The Best Night Creams for Every Skin Type, According to Our Beauty Editor
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In the evening, a regular daytime face moisturizer isn't enough to help the skin feel soft, hydrated, and look youthful overnight. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nima M. Gharavi, M.D., advises incorporating a night cream into our routine to help replenish the skin with some much-needed moisture and active ingredients. He says, “The time that you are asleep is the prime time to address skincare concerns, as your skin is out of the sun and can soak up active ingredients uninterrupted. They don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing!” To simplify the search for the best night cream for each skin type, I asked Gharavi to help readers figure out exactly where to start.
Best Night Creams
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What to Consider
Age
Gharavi highlights our age as a determining factor when shopping for night creams. Typically, lighter night creams are more beneficial for younger people since their skin is better able to retain moisture. On the other hand, those with mature skin will benefit the most from using a more decadent night cream.
Formulation
“While a night cream is meant to be a deep replenishment of moisture, some skin types can handle heavier emollients better than others. For those with drier skin types, a richer cream will work better for restoring moisture, serving as a barrier of loss of hydration. Whereas those with oily or combination skin may need to opt for something lighter to replenish moisture without clogging pores,” explains Gharavi, an assistant clinical professor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
- Night creams with a gel-like texture, such as the PCA SKIN Hydrating Collagen Cream, are ideal for those with oily and acne-prone skin because they won't leave the skin greasy.
- Night creams with a richer consistency, like Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream and Element Eight O2 Squalane Face Cream, are more suitable for those with mature and dry skin types.
Best Ingredients
Lastly, the active ingredients found in night creams are a huge determining factor in their efficacy. “A night cream allows for a dedicated period where these concerns can be addressed, so the night cream’s actives (i.e. peptides, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, etc.) aimed at these goals can be particularly beneficial,” says Gharavi. I asked the California-based doctor to break down 10 popular ingredients and how they can help improve someone’s cosmetic concerns overnight.
For Dry Skin
- Hyaluronic acid penetrates deep into all levels of the skin, providing the highest levels of moisture possible while also helping the skin to be able to retain moisture better.
- Vitamin E delivers powerful antioxidant support to the skin and helps to repair the skin’s protective barrier.
- Vitamin B-5 promotes anti-inflammatory activity in the skin to correct redness and irritation.
- Shea butter improves the skin’s ability to retain moisture, promotes collagen production, and helps to heal skin blemishes.
For Damaged and Uneven Skin
- Squalane repairs and protects the skin barrier, plus adds moisture and soothes.
- Allantoin helps heal damaged skin and retain moisture.
- Bisabolol calms and soothes irritated skin.
For Aging and Dull Skin
- Peptides increase collagen production, provide antioxidant protection, and help plump and firm the skin while diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.
- Tranexamic acid inhibits sun damage by reducing hyperpigmentation and improving the brightness and luminosity of the skin.
- Camelia oleifera provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to the skin, helping to defend against free radical damage and soothe irritated skin
How We Chose
Based on his feedback, I spent hours researching and testing night creams and landed on seven I'm obsessed with for all skin types. Gharavi also shared his current favorite night cream that he loves to slather on before bedtime. Although some of these products are certainly a splurge, most will only set someone back less than $100.
Pros
- Award winner
- Skin plumping
- Dewy skin finish
- Supports the skin barrier
Cons
- Skip if you only like products with stronger fragrances
I am kicking off this list with this night cream from Alastin, a brand of medical-grade skincare products adored by estheticians and dermatologists. Although underrated among average beauty shoppers, I'm delighted to share that their night cream lives up to its claims. And with a moderate price point and compatibility with all skin types, I knew it was a worthy candidate for our story's best overall honor.
There's linoleic acid to help support the skin's barrier function and oat kernel extract to calm my complexion whenever it's irritated from testing products. But the cream's proprietary TriHex Technology really helps elevate it over the rest of the products on this list. It helps remove aged elastin and collagen to help boost the skin's natural rejuvenation process — with prolonged use the skin will appear more youthful.
I’ve worn this night cream on its own before bed and underneath a full face of makeup, and it’s never caused any skin irritation, redness, or pilling under my foundation. This non-comedogenic night cream is paraben-, oil-, and fragrance-free, so anyone dealing with adult acne shouldn’t be concerned about pimples popping up. It’s also hypoallergenic, so anyone with super sensitive skin can rest easy using this product.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturizer
Pros
- Created by a makeup artist
- Fantastic for dry and normal skin types
- Up to 24 hours of hydration
Cons
- Skip if you prefer fragrance-free products
Anyone who knows me won't be surprised to see a Charlotte Tilbury product on this list. I'm obsessed with her 10/10 Airbrush Flawless Foundation, signature Pillow Talk collection, and this iconic product. Magic Cream is one of the original items Tilbury launched in September 2013, and it has racked up several beauty awards over the last decade.
So what makes it so worthy of the runner-up distinction? Well, I've been using mine on and off since 2019, and I can confidently say this is like a tall glass of water for the skin. It's supercharged with hyaluronic acid, a derm-approved moisture magnet, plus a blend of well-known oils and extracts, including aloe vera, shea butter, and camellia. It also contains vitamin C, one of the best and gentlest skin brighteners.
Magic Cream is also a mom-approved product — mine stopped using her pricey La Mer cream because she prefers this option (and its more affordable price tag) for her dry skin. I have oily to combination skin, depending on the season, and when I use this in the fall and winter, it has never caused any skin irritation.
I'm giving it the runner-up distinction instead of the top spot because Magic Cream is too greasy for those with oily and combo skin to use it throughout the year.
Pros
- Lightweight hydration that doesn't cause acne or clog pores
- Helps plump up face lines
Cons
- It's a relatively small container
Wait, oily skin needs a night cream? Yup! It sounds counterintuitive to plop on a moisturizer on top of oily skin, but the key is to use a lightweight product, and this formulation totally delivers!
Boasting a light, slightly fluffy texture that feels great on the face, PCA Hydrating Collagen Cream is ideal for those with oily skin. The secret sauce of this night cream is a blend of skin-softening shea butter, smoothing and firming sweet almond fruit extract, and olive fruit oil.
Together they help rebalance my complexion and do a fantastic job of softening and plumping it. But most importantly, the cream doesn’t leave my face shiny nor congest my pores, leading to blackheads or acne, which is an annoying reality for those with my skin type.
Pros
- Visibly firms and brightens skin
- AAPI woman-owned brand
Cons
- Leaves a film behind on the fingers
A little goes a long way with this night cream that transforms from pale blue to clear once fully absorbed into the face. It has a unique bouncy, jelly-like texture that rehydrates the skin. It's also not greasy and doesn't cause acne, which are typical concerns for those with combination skin.
This night cream is also excellent for anyone who wants to brighten their dull complexion. Packed with açai berry and black ginseng extracts, it helps skin appear dramatically brighter and firmer in the morning.
Of course, there are other ingredients suggested by the doctor. Beyond squalane, hyaluronic acid, and a peptide complex, it contains niacinamide to help visibly fade dark spots and calm inflammation.
Online reviewers are also hyped about this night cream, with many using words such as “heaven” and “winter wonder” to describe its skin-enhancing powers. “[My] new favorite night cream! This stuff is my new holy grail nighttime product. It glides on so smooth and just melts into your skin! When I wake up in the morning my face is super hydrated and feels so soft,” says one 5-star review.
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
Pros
- Refillable
- Clean at Sephora
Cons
- Skip if you don’t like creams with a thicker consistency
With the help of six African oils and a plant ceramide complex, this dreamy whipped night cream relieves tired, dry skin. It boasts a pH balance of 5.2, giving it a luxe feel without the heaviness associated with night creams, which is why I believe it's an excellent pick for those with normal skin types.
It offers long-lasting hydration and can even help calm light irritation due to the inclusion of fermented green tea. Speaking of green tea, it also helps free radical damage that can use lines and wrinkles.
Those with skin sensitivities or who appreciate products made with clean, non-irritating ingredients will enjoy this night cream. All Drunk Elephant products are free of six ingredients the brand considers likely culprits of common skin problems. It also earned the Clean at Sephora seal, indicating the retailer classifies it as a clean product free of ingredients Sephora deems questionable.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Pros
- Intense hydration
- Improves skin radiance
Cons
- Available in 3 sizes, but the largest option is expensive ($290)
No, I didn't add this night cream to the list because Kendall Roy from Succession uses Augustinus Bader products. The company's signature Rich Cream is the ultimate skincare treat that combines sustainably sourced and science-backed ingredients.
A unique component found in this product is TFC8, a proprietary blend of antioxidants and botanicals rich in omega-6 fatty acids inspired by over 30 years of stem cell research.
As its name implies, The Rich Cream is thick and decadent, making it ideal for dry and mature skin types. The fragrance-free night cream does an excellent job of deeply hydrating, softening, plumping, and smoothing my face, and I trust it'll do the same for those with more pronounced lines.
And don’t just take my word for it. Sephora reviewers are keen on this splurgeworthy product. “My skin has never looked this good. My texture looks better, my pores look better, and I have a beautiful, natural glow. I am blown away,” says one Sephora reviewer who has used this night cream for 2 months.
Pros
- Available in 3 variations, but Squalane is his favorite
- Supports skin barrier function
Cons
- Pricey
Curious about what night cream Gharavi uses IRL? He says that since skin loses the ability to retain moisture and oxygen as we age, it is increasingly vital to replenish the skin with those two components found in this night cream.
Gharavi calls topical oxygen a powerful yet underappreciated ingredient for skincare products because it allows skin cells to repair themselves and empowers other products to work even more effectively.
“Loss of oxygen to the skin is one of the leading causes of aging. By age 30, the skin’s oxygen level is reduced by 25%, and by age 50, it will decrease by 50%. With oxygen depleted, skin loses the ability to repair itself, leading to increased fine lines and wrinkles, dehydration, and uneven tone and texture,” he explains.
Although pricey, the doctor is a huge fan because it helps those looking to strengthen and support the skin barrier. It also contains squalane, bisabolol, and allantoin, which he previously highlighted as some of his favorite ingredients.
“I find that it is easy to apply, [it] complements my skin, and addresses my concerns, including fine lines and skin damage from living in Southern California,” Gharavi says. “The brand’s proprietary OATH technology also delivers oxygen to the skin at the cellular level to help boost cell metabolism, rebuild collagen, and prevent and reverse the visible signs of aging.”
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Beauty Awards package.
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