Organic & Naturally Derived Ingredients

Naturally derived ingredients have undergone processing while 
retaining a majority of their natural molecular structure. They may be derived from plants, i.e., roots, herbs, and flowers, or from minerals or animal by-products. Some of them are quite familiar, such as aloe vera. But others may surprise you, such as benzyl alcohol, a natural preservative produced by several plants.

Since the natural materials are further processed, we speak about naturally “derived” ingredients instead of natural ingredients for skincare products or natural cosmetic ingredients. These ingredients retain more than half of their molecular structure or natural state after processing.

As we transition towards renewable materials and away from a fossil-based economy, we aim to increase the amount of naturally derived skincare ingredients within our product formulations. At the same time, we carefully evaluate their skincare performance, as well as their environmental impact.

There are many reasons why people opt for specific skincare products. Some people may decide to change to more organic skincare products or natural cosmetics for ethical reasons, others want to avoid synthetic ingredients, whereas some believe purely in the power of nature. Whatever the reason and whatever your skin’s needs, we have the right products for you.

Skincare products and their ingredients can be made from raw materials from various sources. Whether the sources are synthetic or natural, you can expect NIVEA to deliver outstanding skincare products that can be used safely, while taking the environment into consideration.

We also believe that everyone should be able to try products from a wide range of sources, so they can find the formulations that suit their skin type and reflect their values and preferences. We pay close attention to the environmental impact of our ingredients, whether it is the CO2 footprint of cultivating raw materials or the downstream impact on soils and marine environments.

What is the difference between organic skincare and natural skincare?
Natural skincare products are made with natural ingredients or plant -based skincare ingredients such as aloe vera or chamomile. However, the process by which these natural skincare ingredients are grown can be damaging to our environment by using fertilizers and pesticides that can pollute the soil and the air as well as polluting the local water supply. In comparison, organic skincare products are also made from natural ingredients that are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides, which makes them safer to use and more sustainable for the environment.

Is organic skincare better for your skin?
Discovering the perfect skin care product for you is a unique journey - there's no one-size-fits-all solution. The best skin care products for you depends on your individual skin and its unique needs. Organic skincare products offer gentle, nourishing and effective solutions that could benefit different people in various ways, and may not be the best for others.

If you're thinking about making the switch to organic skincare, it's definitely worth giving it a go and making sure you're keeping an eye on how the products interact with your skin.

What is the difference between organic skincare ingredients and synthetic ingredients?
Organic skincare ingredients are natural derived ingredients that are grown without the use of certain fertilisers and pesticides. Whereas synthetic ingredients are produced using artificial versions of naturally derived ingredients. These ingredients are altered through synthesis in order to improve their effectiveness. One advantage of synthetic ingrdients is that it is always the same quality as they are not dependant on weather conditions or harvesting.

We want to be 100 percent transparent and answer all your questions about sustainability at NIVEA. If you could not find all the answers you were looking for on this website, or are looking for more detailed information, please visit the sustainability website of NIVEA’s parent company, Beiersdorf.