Neutrogena

Neutrogena – Norwegian Formula hand and lip care for dry skin

Neutrogena is a skincare brand developed with dermatologists, and its story began in Los Angeles in the 1930s. It is best known for the Norwegian Formula: a range of glycerin-rich creams and balms for hands, lips, feet and body, made for dry skin that has to cope with cold, wind and frequent washing. In our shop the Neutrogena selection includes the Norwegian Formula Hand & Nail Cream and the Intense Repair nose and lip balm – two small tubes that fit into any bag or pocket.

How it began

It all started with Manny Stolaroff. In the 1930s he was making cosmetics, lipsticks and lip brushes in Los Angeles for the big brand names of the day. Always on the lookout for new ideas, he came across an extremely gentle, non-alkaline soap on one of his trips to Europe. A Belgian chemist had invented it. Stolaroff bought the distribution rights for the United States, and the soap was called Neutrogena.

In the 1950s, when many women found ordinary soap harsh and irritating, the amber-coloured Neutrogena bar was ready and waiting, and it quickly sold out on shop shelves. Later Stolaroff’s son-in-law, Lloyd Cotsen, took over the company. Instead of spending on television advertising, he built the brand on a close relationship with dermatologists, and that thinking still shapes Neutrogena today: its products are developed with dermatologists.

The ranges at a glance

Today Neutrogena covers almost every step of a skincare routine. For the face there is the hydrating Hydro Boost range, Retinol Boost with retinol, Collagen Bank and Clear & Defend for blemish-prone skin. Ultra Sheer is the sun protection range for face and body. Hand and body care includes the Norwegian Formula hand creams, the Norwegian Formula body moisturisers and Hydro Boost Body. The brand also makes lip care and the T/Gel scalp care range. This page looks more closely at the Norwegian Formula, because the Neutrogena products in our shop come from this range.

What is the Norwegian Formula?

The Norwegian Formula is the heart of Neutrogena’s hand and body care. It has been on the market without a break since 1972, and it takes its inspiration from the balms that Norwegian fishermen used in the harsh conditions of the Arctic. That know-how from Norway’s coastal communities found its way into Neutrogena’s laboratories and from there into creams used all over the world.

Glycerin is the key ingredient. It attracts water and helps the skin hold on to it, so skin stays softer and more comfortable even on a freezing day or in a strong wind. The formula combines concentrated glycerin with emollients that smooth the skin and help keep moisture in. It is tuned for cold and windy weather and suits dry and very dry skin alike. Norwegian Formula products exist for hands, feet, body and lips.

Hand cream for hands and nails: Norwegian Formula Hand & Nail

The Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand & Nail Cream looks after the skin of your hands and your nails at the same time. It combines the richness of the Norwegian Formula with panthenol and works four ways: it intensively moisturises the skin, makes nails twice as strong, helps soften cuticles and smooths ridges. The texture is non-greasy and easily absorbed, so you can pick up your phone or get back to the keyboard straight away.

The cream is made for normal skin, and each tube holds 75 ml. In our shop it comes as a pack of two tubes: keep one by the sink at home and put the other in your bag or desk drawer. Using it is simple: massage the cream into your hands and nails, and do it every day. Work it into the cuticles and around the nails too.

For more options, browse our hand creams, from everyday creams to rich care for very dry hands.

For lips and around the nose: Intense Repair Balm

The Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Intense Repair Balm is a nose and lip balm in a 15 ml tube, made for very dry, chapped lips and dry skin around the nose. The Norwegian Formula gives intense hydration and immediate comfort and helps repair dry, irritated and chapped areas. It contains glycerin, panthenol, bisabolol and allantoin, ingredients that moisturise, soothe and help the skin recover.

The balm has a creamy, rich texture and stays on the lips well, forming a protective layer against everyday wear from the weather. Apply it to your lips and around your nose in the morning and at night, and top up during the day whenever you feel the need. The tube is small and light, so it slips into a coat pocket, a gym bag or the glovebox. You will find more products for the lips in our lip care section.

Other Norwegian Formula hand creams

Hand & Nail is one of several Norwegian Formula hand creams. The Concentrated Unscented Hand Cream is rich in glycerin and leaves dry, chapped hands noticeably softer and smoother; a 50 ml tube lasts for up to 200 applications, because a single drop is enough each time. The Intense Repair Hand Cream is made for extremely dry hands: it contains 45% glycerin and panthenol and is fragrance-free. The range also includes a fast-absorbing hand cream and an anti-age hand cream with SPF 20.

They all share the same idea: glycerin holds moisture and emollients smooth the skin. What differs is the texture, the scent and how dry the skin is. Hand & Nail stands apart because it cares for the nails and cuticles as well as the skin.

The Norwegian Formula for the body

The same formula carries over into body care. The Norwegian Formula Deep Moisture Fast Absorbing Body Lotion is enriched with glycerin, absorbs quickly and is non-greasy, so there is no need to wait before getting dressed. It moisturises intensely for up to 48 hours and has a fresh, delicate fragrance. It works best on gently towel-dried skin after a shower or bath, morning and evening. All our creams and lotions for the body are collected under body creams.

For the lips the Norwegian Formula also comes as a 4.8 g Lipcare stick with SPF 20. It contains beeswax, brings immediate relief to dry, chapped lips, and its SPF 20 protects them from the sun in all weathers.

How to choose the right product

• Dry hands and weak nails: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand & Nail Cream, as it cares for skin, nails and cuticles in one step.
• Chapped lips and dry skin around the nose: Neutrogena Intense Repair Balm, which goes on both the lips and around the nose.
• An unscented cream for very dry hands: the Norwegian Formula Concentrated or Intense Repair hand cream.
• Dry skin all over the body: the Norwegian Formula Deep Moisture body lotion.
• Lips in the sun: the Lipcare stick with SPF 20.

A good rule of thumb is to think about when your skin suffers most. If your hands feel dry after every wash, keep the hand cream next to the sink and use it each time. If your lips crack outdoors, keep the balm in your pocket and put it on before you head out. That way care becomes a habit rather than something you have to remember.

Through an Estonian winter

An Estonian winter could have been made for the Norwegian Formula: frost, damp wind off the sea and dry indoor air take turns several times a day. Gloves keep your fingers warm but do nothing about frequent hand washing, and a scarf does not keep the wind off your lips. Small habits help: hand cream after every wash and lip balm before going outside.

Neutrogena also makes an easy gift. The two-tube pack of Hand & Nail Cream is a practical present for a colleague, a teacher or a friend who works a lot with their hands, and the little nose and lip balm fits into a gift bag next to a warm scarf or a pair of gloves. Packed for a ski trip, a hike or a long drive, both are close at hand exactly when your skin needs them most.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Neutrogena come from?

Neutrogena started in Los Angeles, where Manny Stolaroff began selling a gentle, non-alkaline soap invented by a Belgian chemist. The Norwegian Formula is inspired by the balms used by Norwegian fishermen.

What is the main ingredient of the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula?

Glycerin. It attracts water and helps the skin keep its moisture, while emollients smooth the skin.

Can I use the Hand & Nail Cream on nails and cuticles?

Yes, that is exactly what it is made for. Massage it into your hands, nails and cuticles every day.

Can the Intense Repair Balm be used around the nose?

Yes. The Intense Repair Balm is a nose and lip balm, applied to the lips and to dry skin around the nose.

How often should I use the lip balm?

Apply it in the morning and at night, and again during the day whenever your lips feel dry.

Is Neutrogena hand cream greasy?

No. The Hand & Nail Cream has a non-greasy texture that is easily absorbed.