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 Creamand 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.
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1
Best Overall
Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer
1
Best Overall
Alastin Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer
Credit: Thomas Hengge
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.
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The Runner-Up
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturizer
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The Runner-Up
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturizer
Credit: Thomas Hengge
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.
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For Oily Skin
PCA SKIN Hydrating Collagen Cream
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For Oily Skin
PCA SKIN Hydrating Collagen Cream
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.
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For Combination Skin
PEACH & LILY Overnight Star Night Cream
4
For Combination Skin
PEACH & LILY Overnight Star Night Cream
Credit: Thomas Hengge
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 favourite evening cream! These things is my new holy grail nighttime product. It glides on so clean and simply melts into your pores and skin! Once I get up within the morning my face is tremendous hydrated and feels so gentle,” says one 5-star evaluation.
5
Greatest for Regular Pores and skin
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
5
Greatest for Regular Pores and skin
Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream
Credit score: Thomas Hengge
Execs
Refillable
Clear at Sephora
Cons
Skip in case you don’t like lotions with a thicker consistency
With the assistance of six African oils and a plant ceramide advanced, this dreamy whipped evening cream relieves drained, dry pores and skin. It boasts a pH stability of 5.2, giving it a luxe really feel with out the heaviness related to evening lotions, which is why I imagine it is a wonderful decide for these with regular pores and skin sorts.
It affords long-lasting hydration and might even assist calm mild irritation as a result of inclusion of fermented inexperienced tea. Talking of inexperienced tea, it additionally helps free radical injury that may use traces and wrinkles.
These with pores and skin sensitivities or who admire merchandise made with clear, non-irritating substances will take pleasure in this evening cream. All Drunk Elephant merchandise are freed from six substances the model considers seemingly culprits of widespread pores and skin issues. It additionally earned the Clear at Sephora seal, indicating the retailer classifies it as a clear product freed from substances Sephora deems questionable.
6
For Dry and Mature Pores and skin
Augustinus Bader The Wealthy Cream
6
For Dry and Mature Pores and skin
Augustinus Bader The Wealthy Cream
Execs
Intense hydration
Improves pores and skin radiance
Cons
Out there in 3 sizes, however the largest choice is pricey ($290)
No, I did not add this evening cream to the record as a result of Kendall Roy from Succession makes use of Augustinus Bader merchandise. The corporate’s signature Wealthy Cream is the final word skincare deal with that mixes sustainably sourced and science-backed substances.
A singular element discovered on this product is TFC8, a proprietary mix of antioxidants and botanicals wealthy in omega-6 fatty acids impressed by over 30 years of stem cell analysis.
As its title implies, The Wealthy Cream is thick and decadent, making it supreme for dry and mature pores and skin sorts. The fragrance-free evening cream does a wonderful job of deeply hydrating, softening, plumping, and smoothing my face, and I belief it’s going to do the identical for these with extra pronounced traces.
And don’t simply take my phrase for it. Sephora reviewers are eager on this splurgeworthy product. “My pores and skin has by no means seemed this good. My texture seems higher, my pores look higher, and I’ve a lovely, pure glow. I’m blown away,” says one Sephora reviewer who has used this evening cream for two months.
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For Gharavi’s Decide
Aspect Eight O2 Squalane Face Cream
7
For Gharavi’s Decide
Aspect Eight O2 Squalane Face Cream
Execs
Out there in 3 variations, however Squalane is his favourite
Helps pores and skin barrier operate
Cons
Expensive
Inquisitive about what evening cream Gharavi makes use of IRL? He says that since pores and skin loses the power to retain moisture and oxygen as we age, it’s more and more very important to replenish the pores and skin with these two parts discovered on this evening cream.
Gharavi calls topical oxygen a robust but underappreciated ingredient for skincare merchandise as a result of it permits pores and skin cells to restore themselves and empowers different merchandise to work much more successfully.
“Lack of oxygen to the pores and skin is without doubt one of the main causes of growing older. By age 30, the pores and skin’s oxygen stage is diminished by 25%, and by age 50, it’ll lower by 50%. With oxygen depleted, pores and skin loses the power to restore itself, resulting in elevated high quality traces and wrinkles, dehydration, and uneven tone and texture,” he explains.
Though dear, the physician is a big fan as a result of it helps these seeking to strengthen and help the pores and skin barrier. It additionally comprises squalane, bisabolol, and allantoin, which he beforehand highlighted as a few of his favourite substances.
“I discover that it’s simple to use, [it] enhances my pores and skin, and addresses my considerations, together with high quality traces and pores and skin injury from dwelling in Southern California,” Gharavi says. “The model’s proprietary OATH know-how additionally delivers oxygen to the pores and skin on the mobile stage to assist increase cell metabolism, rebuild collagen, and stop and reverse the seen indicators of growing older.”
Magnificence Editor
Nicole Saunders is the Magnificence Editor at BestProducts.com, the place she oversees protection on all issues magnificence. When she’s not creating procuring guides, interviewing specialists, and testing magnificence therapies, you possibly can in all probability discover her strolling round Decrease Manhattan or overanalyzing the newest episode of “Succession.” You may ship all lipstick and calamari suggestions to her inbox and DM her memes on Instagram.