IT’S the viral £9 face cream that some people have claimed is the same as the £305 Creme de la Mer.
In a bid to settle the debate once and for all, cosmetic chemist Carly took both to her lab to test them out.
Cosmetic chemist Carly decided to compare the Nivea Soft and Creme de la Mer creamsCredit: tiktok/@carlymusleh
![Comparing the £9 Cream to £305 Creme de la Mer: My Scientific Test Reveals a Surprise Winner 1 She weighed out the same amount of both creams, testing them on separate square pieces of her skin for 45 minutes](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/26c8f889-386a-4167-82ca-967a31ef4486.jpg)
She weighed out the same amount of both creams, testing them on separate square pieces of her skin for 45 minutesCredit: tiktok/@carlymusleh
![Comparing the £9 Cream to £305 Creme de la Mer: My Scientific Test Reveals a Surprise Winner 2 The results showed that Nivea Soft was a more hydrating cream than Creme de la Mer](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/6159eac9-605f-4925-aa3f-8dce39fe4ce5.jpg)
The results showed that Nivea Soft was a more hydrating cream than Creme de la MerCredit: tiktok/@carlymusleh
First, she bought the Nivea soft cream, admitting the £9 price tag wasn’t something she was “expecting”.
Then, she weighed out both creams and added the same-sized swatches to testing squares.
She then waited 45 minutes before testing the creams.
HYDRATION, HYDRATION
First up was the hydration test and while Creme de la Mer had an increase of 23%, Nivea Soft increased skin’s hydration by an incredible 95%.
However, Carly did note: “This high moisture reading could have been a result of the high water content in Nivea”.
Water-based moisturisers not only help rehydrate dry and dull-looking skin but also provide a cooling effect from water evaporation on the skin’s surface.
WATER LOSS
Carly then conducted a Transepidermal water loss test, also known as a TEWL test, to measure the amount of water evaporating from the surface of the skin.
On average, people lose 300ml to 400ml a day through water evaporation.
Replacing the water your skin is losing throughout the day is one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep your skin hydrated.
In this test, Creme de la Mer reduced TEWL by 8%, while Nivea wasn’t far behind with 15%.
“So these were quite close,” she said.
She then moved on to comparing the creams under the microscope – with Creme de la Mer showing a “tight matrix and closely-packed globules” which “can be an indication of good stability”.
Nivea had a similar matrix, but larger globules, which were most noticeable if she zoomed in.
INGREDIENTS 101
Carly checked the INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) list to ascertain what ingredients would impact the moisture levels within the skin.
While both creams had similar ingredients, however, Creme de la Mer does use “encapsulation technology for their algae extract”.
Carly concluded by stating: ” I do wonder if they’re playing a bit of a game with us because when I typed in Nivea Soft, guess what popped up with its £305 self?”
She also clarified the results in response to someone’s comment, writing: “They don’t have the same INCI, similar but they aren’t the same.
“Nivea has lots of water, is more hydrating and reduced water loss more.”
People were quick to comment on the video, with Nivea themselves writing: “There’s no competition in moisture!”
While other Nivea users insisted they would never use anything else.
“Nivea is outstanding!! That’s all I have ever used and I’m 50,” one wrote.
“Forget the serums and fancy stuff!”
“I am 63, all I ever used is Nivea, my skin is excellent,” another added.
“I always had/have Nivea, ever since I was a child, I’m 56 now…” a third commented.
“Nivea Soft is amazing. I have been using it for more than 10 years,” someone else wrote.
“I always use Nivea soft before I do my make-up, no primer and it looks sooo good,” another said.
To which Carly replied: “Actually I could see this as it dries down quick.
“Might try it!”
“Nivea has been around since 1911. I think it’s fair to say it works,” someone else insisted.
“La Mer is not worth the hype!” another raged.
As someone else wrote: “I love Nivea products.. they do the job and are easy on the pocket.”
![Comparing the £9 Cream to £305 Creme de la Mer: My Scientific Test Reveals a Surprise Winner 3 She also looked at both creams under the microscope](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/61e97a16-d759-44f0-8f35-df8bb734b1d0.jpg)
She also looked at both creams under the microscopeCredit: tiktok/@carlymusleh
![Comparing the £9 Cream to £305 Creme de la Mer: My Scientific Test Reveals a Surprise Winner 4 Creme de la Mer (above) showed a tight matrix](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/de577cfa-1c56-4eda-83cf-bb6fde4820ae_a283a6.jpg)
Creme de la Mer (above) showed a tight matrixCredit: tiktok/@carlymusleh
![Comparing the £9 Cream to £305 Creme de la Mer: My Scientific Test Reveals a Surprise Winner 5 Nivea was similar but with larger globules](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ffe1aac2-65d3-4ff1-b8d1-a6e284d55d6f.jpg)
Nivea was similar but with larger globulesCredit: tiktok/@carlymusleh
![Comparing the £9 Cream to £305 Creme de la Mer: My Scientific Test Reveals a Surprise Winner 6 She also looked at the ingredient lists for both, showing that the first ingredient for Nivea is water, while Creme de la Mer's is algae extract](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2749ba14-e49d-41ee-a552-3e38b3c960e1.jpg)
She also looked at the ingredient lists for both, showing that the first ingredient for Nivea is water, while Creme de la Mer’s is algae extractCredit: tiktok/@carlymusleh
![Comparing the £9 Cream to £305 Creme de la Mer: My Scientific Test Reveals a Surprise Winner 7 The cream is just £9 a tub, compared to £305 a tub for Creme de la Mer](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ba9a7fd2-cc35-4e4c-8388-cda042dc88ef.jpg)
The cream is just £9 a tub, compared to £305 a tub for Creme de la MerCredit: Nivea