NIVEA Creme All Purpose — Efficacy 3.2/5.0, Safety 3.4/5.0 | DemythSkin
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[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
NIVEA Creme All Purpose
Nivea

NIVEA Creme All Purpose

MoisturizerHydration
Efficacy
Basic
3.2 / 5.0
Safety
Caution
3.4 / 5.0
System Verdict
Classic, heavy occlusive cream that seals moisture well but offers almost no modern barrier-repair actives and carries a noticeable fragrance load. Efficacy here comes from a dense occlusive base (mineral oil, paraffin, microcrystalline wax, lanolin alcohol) plus basic humectants like glycerin and panthenol, which can effectively reduce transepidermal water loss but do not actively rebuild the barrier or target concerns beyond simple hydration; the multiple fragrance allergens near the bottom make this less suitable for sensitive or compromised skin despite decent moisturization.
Active Ingredients Detected
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
GlycerinPanthenol
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Mineral OilMicrocrystalline WaxParaffinMagnesium SulfateDecyl OleateOctyldodecanolAluminum StearatesMagnesium Stearate
D Tier: Potential IrritantsBe Cautious
Lanolin AlcoholLimoneneGeraniolHydroxycitronellalLinaloolCitronellolBenzyl BenzoateCinnamyl AlcoholFragrance/Parfum
What Each Ingredient Does
Water
Primary solvent
Mineral Oil
Occlusive emollient
Microcrystalline Wax
Thickener and texture former
Glycerin
Humectant for hydration
Lanolin Alcohol
Emollient and stabilizer
Paraffin
Occlusive emollient
Panthenol
Humectant and soothing agent
Magnesium Sulfate
Viscosity control and stabilizer
Decyl Oleate
Emollient and slip agent
Octyldodecanol
Emollient and texture enhancer
Aluminum Stearates
Thickener and stabilizer
Citric Acid
pH adjuster
Magnesium Stearate
Texture enhancer and stabilizer
Limonene
Fragrance component
Geraniol
Fragrance component
Hydroxycitronellal
Fragrance component
Linalool
Fragrance component
Citronellol
Fragrance component
Benzyl Benzoate
Fragrance component and solvent
Cinnamyl Alcohol
Fragrance component
Fragrance/Parfum
Fragrance mixture
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Water, Mineral Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Glycerin, Lanolin Alcohol, Paraffin, Panthenol, Magnesium Sulfate, Decyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearates, Citric Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum

Frequently Asked

Is NIVEA Creme All Purpose worth it?

NIVEA Creme All Purpose scores 3.2 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Basic) and 3.4 out of 5.0 for safety (Caution) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. Classic, heavy occlusive cream that seals moisture well but offers almost no modern barrier-repair actives and carries a noticeable fragrance load. Efficacy here comes from a dense occlusive base (mineral oil, paraffin,

What are the key active ingredients in NIVEA Creme All Purpose?

NIVEA Creme All Purpose contains no gold-standard actives — its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.

Does NIVEA Creme All Purpose contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin flags these ingredients in NIVEA Creme All Purpose as potential irritants: Lanolin Alcohol, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum. This product does contain fragrance.

How is NIVEA Creme All Purpose scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin →

Analysis last updated: 2026-08-21. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.