This Affordable Drugstore Cream Might Be The Closest Thing To La Mer

Dermatologists weigh in on the age-old comparison of the Nivea Creme to the shockingly expensive Crème de la Mer.

For as long as I’ve been obsessed with skincare, there’s always been one jaw-dropping product comparison I’ve often heard being made: The Nivea Creme and Crème de la Mer. One is an affordable drugstore moisturizer first introduced in 1911, and the other is a famous luxury formula that will set you back at least $100 for just half an ounce.

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With such a colossal price difference, it seemed impossible to me that these two creams could perform so similarly, much less contain a similar list of ingredients as so many people on TikTok and elsewhere had claimed. After speaking with dermatologists, I got the real scoop on their similarities and their differences.

“Nivea Creme and Crème de la Mer are likely compared to one another
because there is a significant overlap in the ingredients that appear at
the beginning of their ingredient lists,” explained Dr. Brendan Camp, a board-certified dermatologist with MDCS Dermatology in New York City.

According to Camp, this order of ingredients is important to note because the ingredients listed first are the most present in a product.

Manhattan Beach, California-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Divya Shokeen Khalsa said that both creams are designed to nourish and hydrate, and improve skin barrier function, as well as skin texture and appearance.

Shokeen Khalsa explained that some of these shared ingredients include glycerin, a favored humectant that draws moisture into the skin, and panthenol (provitamin B5), which soothes and heals using anti-inflammatory properties.

She mentioned that the two moisturizers have a comparable rich and thick consistency, in part due to the inclusion of lanolin alcohol and petroleum, an emollient-rich and occlusive combination that works to soften skin and lock-in moisture — kind of like how people use petroleum jelly to slug their skin.

Unsurprisingly, the ingredient list is also where the most notable differences lie.

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“Crème de la Mer’s formula is centered around its ‘Miracle Broth,’” Shokeen Khalsa said. ”[This] is a fermented mix of sea kelp and other nutrients, along with a bio-fermentation process that the company claims makes the product unique.”

According to La Mer, this secretive solution is what helps to repair visible signs of premature skin aging, rejuvenates the complexion and is what makes this cream so sought after.

Shokeen Khalsa notes that the coveted recipe is also packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals — a contrast to Nivea, which she said “has a more straightforward formula, which while effective, does not boast the same proprietary components or the extensive research and development that La Mer does.”

But before you sheepishly retrieve your wallet and shell out $100 or more for a face cream, Camp said that certain moisturizers can perform similarly even when their ingredient lists vary.

With this guidance, it could be safe to assume that, when it comes to moisturizers, you don’t necessarily need to pay for something top-dollar as long as a cream is doing its job as a hydrator. And many people attest to the Nivea Creme doing just that, even if it doesn’t boast the same composition as La Mer.

Intended for use on the body, face and hands, reviewers claim that Nivea has provided relief for damaged, flaking skin when nothing else would and has even helped to minimize the appearance of fine lines and dryness-related wrinkles. You can read them for yourself down below or buy a budget-friendly tin from any of the links above.

Promising reviews:

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“I had seen a video online that compared this product to a very expensive high-end cream moisturizer that I use daily. The comparison, done by chemists, showed the two products to be surprisingly similar. I decided to purchase this and was amazed at how much the product comes for such a low price. Is it the same as the high-end luxury moisturizer? No. But it is a lovely alternative. I use this product a couple of times a week. I do recommend it. Great value. Very good product.” —S. Kessler

“This moisturizer is used for the entire body and face. You don’t need anything fancy since it is probably the best product out there that does a great job for dry skin. I have also used La Mer, and I really haven’t seen the difference.” —Katherine L., NY NY

“Leaves my skin moisturized without feeling greasy. My late grandma used to use this cream, and her skin was always so healthy, smooth, and youthful-looking. Don’t waste your money on expensive creams. This is all you need” —Travel Bug

“My hand had a wire brush hit the top of it. It was dry, cracked, and hurting for about a week and was not getting better until I put this on it, immediate pain relief and no more cracking.” —Brandon Centeno

“I’ve been using it almost two months on my face, and, to my surprise, my laugh lines around the mouth have actually become finer and less noticeable. Really impressed.” —Daisy

Get it from Amazon for $10.50.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.