🇬🇧United Kingdom

Clinique vs NIVEA

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

Clinique and NIVEA are established skincare brands that offer reliable daily care. Clinique is known for its moisturizers, serums, makeup removers, and eye products with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine, suiting dry sensitive and oily skin best, whereas NIVEA is known for its sunscreens, targeted serums, and moisturizers with glycerin, suiting sensitive skin and skin with dark spots best. While both utilize nourishing glycerin to improve barrier function, the American brand incorporates multiple active ingredients for specialized anti-aging and acne concerns, and the German brand focuses primarily on sun protection and targeted hydration.

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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 Clinique and NIVEA products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Clinique vs NIVEA products

People Say

CliniqueNIVEA
  • Sensitive Skin and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No strong scent — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Effective Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Absorbs quickly without feeling sticky — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Skin Exfoliation and Texture Smoothing Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “gentle enough for everyday — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels smooth — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Great Value and Affordability Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
  • Makeup Compatibility and Base Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Melts waterproof mascara — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
  • Sticky and Greasy Finish Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “hard to rinse off — Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula”
    • “feels sticky to the touch — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “Left an oily film on my T-zone — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Causes Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “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”
  • High Price and Value Complaints Often MentionedNot noted
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Unpleasant or Strong Scent Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like nail polish remover — Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2”
    • “Smells like old oil — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “Scent is too overpowering for sensitive noses — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Has a heavy, baby powder smell. — NIVEA Soft”

Clinique vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

Buy NIVEA routine · £65.81 · 82% fitBuy Clinique routine · £210.11 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clinique vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy NIVEA routine · £161.96 · 87% fitBuy Clinique routine · £194.06 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Clinique vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy NIVEA routine · £150.97 · 87% fitBuy Clinique routine · £151.87 · 72% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Clinique or NIVEA: which is better?

Clinique is better for shoppers seeking fragrance-free formulas and lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizers, whereas NIVEA provides greater value and higher routine fit for dry and combination skin types. Both brands offer good options for sensitive skin, but Clinique features no added fragrance across the products on this page.

What is the difference between Clinique and NIVEA?

Clinique is fragrance-free across all products on this page and is known for lightweight moisturizers, whereas NIVEA includes fragrance in some items and offers affordable, versatile options like Creme.

Clinique or NIVEA for dry skin?

For dry skin, NIVEA has a High routine fit on Lovi, whereas Clinique has an Average routine fit. Reviewers often mention NIVEA for its intense deep hydration.

Clinique or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

Both Clinique and NIVEA offer great moisturizers, with Lovi fit levels varying by skin type. For dry skin, NIVEA has a High fit routine while Clinique has an Average fit. Both brands feature options that help provide deep hydration and improve skin texture.

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

Which is more affordable, Clinique or NIVEA?

NIVEA is more affordable, whereas reviewers often mention Clinique has a high price point.

Clinique or NIVEA: which brand offers better options for dry sensitive skin?

Both brands offer solid options for dry sensitive skin, as Lovi rates NIVEA High and Clinique High for this skin type. Reviewers note that NIVEA provides intense deep hydration, while Clinique features fragrance-free products.

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

Which brand has better fragrance-free product options, Clinique or NIVEA?

Clinique has better fragrance-free product options on this page, as every single Clinique product lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only 3 of the 9 NIVEA products are fragrance-free.

Clinique or NIVEA: which is better for mature skin and reducing wrinkles?

For mature skin, the products on this page show that Clinique has a High Lovi fit level and NIVEA also has a High Lovi fit level. Both brands offer good options, though Clinique is often noted by reviewers for lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizers and anti-aging serums like Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum.

Clinique or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both Clinique and NIVEA are a High fit for oily skin. The products on this page help provide oil control and deep hydration, though NIVEA reviewers note a greasy residue sometimes.

Clinique or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Both Clinique and NIVEA are great options, as Lovi rates both brands as having a High routine fit for sensitive skin. Every product on the Clinique page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas some NIVEA products may contain fragrance.

Clinique or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, NIVEA has a High routine fit level while Clinique has an Average fit level. Reviewers mention that NIVEA offers blemish-clearing serums.

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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