NIVEA Soft for sensitive skin
Jojoba Oil
Vitamin E
Glycerin
Mineral Oil
DimethiconeAverage
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin, as glycerin and jojoba seed oil provide hydration and smooth texture, which can be supportive for redness and irritation.
- The formula is generally safe for your sensitive skin, lacking harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
- While beneficial for general hydration, the product does not offer targeted treatment for your specific concerns of redness and irritation.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
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
How well does NIVEA Soft work for sensitive skin?
NIVEA Soft works reasonably well for your sensitive skin by offering moderate hydration and a generally safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation. However, it lacks targeted ingredients for specific concerns like redness and irritation. To fit sensitive skin better, a moisturizer needs soothing ingredients like Centella Asiatica and ceramides to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier without overwhelming it.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
Glycerin and jojoba seed oil make this cream a good fit by providing hydration and smooth texture, which helps support redness and irritation. To fit sensitive skin even better, a moisturizer needs soothing ingredients that specifically target redness and irritation, like fermented Centella Asiatica and cica ceramide.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024
What does Jojoba Oil do for sensitive skin?
Jojoba oil helps calm sensitive skin by reducing redness and soothing irritation. Its gentle properties make it unlikely to cause adverse reactions while supporting overall skin comfort.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2013International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017
What does Vitamin E do for sensitive skin?
Vitamin E helps calm sensitive skin by reducing redness, swelling, and irritation while strengthening the skin barrier against everyday environmental stress. Regular use is unlikely to cause trouble and may improve overall comfort.
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 1992Scanning Microscopy, 1993
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cream goes at the very end of your evening routine as a moisturizer to help lock in hydration, while sensitive skin also needs calming ingredients and targeted care to soothe redness and irritation.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help keep your skin calm and moisturized. Sensitive skin needs a moisturizer of this type to include soothing ingredients like ceramides or centella asiatica to better protect against irritation.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this cream daily to keep your skin hydrated and smooth. Regular daily application helps maintain moisture and supports your skin barrier.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cream may cause acne for some people with sensitive skin, as reviewers moderately complain about breakouts. A product for sensitive skin prone to breakouts needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that calm redness without heavy oils.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is suitable for use on the body and around the eyes, as its gentle formula provides basic hydration for the thin skin found there. Sensitive skin of this type needs soothing ingredients like jojoba oil and glycerin to help keep it calm and smooth.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Topical 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, 2024A 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 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, 2025Nanolipidgel formulations with argan or jojoba oil and humectants demonstrate good sensory attributes, instrumental properties, and moisturizing efficacy for cosmetic application.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014Topical 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 sensitive 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, 2024Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A dexpanthenol-containing cream accelerated skin barrier repair, increased stratum corneum hydration, reduced skin roughness, and decreased skin redness compared to vehicle and untreated controls in sodium lauryl sulphate-irritated skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2002
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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