Formula · 5.9

Brand · 6.6

NIVEA · avocado oil and vitamin E · Germany

NIVEA Intensive Care Hand Cream

NIVEA Intensive Care Hand Cream
5.9

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Actives and evidence0.4Little evidence of effect
  • Active concentration1.0The active sits above the 1 % line — by list order a working concentration is 100 % likely
  • Completeness for the purpose0.7For “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 67 %; without ceramides — the bricks of the barrier; could be added without conflict: ceramides; a formula with one main purpose
  • Tolerance0.4Debatable ingredient groups: benzyl alcohol, BHT and BHA (antioxidants), parabens (skin test positive in 1 of 100 tested), fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): avocado oil, myristic acid, myristyl myristate
  • adults
  • pregnancyallowed per the leaflet
  • dry skin
  • sensitive skinirritation possible
  • acne-pronemay clog pores in leave-on face products
  • atopic skinfragrance is a common trigger
  • prone to contact allergya rare but known allergen
Free from:
  • alcohol (alcohol denat) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “denatured alcohol” group — evaporates fast and degreases; frequent contact can dry the skin — a tolerance question, not a regulatory one; does not clog pores
  • sulfates (SLS/SLES) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “ammonium laureth sulfate (ALES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), sodium coco-sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium myreth sulfate, TEA-lauryl sulfate” group — a cleansing surfactant from the sulfate family but with an ethoxylated chain: it cleanses more gently than lauryl sulfate. Still not for those looking for a sulfate-free product.
  • formaldehyde releasers · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “formaldehyde releasers” group — preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde; allowed at low levels but a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “isothiazolinone preservatives (MIT/MCI)” group — preservatives; banned in EU leave-on products and limited in rinse-off (0.0015%) — a frequent cause of contact allergy
  • soap · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “potassium soap (potassium cocoate), plant soap base (sodium palmate, sodium cocoate), tallow soap base (sodium tallowate)” group — liquid soap: fatty acids boiled with alkali. It cleanses well, but its acidity is around 9-10 against 5 for skin, which is why it often leaves tightness. The product is rinsed off, so the question is tolerance.
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
  • toning dyes · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “violet toning dyes” group — direct dyes that settle on the hair surface and cancel the yellow cast of blonde; they wash out in 1–3 washes and leave a lilac tint if left too long; HC Blue 2 and Disperse Violet 1 are known contact allergens of hair dyes
  • tar · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “wood (birch) tar” group — a traditional remedy for dandruff and itching with a sharp smell; it reduces flaking, but can irritate a sensitive scalp and dries the hair
What for: Dry skin needs three things at once: draw water in (glycerin, hyaluronate), rebuild the barrier (ceramides with cholesterol, panthenol) and seal moisture with a film (petrolatum, oils). One of the three is half the job.
When:
  • leave-on
  • morning
  • evening
morning and evening
When to expect an effect: gives no visible effect alone — protects the formula's oils

Ingredients — 27 components · 1 works

What works: 1 of 27 ingredients: vitamin e. Dry skin needs three things at once: draw water in (glycerin, hyaluronate), rebuild the barrier (ceramides with cholesterol, panthenol) and seal moisture with a film (petrolatum, oils). One of the three is half the job.

Strengths: active concentration

What lowers the score: actives and evidence: little evidence of effect; completeness for the purpose: for “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 67 %; tolerance: debatable ingredient groups: benzyl alcohol, bht and bha, parabens, fragrance and its allergens

Questions: parabens: methylparaben — preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm; fragrance and its allergens: linalool, citronellol, alpha-isomethyl ionone, limonene, benzyl salicylate, fragrance — the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works; benzyl alcohol; BHT and BHA (antioxidants): bht

  • Aqua base: coating, fillers · water — the solvent and base; listed first because there is more of it than anything else; in supplements — part of the capsule shell
  • Glycerin base: coating, fillers · a humectant: coats the tablet, holds moisture in creams and shampoos; does not clog pores
  • Myristyl Alcohol base: coating, fillers · a fatty alcohol (C14), an emulsifier; the most irritating of the fatty alcohols; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Myristyl Myristate base: coating, fillers · emollient/base; may clog pores in leave-on face products
  • Palmitic Acid base: coating, fillers · a fatty acid (C16), a thickener and soap component; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Stearic Acid base: coating, fillers · in tablets — a pressing lubricant, in creams — a thickener and soap component; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Persea Gratissima Oil base: coating, fillers · a rich nourishing oil; may clog pores in leave-on face products
  • Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil base: coating, fillers · the plant base: emollient oils, waxes and care extracts
  • Tocopheryl Acetate works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: tocopheryl acetate (ester; in cosmetics)
  • Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides base: coating, fillers · the plant base: emollient oils, waxes and care extracts
  • Paraffinum Liquidum base: coating, fillers · purified cosmetic-grade petroleum products: form a protective barrier film; safety is established, a preference question; 0–2 of 5 (depends on the raw-material source), cosmetic white oil per DiNardo (2005) is non-comedogenic
  • Dimethicone base: coating, fillers · form a smooth film and shine; inert and not absorbed — a preference question, not a safety one
  • Myristic Acid base: coating, fillers · a fatty acid (C14), gives dense foam in cleansers; may clog pores in leave-on face products
  • Arachidic Acid base: coating, fillers · a saturated fatty acid from plant oils: a thickener and part of the emulsifier; no data on pore clogging
  • Oleic Acid base: coating, fillers · a fatty acid (the main one in olive oil): an emollient and part of the emulsifier; rarely clogs pores in leave-on face products
  • Phenoxyethanol base: coating, fillers · the most widespread cosmetic preservative: it keeps the product sterile. Permitted in the EU up to 1 %, recognised as safe at that level.
  • Carbomer base: coating, fillers · hold the texture: gels, creams and foam do not separate
  • Sodium Hydroxide base: coating, fillers · tune the acidity and texture; salt is a common shampoo thickener
  • Methylparaben questions · preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm
  • Trisodium EDTA base: coating, fillers · binds traces of metal from water that would spoil the product
  • Linalool questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Citronellol questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Benzyl Alcohol questions · a preservative and solvent permitted in the EU up to 1 %. It is also on the list of 26 fragrance allergens that must be declared separately, which matters to people allergic to fragrance.
  • Limonene questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • Benzyl Salicylate questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works
  • BHT questions · antioxidants that keep oils from going rancid: hundredths of a percent in cosmetics, and E321 and E320 in supplements. A frequent buyer question, with no proven harm at these levels.
  • Parfum questions · the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works

NIVEA Intensive Care Hand Cream is a product whose active ingredient is vitamin e. The concentration is not declared, but the active sits above the 1 % line in the list — a working share is likely. There is little evidence of effect: an antioxidant: protects the formula oils from going rancid; alone changes skin little. The formula has 27 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is the formula base. Worth noting: Methylparaben (preservatives; methyl- and ethylparaben are recognised as safe at permitted levels, propyl- and butyl- are limited by the EU to 0.14 %; a frequent buyer question rather than proven harm); Linalool, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Parfum (the fragrance and its aromatic components; the EU requires 26 of them to be listed separately — matters to people allergic to fragrance, does not affect how the product works); Benzyl Alcohol; BHT. Dry skin needs three things at once: draw water in (glycerin, hyaluronate), rebuild the barrier (ceramides with cholesterol, panthenol) and seal moisture with a film (petrolatum, oils). One of the three is half the job. By the list, no alcohol (alcohol denat), sulfates (SLS/SLES), formaldehyde releasers, isothiazolinones (MIT/MCI), soap, gelatin in the coating, toning dyes, tar. Suitable for: adults, pregnancy, dry skin. sensitive skin, acne-prone, atopic skin, prone to contact allergy — ask a doctor. fragrance allergy — not without a doctor. Use: morning and evening. When to expect an effect: gives no visible effect alone — protects the formula's oils. Label score — 5.9 out of 10 (little evidence of effect; for “dryness and a damaged barrier” — 67 %; without ceramides — the bricks of the barrier; could be added without conflict: ceramides; a formula with one main purpose; debatable ingredient groups: benzyl alcohol, bht and bha (antioxidants), parabens (skin test positive in 1 of 100 tested), fragrance and its allergens (skin test positive in 13 of 100 tested); comedogenic ingredients at a notable share (may clog pores): avocado oil, myristic acid, myristyl myristate). Fragrance with linalool, citronellol, limonene and benzyl salicylate plus methylparaben: not suitable with a fragrance or paraben allergy.

Who it does not suit

  • fragrance allergyrisk of reaction

When to stop: rarely — contact allergy: rash, itching — stop

Per the maker's leaflet: Fragrance with linalool, citronellol, limonene and benzyl salicylate plus methylparaben: not suitable with a fragrance or paraben allergy.

Is this product right for your skin?

The score describes the formula, not your skin: the same product dries one person and saves another. Describe your skin type, reactions and goals, attach a photo of the ingredient list or the product — we will go through every ingredient and say whether it suits you, what to pair it with and what to avoid.

Cosmetic ingredient checkDecode my tests

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