.

CeraVe or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both brands offer High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page, with CeraVe featuring targeted options like the Blemish Control Cleanser while NIVEA includes serums such as DERMA SKIN CLEAR. The products on this page from CeraVe are fragrance-free, whereas some NIVEA items contain fragrance.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play