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You may think you’ve got your skin care routine dialed in, but you could be overlooking a critical step. Night cream is like a moisturizer meets a serum meets a mask, and it could be your ticket for some seriously dreamy beauty sleep.

Every night, your skin gets busy rebuilding collagen and repairing damage done throughout the day (think: wrinkle-causing things like stress and UV exposure). You can either leave your skin to tackle those nightly tasks all on its own, or you can give it a boost with night cream.

With no shortage of night creams to choose from, it’s all too easy to get stuck in an hours-long Sephora scroll. Well, scroll no more — we’ve got you covered.

We’ve rounded up the 21 best night creams for every skin type and concern. Get ready to meet your dream cream.

Top-notch ingredients are vital when it comes to creams. We chatted with skin care pros to see which ingredients are the best 🥇. This helped us pick out the products with the most oomph.

We also factored in:

  • Price. No two budgets are the same. Our list includes a variety of price points because all skin deserves a good night’s sleep.
  • Skin types. And no two faces are the same. Whether you have dry, oily, combination, or sensitive skin, there’s a night cream out there designed to help you tackled your top skin concerns.
  • Expected results. Night cream isn’t just for fun. It has a job to do and these creams are ready to get to work.
  • Customer reviews. We checked the gossip train and picked creams that are crowd favorites.
  • Vetted products only. We put all of our skin care products through a thorough vetting process to make sure brands aren’t making any unsupported health claims or known for doing shady sh*t. We also make sure that each product’s active ingredients actually do what the company says they do.

Pricing guide

Night creams def have a rep for being expensive — and some totally are. You should expect to pay more for extra bells and whistles (e.g. designer brands, fancy packaging, etc.). But that’s definitely not the case all of the time. You can find awesome, dermatologist-recommended products for around $10.

This guide will help you pick the best cream for your skin and budget:

  • $ = $10–$20
  • $$ = $25–$50
  • $$$ = $51–$75
  • $$$$ = over $76
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Whether you’re looking for a simple cream that gives your skin a glowy boost or a powerful cream for more mature skin to help reduce fine lines, there’s a cream for you. Here are the top 21 night creams for every need.

Best anti-aging night cream

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream

  • Price: $$$$
  • Benefits: reduces wrinkles, hydrates
  • Standout ingredients: retinol, niacinamide, picolinamide
  • Skin type: balanced, oily, combination, dry, sensitive
  • Pros: retinol and moisturizer in one
  • Cons: retinol can cause irritation

Designed for all skin types, this lightweight cream uses retinol to reduce the appearance of lines. Add in niacinamide for more anti-aging (or as we like to say, pro-aging) plus anti-acne benefits and skin barrier strengthening, and you’ve got a winner.

But it’s not your run-of-the-mill retinol in this cream — it contains retinol tri-active technology, a proprietary formula the company says is time released so your skin gets little hits of retinol throughout the night. This is designed to minimize irritation from this very active ingredient.

What’s not in it?

  • parabens
  • sulfates
  • phthalates
  • gluten
  • animal-derived ingredients
  • mineral oil
  • formaldehyde
  • oxybenzone
  • Petrolatum/petroleum

Reviewers love the lightweight night cream and praise the results they’re seeing. But for certain sensitive skin peeps, even slow drip retinol is too much retinol. Some reviewers complain the cream irritates their skin.

A word of caution: This product contains artificial fragrance/parfum. Fragrance is not safe for use when pregnant and may be irritating to people with sensitive skin.

Best night cream for oily skin

OLAY Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer

  • Price: $
  • Benefits: hydrates, brightens, evens tone, minimizes pores, firms, reduces wrinkles
  • Standout ingredients: niacinamide, Vitamin C, Vitamin E
  • Skin type: dry, normal, combination, oily
  • Pros: can be worn day and night
  • Cons: may contain suspect ingredients

Unlike some heavy-duty hydrators, this cream is oil-free and won’t clog pores. You can use it day and night without worrying about pesky pimples.

“It has the benefits of anti-aging while being lightweight enough to not trigger acne,” says dermatologist Erum Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD. “If you’re looking for a cream but don’t want to risk breakouts, this is a nice one to try.”

And a bonus for daytime wear — this moisturizer is SPF 15. So it’s got you covered whether you wear it under the sun or under your sheets (though you’ll prob want an SPF of at least 30 if you’re gonna be out and about).

If loyalty is a sign of customer satisfaction, all hail Olay. Customers stick with this cream for decades. But not everyone is a fan. Some reviewers complain this moisturizer feels greasy and has a strong smell.

A word of caution: This product contains artificial fragrance/parfum. Fragrance is not safe for use when pregnant and may be irritating to people with skin sensitivities.

Best night cream for acne-prone skin

Arcona PM Blemish Lotion

  • Price: $$
  • Benefits: treats and prevents acne
  • Standout ingredients: retinol, salicylic acid, lactic acid, phytosphingosine, totara extract, tea tree extract, broccoli extract
  • Skin type: prone to hormonal breakouts and blackheads
  • Pros: trusted by spas
  • Cons: very few customer reviews

Got 99 problems and pimples *are* one of them? Well, we found an overnighter that fights the signs of aging and keeps breakouts at bay. Arcona PM Blemish lotion is formulated to give you that youthful glow without the youthful acne.

What’s in it?

As far as what customers think? It’s hard to say — the night cream has very few reviews. But it’s used in spas all around the United States, which means people gotta love it, right??

A word of caution: This product contains alcohol, which can be drying for some folks. It also contains essential oils, which may not be safe for use by people with certain conditions or on certain medications. Chat with your doc before hitting “add to cart.”

Best night cream for eczema

Skinfix Eczema Dermatitis Face Balm

  • Price: $$
  • Benefits: treats eczema and dermatitis flare-ups
  • Standout ingredients: colloidal oatmeal, sweet almond oil
  • Skin type: prone to dermatitis, eczema, and dry skin patches
  • Pros: good for sensitive skin
  • Cons: spot treatment only, not preventative

Itch killing your vibe? Skinfix Eczema Dermatitis Face Balm could be the vibe check you’ve always needed. This concentrated balm harnesses the power of colloidal oatmeal and sweet almond oil to soothe itchy, inflamed skin.

Even if your trouble spots are around your eyes, this cream’s got you. The company says it has been tested by ophthalmologists and is approved for use around your eyes and even on your eyelids. We love to see it. 👀

What’s not in it?

  • steroids
  • antibiotics
  • fragrance
  • parabens
  • formaldehyde
  • phthalates
  • silicones
  • lanolin
  • propylene glycol
  • PEGs
  • gluten
  • and more

Reviewers call it a magic ointment that works better than anything they’ve ever tried. But some customers are very unhappy with the size of the tube as well as their lack of skin relief.

Best night cream for darker skin tones

Eve Hansen Vitamin C Night Cream

  • Price: $$
  • Benefits: hydrates, evens skin tone, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Standout ingredients: vitamin C, green tea, sunflower oil, vitamin E
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: natural and organic ingredients
  • Cons: might trigger breakouts in oily or acne-prone skin

This cream delivers heavy-duty hydration to fight ashy skin. The vitamin C can help combat hyperpigmentation from exposure to UV rays (which is more likely in darker skin).

And that’s not all the cream contains to help even out your skin. It’s also formulated with green tea to relieve redness, sunflower oil to soothe irritation, and vitamin E to moisturize.

What’s not in it?

  • sulfates
  • parabens
  • phthalates
  • animal derived products

Many reviewers say they wake up with their skin feeling soft and smooth. But some customers complain the cream has a strong and unpleasant smell.

A word of caution: This product contains essential oils, which may not be safe for use by people with certain conditions or on certain medications. Chat with your doc before hitting “add to cart.”

Best night cream for dry skin

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Masque

  • Price: $$
  • Benefits: moisturizes
  • Standout ingredients: squalane, glycerin, urea, pseudoalteromonas ferment extract
  • Skin type: normal, dry
  • Pros: subscribe and save available
  • Cons: ingredients aren’t listed on the website, so you must buy the product to know what’s in it

This super hydrating treatment straddles the line between cream and mask. Ingredients like squalane, glycerin, and urea quench parched skin. The company says pseudoalteromonas ferment extract sourced from Antarctica is also supposed to deliver some serious hydration — even in freezing temps.

This night cream is so moisturizing that it’s not for nightly use. The brand recommends using it 1 night a week (or 2 if you must).

Reviewers say this cream is so hydrating, it can even soften skin dry from Accutane use. But some users complain that the texture is too thick to the point of being straight up sticky.

Best night cream for morning and night use

Doctor’s Daughter Extremolyte Stem Cell Serum

  • Price: $$$$
  • Benefits: firms, tightens, increases elasticity, protects
  • Standout ingredients: resveratrol ferment extract, sodium hyaluronate, green tea extract, glycoin, ectoin
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: contains unique anti-aging ingredients
  • Cons: not yet available at any major retailers

Doctor’s Daughter Extremolyte Stem Cell Serum is not your average night cream. First, it’s a serum, not a cream. And two, you can use it morning and night. But it still makes our list of best night creams because it’s packed with some unique plant stem cell power.

Dermatologist Deborah Longwill, DO, FAOCD, counts this potent potion as a current fave. “It combines the anti-aging ingredient resveratrol with antioxidant-rich ingredients like glycoin and ectoin,” she explains.

These ingredients help shield your skin from environmental stresses. They also work to enhance elasticity, improve texture, and hydrate cells.

Reviewers praise it as a miracle serum. But some customers can’t get on board with the price.

Best night cream for combination skin

IT Cosmetics Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep Night Cream

  • Price: $$$
  • Benefits: moisturizes, exfoliates, firms
  • Standout ingredients: ceramides, hyaluronic acid, adenosine
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: subscribe and save available
  • Cons: might not be for you if you don’t like the smell of lavender

When it comes to combination skin, moisturizing can get tricky. Too much can clog your pores and too little leaves your skin needing more. But IT Cosmetics has a night cream that combination skin can be confident in.

This hydrating-but-not-overly-heavy cream nourishes and plumps skin with ingredients like ceramides, adenosine, and hyaluronic acid. Oh, and it’s been clinically tested to reduce fine lines, dryness, and loss of firmness in just 7 nights.

Most reviewers love the smell of the cream and say a little goes a long way. But some customers say the cream irritates their sensitive skin.

A word of caution: This product contains alcohol and parfum/fragrance. Fragrance is not safe for use when pregnant and may be irritating to people with sensitive skin.

Best fragrance-free night cream

Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream

  • Price: $
  • Benefits: moisturizes, plumps, firms, smooths
  • Standout ingredients: niacinamide, amino peptide
  • Skin type: dry, normal, combination
  • Pros: fragrance-free
  • Cons: beware of knockoffs on Amazon

Does added fragrance irritate your skin? Same. Thankfully, this is a nonirritating cream that gets the job done. It’s also loaded with niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that has all kinds of skin-loving benefits — like brightening up and hydrating your skin, plus keeping acne at bay.

Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream has another star ingredient: amino peptides, which are supposed to make your skin look smoother and firmer.

Reviewers say they see very visible results from using this night cream. But if you buy it on Amazon, double check the supplier. Some customers question if the cream they received is the cream they really ordered.

Best night cream with retinol

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer

  • Price: $
  • Benefits: brightens, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Standout ingredients: retinol, glucose complex, hyaluronic acid
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: see results in one week or your money back
  • Cons: retinol can irritate sensitive skin

Retinol’s a go-to ingredient for minimizing the appearance of fine lines thanks to its ability to protect the skin-plumping protein collagen. So, if you’re all about the skin plump (and who isn’t?), meet Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer.

The night cream also has hyaluronic acid, “a moisturizer to help prevent irritation and dryness that may be a better option for those with dry or sensitive skin,” says dermatologist Susan A. Bard, MD.

Reviewers say the brand stands by its promise and they really do see results almost immediately. But some customers aren’t fans of the retinol and complain it burns their skin.

Best night cream for sensitive skin

OLEHENRIKSEN Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Sleeping Crème

  • Price: $$$
  • Benefits: hydrates, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, evens skin tone
  • Standout ingredients: bakuchiol, edelweiss stem cell, alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs), shea butter, lemon, sugarcane, sandalwood, licorice root, chamomile extract
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: contains a natural retinol alternative
  • Cons: you might not be too keep on the peachy small

Attention sensitive skin peeps! Want the benefits of retinol without the potential irritation of retinol? We have a surprise for you: OLEHENRIKSEN Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Sleeping Crème.

This cream uses bakuchiol, a natural retinol alternative. That’s good news if you have sensitive skin: “It’s a functional analog of retinol meaning it has the same effect, with one huge advantage: It’s less irritating because it’s also an anti-inflammatory agent,” Ilyas says.

It’s also got AHAs — glycolic and lactic acid — to exfoliate your skin and fix uneven texture or skin tone and edelweiss stem cell to help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

What’s not in it?

  • parabens
  • sulfates
  • phthalates
  • animal derived products

Reviewers say this cream goes on smoothly and they’re seeing results. But some customers are still seeing a negative reaction despite the lack of retinol.

Best night cream for redness

Eucerin Redness Relief Night Cream

  • Price: $
  • Benefits: hydrates, reduces redness
  • Standout ingredients: licorice root extract, glycerin, squalane, panthenol
  • Skin type: sensitive, redness-prone
  • Pros: noncomedogenic
  • Cons: may still irritate very sensitive skin

Ahhh. Here’s a cooling gel cream made with licochalcone (aka licorice extract), which is known for being a serious skin soother. It fights redness and irritation in folks with sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. The cream’s noncomedogenic so it won’t clog your pores either.

It also full of hydration superstars squalane, glycerin, and panthenol (which also does wonders for skin irritation).

This stuff’s very gentle. But it still might be too strong on super sensitive skin. Def do a patch test before slathering it all over your face.

Reviewers say they’re seeing their redness go down. But some customers complain the cream is a little too thick and is causing breakouts.

A word of caution: This product contains parabens, which are not safe for use during pregnancy.

Best night cream for fine lines and wrinkles

RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

  • Price: $
  • Benefits: reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Standout ingredients: retinol, glycolic acid, glycerin, squalane, shea butter
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: great price
  • Cons: retinol can be irritating for sensitive skin

Ready to add retinol to your nightly routine? Cult favorite brand RoC’s Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream is a great place to start. It’s more affordable than other options and the company says its cream is made with the most awarded retinol in the biz.

Bard loves recommending this simple, no-frills wrinkle fighter to patients. It’s inexpensive, easy to find at most drugstores, and it works. “It contains retinol which helps improve fine lines and wrinkles, stimulate collagen production and decrease pigmented spots,” she says.

The retinol in this formula is designed for daily use and it contains stellar moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and shea butter — but it’s still worth starting off gradually and working your way up. This gives your skin time to adjust.

Reviewers have some pretty compelling before and after pics to prove this night cream works. But some customers say the award-winning retinol is a little too much for their skin.

A word of caution: This product contains artificial fragrance/parfum, which is not safe for use during pregnancy and may be irritating to people with sensitive skin or certain skin conditions.

Best plant-based night cream

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream

  • Price: $$$
  • Benefits: hydrates, brightens, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Standout ingredients: super lotus, peach leaf extract, shea butter, vitamin E
  • Skin type: normal, dry, oily, combination
  • Pros: uses natural ingredients
  • Cons: strong scent you might not like

To harness the power of plants in your skin care routine, reach for Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream.

Vitamin E and peach extract fight oxidative stress and keep your skin looking glowy. But what really sets this lightweight cream apart is the super lotus, a unique ingredient the company says provides some serious antioxidant protection for your skin. Lotus has also shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and acne. Booyah!

What’s not in it?

  • parabens
  • MIT/MCI
  • formaldehyde and formaldehyde donors
  • BHA
  • phthalates
  • silicones D4 & D6
  • hydroquinone
  • triclosan
  • triclocarban

Reviewers say this night cream is an excellent moisturizer with a great smell. But some customers complain it makes them breakout.

A word of caution: This product contains alcohol, which can be drying to the skin. It also contains artificial fragrance/parfum, which is not safe for use during pregnancy and may be irritating to people with sensitive skin or certain skin conditions.

Best brightening night cream

Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer

  • Price: $$$
  • Benefits: reduces dark spots, brightens, hydrates
  • Standout ingredients: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, squalane, white peony, pearl particles, viniferine
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: sustainable packaging
  • Cons: on the pricier side

Grease is not the word here. Caudalie Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Moisturizer has a gel formula that’s light, cooling, and hydrating.

It’s got niacinamide and white peony to fight the appearance of dark spots and even out skin tone and hyaluronic acid and squalane for hella hydration. It also has viniferine — a Caudalie patented ingredient derived from grapevine sap extract — which the company says brightens, lightens, and evens out skin tone.

Another fun ingredient: the company says the natural pearly particles make your skin instantly look more radiant.

What’s not in it?

  • parabens
  • phenoxyethanol
  • phthalates
  • mineral oils
  • PEGs
  • animal-derived ingredients

Reviewers say their skin looks brighter and more even. But some customers complain the night cream isn’t moisturizing enough, especially for dry skin.

A word of caution: This product contains fragrance/parfum, which is not safe for use during pregnancy and may be irritating to people with sensitive skin or certain skin conditions.

Best night cream for men

Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Moisturizer

  • Price: $$$
  • Benefits: smooths, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Standout ingredients: retinol, ferulic acid, ECG complex, gallic acid
  • Skin type: combination, balanced, oily
  • Pros: for a.m./p.m. use
  • Cons: contains retinol so many irritate skin

TBH the whole women vs. men products thing is silly. Right? But Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Moisturizer feels a bit more “manly” thanks to the neutral packaging, woodsy scent, and male founder.

It fights fine lines and wrinkles with retinol and uses the antioxidants gallic acid and ferulic acid to combat dark spots and sun damage. Plus, the company boasts a proprietary ECG Complex that it says helps boost your skin’s moisture barrier and firm up any sagging skin.

What’s not in it?

  • parabens
  • phthalates
  • sulfates
  • animal-derived ingredients

Reviewers say they love the way their skin looks and feels in the morning. But some customers say the price warrants better results.

Best night cream for dark spots

Bolden Nighttime Repair Serum with 10% Glycolic Acid

  • Price: $$
  • Benefits: reduces dark spots, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Standout ingredients: glycolic acid, aloe, plant extracts, vitamin E
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: targets hyperpigmentation
  • Cons: may irritate sensitive skin

Whether your dark spots came with age or too much fun in the sun, Bolden Nighttime Repair Serum with 10% Glycolic Acid is here to help. Think of it like a fountain of youth in a bottle.

Glycolic acid is great at reducing the appearance of dark spots because it can suppress the production of melanin. The acid improves your skin’s elasticity and boosts firmness too.

Aloe also adds a dose of moisture and helps calm down inflammation and plant extracts (like sunflower, safflower, and rosemary) help protect the skin’s barrier.

What’s not in it?

  • sulfates
  • parabens
  • phthalates

Reviewers are loving watching their dark spots disappear. But some customers say the glycolic acid isn’t cutting it for their skin.

A word of caution: This product contains artificial fragrance/parfum. Fragrance is not safe for use when pregnant and may be irritating to people with sensitive skin.

Best night cream for eyes

Elemis Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix

  • Price: $$$$
  • Benefits: smooths, firms
  • Standout ingredients: drone peptide technology, microalgae dunaniella salina, padina pavonica
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: clinically tested
  • Cons: pricey

Elemis Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix is a night cream that moonlights as an eye cream.

The company says the night cream’s drone peptide technology is formulated to target areas of the face that show the most stress (hello eyes!). Elemis also uses microalgae dunaniella salina and padina pavonica (two types of algae, which help fight oxidative stress and prevent the breakdown of collagen).

Reviewers say the cream is worth the price, especially since a little goes a long way. But some customers say the scent is a bit too strong.

A word of caution: This product contains artificial fragrance/parfum. Fragrance is not safe for use when pregnant and may be irritating to people with sensitive skin.

Best natural night cream

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Overnight Cream

  • Price: $$$
  • Benefits: hydrates, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Standout ingredients: ceramides, champagne grapeseed oil, sacred lily, squalane
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: sustainable packaging
  • Cons: may irritate sensitive skin

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Overnight Cream doesn’t need shady ingredients to brighten and hydrate your skin. This certified-organic cream boasts nothing but natural ingredients to restore and replenish your skin.

It uses squalane derived from olives and ceramides for hydration. Its other star ingredient is grapeseed oil — which is rich in resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant with anti-aging benefits — to help protect skin. The brand says sacred lily is also supposed to help protect skin and improve its overall appearance

What’s not in it?

  • parabens
  • petroleum
  • sulfates
  • pesticides
  • phthalates
  • propylene
  • butylene glycols
  • silicones
  • talc
  • carbon black
  • PEGs
  • TEA
  • DEA
  • GMO
  • artificial dyes
  • synthetic fragrances

Reviewers praise the night cream for helping with fine lines and discoloration. But some customers complain the jar size is deceiving and they expected more product for the price.

A word of caution: This product contains essential oils, which may not be safe for use by people with certain conditions or on certain medications. Chat with your doc before hitting “add to cart.”

Best budget night cream

Facetheory Relaxing Night Cream

  • Price: $
  • Benefits: hydrates, brightens
  • Standout ingredients: hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, argan oil, ferulic acid, shea butter, glycerin
  • Skin type: combination, dry
  • Pros: unscented option
  • Cons: too thick for oily skin

You can make a big investment in your skin without making a big dent in your wallet. Facetheory Relaxing Night Cream can give you results sans financial stress.

This night cream may not be high cost, but it’s formulated with some high quality ingredients. Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and shea butter help to hydrate your skin, while vitamin C and ferulic acid help brighten and protect.

What’s not in it?

  • parabens
  • silicones
  • PEGs
  • SLS
  • SLES
  • mineral oils
  • animal-derived ingredients

Reviewers love the cream for its gently hydrating effect. But some customers complain it’s a bit too thick and can cause breakouts.

A word of caution: The scented versions of this product contains essential oils, which may not be safe for use by people with certain conditions or on certain medications. Chat with your doc before hitting “add to cart.”

Most hydrating night cream

PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask

  • Price: $$$
  • Benefits: hydrates, brightens
  • Standout ingredients: sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed GAG, niacinamide, panthenol, albizia julibrissin bark extract
  • Skin type: all
  • Pros: professional grade
  • Cons: limited availability

So many skin issues come down to one basic problem — dehydration. Get some PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask in your life to rehydrate your face while you sleep.

When it comes to moisturizing your skin, hyaluronic acid can be a game changer. And this night cream doesn’t just have one type of hyaluronic acid, it has two — one for the surface of your skin and one to target the deeper skin layers. It’s also got niacinamide to help brighten up and even out your skin tone and panthenol for a boost of hydration.

Reviewers say this mask is everything they want and more in a night cream. But be careful where you purchase it from. Some customers got duped with knockoffs.

A word of caution: This product contains artificial fragrance/parfum. Fragrance is not safe for use when pregnant and may be irritating to people with sensitive skin.

Do I even need a night cream?

Short answer: why not?! First, night creams help your skin do its thing. “During the night, our body goes through a renewal process,” says Madfes. “Skin cells are in active repair and night creams accentuate the process.” She says this can be especially helpful after a stressful day or late night out.

Plus, there’s no reason not to use a night cream. According to Madfes, “there are no drawbacks of a night cream.” If you just don’t like the feeling of cream on your face while you sleep, she suggests applying your night cream earlier in the evening, like an hour before you go to bed.

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Be picky with ingredients

Your skin has very important and specific jobs to do while you catch some Zzz’s. Make sure your night cream is formulated to stay on task for what you need it to do.

We dove into the research and chatted with Diane Madfes, MD, FAAD, and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine to find out the best ingredients to look for. Here’s what we found:

  • Vitamin C: stimulates collagen production, brightens your skin, protects against sun damage, and reduces hyperpigmentation.
  • Vitamin E: super hydrating and can help reduce UV damage.
  • Peptides: strengthens skin barrier, makes skin look smoother and firmer.
  • Niacinamide: balances oil production, helps skin retain moisture, minimizes fine lines and wrinkles, helps reduce UV damage.
  • Glycerin: sooo much hydration.
  • Hyaluronic acid: moisturizes skin and helps improve texture, reduce scarring, and firm up skin.
  • Retinol (aka Vitamin A): pro-aging, helps improve skin texture, repairs sun damage, clears acne.
  • Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs): helps peel away the surface of your skin, which can help reduce fine lines, even out skin tone, and reduce hyperpigmentation and age spots. Examples include glycolic and lactic acids.
  • Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs): ahhh-mazing for acne and can help reduce sun damage. Salicylic acid is a BHA.

Serums vs. creams

Ahhh the serum vs. cream debate. Here’s the scoop: in general, creams tend to be more oil-based while serums are more water-based. That means creams are usually thicker than serums. So, if your skin is prone to breakouts or is oily, you may want to opt for a serum.

Know your skin type

Knowing your skin type is key to choosing your dream night cream. If you’ve got dry skin, look for a thicker night cream that focuses on hydration. For oily skin, you may want a lighter serum that won’t clog your pores. If you have sensitive skin, look for a night cream with less harsh, more natural ingredients.

Don’t be fooled by price

More money doesn’t mean more results. There are plenty of quality night creams available for any budget. Focus on the ingredients you want and don’t focus too much on the price tag.

You’ve washed your face and you’ve got all your nighttime products in front of you. Now what? Madfes says to start with the thinnest layer first. So, the thickness of the night cream (or serum) you choose will determine when you apply it. But for most people, it will likely be the last step.

Here’s how to correctly apply your night cream:

  1. Take a small amount and dot it around your face (forehead, cheeks, nose, chin).
  2. Place a couple dots on your neck as well.
  3. Use the pads of your fingertips to gently massage each dot into your skin in a circular motion.
  4. Let it soak in for about 10 minutes.

It’s never too late to start using a night cream. But if you want to really get ahead of the premature aging game, Madfes says your late-20s is the ideal time to start adding a night cream to your routine.

As you get older, the ingredients you want in your night cream change a little. Madfes recommends the following ingredients per age group:

  • In your 30s: retinol, glycolic acids, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid
  • In your 40s: retinol, peptides, vitamin C, DNA repair enzymes, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides
  • In your 50s and up: retinol, peptides, vitamin C, copper, DNA repair enzymes, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides

Whether you’re looking to fight acne or restore a youthful glow, this list has ya covered. Keep in mind, some ingredients work great for some people but not for others. It might take some trial and error. But you’ll eventually find the cream of your dreams 💤.