Is Nivea Creme Really A Dupe For Creme De La Mer?

When I reviewed Creme De La Mer, I compared it to Nivea Creme. The two have more in common than the fancy seaweed cream dares to admit. But just how similar are they? Could you just use Nivea Cream as a dupe of La Mer – and save yourself hundreds of dollars each year without compromising the youthfulness and brightness of your skin? To find out, let’s take a look at the ingredients of all three creams. No, that’s not a typo. There are two versions of Nivea Creme. The German version (sold in Europe and almost impossible to find in the US), and the US version (sold, well.. in the US). Let’s get started:

What Ingredients Do Creme De La Mer And Nivea Creme Have In Common?

MINERAL OIL TO MOISTURISE SKIN

Mineral oil gets a bad rep because it’s derived from oil. But half of the ingredients used in cosmetics are, and most of them don’t attract the same vicious criticism… And nope, they’re not dangerous. Not even mineral oil. All the nasty and toxic stuff in petroleum has been removed through a rigorous purifying process.

Cosmetic grade mineral oil is safe, and one of the most moisturizing ingredients available today. It works by creating a barrier on the skin that slows down water loss. But that’s not the only reason why it is so widely used. Mineral oil is also non-irritating and noncomedogenic (but if you use products with comedogenic ingredients, they will get trapped under the barrier mineral oil creates, and that could lead to breakouts).

Related: 5 Myths You Need To Stop Believing About Mineral Oil

PETROLATUM TO WATERPROOF AND MOISTURISE SKIN

Like mineral oil, petrolatum is derived from oil, purified and safe. It doesn’t penetrate skin, but remains on its surface, where it forms a water-repellent film that keeps skin moisturized. It also helps reduce inflammation and heal skin. But only Creme De La Mer and the US version of Nivea Creme use this ingredient. It’s why they are greasier and stickier than the German version.

GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN

It seems like every skincare product contains glycerin, doesn’t it? That’s because glycerin is a good humectant that can attract water from the environment into the skin, hydrating it. Together with mineral oil and petrolatum, it makes these thick creams godsends for dry skin.

Related: Why Is Glycerin In All My Skincare Products?

What Else Is In Creme De La Mer And Nivea Creme?

CREME DE LA MER INGREDIENTS

• Seaweed (Algae) Extract: La Mer’s Miracle Broth, it has seaweed extract that underwent a fermentation process to make it produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that has exfoliant properties: it can make skin look brighter, smoother, and more even-toned. But there really is no need to spend so much for it. So many products have lactic acid or other exfoliant that work better for a fraction of the cost.
• Isohexadecane: A solvent that dissolves other ingredients in the formula.
• Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Extract: A citrusy extract that makes the cream smell good, but can irritate sensitive skin.
• Microcrystalline Wax Cera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline: It thickens skincare products and gives them a smooth texture.
• Lanolin Alcohol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
• Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil: Derived from sesame seeds, it creates a protective barrier on the skin that keeps moisture in, making skin softer and plumper.
• Eucalyptus Globulus (Ecalyptus) Leaf Oil: It makes the cream smell good, but it’s a common allergen that can irritate sensitive skin.
• Magnesium Sulfate: Known as Epsom salt, it thickens the texture of skincare products.
• Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed: It’s loaded with fatty acids that deeply moisturise skin.
• Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder: This plant extract is said to have collagen-boosting properties that work as well as retinol. If that were true, everyone would be using it. Just saying…
• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake: a residue from the expression of oil from theseedcake of the sunlfower, it has moisturising properties.
• Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal: It lubricates skin, providing a soft feel to it.
• Sodium Gluconate: A humectant that increases moisture level in your skin while keeping the formula stable.
• Potassium Gluconate: Another humectant that increases moisture level in your skin, leaving it softer and smoother.
• Copper Gluconate: It has soothing properties that keep skin in a constant state of repair, helping it to always look its best.
• Calcium Gluconate: It has soothing properties for skin.
• Magnesium Gluconate: It makes skin softer and smoother.
• Zinc Gluconate: A preservative that keeps skincare products safe from nasty bacteria for longer.
• Paraffin: It provides a protective barrier on the skin that keeps it hydrated and safe from environmental aggressors.
• Tocopheryl Succinate: A form of Vitamin E that has powerful antioxidant benefits for skin.
• Niacin: A type of Vitamin B3, like niacinamide. It has powerful antioxidant properties.
• Beta-Carotene: Another powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals.
• Decyl Oleate: A skin conditioning agent that quickly increases skin’s moisture levels.
• Aluminum Distearate: A stabilizer and thickening agent.
• Octyldodecanol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother. It’s also an emollient that improves the texture of skincare products.
• Citric Acid: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
• Cyanocobalamin: A form of Vitamin B12, an antioxidant. It gets a yellow rating cos there’s not much proof it does much for skin.
• Magnesium Stearate: A lubricant that makes skin softer.
• Panthenol: A humectant that soothes and hydrates skin.
• Limonene: Found in citrus fruits, it makes skincare products smell great. But it must be listed separately on the packaging because it’s a common allergen.
• Geraniol: A fragrance ingredient extracted from geranium. It makes the cream smell good, but it’s a common allergen.
• Linalool: Found in citrus fruits and lavender, it makes skincare products smell good. But it can irritate skin.
• Hydroxycitronellal: It has a floral scent that makes the cream smell good. You’ve guessed it, it’s irritating.
• Citronellol: Another fragrant ingredient. Smells good, may irritate skin.
• Benzyl Salicylate: A fragrance additive. It helps the cream smell good, but it can irritate skin.
• Citral: It smells like lemon, but it can irritate skin.
• Alcohol Denat.: It thins the texture and enhances the penetration of skincare ingredients. In high doses, it can irritate skin, but it’s unlikely to do it in the trace amounts present here.
• Fragrance (Parfum): The most irritating ingredient in skincare products, it does make them smell good.

NIVEA CREME (GERMAN VERSION) INGREDIENTS

• Aqua: The main solvent in the cream, it helps to dissolve other ingredients. It hydrates skin, too.
• Cera Microcristallina: It thickens skincare products and gives them a smooth texture.
• Lanolin Alcohol (Eucerit): An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
• Paraffin: It provides a protective barrier on the skin that keeps it hydrated and safe from environmental aggressors.
• Panthenol: A humectant that soothes and hydrates skin.
• Decyl Oleate: A skin conditioning agent that quickly increases skin’s moisture levels.
• Octyldodecanol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother. It’s also an emollient that improves the texture of skincare products.
• Aluminum Stearate: A thickening agent and stabiliser.
• Citric Acid: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
• Magnesium Sulfate: Known as Epsom salt, it thickens the texture of skincare products.
• Magnesium Stearate: A lubricant that makes skin softer.
• Parfum: The most irritating ingredient in skincare products, it does make them smell good.
• Limonene: Found in citrus fruits, it makes skincare products smell great. But it must be listed separately on the packaging because it’s a common allergen.
• Geraniol: A fragrance ingredient extracted from geranium. It makes the cream smell good, but it’s a common allergen.
• Hydroxycitronellal: It has a floral scent that makes the cream smell good. You’ve guessed it, it’s irritating.
• Linalool: Found in citrus fruits and lavender, it makes skincare products smell good. But it can irritate skin.
• Citronellol: Another fragrant ingredient. Smells good, may irritate skin.
• Benzyl Benzoate: A volatile fragrance ingredient that makes the cream smell good, but is a common allergen.
• Cinnamyl Alcohol: A fragrance ingredient that contains extracts from cinnamon and balsam of Peru. It smells great, but can irritate skin.

NIVEA CREME (US VERSION)

• Water: The main solvent in the cream, it helps to dissolve other ingredients. It hydrates skin, too.
• Microcrystalline Wax: It thickens skincare products and gives them a smooth texture.
• Lanolin Alcohol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
• Beeswax (Apis Mellifera): A thicken agent that also has emollient properties for skin.
• Panthenol: A humectant that soothes and hydrates skin.
• Alcohol: It thins the texture of skincare products, but can be drying. There are enough emollients to counteract that here, but if you know your skin is very sensitive to it, be careful.
• Magnesium Sulfate: Known as Epsom salt, it thickens the texture of skincare products.
• Decyl Oleate: A skin conditioning agent that quickly increases skin’s moisture levels.
• Octyldodecanol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother. It’s also an emollient that improves the texture of skincare products.
• Aluminum Stearate: A thickening agent and stabiliser.
• Fragrance: The most irritating ingredient in skincare products, it does make them smell good.
• Citric Acid: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
• Magnesium Stearate: A lubricant that makes skin softer.
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast in your skincare products. But it can irritate sensitive skin.
• Methylisothiazolinone: Another preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast in your skincare products. But it can irritate sensitive skin.

WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?

Related: My Full Review Of Creme De La Mer

Want more dupes? Click on the image below to subscribe to the newsletter and receive the “Skincare Dupes” cheatsheet with all my fave dupes:

What’s The Texture Like?

Review: My Full Review Of Nivea Creme

What’s The Packaging Like?

Related: Why You Should Avoid Jar Packaging

How To Use Them

Like all moisturisers, you can use them twice a day. In the morning, apply them just before sunscreen. At night, they’re the last step of your skincare routine. You don’t need to use a facial oil with these – unless you want to.

Which Of The Two Should You Go For?

I’m not a huge fan of either cream. Nivea Creme is too basic: it only moisturises dry skin. Creme De La Mer is a fancier version that’s not worth the high price tag, in my opinion. If you really need a basic moisturizing cream, go with Nivea. Why pay more when you don’t have to?

Availability

Creme De La Mer ($200): available at Creme De La Mer, Cult Beauty, Net-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Sephora, and SpaceNK

Nivea Creme (US version) ($6.97): available at Target and Walmart

Nivea Creme (German version) ($5.99): available at Boots and Superdrug

Is Nivea Creme A Dupe For Creme De La Mer?

So, Is Nivea Creme A Dupe For Creme De La Mer? Creme De La Mer and Nivea Creme are very similar but not exact dupes. They’re both basic moisturizers that make even the driest of skin feel soft and smooth for hours. Creme De La Mer is slightly better because it contains seaweeds that produce lactic acid, but that’s not enough to justify the high price tag imo.

Personally, I’d go with Nivea and use the money so saved to buy a AHAs exfoliant or antioxidant rich serum. And, that way, I’d still have plenty of money left to splurge on makeup. 😉

About Gio

Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.