Nivea

About Nivea

Nivea is a German skin and body care brand owned by Beiersdorf, which is based in Hamburg. The brand was introduced in 1911, while Beiersdorf itself dates back to 1882. The range covers creams, body lotions, soaps, deodorants and sun care, and Beiersdorf's portfolio also includes brands such as Eucerin and Labello.

Nivea in numbers

With 605 products, Nivea is one of the largest brands in INCIMondo. Body care leads, followed by face care, sun care, deodorants and shower gels. PARFUM tops the list of recurring ingredients (water aside), ahead of GLYCERIN, LINALOOL, PHENOXYETHANOL and CITRIC ACID; LINALOOL is a fragrance component that EU rules require to be named separately above set levels.

That fragrance profile carries through the range: 525 of the 605 formulas (87%) contain fragrance ingredients. Denatured alcohol (ALCOHOL DENAT.) turns up in 174 (29%), a notable share for a brand whose catalogue includes deodorants and sunscreens. Silicones feature in 109 formulas (18%) and parabens in 35 (6%).

Reading a Nivea pack

Because Nivea spans so many categories, compare products within the same type rather than judging the brand as a whole. ALCOHOL DENAT. is denatured ethanol, used for a fast-drying feel; CETEARYL ALCOHOL and other fatty alcohols are a separate group, so the word “alcohol” alone says little. With a catalogue this large, reformulations happen, so check the list on the pack you actually buy.