These affordable picks really impressed us
You know you need to wear either a moisturizer with SPF or proper sunscreen during the day, but what should you apply before bed? The answer is a night cream—which you probably could’ve guessed from its name. But what makes a night cream different from a plain old moisturizer? To find out what we should be looking for, we spoke to Sheilagh Maguiness, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, and Claire Wolinsky, MD, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist specializing in facial rejuvenation.
“For most people, moisturization is the main endpoint of a night cream,” says Maguiness, MD. “You don’t need to spend a lot of money for a night cream to do its job—you just need to know what job you want the cream to do.” In other words, in addition to hydrating the skin, evening moisturizers can address various concerns, like fine lines, hyperpigmentation, breakouts, or a damaged skin barrier.
Wolinsky, MD, says your evening skincare routine is also a good time to use retinoids, as sun exposure could make them less effective.1 The good news: many night cream formulas contain retinol, as well as other ingredients that target signs of aging. “These anti-aging powerhouses prevent fine lines and increase collagen production while you sleep,” she tells Byrdie. Looking for an affordable, widely available formula to add to your arsenal? Maguiness says, “There are actually many great drugstore night creams,” so you have a lot to choose from.
With their expert advice in mind, we got to work testing dozens of formulas and brands in our Manhattan-based lab. Here, we looked carefully at their active ingredients and targeted benefits before using the creams for weeks at a time and noting the results. So, after extensive research, here are the best drugstore night creams to care for your skin while you sleep.
Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Both dermatologists we interviewed stand behind this French pharmacy find, and we can see why. “La Roche Posay Double Repair is a hydrating yet non-pore-clogging over-the-counter moisturizer containing ceramides and glycerin that is safe for even the most sensitive skin,” says Dr. Wolinsky. “I recommend it often.”
Thanks to niacinamide (vitamin B3)2 and mineral-rich thermal spring water,3 this all-star cream works to soothe stressed complexions, smooth fine lines, replenish the skin barrier, and deliver a plumper look.
“I truly love the entire LaRoche Posay Toleriane line,” Dr. Maguiness tells Byrdie. “I think they have a great range of products and are available at most drugstores.”
Who It’s For
This is an excellent choice regardless of your skin type, though the deeply hydrating and fragrance-free formula is particularly beneficial for those with dry or sensitive skin. If you’re new to night creams and aren’t sure where to start, you can’t go wrong with this one.
Best Overall, Runner-Up: CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
We awarded CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream as our overall runner-up as it scored an impressive 5 out of 5 in our lab test. It contains key ingredients that restore and strengthen the skin barrier including a complex of biomimetic peptides, hyaluronic acid, and three essential ceramides – essentially, everything that keeps the skin super soft, plumped up, and supple. We also found that it sank in quickly after application and left our faces feeling smoother.
Who It’s For
This is a great option if you’ve recently overdone it with acids and retinol, and need to get back to basics to strengthen your skin barrier. While this cream may not feel as rich as some, you’ll be surprised at how hydrated and smooth it leaves your complexion.
Best With Retinol: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
A favorite among dermatologists and skincare aficionados alike, RoC Retinol Correxion is undoubtedly one of the best drugstore options. As its name suggests, this night cream contains retinol, a research-backed anti-aging ingredient that tackles everything from fine lines and crow’s feet to dark spots and crepiness.11We appreciate that it’s fast-absorbing and non-greasy, while not drying out the skin like some retinol creams can. We also like that it comes in a squeeze-tube which is more hygienic than a jar you need to dip your fingers into.
Who It’s For
If you have dry skin or you’re new to using retinol, this cream is a great place to start thanks to a gentle formula that contains moisturizing ingredients that work to combat the potentially drying effects of retinol.
Best Budget: Burt’s Bees Sensitive Solutions Calming Night Cream
Formulated with aloe and cotton extract, this calming cream soothes sensitive skin while shea butter and jojoba oil deliver moisture and nourishment. It’s lightweight and non-greasy, and we appreciate that it received the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, meaning that it’s suitable for use on sensitive skin and those with eczema. Some reviewers note that it can separate in the jar and become slightly watery, though this is usually remedied by mixing it. If you experience this, we recommend mixing it with a clean cotton swab to keep it hygienic.
Who It’s For
Those partial to earth-sourced formulas should go with this affordable Burt’s Bees option. The combination of aloe, rice milk, and honey is excellent for people with sensitive or eczema-prone skin because it calms and soothes the skin.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Differin Restorative Night Moisturizer
You might know Differin for its once-prescription and now over-the-counter retinoid acne treatment, but the brand also has a few notable retinol-free products. We’re big fans of the Restorative Night Moisturizer, an exceptionally gentle cream that hydrates with humectants and emollients like hyaluronic acid, allantoin, and essential ceramides.45
When we tested this night cream out in our lab, we found that it absorbed incredibly well into our skin—it didn’t feel wet, greasy, or oily afterward, and our skin felt refreshed, hydrated, plump, and soft. It also layers well with other products and passes the vital non-pilling test.
Who It’s For
If you’re looking for a moisturizer with simple, hydrating ingredients (and without potentially irritating ones), we highly recommend this one from Differin. It’s excellent for people with sensitive skin thanks to the inclusion of soothing allantoin and nourishing ceramides—and the exclusion of synthetic fragrance.
Best for Oily Skin: Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream
While it has that thick, luxurious feel that you want in a night cream, we found that this pick sank quickly into our skin without leaving behind any oiliness. It’s formulated with glycerin for its moisturizing benefits, as well as niacinamide for its ability to help smooth skin texture.
We applied it after a retinol treatment during testing and can report that we didn’t experience any pilling. We also found that it very quickly improved the smoothness and hydration of our skin, and our skin felt calmer and more even come the morning. This is one product we’ll be recommending on repeat.
Who It’s For
If you’re looking for a hydrating yet lightweight night cream that’s suitable for oily skin, we’re big fans of this one from Olay. It’s also a nice option for people who want to work on reducing their skin texture without leaning on harsh acids or scrubs.
Best for Dry Skin: Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream
If you have sensitive and reactive skin, you’re probably already familiar with Cetaphil. And if you have dry skin, you, too, should put the brand on your radar. One of our favorite drugstore skincare brands, this rich cream promises to deliver necessary hydration without leaving a greasy film behind.
After trying it out for ourselves, we felt that it delivered on its promises, leaving our skin feeling super smooth and hydrated, thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and olive extract. The more sensitive of our testers really appreciated that it was free from fragrance, too.
Who It’s For
Those with dry or sensitive skin will benefit from adding this gentle cream to their nighttime skincare routine. It helps keep the skin comfortable and moisturized without feeling slimy.
Best for Mature Skin: L’Oréal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream
Claiming to improve skin texture in just four weeks, we were looking forward to trying L’Oreal Revitalift’s Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream in our lab. While it feels very thick initially, we found that it sank effortlessly into the skin without leaving any oiliness behind. When it came to the results, it definitely delivered thanks to its two key ingredients, Centella asiatica (known for soothing benefits) and Pro-Retinol. After application, we noticed that our complexions felt smoother and more supple and could retain moisture more effectively throughout the day.
Who It’s For
This is a great product to pick up at the drugstore and introduce into your routine a few times a week, especially for people with mature skin who are looking to address visible signs of aging while hydrating their skin in one step.
Where We Stand
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer is our pick for the best drugstore night cream. Containing ceramides and vitamin B3, the dermatologist-recommended formula is light, hydrating, and gentle enough for sensitive skin. A close second is CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream which is formulated with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide. We rated it highly for the noticeable way it improved our skin’s hydration levels and overall skin quality.
What to Look for in a Drugstore Night Cream
- Moisturizing Ingredients: The main purpose of any type of face cream is to moisturize the skin, though, as Dr. Wolinsky notes, night creams are often richer than their daytime counterparts. With this in mind, you’ll want to look out for formulas containing natural butters like shea, cocoa, or mango seed, along with plant oils, such as avocado, jojoba, squalane, castor, coconut, olive, and sunflower seed. Additionally, humectants can help your skin retain moisture.6 A few of the most common include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, aloe vera, fatty acids, panthenol (vitamin B5), and vitamin E. The Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream with Hyaluronic Acid is a fantastic choice with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and olive oil.
- Anti-Aging Ingredients: Dr. Wolinsky tells Byrdie that overnight formulas often “contain important ingredients that work best at night, such as retinol, which can be deactivated by the sun.” In addition to this vitamin A derivative, you’re wise to look out for drugstore moisturizers containing niacinamide (vitamin B3)2 and peptides,7 all of which smooth the skin and help boost collagen production. If you’re looking for a night cream formulated with retinol, our top pick is the RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream.
- Fragrance-Free Formula: Dr. Maguiness recommends unscented formulas to avoid irritation, as some folks are sensitive or even allergic to synthetic fragrance (aka parfum) in skincare products.8 Added fragrance is generally unnecessary in night creams, and if you have sensitive skin, the last thing you want to do is introduce a potentially reactive substance.
FAQ
What are the benefits of drugstore night creams?
Besides being budget-friendly and widely available, there are lots of benefits to using drugstore night creams. First, they offer ample hydration after washing your skin. While you should be applying a moisturizer both morning and night, some people like to use richer formulas before bed.
As Dr. Maguiness explains, thicker formulas are often ideal for moisture “but can sometimes feel heavy during the day.” Additionally, night creams can be formulated to address various skin conditions, like fine lines, hyperpigmentation, uneven texture, dullness, inflammation, dark spots, loss of elasticity, and acne.
How do you apply drugstore night creams?
Starting with clean, freshly washed skin, dispense a small amount of cream into your hand (about the size of a blueberry). Next, use your fingertips to dot equal amounts on your forehead, chin, cheeks, and neck. Then gently massage the cream into your skin until it’s completely absorbed.
How often should you use drugstore night creams?
Most drugstore night creams can be used every evening. However, if you’re using a formula containing retinol or alpha-hydroxy acids (such as lactic acid and glycolic acid), you might want to work your way up to daily use to avoid irritation. Start with once or twice a week, then bump it up to three times when your skin gets acclimated and so on until you’re using it nightly.
