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There's a reason getting sufficient shut-eye is called beauty sleep. Your skin repairs and restores itself at night, which is why establishing a nighttime skincare routine with a hardworking night cream is essential. “Everyone, from those with sensitive skin to rosacea-prone skin, anti-aging concerns, and even acne, will benefit from hydrating the skin effectively overnight,” says Erum Ilyas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Philadelphia. Now, you might be wondering: Can’t I just use my regular moisturizer? You can—but some night creams are specifically designed to really work for, well, night. They’re often thicker than daytime moisturizers and contain ingredients, like retinol, that shouldn't be used during the day. More on that below:
Our Top Picks
How to choose a night cream
Your evening skincare routine should focus on of hydration and repair, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "When searching for a night cream, I recommend a product that contains a collagen-stimulating ingredient, like retinol, glycolic acid, peptides, or bakuchiol." While you sleep, the skin works to regenerate itself, and these ingredients help enhance cell turnover and increase production of collagen and elastic fibers, he explains. "Retinol is the best-studied ingredient, but it's not for everyone, because it can be irritating. It’s important to choose the ingredient that is right for your skin type."
How to apply a night cream
After cleaning your face and applying your serums, apply your night cream just like any old moisturizer. It should be the last step in your routine so that you can wake up with skin that is refreshed, plump, and radiant. Ready to make the most of your z’s? Ahead, shop dermatologist-recommend night creams.
The experts:
- Erum Ilyas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Philadelphia
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Sonia Batra, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in California and cohost of The Doctors
- Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles
- Nichelle Mosley, founder of Queen City Beauty Group and a board-certified aesthetician in North Carolina
Why We Love It
- Reverses the look of sun damage
- Affordable
What to Consider
- Some reviewers don't like the fragrance
If years of sun damage have left your complexion ridden with dark spots, uneven texture, and pronounced lines or wrinkles, try this affordable formula. It's loaded with a peptides complex to help reverse the look of sun-damaged skin. Shea butter, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid also make the formula soothing and hydrating.
Key ingredients | Peptides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and niacinamide |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with sun damage, age spots, dark spots, dullness, loss of firmness and elasticity, and uneven texture |
Why We Love It
- Luxurious and hydrating texture
- Boosts radiance
What to Consider
- It's more expensive than other options on this list
It's hard not to want to slather this formula on your face at all hours of the day. The rich and creamy texture is so indulgent that it instantly makes your skin feel nourished. The formula highlights hyaluronic acid and ceramides to hydrate and protect the skin barrier, while the Japanese indigo extract and mondo grass root soothe the skin and promote a healthy and dewy glow.
Key ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, Japanese indigo extract, and mondo grass root |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with dryness, dullness, uneven texture, or redness |
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Why We Love It
- Promotes cellular turnover
- Fades dark spots and marks
What to Consider
- It's not technically a cream
If you don't love the feeling of overly thick creams, take a note from Trinny London's book and use a lightweight but hydrating and powerful retinol serum, like this one. She doesn't love using overly rich night creams because "at night your skin is in a resting phase, and it's the perfect time to feed it, but don't feed it just with thickness," she says. "Feed it the most intense ingredients to regenerate, but you don't need to smother it."
Key ingredients | Retinal and vitamin F |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, oily or combination skin |
Why We Love It
- Evens out skin tone
- Restores skin barrier
- Fragrance free
What to Consider
- If you have oily skin, you may find the formula greasy
If you have sensitive skin, try this gentle formula, says Batra. It improves the appearance of uneven skin tone, dullness, and fine lines without any of the potentially irritating actives in other nighttime formulas. Instead, it contains ceramides to help skin retain moisture and protect the skin barrier, hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump, and niacinamide to calm skin and promote an even tone.
Key ingredients | Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide |
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Who's it for? | Those with sensitive skin, dryness, acne, or combination skin |
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Why We Love It
- Targets acne
- Reduces redness
What to Consider
- Some buyers say it's a bit light for dry skin
Adult acne is a common concern, but instead of reaching for all the exfoliants that likely dry out your skin, opt for this cream. It's made with retinal to reduce and prevent blemishes while resurfacing the skin. The addition of thermal spring water helps to soothe and calm the skin to avoid any potential irritation.
Key ingredients | Retinal |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with acne, redness, or excess oil |
Why We Love It
- Hydrates skin
- Targets signs of aging without irritating skin
What to Consider
- If you have oily skin, you may not like this formula's rich texture
This overnight formula is intended to target skin concerns associated with menopause, such as dryness and signs of aging. It contains seven types of sodium hyaluronate, an ingredient derived from hyaluronic acid, to plump and moisturize skin. It also contains bakuchiol, a gentler alternative to retinol that firms, brightens, and reduces the look of lines and wrinkles without irritating skin.
Key ingredients | Bakuchiol |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with dryness and signs of aging |
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Why We Love It
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
What to Consider
- Some buyers say it's a little drying on sensitive skin
This budget-friendly pick is the best drugstore night cream because it contains two important ingredients: alpha-hydroxy acids to help exfoliate dulling, dead skin cells, and retinol to help stimulate collagen production, says Shainhouse. “Together, these two ingredients help to reduce the appearance of fine lines with regular use over two to three months.”
Key ingredients | Glycolic acid and retinol |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with signs of aging, like wrinkles, lines, and uneven texture |
8
Best Exfoliating Night Cream
SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry
Why We Love It
- Refines skin texture
- Great for dry skin
What to Consider
- It's best to alternate this formula with another moisturizer to avoid overexfoliation
Exfoliating dry skin is necessary but tricky. Luckily, this moisturizer contains a 10 percent hydroxy acid blend that works to dissolve dull skin cells and unveil a brighter and more even complexion in the morning. Even though it works overtime to slough, the addition of aloe, chamomile, and evening primrose extracts keep the skin free of irritation, comfortably moisturized, and soothed.
Key ingredients | Hydroxy acid complex |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with dryness, dullness, texture, loss of firmness, fine lines, and wrinkles |
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Why We Love It
- Strengthens skin barrier
- Smooths skin texture
What to Consider
- May be too heavy for very oily and acne-prone skin
This hardworking night cream is chock-full of antioxidants and hydrators to support the skin’s barrier while you sleep. It contains moisturizing vitamin E, super lotus flower extract, and star fruit leaf extract, which helps smooth skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The formula also highlights polyglutamic acid and peach leaf extract to minimize the look of large pores while hydrating and comforting skin.
Key ingredients | Star leaf extract, vitamin E, and super lotus flower extract |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with uneven skin texture, dryness, and dullness |
Why We Love It
- Reduces look of deep wrinkles and lines
- Soothing for skin
What to Consider
- If you don't like the smell of lavender, you won't like the scent
Adenosine is a powerful ingredient that helps reduce the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid keep skin plump and hydrated to prevent the look of dry and dull skin. It also has a soothing lavender scent that will rock you to the best beauty sleep.
Key ingredients | Ceramides, adenosine, and hyaluronic acid |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, dullness and loss of firmness |
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Why We Love It
- Improves skin texture and tone
What to Consider
- It's more expensive than other options on this list
There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Retinol is a fantastic anti-aging ingredient, but it can cause irritation and dryness. This formula accounts for that, with barrier-repairing niacinamide and picolinamide to help minimize any of the discomforts. It's perfect for very sensitive skin and helps fight the appearance of lines, deep wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and dullness overtime.
Key ingredients | Retinol |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with uneven skin texture and tone, signs of aging, dryness, dullness, and those with sensitive skin |
Why We Love It
- Boosts radiance and even tone
- It isn't overly thick or greasy
What to Consider
- Some buyers say the fragrance is strong
What you won't find in this dreamy night treatment: parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or formaldehyde—all of which can irritate sensitive skin. You also won't get that overly rich texture that might be too heavy for oily and combination skin. What you will find: a potent mix of vitamin C (to even skin tone), lactic and glycolic acids (to increase cell turnover and reduce the appearance of fine lines), and three probiotic strains (to moisturize), so you’ll wake up with healthier, more hydrated skin.
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Why We Love It
- Stimulates collagen production
What to Consider
- Some buyers find the formula irritating
With nearly 10,000 five-star ratings, you can't go wrong with this affordable moisturizer that's easily accessible at your local drugstore. This night cream contains retinol, a highly effective anti-aging ingredient, says Zeichner. Retinol helps stimulate collagen production and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, he explains.
Key ingredients | Retinol and hyaluronic acid |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with dullness, fine lines, and wrinkles |
Why We Love It
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Reduces look of wrinkles and lines
What to Consider
- It's more expensive than other options on this list
If you prefer to keep your beauty routine as clean as possible, try this natural but powerful night cream that's free of parabens, silicones, sulfates, GMOs, artificial dyes, and synthetic fragrances. It contains vitamin C and other antioxidant-rich botanicals, like evening primrose and sacred lily, to brighten, nourish, and hydrate your skin while you sleep, says Mosley.
Key ingredients | Vitamin C, evening primrose and sacred lily extracts, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides |
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Who's it for? | Those concerned with dryness, dullness, signs of aging, and uneven texture |
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Why We Love It
- Promotes brighter and clearer skin
- Great for sensitive skin
- Improves elasticity and hydration
What to Consider
- It's a splurge
We won't deny that this formula costs a pretty penny; however, its efficacious formula is worth it. Each application offers a sensorial experience, between the delicious scent and decadent and hydrating texture. It utilizes Myoxinol, an ingredient derived from hibiscus seeds that's clinically proven to reduce the look of wrinkles with 10 days of consistent use. It also deeply hydrates thanks to hyaluronic acid and olive oil and is gentle enough for sensitive skin types.
Key ingredients | Myoxinol™ |
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Who's it for? | Those with dry, mature, or sensitive skin |
Brigitt Earley
Contributing Writer
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
Genesis Rivas
Genesis Rivas is the Beauty Editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers hair, makeup, skin, nails, and more. Before joining the Oprah Daily team, she wrote for several publications, including InStyle, Real Simple, and Shape. When she’s not testing, researching, and writing fun and educational beauty content, you can find her dancing and eating her way through New York City. Follow her on Instagram or TikTok