In my last post, I was talking about my top 3 sunscreens. Although I have at least one of those three sunscreens always around, I like to try out new ones. Perhaps you might have noticed the Nivea sunscreen in my Instagram posts. It has been released recently, so there aren’t many, if any, reviews about it. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now, and I’ve made my mind about it. 

I was quite excited about this sunscreen as the ingredients list seemed quite promising. I’ve purchased the SPF 50 version because it was the only one available at the time. When I used the sunscreen for the first time, I had high hopes for it. First of all, it has the iconic Nivea smell, which I adore. Though, it may cause trouble to many people as it means that there is a lot of fragrance as well as other components added. I admit that the sunscreen stings me after shaving, but I still like the smell. The sunblock has a creamy texture but it’s not heavy, it blends in very nicely and leaves no white cast behind. The cream has a yellow colour, and it stains clothes slightly, but it also washes off easily.
Another thing that I like about the sunscreen is the addition of liquorice extract, which is excellent for hyperpigmentation and discolouration, for example, after breakouts. Something that can happen to anyone and especially to people with oily and acne-prone skins. The sunscreen was specially formulated for people with oily skin type, and it has the ‘shine control’ technology, meaning sebum absorbing powders, despite that it feels like nothing, but… and here’s the but. It broke me out. The week before, I posted on Instagram that I’d been fixing my face after breakouts. I thought it was due to a few days of indulging in sugar, but it wasn’t. At the time of that post, my sugar cravings had already stopped, but I continued using the sunscreen, and I kept getting spots. Only after did I stop using the sunscreen, my breakouts subsided. I am not disappointed with this sunscreen because it felt wonderful on my skin. I would still use it, if not for the breakouts. However, I will have to finish it on the back of my hands.

I think this sunscreen would be great perhaps in winter when it’s not too hot or for short outings, so it doesn’t sit for too long on the skin. If your skin is oily or acne-prone then be warned, it may break you out. Also, people with a sensitivity to fragrance should avoid it; there’s a lot of it. I think Nivea made a good attempt at an affordable sunscreen but not the best one. Of course, Beiersdorf (parent company of Nivea, Eucerin, La Prairie, etc.) couldn’t repackage Eucerin’s sunscreen with a lower price tag; they have to keep the sales up. Unfortunately, I won’t repurchase the sunscreen, yet oddly I don’t regret buying it.

Ingredients: Aqua, Homosalate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Alcohol Denat., Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Silica, Cyclomethicone, Tapioca Starch, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Inflata Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Citronellol, Coumarin, Parfum (nivea.co.uk)