NIVEA Review and $50 Visa Card Giveaway [CLOSED]

When I was contacted by NIVEA to review and give away some of their products, I was at first hesitant because I didn't think that they were a cruelty-free company.  I inquired about this to Samantha, the PR rep who contacted me, and she provided me with Beiersdorf's official statement (NIVEA's parent company):

Thank you for contacting Beiersdorf Inc. regarding our policy on animal testing. We appreciate your concern about the use of animals for testing.

We do not conduct animal testing with any of our skin care products. Beiersdorf has been at the forefront of seeking alternatives to animal testing. We have shifted our emphasis to in vitro test methods, scientific literature reviews and past history to establish the safety of our products.

We appreciate and share your concern on this issue. As a responsible corporation, Beiersdorf has been addressing this issue for years and will continue to do so, just as we are also committed to providing you with safe, high-quality products.

With that reassurance, I agreed to try out their products in honor of September being National Skin Care Awareness month.

I am a big skincare junkie and I always apply lotion after showering and throughout the day.  I hate the feeling of dry, flaky skin.  NIVEA sent me three products that are great for transitioning into the cooler and drier fall months.  Right now I'm using mostly natural skincare, but I'm not against the idea of trying products that are not all-natural.  I liked this trio of products because a light exfoliation followed by moisturizer application is important to keep skin from looking dull.

The Kiss of Olive Oil & Lemon Soothing Lip Care balm was entirely new to me.  I generally stick to natural lip care, because non-natural lip balms usually contain alcohol in them, which seems counterproductive to me because it dries out lips.  Now, I don't know the ins and outs of the creation of this product and why alcohol may be an essential ingredient, but I did notice that Cetearyl Alcohol is listed as the 11th of 24 ingredients.  This lip balm also contains beeswax, which would be unsuitable for vegans.

I really liked the scent of this balm.  It's difficult for me to describe, but I suppose the best way I could put it is slightly sweet, slightly citrus-y, and slightly herbal.  The texture of the balm is very smooth, too, and the stick itself is an olive green.  It stayed on my lips for a good hour after application, which was impressive, and kept them feeling soft.

The Touch of Renewal Lathering Body Scrub is one of NIVEA's most popular products, and I can see why.  I love trying new body scrubs and this one is appropriate for daily use because the exfoliating beads are very small.  I think that to get the best exfoliation out of it, it should be applied directly to the skin from your hands.  For a lighter touch, use it on a washcloth or bath pouf (I opted for the second).  The 12 fl. oz size is generous, and a little goes a long way.  The scent is a combination of sweet and floral, which I found really pleasing.  This body scrub contains NIVEA's Hydra IQ technology to provide long-lasting moisture.

The final product I tried was the Smooth Sensation Daily Lotion.  When it dispensed it looked like a standard cream, but when I applied it the texture was much silkier than I anticipated.  This also has NIVEA's Hydra IQ technology.  It has a light scent that reminds me of baby powder, and is great to use straight out of the shower.  I really liked how this applied and absorbed quickly into my skin.

Bottom Line: If you're looking for affordable and effective skincare for fall, I think that these NIVEA products are a good option and I'm happy to learn that they are cruelty-free.  Pamper your skin during National Skin Care Awareness month and pick up some NIVEA products!

NIVEA was also kind enough to send me a $50 Visa gift card, which I used to buy some candles and a new dress for work.  Want to win $50 for yourself along with the three products I've tried above?  Then enter my giveaway after the "read more!"

This sweepstakes is open to U.S. residents aged 18+ only.  It begins today, 10 September 2012, and ends at 12:01 AM EST on 18 September 2012.  One winner will be selected at random via the Rafflecopter widget and notified by email.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize, or a new winner will be chosen.  All entries will be verified.  NIVEA is responsible for shipping the winner their prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclaimer: I received these products for free to facilitate my review. I was not monetarily compensated for this review and the honest opinions here are entirely my own.