You already know how much sleep can benefit your body and mind (when you can get a good night’s rest, of course). But it can work wonders for your skin, too—especially if you slather on a good night cream before bed. While any moisturizer is better than none, regardless of your skin type, a cream designed for nighttime use can hydrate your skin and improve its texture, tone, and overall appearance, too.
What should you look for in a night cream?
Skin tends to lose moisture throughout the day and into the night, so it can be helpful to use a particularly nourishing product that makes up for water loss before bed, as SELF previously reported.
This is why the most noticeable difference between night creams and day moisturizers is their consistency, says randy h. Kim, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, tells SELF. usually thicker, heavier, good, creamy. (This is the texture you can expect in a traditional night cream, but there are other products marketed for nighttime use, including face oils and delicate creams, that can be just as moisturizing in a lighter, faster-absorbing formula).
Many night creams contain humectants like hyaluronic acid, which attracts more water to the skin, Samantha G. Stoler, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at AboutSkin Dermatology in Englewood, Colorado, tells SELF. She points out that some night creams also contain occlusive ingredients, such as mineral oil, squalene, or silicone, which create a “barrier” on the skin to help it retain moisture. As die-hard fans already know, they combine ingredients that attract And Locking in water can help you maximize the hydration effects of your routine.
Night creams are also meant to be restorative, and may contain ingredients like ceramides that help repair and strengthen the skin barrier. It’s important to show this protective outer layer of your skin some love, because when your face is healthy it will be less prone to irritation and dryness. Additionally, if you want to address fine lines and other signs of aging, look for night creams that contain retinol or peptides, which can help make your skin appear smoother and more radiant with consistent use.
The best night creams for all skin types
Adding a night cream to your routine is an easy way to help your skin wake up on the right side of the bed. Below, we’ve listed the best night creams to try, according to dermatologists, from drugstore work horses to gorgeous masks.
1. Best Overall: CeraVe Skin Renewal Night Cream
Goal
CeraVe Skin Renewal Night Cream. Moisturizer for the face
Every dermatologist we spoke to recommended CeraVe’s Skin Renewal Night Cream for all skin types, even for people with sensitive skin. It contains hydrating and replenishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which amount to a seriously skin-smoothing formula. It doesn’t feel too heavy, Bradley Glodney, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Park Avenue Dermatology in New York City, tells SELF. It’s a great option for night cream newcomers who want a simple product that gets results. Bonus: You can easily find them at most drugstores.
2. Best for sensitive skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Night Cream
Amazon
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Night Cream
La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Dermallergo Night Cream is a good option for people with sensitive skin because it’s fragrance-free, which reduces the risk of irritation, Divya Shokin, MD, a board-certified medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatologist and founder of the Ocean Skin & Vein Institute in Manhattan, tells SELF. Beach, Calif., SELF. It’s also on the lighter side, thanks to a cream-gel texture that still feels nourishing.
3. Best for skin prone to irritation: Dr. Jart + Cicapair Tiger Grass Intensive Sleep Mask.
Sephora
Dr. Jart + Intense Tiger Grass Sleeper Mask by Dr. Jart
If you have dry, irritated skin prone to inflammation, including redness, Dr. Jart+’s Cicapair Tiger Grass Sleepair Intensive Mask is worth a try. Dustin Portela, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatosurgeon in Idaho, loves it for its soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients like Centella asiatica, a plant extract that tends to be soothing and hydrating.
4. Best for Aging: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer
Goal
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
The main ingredient in Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer is retinol, Dr. Schockin says, making it an especially good choice for people who are concerned about fine lines or skin texture. By speeding up skin cell turnover, retinol can help open clogged pores, boost the health of your skin barrier, and give your skin an overall brighter, fresher appearance. Just remember to apply sunscreen in the morning, as retinol can make your skin more sensitive to harmful UV rays.
5. Best Compound: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 242
Dermstore
242- Moisturizing cream for the skin
This night cream from SkinCeuticals has earned a holy grail for its ability to restore the skin barrier, Aanand N. Geria, MD, FAAD, founder of Geria Dermatology in New Jersey, tells SELF. Its main ingredients include ceramides and vitamin E, both of which help moisturize and strengthen skin. Dr. Geria also likes the Triple Lipid Restore Cream because it contains antioxidants to help prevent signs of free radical damage, like fine lines and dark spots from sun exposure.
6. Best for complexion: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer
Goal
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer
In addition to retinol, this fast-absorbing cream from Olay contains niacinamide and peptides. The former can make the complexion clearer, brighter, and calmer; The latter has a smoothing and strengthening effect. Dr. Shakin recommends this moisturizer for reducing fine lines, but due to the blend of active ingredients, it can also help tackle dullness in general.
7. Best for dry skin: La Mer Creme de La Mer
Sephora
La Mer Crème De La Mer Moisturizer
For a luxurious treat, try La Mer’s classic Crème de La Mer (and enjoy the flexibility of skincare when displayed on your sink). Made with the brand’s proprietary “Miracle Broth,” which is primarily made with hydrating algae extract, its nourishing texture feels great on dehydrated skin, says Dr. Glodney. It’s also a good option, he adds, for people concerned about signs of aging: Your skin tends to get drier as you get older, and a rich cream can help replenish its moisture efficiently.
8. Best for Skin Tightening and Lightening: Augustinus Bader Cream
Sephora
Augustinus Bader The Cream with TFC8 Facial Moisturizer
Dr. Glodney loves The Cream from Augustinus Bader because it can “heal and moisturize your skin overnight.” The star ingredient is the brand’s exclusive blend of amino acids (which make up the proteins that keep your skin strong) and emollients meant to prevent future signs of damage like fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and redness. It also contains a gentler form of retinol known as retinyl palmitate, soothing aloe, and skin-brightening vitamin C.
9. Best for lightweight hydration: Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Moisturizer
Sephora
Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Deep Hydration Moisturizer
This skin-repairing night cream earns top marks from Dr. Glodney for its use of squalene, an oily compound that provides light but effective hydration—and doesn’t make skin greasy. It is also suitable for sensitive skin because squalene’s soothing properties can help prevent inflammation in the skin.
10. Best for skin barrier repair: Algenist Sleeping Collagen
Amazon
Algenist Genius Sleep Collagen
“Algenist is my favorite brand, and this Genius Sleeping Collagen Night Cream does an excellent job of hydrating and repairing skin overnight,” says Dr. Portela, referring to the ceramides and collagen amino acids in the cream. He adds that the peptides in this cream can also help improve the appearance of fine lines. It has a smooth, thick texture that should be nourishing but not too heavy or greasy.
11. Best oil choice: Sunday Riley Luna Night Sleep Oil
Sephora
Sunday Riley Luna Retinoid Overnight Sleeping Oil
If you want to reap the benefits you get from a night cream in an ultra-light formula, try this oil. Although not technically a night cream, Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Night Oil gets a shout out from Dr. Geria for offering similar effects. Ingredients like chamomile and avocado oil help brighten dullness, soothe signs of inflammation like redness, and relieve dryness. Meanwhile, a gentle retinoid tackles uneven texture and fine lines.
Related reading:
