OOwned By Who

Is Nivea vegan? Who owns Nivea?

German personal care brand specializing in skin and body care products including moisturisers, creams, lotions, deodorants, face care and sun protection.

Personal CareLast verified 12 September 2026

The short answer

Nivea is owned by Beiersdorf AG. Only some products are vegan. Animal testing recorded.

Last verified 12 September 2026

Ownership chain

  1. Brand

    Nivea

  2. Parent company

    Beiersdorf AG

    Animal-testing position not yet verified.

    Last verified 12 September 2026

  3. Ultimate owner

    Maxingvest AG

    Animal-testing position not yet verified.

    Last verified 12 September 2026

Certifications

  • Leaping Bunny / Cruelty Free International

    active

    Checked 12 September 2026 · Registry entry

    Leaping Bunny / Cruelty Free International: NIVEA is recorded as not listed.

  • PETA Beauty Without Bunnies

    active

    Checked 12 September 2026 · Registry entry

    PETA Beauty Without Bunnies: NIVEA is recorded as not listed.

  • The Vegan Society Trademark

    active

    Checked 12 September 2026 · Registry entry

    The Vegan Society Trademark: NIVEA is recorded as not listed.

What this means

Our record lists Nivea as a brand of Beiersdorf AG, which sits under Maxingvest AG. Ownership is a separate question from how a product is made: a brand can hold its own certifications while its parent company operates under different policies.

Nivea appears on 3 schemes we check: Leaping Bunny / Cruelty Free International, PETA Beauty Without Bunnies, The Vegan Society Trademark. Each scheme sets its own criteria, so read the certifier's own entry, linked above, for what it covers.

We have not yet verified an animal-testing position for Beiersdorf AG, so we make no claim either way. We publish sourced facts and dates so you can judge them yourself; see how we verify.

Independent vegan alternatives

All alternatives to NiveaShop independent brands at Vegan Marketplace

Frequently asked questions

Is Nivea vegan?
Only some products are vegan. Recorded status: some vegan lines, last verified 12 September 2026.
Who owns Nivea?
Nivea is recorded as owned by Beiersdorf AG, which is itself owned by Maxingvest AG.
Is Nivea cruelty-free?
Animal testing recorded. Recorded status: not cruelty-free, last verified 12 September 2026.
Does Beiersdorf AG test on animals?
We have not yet verified an animal-testing position for Beiersdorf AG. Until we can source one, we leave it unverified rather than guess.

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Last verified 12 September 2026

Sources

  1. Nivea cruelty-free status, lack of certificationCertified

    Supports: Leaping Bunny / Cruelty Free International: NIVEA is recorded as not listed.

    Cruelty Free Kitty · Accessed 12 September 2026

  2. Beiersdorf animal testing status per PETACertified

    Supports: PETA Beauty Without Bunnies: NIVEA is recorded as not listed.

    PETA · Accessed 12 September 2026

  3. Vegan Society Trademark schemeCertified

    Supports: The Vegan Society Trademark: NIVEA is recorded as not listed.

    The Vegan Society · Accessed 12 September 2026

  4. Nivea Naturally Good vegan product lineCompany's own statement

    Supports: Nivea's product range is not vegan overall. The majority of Nivea products contain animal-derived ingredients such as lanolin, beeswax, and other animal-derived components. However, Nivea has introduced specific vegan product lines, including the Naturally Good range and the new Nivea Creme Natural Touch (launched January 2026), which are stated to be 100% free of animal-derived ingredients. These vegan options do not involve animal testing according to Beiersdorf's stated policy.

    Nivea Kenya · Accessed 12 September 2026

  5. Nivea cruelty-free status, lack of certificationCompany's own statement

    Supports: Nivea is not cruelty-free certified by Leaping Bunny, PETA, or other accredited certifying bodies. While Beiersdorf (Nivea's parent company) states it does not conduct animal tests except where legally mandated, Nivea products are sold in mainland China where animal testing is mandated by law for cosmetic products. Beiersdorf acknowledges that in China, testing is conducted by state-authorised institutions as a legal requirement for product registration. Nivea is not listed on Leaping Bunny's certified brand list. PETA lists Beiersdorf as an animal testing company.

    Cruelty Free Kitty · Accessed 12 September 2026

  6. Beiersdorf animal testing stance and commitment to alternativesCompany's own statement

    Supports: Beiersdorf states that it is committed to rendering animal testing obsolete worldwide and does not conduct animal testing for cosmetic products or their ingredients, and does not have animal testing done on its behalf – except where specifically required by law (such as in China for certain product categories). The company has invested in alternative testing methods for over 40 years and pioneered approved animal-free test methods such as the 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test. However, PETA lists Beiersdorf as testing on animals because the company sells in regions (notably China) where animal testing is mandated by law, and Beiersdorf acknowledges that state-authorised institutions conduct these tests as a legal requirement for product registration.

    Beiersdorf · Accessed 12 September 2026

  7. Company's own statement

    Supports: German personal care brand specializing in skin and body care products including moisturisers, creams, lotions, deodorants, face care and sun protection.

    Accessed 12 September 2026

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