After I reviewed Creme De La Mer, I in contrast it to Nivea Creme. The 2 have extra in frequent than the flowery seaweed cream dares to confess. However simply how related are they? May you simply use Nivea Cream as a dupe of La Mer – and save your self lots of of {dollars} annually with out compromising the youthfulness and brightness of your pores and skin? To seek out out, let’s check out the components of all three lotions. No, that’s not a typo. There are two variations of Nivea Creme. The German model (offered in Europe and nearly not possible to seek out within the US), and the US model (offered, properly.. within the US). Let’s get began:

What Elements Do Creme De La Mer And Nivea Creme Have In Frequent?

MINERAL OIL TO MOISTURISE SKIN

Mineral oil will get a foul rep as a result of it’s derived from oil. However half of the components utilized in cosmetics are, and most of them don’t appeal to the identical vicious criticism… And nope, they’re not harmful. Not even mineral oil. All of the nasty and poisonous stuff in petroleum has been eliminated by a rigorous purifying course of.

Beauty grade mineral oil is secure, and one of the crucial moisturizing components obtainable as we speak. It really works by making a barrier on the pores and skin that slows down water loss. However that’s not the one cause why it’s so broadly used. Mineral oil can also be non-irritating and noncomedogenic (however if you happen to use merchandise with comedogenic components, they’ll get trapped below the barrier mineral oil creates, and that might result in breakouts).

Associated: 5 Myths You Want To Cease Believing About Mineral Oil

PETROLATUM TO WATERPROOF AND MOISTURISE SKIN

Like mineral oil, petrolatum is derived from oil, purified and secure. It doesn’t penetrate pores and skin, however stays on its floor, the place it varieties a water-repellent movie that retains pores and skin moisturized. It additionally helps scale back irritation and heal pores and skin. However solely Creme De La Mer and the US model of Nivea Creme use this ingredient. It’s why they’re greasier and stickier than the German model.

GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN

It looks as if each skincare product comprises glycerin, doesn’t it? That’s as a result of glycerin is an effective humectant that may appeal to water from the surroundings into the pores and skin, hydrating it. Along with mineral oil and petrolatum, it makes these thick lotions godsends for dry pores and skin.

Associated: Why Is Glycerin In All My Skincare Merchandise?

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 course of to make it produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that has exfoliant properties: it may possibly make pores and skin look brighter, smoother, and extra even-toned. However there actually is not any must spend a lot for it. So many merchandise have lactic acid or different exfoliant that work higher for a fraction of the associated fee.
• Isohexadecane: A solvent that dissolves different components within the components.
• Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Extract: A citrusy extract that makes the cream scent good, however can irritate delicate pores and skin.
• Microcrystalline Wax Cera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline: It thickens skincare merchandise and provides them a easy texture.
• Lanolin Alcohol: An emollient that makes pores and skin softer and smoother.
• Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil: Derived from sesame seeds, it creates a protecting barrier on the pores and skin that retains moisture in, making pores and skin softer and plumper.
• Eucalyptus Globulus (Ecalyptus) Leaf Oil: It makes the cream scent good, but it surely’s a typical allergen that may irritate delicate pores and skin.
• Magnesium Sulfate: Often known as Epsom salt, it thickens the feel of skincare merchandise.
• Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed: It’s loaded with fatty acids that deeply moisturise pores and skin.
• Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder: This plant extract is claimed to have collagen-boosting properties that work in addition to retinol. If that had been true, everybody can be utilizing it. Simply saying…
• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake: a residue from the expression of oil from theseedcake of the sunlfower, it has moisturising properties.
• Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Candy Almond) Seed Meal: It lubricates pores and skin, offering a gentle really feel to it.
• Sodium Gluconate: A humectant that will increase moisture stage in your pores and skin whereas maintaining the components secure.
• Potassium Gluconate: One other humectant that will increase moisture stage in your pores and skin, leaving it softer and smoother.
• Copper Gluconate: It has soothing properties that preserve pores and skin in a relentless state of restore, serving to it to at all times look its greatest.
• Calcium Gluconate: It has soothing properties for pores and skin.
• Magnesium Gluconate: It makes pores and skin softer and smoother.
• Zinc Gluconate: A preservative that retains skincare merchandise secure from nasty micro organism for longer.
• Paraffin: It gives a protecting barrier on the pores and skin that retains it hydrated and secure from environmental aggressors.
• Tocopheryl Succinate: A type of Vitamin E that has highly effective antioxidant advantages for pores and skin.
• Niacin: A sort of Vitamin B3, like niacinamide. It has highly effective antioxidant properties.
• Beta-Carotene: One other highly effective antioxidant that fights free radicals.
• Decyl Oleate: A pores and skin conditioning agent that rapidly will increase pores and skin’s moisture ranges.
• Aluminum Distearate: A stabilizer and thickening agent.
• Octyldodecanol: An emollient that makes pores and skin softer and smoother. It’s additionally an emollient that improves the feel of skincare merchandise.
• Citric Acid: It helps to regulate the pH of skincare merchandise.
• Cyanocobalamin: A type of Vitamin B12, an antioxidant. It will get a yellow ranking cos there’s not a lot proof it does a lot for pores and skin.
• Magnesium Stearate: A lubricant that makes pores and skin softer.
• Panthenol: A humectant that soothes and hydrates pores and skin.
• Limonene: Present in citrus fruits, it makes skincare merchandise scent nice. However it have to be listed individually on the packaging as a result of it’s a typical allergen.
• Geraniol: A perfume ingredient extracted from geranium. It makes the cream scent good, but it surely’s a typical allergen.
• Linalool: Present in citrus fruits and lavender, it makes skincare merchandise scent good. However it may possibly irritate pores and skin.
• Hydroxycitronellal: It has a floral scent that makes the cream scent good. You’ve guessed it, it’s irritating.
• Citronellol: One other aromatic ingredient. Smells good, could irritate pores and skin.
• Benzyl Salicylate: A perfume additive. It helps the cream scent good, however it may possibly irritate pores and skin.
• Citral: It smells like lemon, however it may possibly irritate pores and skin.
• Alcohol Denat.: It thins the feel and enhances the penetration of skincare components. In excessive doses, it may possibly irritate pores and skin, but it surely’s unlikely to do it within the hint quantities current right here.
• Perfume (Parfum): Probably the most irritating ingredient in skincare merchandise, it does make them scent good.

NIVEA CREME (GERMAN VERSION) INGREDIENTS

• Aqua: The principle solvent within the cream, it helps to dissolve different components. It hydrates pores and skin, too.
• Cera Microcristallina: It thickens skincare merchandise and provides them a easy texture.
• Lanolin Alcohol (Eucerit): An emollient that makes pores and skin softer and smoother.
• Paraffin: It gives a protecting barrier on the pores and skin that retains it hydrated and secure from environmental aggressors.
• Panthenol: A humectant that soothes and hydrates pores and skin.
• Decyl Oleate: A pores and skin conditioning agent that rapidly will increase pores and skin’s moisture ranges.
• Octyldodecanol: An emollient that makes pores and skin softer and smoother. It’s additionally an emollient that improves the feel of skincare merchandise.
• Aluminum Stearate: A thickening agent and stabiliser.
• Citric Acid: It helps to regulate the pH of skincare merchandise.
• Magnesium Sulfate: Often known as Epsom salt, it thickens the feel of skincare merchandise.
• Magnesium Stearate: A lubricant that makes pores and skin softer.
• Parfum: Probably the most irritating ingredient in skincare merchandise, it does make them scent good.
• Limonene: Present in citrus fruits, it makes skincare merchandise scent nice. However it have to be listed individually on the packaging as a result of it’s a typical allergen.
• Geraniol: A perfume ingredient extracted from geranium. It makes the cream scent good, but it surely’s a typical allergen.
• Hydroxycitronellal: It has a floral scent that makes the cream scent good. You’ve guessed it, it’s irritating.
• Linalool: Present in citrus fruits and lavender, it makes skincare merchandise scent good. However it may possibly irritate pores and skin.
• Citronellol: One other aromatic ingredient. Smells good, could irritate pores and skin.
• Benzyl Benzoate: A risky perfume ingredient that makes the cream scent good, however is a typical allergen.
• Cinnamyl Alcohol: A perfume ingredient that comprises extracts from cinnamon and balsam of Peru. It smells nice, however can irritate pores and skin.

NIVEA CREME (US VERSION)

• Water: The principle solvent within the cream, it helps to dissolve different components. It hydrates pores and skin, too.
• Microcrystalline Wax: It thickens skincare merchandise and provides them a easy texture.
• Lanolin Alcohol: An emollient that makes pores and skin softer and smoother.
• Beeswax (Apis Mellifera): A thicken agent that additionally has emollient properties for pores and skin.
• Panthenol: A humectant that soothes and hydrates pores and skin.
• Alcohol: It thins the feel of skincare merchandise, however could be drying. There are sufficient emollients to counteract that right here, but when your pores and skin could be very delicate to it, watch out.
• Magnesium Sulfate: Often known as Epsom salt, it thickens the feel of skincare merchandise.
• Decyl Oleate: A pores and skin conditioning agent that rapidly will increase pores and skin’s moisture ranges.
• Octyldodecanol: An emollient that makes pores and skin softer and smoother. It’s additionally an emollient that improves the feel of skincare merchandise.
• Aluminum Stearate: A thickening agent and stabiliser.
• Perfume: Probably the most irritating ingredient in skincare merchandise, it does make them scent good.
• Citric Acid: It helps to regulate the pH of skincare merchandise.
• Magnesium Stearate: A lubricant that makes pores and skin softer.
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone: A preservative that inhibits the expansion of micro organism, fungi, and yeast in your skincare merchandise. However it may possibly irritate delicate pores and skin.
• Methylisothiazolinone: One other preservative that inhibits the expansion of micro organism, fungi, and yeast in your skincare merchandise. However it may possibly irritate delicate pores and skin.

WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?

Associated: My Full Overview Of Creme De La Mer

Need extra dupes? Click on on the picture under to subscribe to the publication and obtain the “Skincare Dupes” cheatsheet with all my fave dupes:

What’s The Texture Like?

Overview: My Full Overview Of Nivea Creme

What’s The Packaging Like?

Associated: Why You Ought to Keep away from Jar Packaging

How To Use Them

Like all moisturisers, you need to use them twice a day. Within the morning, apply them simply earlier than sunscreen. At evening, they’re the final step of your skincare routine. You don’t want to make use of a facial oil with these – until you need to.

Which Of The Two Ought to You Go For?

I’m not an enormous fan of both cream. Nivea Creme is simply too primary: it solely moisturises dry pores and skin. Creme De La Mer is a fancier model that’s not definitely worth the excessive price ticket, in my view. If you actually need a primary moisturizing cream, go along with Nivea. Why pay extra while you don’t should?

Availability

Creme De La Mer ($200): obtainable at Creme De La Mer, Cult Magnificence, Web-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Sephora, and SpaceNK

Nivea Creme (US model) ($6.97): obtainable at Goal and Walmart

Nivea Creme (German model) ($5.99): obtainable 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 related however not actual dupes. They’re each primary moisturizers that make even the driest of pores and skin really feel gentle and easy for hours. Creme De La Mer is barely higher as a result of it comprises seaweeds that produce lactic acid, however that’s not sufficient to justify the excessive price ticket imo.

Personally, I’d go along with Nivea and use the cash so saved to purchase a AHAs exfoliant or antioxidant wealthy serum. And, that manner, I’d nonetheless have loads of cash left to splurge on make-up. 😉

About Gio

Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that will help you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – daily. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that will help you determine what’s definitely worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally provide skincare consultations that will help you create the most effective skincare routine on your distinctive wants.