The 18 Best Night Creams for All Skin Types

Day creams and night creams vary in look, feel, and formulation, and they’re built for distinct roles. A daytime moisturizer is often lightweight and pairs with SPF to shield your skin from sun damage, while a night cream tends to be richer and aims to restore and illuminate your complexion as you sleep.

Many overnight creams contain anti-aging actives like retinol and other retinoids. These boost cellular turnover and are typically applied at night because they can make skin more sensitive to sunlight.

Ready to upgrade your nighttime skin repair routine? Below are 18 of our favorite night creams across skin types and budgets, plus guidance to help you pick the right one.

A quick look at the best night creams

• Best overall night cream: CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
• Best night cream for dry skin: Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Night Cream
• Best night cream for men: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
• Best night cream for oily skin: Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon Transformative Night Gel-Cream
• Best night cream for wrinkles: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Overnight Cream
• Best night cream for acne-prone skin: Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Night Infusion Cream
• Best night cream for combination skin: Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream
• Best night cream for sensitive skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Night Soothing Repair Moisturizer
• Best night cream for mature skin: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Moisturizer
• Best oil-free night cream: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream
• Best organic night cream: Honey Girl Organics Face & Eye Creme
• Best firming night cream: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream
• Best lightweight night cream: Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream
• Best intense hydration night cream: Burt’s Bees Truly Glowing Night Cream
• Best fragrance-free night cream: Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream
• Best brightening night cream: Mad Hippie Triple C Night Cream
• Best night cream for irritated skin: Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream
• Best night cream for all skin types: ROSE Ingleton MD Signature Moisturizer

How to shop for a night cream

Finding the right night cream often requires some experimentation. Part of the process is purchasing a product and seeing how your skin responds over time.

If you want a place to begin, Dr. Anna Guanche, a board-certified dermatologist and beauty expert in Calabasas, California, suggests first thinking about your skin type and your goals when selecting a night cream.

Identify your skin type

A simple way to determine your skin type is the wash test: cleanse your face and observe how your skin behaves throughout the day.

Guanche says your skin might be:

• dry, if your face feels tight after cleansing and you need to apply moisturizers or hydrating serums during the day;
• oily, if oil accumulates and your pores look enlarged with shine across your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin (the T-zone);
• combination, if your cheeks are dry but your T-zone gets oily—combination skin is very common.

Watch for important ingredients

“Reading ingredient lists and understanding what you’re putting on your skin is essential,” Guanche notes. “Hyaluronic acid and ceramides are excellent for hydration. Retinol is a useful anti-aging ingredient because it speeds cell turnover, promotes collagen, and can shrink pores.”

She adds, “Vitamin C helps build collagen and brightens by reducing excess pigmentation. Glycolic acid, an AHA, is a strong exfoliant that smooths away dead skin cells and helps brighten the complexion.”

Do some homework

Remember that cosmetics aren’t subject to FDA premarket approval, though they are regulated in other ways.

The FDA oversees certain components, such as color additives, and prevents the sale of adulterated or misbranded cosmetics. But most products don’t require prior FDA clearance.

Because of that, it’s wise to check ingredient lists before buying. Tools like INCI Decoder explain ingredients in plain terms, and the Environmental Working Group offers safety ratings.

Once you pick a product, don’t expect instant transformation. Most skincare items take time—typically around 6 to 8 weeks—to show visible results, provided they don’t trigger an allergic reaction.

How we chose the best night creams

Using Guanche’s guidance, we selected moisturizers that promote hydration and skin health across different skin types, including sensitive, oily, dry, and combination. We offered options at a range of price points, weighing skin type suitability, customer feedback, and standout ingredients.

Each product on this list was reviewed by our content integrity team to ensure it meets our editorial and medical standards. Learn more here.

Pricing guide

• $ = under $20
• $$ = $20–$50
• $$$ = over $50

Healthline’s picks for the best night creams

Best overall night cream

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream

• Price: $
• Pro: dermatologist-recommended brand
• Con: some users find it too rich
• Key ingredients: peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
• Best for: all skin types

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream helps reduce fine lines, lock in moisture, and soften skin thanks to hyaluronic acid, while ceramides support the skin’s natural barrier.

Shoppers appreciate its affordability and thick, nourishing texture.

As a fragrance-free choice, it’s suitable for people with scent sensitivities. Some with rosacea or eczema report positive results.

Best night cream for dry skin

Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Night Cream

• Price: $$$
• Pro: can help improve firmness
• Con: some users report a greasy feel
• Key ingredients: glycerin, hyaluronic acid
• Best for: dry skin

If you want a luxurious option for parched skin, Lancôme’s Rénergie Lift Night Cream contains glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter to deeply hydrate and support a radiant appearance, per the brand.

Many users praise its moisturizing power, though it carries a noticeable fragrance.

Lancôme is known for a devoted following, and the product’s higher price reflects its premium positioning.

Best night cream for men

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

• Price: $
• Pro: lightweight, water-gel texture
• Con: may not be rich enough for very dry skin
• Key ingredient: hyaluronic acid
• Best for: all skin types

For those easing into skincare, this simple formulation offers hydration without oils, dyes, or fragrance, thanks to hyaluronic acid.

Some users report improved skin texture, while others experienced breakouts; sensitive skin types may want to patch-test first.

Neutrogena is widely available at drugstores and supermarkets.

Best night cream for oily skin

Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon Transformative Night Gel-Cream

• Price: $$$
• Pro: targets under-eye darkness
• Con: some users dislike the scent
• Key ingredients: vitamin C, sandalwood, French lavender
• Best for: oily skin

This versatile gel-cream blends vitamin C for brightness and tamarind seed extract for hydration, and it absorbs without leaving an oily residue.

Sandalwood and lavender give the formula a calming scent designed to relax you before bed, though some find it overpowering.

Dermalogica formulates cruelty-free and vegan options.

Best night cream for wrinkles

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Overnight Cream

• Price: $$$
• Pro: may help soften deeper lines
• Con: some say it’s overly thick
• Key ingredients: vitamin C, resveratrol, squalane
• Best for: all skin types

Juice Beauty’s cream is geared toward reducing wrinkles with plant-based ingredients. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and rated 2 by the EWG.

Formulated with primrose oil, ceramides, and squalane from olives, users call it rich and hydrating, though those with acne-prone skin may find it heavy.

Juice Beauty emphasizes organic, plant-derived ingredients.

Best night cream for acne-prone skin

Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Night Infusion Cream

• Price: $$$
• Pros: clean-beauty formula, vegan
• Con: results may not be immediate
• Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, resveratrol
• Best for: acne-prone skin

This cream carries herbal and floral notes like chamomile, lavender, and mint.

Reviewers report it’s non-comedogenic and leaves skin looking rested; some say it helps with dryness linked to acne treatments.

Founded in Bordeaux, Caudalie uses grape-derived ingredients drawn from the brand’s vineyards.

Best night cream for combination skin

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream

• Price: $
• Pro: oil-free, lightweight
• Con: may be too thin for severely dry skin
• Key ingredients: glycerin, vitamin E
• Best for: combination skin

Loaded with vitamin E, this gel-cream helps skin look plumper without feeling sticky and dries quickly.

Shoppers like its longevity and lack of strong fragrance, though a few with sensitive skin reported breakouts.

Garnier is an affordable, widely available option.

Best night cream for sensitive skin

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Night Soothing Repair Moisturizer

• Price: $$
• Pros: dermatologist-tested, allergy-tested
• Con: may not be rich enough for very dry, mature skin
• Key ingredients: vitamin E, thermal spring water, neurosensine dipeptide
• Best for: sensitive skin

This preservative-, fragrance-, and paraben-free cream hydrates with glycerin, squalane, shea butter, and niacinamide.

It’s ideal for those who need gentle hydration without heavy emollients, though some with aging, very dry skin find it too light.

Best night cream for mature skin

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Moisturizer

• Price: $$
• Pro: may visibly reduce wrinkles
• Con: some find the texture thin
• Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, pro-retinol
• Best for: mature-looking skin

This fragrance-free formula combines retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, brighten, and help minimize fine lines.

Users report softer skin and reduced hyperpigmentation, though the lightweight consistency may not satisfy very dry complexions.

Best oil-free night cream

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

• Price: $$
• Pro: cooling, immediate soothing sensation
• Con: some say it left a sheen on skin
• Key ingredients: glacial glycoprotein, micronized amino acid
• Best for: oily and normal skin

This non-shiny gel-cream offers lasting hydration for oily and normal skin without clogging pores, using glacial glycoprotein and root extracts.

Users with oily skin praise its performance; some also use it during the day under makeup.

Best organic night cream

Honey Girl Organics Face & Eye Creme

• Price: $$
• Pros: dual-purpose, natural formulation
• Con: limited anti-aging results reported
• Key ingredients: honey, beeswax, propolis, bee pollen
• Best for: sensitive or dry skin

Looking for an organic option? Honey Girl Organics carries USDA organic certification and a simple ingredient list: honey, beeswax, propolis, bee pollen, royal jelly, and organic extra virgin olive oil.

Rated 2 by the EWG, it’s beloved by many customers, though some mention an odd scent—one reviewer compared it to patchouli.

Best firming night cream

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream

• Price: $$
• Pro: helps with under-eye darkness
• Con: some users say formulation changes caused breakouts
• Key ingredients: colloidal oatmeal, sodium hyaluronate, niacinamide
• Best for: combination, normal, or dry skin

Called “buttery” by fans, this cream pairs peptides for smoothing, niacinamide for resilience, and rich butters to leave skin dewy.

Many reviewers rave about it; a few reported it reduced blemishes and scars, while others with sensitive skin found it irritating.

Best lightweight night cream

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream

• Price: $$–$$$
• Pro: may reduce the look of fine lines
• Con: expensive for the quantity
• Key ingredients: super lotus, peach leaf extract
• Best for: all skin types

This whipped antioxidant cream supports and hydrates stressed skin with cucumber extract and glycerin, offering a light texture suitable for many skin types.

Many users enjoy the scent and morning results, though some wished it provided firmer tightening than expected.

Best intense hydration night cream

Burt’s Bees Truly Glowing Night Cream

• Price: $
• Pro: dermatologist-tested
• Con: some users dislike the scent
• Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, beeswax, squalane
• Best for: dry skin

Designed to lock in moisture while you sleep, this rich cream features jojoba oil and squalane to help wake up to hydrated skin.

People with dry skin praise its creamy texture, though a few find it too heavy or incompatible with other treatments.

Burt’s Bees highlights responsible sourcing and excludes phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, and SLS from its formulas.

Best fragrance-free night cream

Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream

• Price: $–$$$
• Pros: fragrance-free, clean formulation
• Con: some say it’s not rich enough
• Key ingredients: squalane, ashwagandha, fermented reishi
• Best for: all skin types

Though pricier, a small amount goes far thanks to squalane, jojoba, and shea butter for balanced hydration.

Reviewers across skin types, including sensitive skin, praise its quick absorption and layering ability; one editor notes it works well under SPF during the day too.

This vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free cream comes in a recyclable glass jar.

Best brightening night cream

Mad Hippie Triple C Night Cream

• Price: $$
• Pro: may brighten skin
• Con: strong fragrance reported by some
• Key ingredients: vitamin C, reishi, turmeric extract
• Best for: all skin types

Mad Hippie reports that 97 percent of participants in an 8-week trial saw reductions in lines and wrinkles with Triple C Night Cream. Using three forms of vitamin C, it hydrates, brightens, and defends against daily stressors.

Supportive ingredients include mushroom extracts, turmeric, shea butter, and ceramides, and the packaging is glass and aluminum for sustainability.

Most reviews are positive, though the scent may be off-putting to some users.

Best night cream for irritated skin

Dr. Barbara Sturm Face Cream

• Price: $$$
• Pro: may help prevent and reduce fine lines
• Con: higher cost than many competitors
• Key ingredients: purslane, shea butter, skullcap
• Best for: oily or combination skin

Developed by a doctor focused on anti-inflammatory approaches, this cream features purslane, skullcap, and shea butter to support regeneration, firmness, and elasticity, while addressing fine lines and un