With the large number of creams and serums that there are today, and the Nivea cream in the blue can continues to generate conversation. The cream that for years was not missing in any bathroom, is once again very present in homes. It is a very moisturizing and creamy cream that many skin types love, but it is not really formulated for everyone.
Nivea cream is one of those all-terrain products that many women have found different uses for. There are those who have incorporated it into their routine as a hair mask, primer before makeup or to perform an anti-aging massage. There are also those who prefer to use it as a facial mask to nourish and soften the skin and then remove the cream, although not all experts consider this to be its best function.
Pharmacist Roger Nebot, from the publication Woman, has explained that the traditional Nivea cream “as a facial mask for regular use, would not be my first choice. Its formulation is fundamentally designed to provide emollience, reduce water loss and leave a protective film on the skin. Precisely for this reason it can have some occasional use on very dry skin, punished by cold, wind or extremely dry environments, but this is different from considering it a treatment mask,” he comments.
What is undeniable is that the Nivea cream is now experiencing a great moment and it is partly due to social networks, which do not stop recommending this cream for countless uses. The pharmacist does consider that Nivea has certain benefits. “The classic formula contains a significant proportion of 'paraffinum liquidum' or mineral oil, in addition to other fatty and occlusive components. This creates a film that reduces transepidermal water loss. In very dry skin it can quickly translate into a greater sensation of comfort, softness and protection,” says Nebot.
In addition, the expert clarifies one of the most disturbing questions regarding traditional Nivea, whether or not paraffin is good for the skin. “Cosmetic paraffin should not be considered a toxic or harmful ingredient in itself. It is highly purified and is a permitted and widely used ingredient in cosmetics. The problem is another: a very occlusive formulation can be excessively heavy for certain skin types and does not necessarily provide the active ingredients that today we would look for in a good facial treatment cream,” comments the pharmacist in this regard.
Nivea cream does work to protect the skin
Something that must be taken into account when using Nivea cream is that it is not specifically an anti-aging cream as such. Its main function is to deeply hydrate and protect the skin. In this sense, Roger explains that the Nivea cream “for example, during the winter, after intense exposure to the cold or in especially dry areas of the face. Its main benefit would not be 'treating' the skin, but rather protecting it and preventing it from losing water,” he points out.
On the other hand, the expert highlights that the formula of this cream is not intended to be used as a mask. “A modern facial mask can be formulated, depending on the skin's needs, with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, panthenol, ectoine, antioxidants or barrier-repairing ingredients. An eminently occlusive cream fulfills a different function,” emphasizes the professional.
For this reason, it is better not to apply Nivea as if it were a facial mask, because as Roger clarifies, “in addition to being too rich for some skin types, there is another aspect that I consider more relevant: the perfume. In this type of formulations we can find aromatic substances such as limonene, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, linalool, citronellol, benzyl benzoate or binnamyl alcohol, among others. They are fragrance components that can act as contact allergens in sensitized people,” highlights the pharmacist.
If what you want is a facial mask, then what the expert recommends is to choose formulas that do not contain perfume. “This does not necessarily mean that they cause allergies or that the product is unsafe. But if we talk about choosing a mask to leave on for a long time on the entire facial surface, especially on sensitive, reactive skin, with rosacea or with an altered barrier, I would prefer a formulation that is fragrance-free and specifically designed for those needs,” explains Nebot.
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