Best Night Creams for Every Skin Concern, Recommended by Experts

Yes, beauty sleep is a real thing. While you snooze, your skin is busy repairing itself and reversing damage from pollutants, UV rays, breakouts, and dehydration. Night creams are the sleeper hits of your skincare routine, and the best ones on the market do their part by encouraging cell turnover and protecting the dermal barrier from moisture loss. This process levels up overnight when your skin is most permeable—and most absorbent. That means bedtime is the best time to slather on those nourishing ingredients.

Top night creams picks

Night creams are a saturated market—and ingredients lists are long—so we got our hands dirty to find the best, most effective formulation for every type of skin and budget.

Best night cream for mature skin: No7 Menopause Skincare Nourishing Overnight Cream

Mature, menopausal skin is often dry skin and this night cream works best if you fall into that category because it helps combat the physical impact of reduced estrogen on your face. This cream was, according to the brand, “co-created with over 7,000 menopausal women seeking to revive dull, dry skin and help improve firmness, and dermatologist approved for all types of menopausal skin, including sensitive.

Specifications:

• Active ingredients:Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Steareth-21, Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) seed oil, Silica
• Texture: smooth
• Benefits: Revives dry skin, improves firmness and elasticity, deeply hydrates
• Fragrance: N/A
• Cruelty-Free? N/A
• Size: 1.67 oz
• Price: $37.99

Pros:

• Created specifically for menopausal skin
• Tested on 7,000 menopausal women

Cons:

• Expensive

The bottom line:

This night cream is targeted to help hydrate, sooth and firm menopausal mature skin impact by diminishing estrogen. We love that it hydtrates for up to 72 hours and helps revive dull skin tones, as well.

---

How we selected the best night creams

Research started with a list of the most common skin issues, compiled from background research and direct interviews with skin experts and dermatologists, all of whom were consulted for their collective decades of experience in their field of skincare. We asked them to suggest products that not only did they recommend to their patients, but also used themselves in some cases.

Then, initial research was expanded upon by identifying key ingredients that address each concern effectively, along with the most reputable brands and formulations that align with the aforementioned skin concerns. These were also put to the test based on personal experience. Each pick was analyzed further by scouring through reviews and progress/customer photos.

How to choose the best night creams

First, make sure you’re slathering on a night cream versus a moisturizer. Why? A regular moisturizer might fall short in offering the necessary nutrients and hydration for these repair activities, says Christina DiFerdinando, a nurse and skincare expert. “Opting for a night cream tailored for evening use ensures your skin receives the support it needs to enhance its repair mechanisms.”

This isn’t to say a moisturizer can’t work wonders on your skin, but if you’re in the market specifically for a night cream to support cellular repair while you sleep, there are some things to consider and questions to ask yourself:

Do I need a night cream?

Night creams, like anti-aging eye creams, are an integral part of most skin care routines and provide an opportunity to either introduce active ingredients that can help a person address their skincare needs or provide hydration to those who have dry skin,” says Dr. Justine Park, a board-certified dermatologist.

“However, not everyone needs to use night cream, and the regimen can and should be individually tailored,” she says. For instance, someone who suffers from eczema or allergic rashes may use night creams to hydrate and protect the skin. (If you’re looking for specific eczema formulas, read our round-up of the best creams for eczema.) In contrast, someone with mature skin may seek a night cream that can hydrate, exfoliate, and stimulate collagen production, she shares. Younger skin types may not even need to use night cream, according to Park.

What’s my skin type?

As with any skincare product, you should consider your skin type and, in some cases) your age, before you choose a product. For example, Park suggests mature skin types look for ingredients such as argan oil or retinol.

“Night creams vary immensely in formulation, active ingredients, uses, and price points. In general, patients interested in anti-aging skincare, or who seek correction of certain concerns such as dark spots or wrinkles, should use night creams to address their specific needs,” she suggests.

“If you have se­nsitive skin, it's important to choose a night cream that is fragrance­-free and hypoallerge­nic,” says Sarah Roberts, licensed skincare expert and founder of the online beauty publication, A Beauty Edit. These types of products are­ less likely to cause any irritation, allowing your skin to stay calm and comfortable while you sleep,” she adds. “Additionally, look for cre­ams that contain antioxidants such as vitamin E or C. These ingredie­nts help fight against free radicals and can promote­ a more radiant complexion.”

What are the main ingredients in my night cream?

The functions of night creams and moisturizers come down to their ingredient compositions, explains DiFerdinando. She explains that common ingredients in night creams include hyaluronic acid for hydration, retinol for anti-aging, peptides for skin repair, and ceramides to reinforce the skin barrier.

Ingredients to look for include antioxidants like vitamin C or niacinamide. “These ingredients help neutralize free radicals and protect the skin from environmental damage, such as pollution or UV rays,” shares Andrei Gherghina, a Florida-based board-certified dermatologist.

Some of the other key ingredients to look for in the best night creams include humectants to lock in moisture, emollients to soften, acids to accelerate cell renewal, and antioxidants to brighten and exfoliate.

What season is it?

If you live in a place with seasons or enjoy traveling, your skincare routine may need adjustments when you’re in a different climate. For example during the winte­r months, it's crucial to choose a night cream that provides hydration, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. When the weather is cold, use a night cream with ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help prevent moisture loss and keep skin hydrated.

“For this se­ason, I highly recommend opting for a night cream that contains hyaluronic acid and ce­ramides,” says Roberts. “Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient known for its excellent moisturizing properties, helping to keep the skin hydrated and plump.” She explains that ce­ramides work by strengthening the natural barrier of our skin, preventing moisture­ loss, and protecting against harsh winter conditions.

Of course, don’t neglect your night creams in the summer or hotter months too, along with sunscreen. “A night cream is used to help repair the skin from damage sustained during the day,” shares Dr. Margarita Lolis, New Jersey-based dermatologist. “They also have collagen-building ingredients such as retinol and antioxidants such as resveratrol which protect the skin and also repairs it.” It helps with cell repair, increases cellular energy, and regenerates the skin.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Which brand of night cream is best?

There are so many great brands , but we reached out to skin specialists and dermatologists, and here is what they had to say and find out what they are using on their faces. “The brands and the products you choose depend on your skin type, care, and concerns. What are your goals?

“For hydration, I always reach for my Senté products. For growth factors, I love Skinmedica,” shares Dallas-based aesthetician Jessica Yaklin-Strubhart. For corrective concerns, we often recommend Skinbetter.” Among others recommended by Gherghina were brands like SkinCeuticals, and most experts we spoke to were fans of the affordable CeraVe. The best brand for you might not be the best brand for another. You should always consider your own skin type and read the ingredient list before selecting a night cream.

Do night creams really work?

Night creams are essential for hydrating and nourishing the skin because they can offer protection and healing to your skin while you are sleeping, but the best products to use for aging skin vary, says Yaklin-Strubhart. “Night creams tend to be heavier so they can lock in your own lipids and nutrients while you sleep. In general, we think of daytime as protection and nighttime as regenerative.”

How to use a night cream?

1. Remove all of your makeup, then wash and dry your skin.
2. Apply any toner or face serums containing active ingredients like Vitamin A derivatives or Vitamin C.
3. Next, apply your night cream—don’t forget your decolletage. One expert suggested you put enough cream on for a “glazed donut” effect when you look in the mirror. Others suggested only using what is recommended by the brand’s manufacturer. Some experts recommend dotting your face with the cream and then using sweeping upward motions to apply it.

Overall, you want to start with a clean face, so the order is cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, or cream. If you have additional steps in your routine, ask your skin specialist for more guidance, recommends Park.

Lee offered one last step, and it may impact your sheets and pillowcases. “One easy tip is to replace your current pillowcase with a silk alternative. Silk absorbs less moisture than cotton, so it keeps our night cream on our face rather than our bedding,” Lee shares.

Why should I use a night cream?

“Nighttime is our best chance for the moisturizer to work in an uninterrupted way. During the daytime, our skin is often layered with vitamin C serums, sunscreen, and makeup,” says Lee. “ In my opinion, if you are using a cream with the right ingredients consistently, you will see long-term benefits with more rejuvenated and hydrated skin.”

And even if you are not a lotions and potions type, a night cream should be considered, says DiFerdinando. “For those who prefer a pared-down approach with just a cleanser and hydrating toner, introducing a night cream can be beneficial [because] nighttime sees our skin engage in vital functions, like cell renewal and damage repair.”