Is Nivea clean? Ingredient check of 128 products
Updated · Based on 4158 screened products
Short answer: we checked 128 of Nivea's products, the current US range on niveausa.com on 19 October 2026 (body lotion and cream, body wash, face care, NIVEA MEN face care, hand cream and lip care), taken from the ingredient list on each product page, plus 58 versions sold outside the US and 2 older records from Open Beauty Facts (marked below). 109 of 128 pass our clean check (none of our watchlist ingredients listed). 19 are flagged; the flags are due to parabens (12 products), butylphenyl methylpropional / lilial (6 products), titanium dioxide (4 products). This is a factual check of ingredient lists against our definition of clean. It is not a verdict on the brand and says nothing about how well any product works.
What "clean" means here
On CleanGlow, a product is clean if its listed ingredients contain none of our 10 watchlist groups, based on the IARC Monographs – List of Classifications and on bans and restrictions under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. A product is flagged if at least one listed ingredient matches a watchlist group. The rules are the same for every brand (see the methodology). We do not judge fragrance, essential oils, performance or any marketing claim the brand makes.
Why Nivea products get flagged
Parabens (12 Nivea products)
The EU bans isopropyl-, isobutyl-, phenyl-, benzyl- and pentylparaben in cosmetics and caps propyl- and butylparaben. We flag every listed paraben, including methyl- and ethylparaben, which the EU still allows within limits. Source: EU Cosmetics Reg. 1223/2009 Annex II & V; Reg. (EU) 358/2014. See Parabens for every product we flag for it.
Butylphenyl methylpropional / Lilial (6 Nivea products)
Butylphenyl methylpropional / Lilial (EU Annex II prohibited). Source: Reg. (EU) 2021/1902 (Annex II). See Butylphenyl methylpropional / Lilial for every product we flag for it.
Titanium dioxide (4 Nivea products)
IARC classifies titanium dioxide as Group 2B ("possibly carcinogenic to humans"), based on evidence from inhaling the powder. We flag every product that lists it, including where it is only a pigment, an opacifier or a "may contain" shade pigment, and including mineral sunscreens that use it as a UV filter. A flag means the ingredient is on the list. It is not a measured risk for that product. Source: IARC Monographs Vol. 93. See Titanium dioxide for every product we flag for it.
Every Nivea product we checked
Ingredient lists come from niveausa.com (fetched 19 October 2026) unless the source column says otherwise. Formulas change and can differ by country, so always check the pack.
Actives: NIVEA MEN Age Defense Daily Face Moisturizer SPF30 lists its sunscreen active ingredients first, followed by the inactive ingredients; we check actives and inactives together. For other products, niveausa.com sometimes names featured ingredients (for example vitamin E or aloe) as "active ingredients"; we use the full ingredient list. Which formulas: the products marked "EU formula", "UK formula", "Mexico formula" or "India formula" are versions sold outside the US, labelled by the country prefix of their barcode; their source is Open Beauty Facts, and they have no Amazon or Ulta button. Two older records (Moisturizing Post Shave Balm and Sensitive Soothing Post Shave Balm) have US barcodes but could not be matched to a current niveausa.com page, so they keep their Open Beauty Facts source. NIVEA has an official brand store on Amazon, so the Amazon button goes to that store. NIVEA is not in Ulta's brand list, so there is no Ulta button. Comparing with Dove? See Dove vs Nivea, compared on our ingredient data and Is Dove clean? Every product we checked. Comparing with CeraVe? See Nivea vs CeraVe, compared on the US formulas.
Not included
- Shaving products (shave gels and foams, shaving cream, after shave lotion and post shave balms; 9 products on niveausa.com on 19 October 2026): we have no shaving category.
- SPF products whose page does not list both the sunscreen active ingredients and the other ingredients, so we could not check the full formula: Sensitive Face Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen (active ingredients only) and Maximum Hydration Protective Lotion SPF 15 (no list).
- Shimmer Lip Care: its page showed no ingredient list on 19 October 2026.
- Other sizes of listed products: two more NIVEA Soft pages and three more NIVEA Creme pages (one with a slightly different list), and a second Botanical Blossom Body Wash page. Each product is listed once.
- Original Moisture Body Lotion: a second niveausa.com page with the same barcode as Original Daily Moisture Body Lotion but a different ingredient list. We list the first page only.
Clean alternatives by product type
For each product category where a Nivea product is flagged, these are clean products from other brands in the same category of our database, ordered by our data score (methodology). We match on product category only. They are not presented as equivalents: we have not tested them and make no claim that they look, feel or work like the Nivea product.
Affiliate disclosure: buy buttons and "View on Amazon" cards on this page may be affiliate links (rel="sponsored"). If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commissions never affect which products pass our ingredient screen or their order. As an Amazon Associate, CleanGlow earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Clean after sun from other brands
Same product category as Moisturizing After-Sun (EU formula).
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun Rescue After Sun Medicated Relief Gel | Neutrogena | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Coconut After Sun Balm | Badger | – | 8/9 | Badger |
| 3 | After Sun Lotion: Calm & Comfort | ISDIN | – | 3/9 | Sephora (search) |
| 4 | Sun Rescue After Sun Rehydrating Spray | Neutrogena | – | 8/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
NeutrogenaSun Rescue After Sun Medicated Relief GelAfter Sun✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Neutrogena Ulta
Full ingredient check: Sun Rescue After Sun Medicated Relief Gel →
Clean body lotion from other brands
Same product category as Body Milk (EU formula), Cocoa Butter Body Cream, Essentially Enriched Body Cream, Gentle Moisturizing Lotion for Dry Skin (EU formula) and 3 more.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA + AHA | First Aid Beauty | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Retexturizing Body Pads | Murad | ✓ | 9/9 | Murad |
| 3 | Deep Comfort Body Moisture | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 4 | Moisture Surge Body Hydrator | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
First Aid BeautyIngrown Hair Pads with BHA + AHABody Lotion✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at First Aid Beauty Sephora Ulta
Clean cleansers from other brands
Same product category as Active Clean Body Wash, Eye Make-up Remover (EU formula), Maximum Hydration Deep Cleansing Face Scrub, Refreshing Cleansing Milk (EU formula).
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm | Glow Recipe | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Gentle Gel Ceramide + Ectoin Cleanser | Skinfix | ✓ | 9/9 | Skinfix |
| 4 | Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
Glow RecipePapaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing BalmCleansers✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Glow Recipe Sephora
Full ingredient check: Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm →
CliniqueRinse-Off Eye Makeup SolventCleansers✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Clinique Sephora (search) Ulta
Clean face creams from other brands
Same product category as Men Creme.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | For Men Aloe Shave Gel | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Equilibrium Restorative Hydrating Cream | Hourglass | ✓ | 9/9 | Hourglass |
| 3 | The Base Face Milk | ILIA | ✓ | 9/9 | ILIA |
| 4 | Smart Clinical Repair AM/PM Retinoid Balm | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
CliniqueFor Men Aloe Shave GelFace Creams✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Clinique Sephora (search) Ulta
HourglassEquilibrium Restorative Hydrating CreamFace Creams✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Full ingredient check: Equilibrium Restorative Hydrating Cream →
Clean hand care from other brands
Same product category as SOS Hand Balm (EU formula).
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Cicaplast Hand Cream for Dry Hands & Damaged Hands | La Roche-Posay | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Brazilian Touch Hand Cream | Sol de Janeiro | – | 8/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 4 | Hand Lotion | OUAI | – | 8/9 | OUAI |
CliniqueDeep Comfort Hand and Cuticle CreamHand Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Clinique Sephora (search) Ulta
Full ingredient check: Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream →
La Roche-PosayCicaplast Hand Cream for Dry Hands & Damaged HandsHand Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at La Roche-Posay Ulta
Full ingredient check: Cicaplast Hand Cream for Dry Hands & Damaged Hands →
Clean lip care from other brands
Same product category as Blackberry Lip Care, Cherry Lip Care, Peach Lip Care, Watermelon Lip Care.
| # | Product | Brand | Fragrance-free | Score | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Kissu Lip Treatment | Tatcha | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 2 | Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment | Clinique | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
| 3 | Peptide Lip Boost | Rhode | ✓ | 9/9 | Rhode |
| 4 | PHA 5% Exfoliating Lip Serum | The Ordinary | ✓ | 9/9 | Amazon (brand store) |
TatchaThe Kissu Lip TreatmentLip Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →
CliniqueMoisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump TreatmentLip Care✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Clinique Sephora (search) Ulta
Full ingredient check: Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment →
Clean sunscreen (chemical filters) from other brands
Same product category as Protect & hydrate 50+ (EU formula).
Supergoop!Unseen Sunscreen Body SPF 40Sunscreen (Chemical Filters)✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Supergoop! Sephora (search) Ulta
NeutrogenaClear Body SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, Non-ComedogenicSunscreen (Chemical Filters)✓ No watchlist ingredients foundSee ingredients →Buy at Amazon (brand store) Buy at Neutrogena Ulta
Full ingredient check: Clear Body SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray, Non-Comedogenic →
Related
- All Nivea products
- Dove vs Nivea
- Nivea vs CeraVe
- Best clean body lotion
- Best clean body wash
- Best non-toxic lip balm
- Methodology
Hazard is not risk. An IARC classification says whether a substance can cause cancer under some conditions (e.g. titanium dioxide is classified for inhaled powder), not that a cosmetic containing it is harmful at normal use. EU restrictions set use limits. This page is informational, not medical advice; talk to a dermatologist about your own skin.