For anyone who’s starting to solidify their skincare regimen, finding one of the best night creams is so in your best interest.
Though you may feel as though one moisturizer tub will suffice, having a thicker, more hydrating and nighttime-formulated product in your arsenal is ideal for days when you don’t have time for a face mask.
Not to mention, you’ll wake up to your skin feeling as smooth as ever.
Speaking of, my skin has never looked more plump, nourished and clear since I began testing dozens — yes, as in 24 plus — of the best night creams before bedtime. Oh, and I’ve been consistently reviewing night creams for more than three years.
Along with some of the best facial exfoliants, top-tier vitamin C serums and cloud-like eye creams we tested, it’s safe to say that we vouch for investing in your skincare, though some of the best night creams we reviewed are easy on your wallet.
Before we dive into our favorites, check out our interview with board-certified dermatologist, Aegean H. Chan, MD, FAAD, who specializes in complex medical dermatology, dermatopathology and skin barrier research, for some FAQs on night creams.
Pros:
Cons:
- Some may find this night cream too light
When I used Alpyn Beauty’s PlantGenius Melt Moisturizer for the first time, I knew it was going to be a staple in my routine. It’s creamy without irritating my dry and sensitive skin and I love how it includes five-star ingredients like vitamin C, bakuchiol, squalane and hyaluronic acid.
From protecting your skin from radical damage and targeting age-relating concerns to hydrating the skin’s barrier and brightening the skin, it’s one of your best bets. Simply put, it’s the lightweight formula your skin needs.
For more, check out our full brand review of Alpyn Beauty (yes, we’ve tried it all).
Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol, Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It has a versatile clean formula that can also be used in the daytime, is super hydrating, gives your skin a nice matte finish, incredible for dry skin
Pros:
- Well-made, concealed packaging that helps prevent bacteria from entering
- Absorbs easily into the skin and isn’t too lightweight, nor too heavy
- Boasts a triple-ceramide blend that helps balance and soothe the skin
Cons:
- Some customers complain about its thickness
Drunk Elephant has a cult following (just ask any Sephora employee, and read our full brand review for more) and its Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer with Ceramides not only has one of those cool push-down dispensers where the product perfectly comes out but it also made my skin look like a radiant Barbie — without the porcelain shine, of course.
I can confidently say that if someone broke into my bathroom and stole this cute pastel container, I would pay $60 for another one. It’s just that hydrating on dry skin (and one of our favorite dry skin products), though also effective on other skin types.
Key Ingredients: Triple-Ceramide Blend, African-Oil Blend, Plant-Derived Peptides | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | Size: 1.69 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It’s velvety smooth, has a clean and vegan formula, great for anti-aging and for making the skin more supple
Pros:
- Doesn’t clog pores
- Helps reduce redness
- Soothing texture
Cons:
- Not as deeply nourishing as some other night creams tested
Much like its popular Lip Sleeping Mask, LANEIGE’s night cream version is the hypoallergenic call-to-skin that’s ultra-curated for sensitive areas. It calms my skin, has never broken it out, and gives my skin a fresh start in the morning, thanks to blurring out redness and offbeat skin concerns.
Key Ingredients: Squalane, Shea Butter, Tea Tree Oil | Skin Type: Sensitive, Normal | Size: 60 mL | Why we love it: It’s fragrance- and paraben-free for sensitive skin, hypoallergenic, incredible for dryness and for eradicating slim traces of redness
Pros:
- Excellent in boosting the skin’s firmness when used consistently over time
- Comes in portable, recyclable packaging
- Fairly priced for the quality
Cons:
- Doesn’t absorb as quickly as some other night creams tested
Gel-packed and hydration-activated, Fenty Skin’s Gel-Cream is a delight to apply. Though effective on all skin types, it’s especially great for oily skin because of its radiant, bouncy texture that’s like throwing jiggly water bombs on your face.
Aside from nourishing and anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this night cream also contains aloe to soothe and condition the skin, along with Kalahari Melon Oil that’s rich in antioxidants and helps to lock in moisture.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It has a clean formula, infused with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and incredibly hydrating due to its gel consistency, refills available
Pros:
- Features cruelty-free and vegan formula
- Excellent for sensitive skin to help soothe, especially dry areas
- Hydrates while minimizing the look of fine lines
Cons:
- Doesn’t include retinol, which some mature skin users may desire
First Aid Beauty has one of my favorite day creams of all time (a tub of perfection, may I add) and its night cream is the ultra-repair I need for nighttime.
It’s infused with colloidal oatmeal to calm and relieve dry skin and is a godsend for dark circles, thanks to the hyaluronic acid and niacinamide thrown into the mix.
Key Ingredients: Colloidal Oatmeal, Niacinamide | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Mature | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It has a clean formula, it’s cruelty and fragrance-free, it’s especially good for dark circles and targeting unfirm areas on the skin
Pros:
- Gently exfoliates the skin at night
- Excellent value, as it doubles as a night cream and face mask
- Targets uneven texture and enlarged pores
Incredible at blurring pores, Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial Mask is a rich blend of skin-loving ingredients that are ideal for any skin type, though an answered prayer for acne-prone skin.
Targeting dark spots that may be left behind from acne scarring and mitigating pores, it’s an all-around great night treatment to boost your skin’s morale.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic + Lactic Acids, Salicylic Acid, Chickpea Flour (to help balance and brighten) | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | Size: 1.69 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It has a 25% AHA blend (glycolic, tartaric, lactic and citrus acids) to exfoliate dead skin cells and promote cell turnover
Pros:
- Doubles as a neck cream and provides visible results with consistent use
- Absorbs quickly
- Rich texture
Cons:
- Contains fragrance, which may upset ultra-sensitive skin
- Package says it’s a lightweight cream but our tester found it on the heavier side
“I don’t like using a different cream for every body part, however, this neck cream is 100% worth it,” Holly J Coley, commerce updates editor, shared after using the night cream for months. “Like everyone these days, I spend too much time looking at a screen, which equals necklines. Since discovering goPURE Tighten & Lift Neck Cream, my neck has become visibly smoother and the lines have become more faint.”
Coley uses her LYMA laser with it, which does help, but the hydration this cream delivers is unparalleled, per Coley. “I will, without a doubt, be repurchasing when my current jar is done,” she noted, dubbing it one of the best night creams for aging skin that she’s tried.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Cupuacu Butter | Skin Type: Combination Dry, Mature | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It’s a night cream that also targets wrinkles on your neck, and helps deliver incredible hydration simultaneously.
Pros:
- Affordable, appealing to many shoppers
- Fragrance-free and doesn’t clog pores
- Helps protect the skin barrier
Cons:
- Doesn’t absorb as quickly into the skin as some other night creams tested
CeraVe is a standout in the drugstore skincare game. At a less than $30 price point, the Skin Renewing Night Cream is one I’ve used for years (along with the brand’s eye cream) and it’s always a source of good hydration whenever I use it.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Peptide Complex | Skin Type: Combination Dry, Normal, Oily, Sensitive | Size: 50 mL | Why we love it: It’s dermatologist-tested, great for all skin types, budget-friendly, contains hyaluronic acid and essential ceramides to deeply moisturize
Pros:
- Cruelty-free and vegan formula
- Feels luxe and rich on your fingertips, and even more so on the skin
- Great for dark circles and calming the skin
Much like its incredibly working vitamin C serum we love, Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Face Cream Rich is a bit heavier than its original moisturizer (and more than $200) but wow, is it worth it.
Since you don’t have to use a night cream every evening, it’s a surefire staple to consider. Plus, water is its primary ingredient and it contains vitamin E for anti-aging and smoothing benefits. I couldn’t keep myself from slathering it on and telling my BFF on FaceTime to splurge on it.
Key Ingredients: Skullcap (to support cell renewal function), Vitamin E, Avocado oil (to help calm the skin | Skin Type: Combination Dry, Normal | Size: 50 millimeters | Why we love it: It’s velvet-rich and ultra-smoothing, it has a clean and cruelty-free formula, it’s gluten-free, it’s a gem for dark circles
Pros:
- One of the most thoughtfully curated clean night creams on the market, as it’s approved and sold at Credo Beauty (a.k.a, the gold standard)
- Incredibly hydrating without being sticky
- Contains collagen-boosting peptides to support the skin barrier
While the Pai Skincare Bonne Nuit BioPeptide Renewal Overnight Cream may be a splurge, it’s so worth the hype. Listen, if you’re keen on clean ingredients and want to ensure your ultra-sensitive skin won’t irritate easily, this formula is the real deal.
Namely, it’ll leave your skin juicy with moisture without feeling greasy, oily or sticky. Its semi-dewy glow is on par with other night creams that claim to do the same, but this one is a magician that helps pull moisture to the skin in the gentlest way possible.
Key Ingredients: Chamomile, Glycerin, Jojoba Oil Shea Butter | Skin Type: Dry, Normal, Sensitive | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It’s like coating your skin in a nourishing blanket that doesn’t feel too heavy but seeps into your skin just right
Pros:
- Contains vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to brighten and make the skin bouncy at the same time
- Rich in antioxidants
- Excellent for self-care nights
Cons:
- Price point may put some shoppers off, but it’s a surefire night cream-face mask hybrid, making it a bargain
Containing L-Ascorbic Acid — a.k.a. the “good” and “raw” form of vitamin C, Youth to the People’s Superberry Overnight Mask is a dream to apply. Plus, the addition of squalane, hyaluronic acid and an antioxidant-rich blend of rare superberries make it lusciously hydrating and hard to stop using.
And, if you want to kickstart a good regimen, the brand’s Superfood Cleanser ($39) is just as hydrating and jaw-dropping.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane, Vitamin C | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | Size: 2 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It has a clean formula, is heavily infused with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C for brightening
Pros:
- Has a dreamy texture that is one of the most significant for leaving the skin with a dewy glow
- Can be used day or night
- Light-as-air texture that’s pleasing to use
Cons:
- Price point may be unreachable for some
Hats off to Peter Thomas Roth for its Potent-C Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer. Because it contains 10% THD Ascorbate Vitamin C (the best form, according to derms we’ve spoken to), it leaves an instant glowing effect — ideal before bedtime to make your skin radiant in the morning.
It has a thicker feel than most, so I prefer to use this when I’m unwinding in the evening, though it’s suitable for morning use as well. However, because its results are so powerful, I say “less is more” and stick to it once daily whenever I dollop some onto my skin.
Key Ingredients: 10% THD Ascorbate Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Antioxidant Superfood Complex | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | Size: 50 millimeters | Why we love it: It has a thick, emollient formula and its vitamin C ingredient is a “superhero” to brighten skin instantaneously, leaving you with a natural glow
Pros:
- Lower price point
- Has a cooling effect on the skin to refresh and renew
- Larger tub than most other night creams on this list (75 ml, not the usual 50 ml), making it a good value buy
Cons:
- May leave the skin too watery or dewy, though not a dealbreaker
The belif Aqua Bomb line is much like wrapping my skin in a thirst-quenching blanket that makes my skin do a happy dance. Got that image in your head? Good, now it’s just time to buy — enough said.
It truly is effective on all skin types (just read all the rave reviews). And, the selling point: it’s irritation-proof on sensitive skin. It also has a jelly texture that makes me reach for it more often throughout the week.
Key Ingredients: Caffeine, Peptides | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily, Sensitive | Size: 2.5 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It’s great for all skin types, it’s incredibly refreshing, it’s well-priced for the hydration level attained
Pros:
- Gentle on the skin and packed with all the goodness, including ceramides
- Soaks into skin beautifully
- Helps restore moisture
Cons:
- Some may find the formula too sticky
- Small circular opening when unscrewed, which makes it a bit difficult to scoop out the product once you’re toward the end
Holy honey halo. Farmacy’s Ultra-Hydrating Ceramide Moisturizer is truly a gift from the hive with its powerhouse blend of buckwheat honey, propolis and royal jelly. As Dr. Chan notes, its soothing and humectant properties make it an effective moisture-restoring formula.
Made with real honey, you’d expect this night cream to be ultra-sticky and ineffective. But, the results are the opposite; the glycerin and shea-butter-infused cream soak into your skin to feel as sweet as honey — especially when you wake up the next morning.
Key Ingredients: Buckwheat Honey, Ceramides, Shea Butter | Skin Type: Dry, Normal | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It’s clean, cruelty-free, made without parabens or silicones, good for anti-aging and dryness, comes with an included scoop, instantly hydrates the skin
Pros:
- Fragrance-free and vegan formulation
- A buttery formula that feels amazing on the skin
- Helps make the skin bouncier when used consistently
Cons:
- While fragrance-free, the night cream has a scent that some may not like
Biossance’s Squalane + 10% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum ($65) is exceptional, so I wasn’t surprised to find its nighttime repair cream to be the crème de la crème for my dry skin. The buttery whipped formula was like pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete on my flaky skin for good.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Squalane | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It’s exceptional for dryness, has a clean formula, cruelty-free and paraben-free, it has a subtle rose scent
Pros:
- Doubles as a face mask
- Helps gently exfoliate the skin
- Lightweight and excellent for building up
Cons:
- The dispenser can be difficult to deal with
Drunk Elephant’s F-Balm Electrolyte Waterfacial Mask will make you say “wow, that’s good.” It’s filled with humectant ingredients like coconut water, sodium and magnesium PCA and prickly pear extract to make every dermatologist applaud from afar.
It’s a lightweight formula that’s a joy to use in the evenings. So, if you’re on the hunt for a unique night cream that’s versatile and good for sensitive skin, D.E. is a solid option, though it wasn’t as nourishing as some others tested.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin F, Niacinamide, Electrolyte Blend | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces | Why we love it: It’s great at plumping the skin, includes vitamin F for reducing irritation and niacinamide for targeting dullness and loss of firmness
Pros:
- Feels like you’re at a spa whenever you use it
- Irresistibly smooth, soothing formula
- Affordable, with a completely impressive quality
Cons:
- Doesn’t contain as much product as some other night cream tubs on this list, but not a dealbreaker (it’s an amazing price!)
Sure, we love Mario Badescu’s face mists. But it’s night cream? Next level.
I’m convinced anything that contains seaweed is a miracle worker and, mixed with collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, it’s a dermatologist’s thumbs-up for less than $25.
Key Ingredients: Seaweed, Antioxidants | Skin Type: Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | Size: 1.7 fluid ounces| Why we love it: It leaves the skin fresh, supple and hydrated, budget-friendly
An FAQ on Night Creams
What exactly is a night cream?
“Night creams are facial moisturizers that are formulated to be more occlusive and hydrating,” Dr. Chan told The Post. “This includes occlusive ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, and silicones, which act as a seal to your skin barrier, encouraging skin barrier repair.”
Humectants (like glycerin and hyaluronic acid) help to draw in water and add additional hydration to the skin, she adds.
How does a night cream differ from a moisturizer?
“Because they typically contain occlusives and humectants, they often have a heavier texture and maybe too greasy for some to wear during the day,” Dr. Chan adds.
How often should a night cream be applied?
“You should apply a heavier, more occlusive cream whenever your skin feels dry or irritated,” Dr. Chan said. “The extreme of this is the trend of ‘slugging,’ which is applying a layer of pure petrolatum over your skin at night.”
Do night creams really work?
Depending on your skin type and how often you use a night cream, the formula can be quite advantageous to your overall skin health, look and feel. They’re typically a bit more emollient than your morning moisturizer, though quality ones will absorb well onto the skin.
When you wake up in the morning, you’ll likely notice baby soft texture and, fun fact, you now have yourself a wonderful base for your makeup, sans makeup primer.
How do I choose a good night cream?
Choosing a good night cream depends on your skin type, concerns, and preferences. Here are some key factors to consider:
- Skin Type: If you’re oily or acne-prone, look for lightweight, oil-free or gel-based formulas with non-comedogenic ingredients. If dry and/or sensitive, opt for rich, hydrating creams with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides.
- Ingredients: Retinol and bakuchiol have great anti-aging benefits, while peptides help with skin repair and firmness. Additionally, antioxidants like vitamin C or E protect against environmental damage whereas natural oils like jojoba, argan or rosehip oil add nourishment.
- Patch Test: Before committing to a new product, do a patch test to check for any adverse reactions. This is a best practice for any skincare product you try.
How we tested
After reviewing the best night creams for at least four years, here are the testing criteria the Post Wanted team kept in mind for each formulation tested:
- Formulation: Is it hydrating? Do its ingredients help soothe the skin, or are they keen on anti-aging? These factors were majorly taken into account.
- Irritation levels: I have incredibly dry skin that’s also sensitive, so I made a note if any product broke me out in any way.
- Versatility: Depending on the consistency, some are better for using day and night, while some feel a bit richer in texture. I factored this in, especially when determining what night cream worked best for a specific skin type.
This article was written by Victoria Giardina, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest and greatest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include reviewing the viral Korean beauty brand, Cosrx, and testing dermatologist-recommended acne cleansers. Victoria has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.
