And how it has charmed us for years and we still love it when we see it? This is the story of Nivea!
We have all probably seen the simple blue tin on our mom or -grand mom’s vanity or the local pharmacy or hypermarket and never given it more than a glance with all those serums and fancy jars lying around! It looks very uninspiring, feels like a simple cream and does not boast of any fancy ingredients that ‘plumps’ your skin; BUT Nivea is all about nostalgia, and if you ever run out of your creams, use it and you will know that it is amazing!!!
Meet Nivea
NIVEA is a rich creamy sweet-smelling moisturizer that really packs in hydration and softens the skin. It all began in 1911, when pharmacist and visionary entrepreneur Dr. Oscar Troplowitz recognised the potential in Eucerit, an emulsifier developed by the chemist Dr. Isaac Lifschütz.
Eucerit made it possible to bind water and oil into a stable cream and was first intended for use in the medical field. Dermatologist Prof. Paul Gerson Unna appreciated Dr. Lifschütz’s expertise in his field and introduced him to Dr. Troplowitz, who immediately recognized that the water-in-oil emulsion would make the perfect basis for a cosmetic skin cream. All it needed now was a name.
To find it, Dr. Troplowitz didn’t need to look any further than the cream itself. Inspired by its snow-white colour, he called it NIVEA – a name derived from the Latin words nix (snow) and nivis (of snow).
In December of 1911, NIVEA was launched. The legacy of first skincare cream was born.
Packaging
A simple blue tin that stands out with its distinctive design and scent and the best part about this tin is that you can even open it easily when your hands are slippery with the cream on them. I love that!
Using Nivea
It smells just like what you would expect a 100-year-old cream would! Reminiscences of grand mom and her vanity with powder puffs and creams.
It has a slightly thick consistency, and you have to really rub it well to give that smooth finish. It actually locks in hydration and softens the skin. The regular procedure for applying nivea for all those who remember it was applying it in dots all over the face or body and then rubbing it in well.
The best part about nivea is that it comes in tins of varying sizes and is easy to carry in the purse too! The trademark blue makes it easy to identify while rummaging through the bag or even on shelves at the supermarket. You cannot miss it!
Over the years Nivea has expanded significantly to give several options in moisturizing, protection and body care expertise in face, body, hand, lips, men’s and deodorant market; while maintaining its core brand value of family values, protecting the entire family thus retaining its contemporary appeal amongst all the generations.
Written By: Viki Shah
The Good
Affordable, easy availability, easy to carry and use and works on the face and body.
The Bad
If you are one of those who loves fancy jars and packaging, this one is not for you! It is simple and effective!
The Trendy
It has allegedly been one of Marilyn Monroe’s secrets to radiant on-camera skin (along with a thick layer of Vaseline)!