With options from CeraVe, First Aid Beauty, Paula’s Choice, and more
Night creams get to work in the wee hours of the night to assist the skin’s natural self-repair and regeneration. A 2018 study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirms the efficacy of night creams, particularly when it comes to skin barrier health and repair when the formulas contain active ingredients.1
Night creams are typically thicker in consistency because they contain a high concentration of hydrating ingredients. “Look for formulas that are non-greasy and non-comedogenic to avoid clogged pores and breakouts,” says board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green, MD. She tells Byrdie the best night cream ingredients to look for include retinol, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and antioxidants to “stimulate skin cell turnover and collagen production, as well as help correct hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone.” You also want the formula to be moisture-rich. “Seek out hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to restore the skin’s natural protective barrier and replace plumpness and youthfulness to the skin.”
To find the best options on the market, we conducted an in-depth test where a large group of testers with varying skin types and skin concerns each took home a night cream and used it consistently over the course of eight weeks. The night creams were evaluated based on feel, absorption, and overall effectiveness and given a score in each category. The ones that scored the highest and impressed us the most appear on this list.
Best Overall: Differin Restorative Night Moisturizer
You might know about Differin from their popular and effective acne-fighting products, but this night cream is great for all skin types—not just those dealing with acne. It’s incredibly hydrating thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and allantoin, a plant extract known for its moisturizing and soothing benefits. The texture is ideal—rich enough that it provides sufficient moisture but not too thick and heavy on the skin. It layers beautifully with other products in a nighttime skincare routine, and we love that it’s fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, making it a fantastic choice for even those with sensitive skin.
Once applied, it absorbs within five minutes without leaving a greasy residue behind. We found it provided long-lasting hydration that could be felt well into the next morning. Over the course of the testing period, one of our testers even shared that it worked to completely get rid of her dry patches and flakiness. It’s a simple (in the best way) formula that effectively moisturizes the skin and leaves it looking smooth. And considering how budget-friendly and accessible it is, we truly can’t recommend it enough.
Best Overall, Runner-Up: CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
CeraVe knows a thing or two about creating great moisturizers, and you can add this one to the list. The rich texture feels like a quenching treatment on the skin sans the greasy residue that other thick night creams create. It’s made with a blend of peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid—all powerhouse moisturizing ingredients. If you’re dealing with a stressed skin barrier, this is a fitting choice for you, thanks to ceramides that help to support a healthy barrier.
We love that while it applies like a thick cream, it absorbs pretty quickly and doesn’t pill when combined with serums and treatments. We found it to be effective for improving dry patches on the skin, as well as for creating a smooth, even-looking complexion. It’s also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, making it a great choice if you have sensitive skin.
Best Splurge: Macrene Actives High Performance Extra Rich Face Cream
There’s something incredibly satisfying about applying a luxe night cream before hopping into bed. If you find that using a luxurious product is a form of self-care, we recommend trying this one out—especially if you have dry or aging skin. The rich formula contains red algae, a blend of vitamins C and E, and a host of other nourishing ingredients to deeply moisturize the skin and support your skin barrier. In addition to boasting serious hydration benefits, it also helps to firm the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines, blemishes, and redness. We love that it’s creamy and rich without feeling greasy, and it absorbs within a matter of minutes, so no need to worry about your face sticking to your pillow. Plus, it’s fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, making it suitable for various skin types, though we do think those with dry or mature skin will appreciate the formula the most.
Best Soothing: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
This repairing cream has been incredibly popular for years, so it’s no surprise that our testers and editors all love it. It has a whipped texture that’s lightweight and super spreadable, but despite how airy it feels on the skin, it manages to deliver intense moisture that lasts. It’s formulated with colloidal oatmeal, which is known for its soothing properties, as well as allantoin and shea butter for hydration. It’s free from a ton of potential irritants, like synthetic fragrances, nuts, gluten, soy, drying alcohol, and more, making it an awesome choice for you if you have sensitive skin that’s prone to irritation.
It spreads easily, absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue, and layers seamlessly with other skincare. Upon application, it almost instantly calms flared skin—reducing redness and providing dryness and irritation relief. If you’ve struggled to find a night cream that adequately moisturizes and soothes your skin without causing irritation, this one is absolutely worth trying.
Best Firming: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream with Peptides and Niacinamide
Coming at you with another First Aid Beauty pick, but this one is great if you’re hoping to firm your skin. Of course, it’s excellent for moisturizing thanks to the inclusion of glycerin in the formula, but what makes this cream different is how it works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Peptides and collagen support the skin structure and work to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, while niacinamide helps to even the skin tone, and colloidal oatmeal helps to calm dry or irritated skin.
The texture is thick and whipped—picture a dense meringue-like consistency—but it’s ultra-spreadable, and it absorbs well without looking or feeling oily. Over the course of the eight-week testing period, we saw a minor but noticeable improvement in the appearance of fine lines near the eyes, as well as a significant reduction in dry patches. This cream is also fragrance-free and safe for sensitive skin.
Best with Retinol: Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream
If you’re new to retinol or you have dry or sensitive skin, opting for a night cream formulated with retinol, like this one, is a great option for you. Creams that include retinol tend to be less harsh than straight-up retinol formulas that you can get from a dermatologist. We’re quite impressed with this one because it’s equally as hydrating as it is effective for smoothing skin texture and firming. It’s formulated with ceramides to support the skin barrier, as well as green tea and licorice root extracts to help even the skin tone, and of course, retinol for its firming benefits.
The texture is rich, non-greasy, and fast-absorbing, but it’s worth noting that it can pill when combined with other skincare products. Overall, we were very pleased with how it worked to improve the look and feel of the skin, making it a Byrdie-approved choice for those on the hunt for a hydrating night cream that contains retinol.
Best for Oily Skin: Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream
Moisturizers and oily skin can be tough to pair. While some formulas are simply too heavy and therefore lead to even more oil and shine, others are so light and watery that they don’t provide enough hydration. This one is a great middle-ground—it has a lightweight, creamy texture that absorbs quickly and doesn’t feel greasy, but it provides enough moisture to last through the night. It’s powered by glycerin for hydration and niacinamide to smooth the skin, and while we saw great results from a moisture perspective, we did not notice a visual improvement in the plumpness of fine lines, as the brand claims it will do.
However, if you have oily skin and you’re simply looking for a nourishing night cream or lightweight formulas are your preference, no matter your skin type, this is a solid option. It’s fragrance-free, non-greasy, and accessible at the drugstore.
Best for Dry Skin: SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry Nighttime Face Moisturizer
If you have dry skin, then you know how good it feels to apply a rich moisturizer before bed. This one is great because it has a thick, hydrating formula that will keep your skin quenched all through the night, but it also contains a blend of gentle hydroxy acids to lightly exfoliate. We wouldn’t say it’s super fast-absorbing, which isn’t a terrible thing for those with dry skin, but it doesn’t create an oily or tacky residue that feels uncomfortable or sticks to your pillow.
Over the course of eight weeks, we noticed that it made a real improvement in skin hydration, working to gradually make the skin look and feel healthier and more radiant. It also helped to mildly exfoliate the skin to reveal a more even texture, and it restored dull and tired skin for a more even complexion. If you’re looking for a deeply moisturizing night cream with gentle exfoliation benefits that won’t further dry out your skin, this is a product we suggest you try.
Best for Mature Skin: L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream
Hydrating products with retinol are great for people with mature skin because aging skin often lacks hydration and firmness. This night cream is a great pick for mature skin because it has a rich, creamy texture that provides instant hydration and works to diminish dry patches over time. It also contains retinol to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time.
While it does feel a bit greasy when you first apply it, that slippery film seems to dissipate after a few minutes, making it totally comfortable to sleep while you have the cream on. After using it consistently, we noticed a significant improvement in skin dryness and an overall more even-looking complexion. We also appreciate that it contains centella asiatica, also known as tiger grass, a popular skincare ingredient known for its soothing benefits.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream
Simple, hydrating night creams that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic are optimal for those with sensitive skin—and we love this one. The dermatologist-tested formula is safe for sensitive skin and ideal for people with sensitive, dry, or balanced skin types whose main goal is hydration. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin combine to give the skin a necessary boost of moisture without being heavy, greasy, or tacky. It doesn’t pill when layered with serums, eye creams, or treatments, and we love that it acts like a sealant for the rest of your skincare routine. The moisturizing benefits you get from this cream last well into the next morning, and we saw a major reduction in dryness and flaking when using it consistently.
Best for Textured Skin: The Outset Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream
Bumpy, textured skin can be really tricky to alleviate without causing dryness. While acids and other exfoliants are great for smoothing texture over time, they can be drying or potentially irritating. We recommend this moisturizer to you if you’re hoping to even your skin texture because it will seriously moisturize your face while also gently exfoliating and smoothing your skin thanks to the inclusion of bakuchiol, a retinol alternative, in the formula.
The brand describes the texture as “buttery-soft,” and it couldn’t be more accurate. The formula is creamy and soft, and it spreads out like butter—sans the greasiness. While we didn’t notice a major difference in terms of skin radiance during the testing period, we did see a real improvement in the skin’s hydration levels and smoothness. If you’re looking for a formula to very gently address uneven texture, this is a perfect place to start.
Best for Dull Skin: Fresh Lotus Antioxidant Night Moisturizer
Do you ever feel like your skin just looks a bit lifeless? If the answer is yes, finding a radiance-boosting moisturizer like this one can be a game changer. This night cream is awesome for dull skin because the brand harvests the beneficial components of the entire lotus plant, which is known for its antioxidant properties and radiance-enhancing capabilities. The formula also contains shea butter and vitamin E to deliver moisture to the skin.
The texture is smooth, creamy, and falls somewhere in between airy and rich, making it feel really comfortable on a wide range of skin types. A little bit goes a long way and spreads easily across the face and down the neck, and after about one minute, it absorbs almost completely. After a week of consistent use, we found a noticeable improvement in the skin’s softness and hydration. At the end of the test, we noticed an overall improvement in the skin’s comfort and appearance.
One thing to note is that it does contain synthetic fragrance in addition to the natural scent of the ingredients, so beware of this if you have sensitive skin or are sensitive to fragrance.
Final Verdict
Our favorite night cream is the Differin Restorative Night Moisturizer because it’s deeply moisturizing, great for all skin types, fragrance-free, and affordable. But if you’re looking for an option that has active ingredients, like retinol, to do more than moisturize, we recommend Paula’s Choice RESIST Intensive Repair Cream with Retinol.
How We Tested
In order to determine which night creams we recommend to you, we conducted hours of research and an in-depth test where a large group of testers with varying skin types and skin concerns each used one night cream before bed over the course of eight weeks. Each product was evaluated based on feel, absorption, and overall effectiveness and then given a score in each category. Those that scored the highest and impressed us the most appear on this list.
Other Options We Tested
Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream
While we love the texture of this buttery cream, we didn’t find it to be all that effective in terms of improving dryness and dry patches on the face.
Lano 101 Dry Skin Super Cream
We like the squeeze tube packaging of this budget-friendly cream, but it felt greasy on the skin and didn’t make a significant improvement in skin hydration.
Lancôme Advanced Génifique Night Cream with Triple Ceramide Complex
This popular night cream could be a good option for those who like an extremely rich cream, but we found it to be overly thick to the point that it seemed to sit on top of the skin rather than absorb into it.
What to Look For in Night Creams
Retinol and Bakuchiol
If you want your night cream to help firm your skin and address skin texture in addition to moisturizing, retinol or bakuchiol are good ingredients to seek out. “The small molecules of retinol penetrate the dermis and neutralize free radicals, leading to increased elastin and collagen production to minimize fine lines and create youthful skin,” explains cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green, MD. “Retinol increases cellular turnover and new skin cell growth, helping to slough off dead skin cells to make way for new, healthy cells.”
She also explains that retinol helps to achieve a more even skin tone and diminish pigmentation. “Retinol is especially a great ingredient for night creams because it makes your skin photosensitive, so it is best to use it at night instead of daytime. SPF 30+ should be used the following day to protect your skin from sun damage.” Our favorite night cream with retinol is the Paula’s Choice RESIST Intensive Repair Cream with Retinol. People with retinol sensitivity can consider retinol-alternatives like bakuchiol, which has similar benefits to retinol, without the irritation.2
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
AHAs are a type of chemical exfoliant that helps get rid of dead skin cells and clean out pores to provide anti-aging benefits. Green explains, “AHAs exfoliate by disrupting the bond between the dead skin cells and the outer layer of the skin. Glycolic acid, the strongest of the AHAs due to its small molecular size, penetrates deeper into the skin to stimulate collagen production.” AHAs are also effective at treating acne as well as hyperpigmentation as they remove excess sebum and reveal healthy new skin.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E are great for addressing redness and sun damage. “Antioxidants work by fighting free radical damage and protecting the skin from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays,” Green explains. “This means that antioxidants in night creams will help prepare the skin for the sun during the day. Vitamin C also aids in collagen production, brightens the skin, and reduces discoloration.” The Fresh Lotus Antioxidant Night Moisturizer is a great option that’s packed with antioxidants.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hydration is a key ingredient in a night cream because it helps to restore the skin’s natural protective barrier. “Hyaluronic acid is a popular moisturizing ingredient often found in night creams,” says Dr. Green. “Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that can hold one thousand times its weight in water. Hyaluronic acid seeps into the skin and pulls water from the environment to hydrate the skin.”
FAQ
Why should you use a night cream?
According to Green, “Night creams work on a cellular level to repair the skin as you sleep.” She explains that nighttime is when your skin has a chance to restore and repair the damage that occurs during the day. “Using the right night cream for your skin type will provide nutrients for the skin to prepare and withstand free radical damage endured during the daytime,” she says.
Do night creams really work?
The short answer is: yes. Night creams are effective because of their high concentration of active ingredients. “Night creams typically provide intense hydration and concentrated ingredients to fight signs of aging and other concerns,” Green explains. “They are usually formulated with active ingredients designed to correct skin issues such as hyperpigmentation, acne, dryness, and aging.”
How do you use night cream?
Night cream is the final step in your skincare routine, and is best applied with your hands, explains Green. “Apply night cream after any serums and eye creams that are a part of your skincare routine. Because night creams tend to be thicker in consistency and have ultra-hydrating ingredients, applying them after serums will lock in moisture as well as the beneficial ingredients in the serums. If you don’t use any serums, you can skip to the night cream after cleansing.”
