8 Best Night Creams

What are night creams?

Night creams are like a moisturizer, only richer and thicker. There are two main types of night creams: anti-aging and deep moisture. Anti-aging night creams are firming and fight against wrinkles. The ingredients you’ll find often include retinol, salicylic acid, or retinol acetate which all work to promote cell turnover. This means that new skin cells replace the old skin cells diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Ingredients like retinol and salicylic acid become extremely irritating when exposed to UV rays. So, it’s best to use these night creams at night. Deep moisture night creams are ultra-hydrating, nourishing, and restorative. They feature ingredients like emollients and oils. Although it is safe to use deep moisture night creams during the day, you may find that they are too heavy to wear under your makeup.

What is the difference between a day and night cream?

During the day, your skin faces some tough stuff. It’s exposed to UV rays, pollution, dirt, and makeup, which is why day creams are formulated to protect and support. Day creams include ingredients such as SPF, antioxidants, and caffeine. The SPF protects your skin from harmful UV rays, which is always important, while the antioxidants provide a protective barrier. Day creams often include caffeine too, to energize and firm your skin. The consistency of a day cream is lightweight and less greasy than night creams since they are typically worn under makeup.

During the night, your skin repairs itself and does most of it’s recovering from the day. Therefore, night creams are often designed to moisturize and help with the recovery. The formulas usually contain slow absorbing moisturizers with high concentrations of anti-aging ingredients like retinol or glycolic acid. The consistency of a night cream is much thicker and richer than day creams, too.

Why is it important to use a night cream?

The benefits of using a night cream are noticeable today, tomorrow, and years from now. We get that moisturizing your face can be another annoying step to your already-too-long nightly routine. However, it’s a step you really don’t want to skip, trust us. Our face and body tolerate some pretty tough stuff throughout the day. Years of wearing makeup every day, being out in the sun, and harsh chemicals found in beauty products can really take a toll on your skin.

According to the National Institute on Aging, over time, your skin changes. It becomes thinner, loses fat, and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. But, using a night cream can replenish your face and make it feel and look better.

How a night cream helps your skin today: It’s the perfect end to taking a hot shower or washing your face. Not only does a night cream feel soothing after, but it also makes your skin look healthier. Hot water and facial cleansers can often strip your skin of moisture. Many night creams have ingredients such as oils, occlusives, and humectants that lock-in and attract water to your skin cells. Immediately after applying a good night cream, you’ll notice a smoother, healthierlooking complexion. Not to mention, you’ll wake up with softer skin, which is always a good way to start the day.

How a night cream helps your skin years from now: According to the British Journal of Dermatology, people with frequently moisturized skin get fewer wrinkles than those with dry skin. Moisturized skin cells are happy skin cells. They can quickly repair themselves and turn over new cells faster. This means fewer wrinkles down the road.

Can I use my night cream as a day cream?

You could, however, night creams don’t typically have SPF in them and it’s essential when leaving the house. And, since night creams are richer than day creams, they may make your skin shiny and greasy-looking throughout the day. Whether or not you can use your night cream as a day cream also depends on the ingredients in it. Some ingredients, like retinol, are not suitable for daytime use. They can actually harm your skin when exposed to the sun.

If you need more hydration in a day cream, try the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. This cream is so versatile, it works wonders on all skin types – especially for those with dry skin. The Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief moisturizer stays light and fluffy, like silky whipped butter. This product is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic making it safe for those with more sensitive skin. But what really sets it apart from the rest is the cool, gel feeling. The gel is very thin and glides onto your skin, requiring very little to cover your whole face. The main ingredients include birch bark extract, lady’s thistle extract, green tea leaf, aloe, and caffeine.

Are night creams useless?

Of course not! But it also depends on which one you choose. Pay attention to the ingredients rather than the packaging. Some brands like to make claims without actually living up to them. Try to look for night creams with natural oils, retinol, or salicylic acid rather than ones with parabens and fragrances.

What is the best night cream?

Estee Lauder NightWear Plus Anti-Oxidant Night Detox Crème is perfect for all skin types; it’s lightweight and refreshing. This night cream works to reduce uneven skin tone, age spots, and enlarged pores. It also works really well at giving men and women smoother, fresher-feeling skin. This night cream was designed with anti-oxidant protection and visible age prevention in addition to treating dryness and enlarged pores. Whether you have oily or extra dry skin, you won’t want to stop using this cucumber-scented anti-oxidant night cream. While it’s more expensive than something you’d find at the drug store, there are definitely pricier night creams out there that don’t work half as well as this one does (or feel as good). The price is $55 for a 1.75-ounce jar.

What is the best night cream for dry skin?

L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Glow Renewal Facial Day/Night Cream is a non-greasy cream that can be used both day and night. For men and women with extra dry skin, this lightweight night cream provides deep hydration. While there really isn’t much else it does in terms of decreasing wrinkles or fine lines, it does prevent irritation and even heal dry, cracked skin—for your face, neck, and chest. This day and night cream should be something you add to your nightly routine to keep your skin irritation-free and feeling moist. For an effective night cream (especially one that you can use both day and night), the $30 price on this isn’t bad.

What is the best night cream for oily acne-prone skin?

Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial works to nourish, moisturize, and awaken users’ skin, never over-drying or leaving a greasy mess. It’s so lightweight even the oiliest skin types can use this stuff. This night cream feels like a weightless soufflé of yogurt. Super-charged proteins melt into your skin and work overnight at hydrating. This ultra-hydrating facial-in-a-jar contains a Greek yogurt concentrate with two and a half times the protein content of regular yogurt and works overnight to provide the skin with intense moisturization and nourishment to create a smooth, even skin. You will wake up to noticeable improvements in skin texture and more moisturized refreshed skin. As a bonus, this product contains 95 percent natural ingredients and is cruelty-free. The price is $46 for a 1.35-ounce jar.

How do you apply night cream?

Applying night cream may seem like common sense, however, there is actually a right way to do it. The first thing is to always make sure your hands are clean. This means when you get out of the shower, don’t touch anything else beforehand. Using a small amount of cream, start in the center of your face and move outwards. Too much night cream will end up clogging your pores and leave your skin looking greasy. A quarter-sized dollop is a perfect amount. Swirl your cream in using your ring fingers making circular motions. The ring fingers use the least amount of pressure, which will prevent damaging your delicate facial skin. Don’t forget to apply night cream to your neck and décolletage. These areas show aging first so it’s important to keep them moisturized, too. Be sure to follow the same method from above.

When is the best time to use a night cream?

At night, obviously. But make sure to prep your skin just before bed. Your skin will have the same benefits, whether you apply the product at 9 p.m. or 1 a.m. So the exact time isn’t a factor.

What is the best night cream for men?

For anti-aging, the best night cream for men (and a best seller), is the one by Kleem Organics. This night cream’s formula features only natural ingredients including 2.5% retinol, Vitamin E, green team, and jojoba oil. And, it doesn’t have any parabens or alcohol in it, which feels good, too. This night cream was made to give guys firmer, more toned skin. This stuff also helps minimize pore size and even skin tone. Men everywhere love it. The price is $49 a jar but you can typically find this cream on sale.