I’d be hard pushed to remember a time in my childhood when a pot of Nivea wasn’t present in our house. My mum used it for a variety of things (probably to stop doors squeaking or something similar) including as a face cream but it wasn’t her ‘proper’ face cream (that was Olay when it was still Oil of Ulay). It was just considered a househould neccessity and was rightly or wrongly rubbed on dry skin, sore hands, sun burn, chapped lips, the cat’s bum and dog paws too – my point is that it was just ‘there’.
I seem to remember that it was in a tin like the one below and always liked to open a new tin with the foil seal over the top.
The brand has come a long way since then, diversifying into all kindsa things, including men’s grooming products. One stroke of manly genius is a Nivea For Men shower product called Active 3 that acts as shampoo, body wash and shave lotion all-in-one. That is such a blokey thing.
This year is Nivea’s 100th birthday, so, not only is Rhianna on board as brand ambassador, but there is a very cool competition over on ASOS, launching 18th April (make a diary date because it’s going to be a really popular one), where 50 winners a week can win one of four rather beautiful black or white dresses. The tie-in is of course Nivea’s Invisible Deoderant that leaves black clothes with no white marks and white clothes with none of that horrible yellow under arm staining.
While to me, Nivea is always going to be in my head as that little navy tin full of cure-all, I’ve had to update my Nivea notions temporarily with the introduction of a limited edition collection with designs from Joseph Font (you’ll have seen Lady Gaga wearing his creations – and no, I don’t think it was the meat dress or the freak pod) launching in April. Nivea Soft is the world’s best selling Nivea product, with 13 sold in the UK every minute. The container isn’t a tin, but the peel back foil is still there (jazzed up a bit of course) and the very familiar Nivea smell still seems to be exactly the same and takes me right back home.
Happy Birthday, Nivea and thanks for helping with the cat.
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7 comments
I have such strong and fond memories of my dad using nivea in a pot when I was a child. Every weekend when my bro and i would visit him and stay over, we would wake up in the morning and find him lying on his bed after a shower with a towel wrapped around him and the cream would be smothered on his dry, cracked feet – your mention of this really took me back! I’m using the new nivea express hydration body lotion at the moment which I can’t get enough but what is it with body moisturisers that the bottles never seem to be big enough!? X
Ooh I know what you mean, I grew up with my dad and he always had a tin as well, don’t remember ever using it on cats bums though hehe. And I grew up in a different country, isn’t it weird how some things and memories are cross-cultural so to speak.
I always have a pot of Nivea soft now too as a general moisturizer, the smell is indeed lovely.
Anna
I actually just bought a tin the other day. It is very thin, maybe meant for travel and the FOIL!
I feel really old now – my first moisturiser was Oil of Ulay! The pink one in the glass bottle – I still love it in summer when it gets super hot, but it’s never been the same since they went to the plastic bottle. 🙁
I hate that Nivea creme – I know it’s a cult product and everyone loves it (I’ve had loads of friends recommend it to me), but it just sat on my face like a layer of grease. Ugh. I never thought to use it for anything else like feet or whatnot – I just chucked it.
I’d never use Nivea on my face, way to heavy for that. But it kicks butt for hands, feet, knees and elbows. I have one the little flat tins in my cosmetic bag (I can’t remember where I got it, but I’ve not seen one since). I refill it as needed from the bigger blue pot I keep by the bed.
I love the “Soft” Nivea. One of the best body creams out there.
As for it’s veterinary uses, I’ll take your word for it. Ararar!
Ali
Wow, Oil of Ulay, there’s a blast from the past! I think we were an Astral house, not a Nivea one…
That tin of blue cream came on holiday when we were kids and was the best aftersun > super thick and hydrating. The smell always reminds me of holidays