Nivea Essentially Enriched Body Lotion
Summary
Nivea Essentially Enriched scores 28/100. Nivea's flagship body lotion combines four problematic categories in one bottle: methylparaben + ethylparaben preservatives (EU endocrine review), petrolatum + mineral oil + dimethicone petrochemical base, undisclosed synthetic fragrance, and a hydroxyethyl acrylate copolymer (acrylate-class microplastic). The token plant oils -- avocado, grape seed, soybean, vitamin E -- are sprinkled below the preservatives at the bottom of the INCI list (sub-1% amounts). Visible 'enriched' marketing with a cosmetically minimal payoff vs. the petroleum-paraben-fragrance load. Owned by Beiersdorf, the same parent that makes Eucerin.
At a glance
Key ingredients 11
GlycerinGood
Humectant that pulls water into the skin. Safe, well-tolerated, and effective at very low cost.
See more about Glycerin →Persea Gratissima (Avocado) OilGood
Plant oil rich in fatty acids and vitamin E. Below 1% concentration here per INCI position.
See more about Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil →Tocopheryl AcetateGood
Vitamin E ester antioxidant. Below 1% here.
See more about Tocopheryl Acetate →Mineral OilBad
Petroleum distillate occlusive. Cosmetic-grade is refined but Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbon (MOAH) contamination remains a documented industry concern.
See more about Mineral Oil →PetrolatumBad
Petroleum jelly occlusive. Cosmetic-grade is purified but lower grades can contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Non-renewable petrochemical source.
See more about Petrolatum →DimethiconeBad
Silicone polymer. Non-biodegradable and persistent in the environment.
See more about Dimethicone →MethylparabenVery Bad
Paraben preservative classified by the EU as an endocrine disruptor under review. Mimics estrogen and detected in human breast tissue.
See more about Methylparaben →EthylparabenBad
Paraben preservative with endocrine-disruption signal. Allowed in EU at restricted levels but flagged for ongoing review.
See more about Ethylparaben →Fragrance (Parfum)Very Bad
Undisclosed proprietary blend that can legally contain 1000+ chemicals including phthalate carriers and EU-26 allergens. Top trigger for cosmetic contact dermatitis.
See more about Fragrance (Parfum) →Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerBad
Acrylate copolymer microplastic used as thickener/stabilizer. Persistent in waterways; EU is reviewing microplastic restrictions.
See more about Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer →PhenoxyethanolNeutral
Synthetic preservative restricted to 1% in the EU. Considered acceptable in rinse-off and leave-on cosmetics; some sensitivity reports.
See more about Phenoxyethanol →Get the full breakdown in the Scout app
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