Question: Is Nivea Creme really the same thing as Creme de La Mer?


Answer:

Nivea Creme and Creme de La Mer share very similar ingredients, but the two of them are not identical. One of the most loved aspects of Creme de La Mer is that the thick cream liquefies and melts between your palms, allowing the product to soak effortlessly into your skin. Nivea Creme, a thick cream as well, does not liquefy like La Mer. It also feels heavier and greasier and takes longer to soak into your skin. However, they both hydrate your skin well and Nivea is loads cheaper.

The German version of Nivea Creme is rumored to be the one that is the same as Creme de La Mer. The US version of Nivea Creme (which has petrolatum) is not quite the same. You can check the back of the jar to see where the specific Nivea product is manufactured to find out whether you are buying the German version, but the German version is elusive and very hard to find.

Just how similar is Nivea Creme and Creme de La Mer?

Here is the ingredient list for Creme de La Mer, the German version of Nivea Creme, and the US version of Nivea Creme as well as their similarities and differences:


  • Creme de La Mer Ingredients:

    Seaweed (Algae) Extract, Mineral oil, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Extract, Microcrystalline Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Sesame Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Magnesium Sulfate, Sesame Seed, Medicago sativa (alfalfa) seed powder, Helianthus Annuus (sunflower) Seedcake, Prunus amygdulus dulcis (sweet almond) seed meal, Sodium Gluconate, Potassium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Paraffin, Tocopheryl succinate, Niacin, Beta-carotene, Decyl oleate, Aluminium distearate, Octyldodecanol, Citric acid, Cyanocobalamin, Magnesium stearate, Panthenol, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Benzyl salicylate, Citral, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Alcohol Denat., Fragrance (Parfum).

  • German Nivea Creme Ingredients:

    Aqua, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Glycerin, Lanolin Alcohol (Eucerit®), Paraffin, Panthenol, Decyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearates, Citric Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Magnesium Stearate, Parfum, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol.

  • USA Nivea Creme Ingredients:

    Water, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Petrolatum, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Beeswax (Apis Mellifera), Panthenol, Alcohol, Magnesium Sulfate, Decyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearate, Fragrance (Parfum), Citric Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone


And here are the similarities and differences among their ingredients:


  • German Nivea vs. Creme de La Mer:

    • Ingredients German Nivea has Creme de La Mer doesn't have:
      Aqua, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol.

    • Ingredients Creme de La Mer has that German Nivea doesn't have:
      Seaweed (Algae) Extract, Isohexadecane, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Extract, Sesame Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Sesame Seed, Medicago sativa (alfalfa) seed powder, Helianthus Annuus (sunflower) Seedcake, Prunus amygdulus dulcis (sweet almond) seed meal, Sodium Gluconate, Potassium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl succinate, Niacin, Beta-carotene, Cyanocobalamin, Benzyl salicylate, Citral, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Alcohol Denat.

    • Ingredients that are the same for both German Nivea and Creme de La Mer:
      Mineral oil, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Paraffin, Magnesium Sulfate, Panthenol, Decyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearates, Citric Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Parfum.

  • US Nivea vs. Creme de La Mer:

    • Ingredients US Nivea has that Creme de La Mer doesn't have:
      Water, Petrolatum, Beeswax (Apis Mellifera).

    • Ingredients Creme de La Mer has that US Nivea doesn't have:
      Seaweed (Algae) Extract, Isohexadecane, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Extract, Sesame Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Sesame Seed, Medicago sativa (alfalfa) seed powder, Helianthus Annuus (sunflower) Seedcake, Prunus amygdulus dulcis (sweet almond) seed meal, Sodium Gluconate, Potassium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Paraffin, Tocopheryl succinate, Niacin, Beta-carotene, Cyanocobalamin, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Benzyl salicylate, Citral.

    • Ingredients that are the same for both US Nivea and Creme de La Mer:
      Mineral oil, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Magnesium Sulfate, Panthenol, Decyl oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearate, Citric acid, Magnesium stearate, Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance (Parfum),

  • German Nivea vs. US Nivea:

    • Ingredients German Nivea has that US Nivea doesn't have:
      Paraffin (similar to beeswax), Limonene, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol.

    • Ingredients US Nivea has that German Nivea doesn't have:
      Petrolatum, Beeswax (Apis Mellifera), Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

    • Ingredients that are the same for both German Nivea and US Nivea:
      Water, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Glycerin, Microcrystalline Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Panthenol, Magnesium Sulfate, Decyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearates, Citric Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Fragrance (Parfum)

From the above ingredient lists, you can tell that Nivea and Creme de La Mer share many of the same ingredients. Except for various plant extracts, vitamins, and minerals, the base for La Mer is pretty much the same as Nivea Creme.

As for the difference between the German version of Nivea and the American version, the only major difference is the petrolatum in the US version, which possibly contributes to a heavier or greasier feeling on your skin.

Nivea Creme is similar but not the same as Creme de La Mer. I guess you can call it the poor man's La Mer. It's not as glamorous, but in a pinch, it should work as a good moisturizer.


Last updated: September 23, 2012



Next »

FAQ: Can I use a product after its expiration date?



Back « Skin FAQ