Beauty Skincare Face Moisturizers and Serums The 14 Best Night Creams of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Each of these night creams deliver a heaping boost of hydration for glowing, plump skin come morning time. By Danielle Cohen Danielle Cohen Danielle Cohen is a beauty writer and editor who’s covered everything from lip lifts and mini tummy tucks to the best foundation sticks and body bronzers. Her portfolio spans digital, print, and video, with work featured in Allure, Byrdie, CR Fashion Book, RealSimple, Refinery29, and Well + Good, among others. InStyle's editorial guidelines Published on April 20, 2023 @ 02:27PM Pin Share Tweet Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Our Testing Process What to Keep in Mind Your Questions, Answered What Is InStyle Picks? Why Shop With Us We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. InStyle / Marcus Millan While you get your beauty sleep, your skin is hard at work. The body goes into repair mode as you rest, ramping up collagen production and turning over skin cells with an accelerated rate of blood flow. The best way to support your skin during this restorative process is to use a great night cream. Night creams are typically thicker in consistency and are made with high concentrations of active ingredients and emollients to deeply nourish skin. These powerful creams drench skin with moisture, which keeps the skin barrier protected and collagen production supercharged, to help plump fine lines, firm skin and improve your overall complexion. There are hundreds of night creams out there and we set out to find the very best ones you can buy. We tested 20 of the most popular night creams currently available. We scrutinized the creams’ consistency, absorption, and the overall effect it had on our skin over the course of two months. We also considered other important factors, like fragrance and how well it played with our other skincare products. We ranked the effectiveness of each product based on our results, and these are the highest-scoring night creams. The 8 Best Overnight Face Masks of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Our Top Picks Best Overall: CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Night Cream at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Macrene Actives High Performance Extra Rich Face Cream at Macreneactives.com Jump to Review Best Drugstore: Differin Night Moisturizer at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Dry Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Oily Skin: Olay Regenerist Night at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Sensitive Skin: Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Aging Skin: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Collagen Cream at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Dull Skin: Fresh Lotus Antioxidant Night Moisturizer at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Acne-Prone Skin: SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry at Walmart Jump to Review Best Overall CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Target View On Walmart Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 5/5 Effectiveness 5/5 What We Love: The thick, whipped texture absorbs into the skin within minutes and hydrates skin from the inside-out.What We Don’t Love: We’re all about a solid no-frills night cream, but this could be even better with some additional anti-aging benefits. When it comes to skincare, sometimes simplicity is key, and no brand embodies that ethos more than CeraVe. Their night cream earned the top spot on our list due to its deeply hydrating, gentle formula that felt great on our sensitive skin and delivered long-lasting results. Within a week of using this night cream, our skin felt noticeably more hydrated, and by the time the eight-week testing period ended, our persistent dry patches had cleared up completely. We were seriously impressed with this night cream, especially given how gentle and simple the formula is. And gentle really is the key word here — thanks to the non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formula, we experienced no irritation, even with our dry, acne-prone, sensitive skin. We were also fans of the creamy consistency. It was thick but not cloying, sinking into our skin within minutes for a finish that looked dewy and healthy, but never greasy. We found it to be the perfect texture for a night cream, like an ultra-thick, whipped moisturizer. While this night cream isn’t a multitasking formula that addresses a variety of different skin concerns, like some of the other options on this list, it’s a no-brainer for anyone looking for a serious dose of hydration. Price at time of publish: $17 Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, biomimetic peptide complex | Best for: All skin types Best Budget L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream 4.9 Target View On Amazon View On Target View On Walmart Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 4.7/5 Effectiveness 5/5 What We Love: Despite its super thick texture, the Revitalift Night Cream fully absorbs into the skin quickly to moisturize skin and heal dry spots.What We Don’t Love: A little goes a long way, so there’s definitely a learning curve to finding the right amount for your skin. When it comes to a good value, the L’Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream is seriously impressive. The moisturizer features pro-retinol and centella asiatica (better known as tiger grass) to reap all the benefits of a retinoid, but without the nasty side effects. Although the first time we applied the cream, we were worried it was a little too thick, but it actually absorbed into our skin really well and didn’t leave behind a greasy or sticky residue. Instead, our skin was visibly plumper, more hydrated, and overall radiant. Within just a week of use, our dry, patchy skin had improved. In fact, our complexion felt so soft and smooth in the morning that we found ourselves needing less and less moisturizer to get us through the day. When we applied the cream immediately after taking a shower, we noticed that our flaky dry spots looked less severe the next morning. The main thing we didn’t like about this night cream was its scent. It’s subtle, but it may cause irritation in sensitive or reactive skin. Price at time of publish: $19 Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Pro-retinol, centella asiatica | Best for: Aging, dry skin Best Splurge Macrene Actives High Performance Extra Rich Face Cream 4.8 Macrene Actives View On Macreneactives.com View On Neiman Marcus View On Net-a-Porter Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 5/5 Effectiveness 4.5/5 What We Love: This extra-rich cream left our skin looking firmer and refreshed by morning.What We Don’t Love: The jar is on the smaller side. This majorly luxurious face cream offers a heaping dose of hydration in one very fancy glass tub. With its rich, creamy texture, it immediately nourished our skin, taking it from dry and irritated to plump, smooth, and refreshed — literally overnight. We also noticed a subtle, but distinct, tightening and firming effect over the eight-week testing period. But the results didn’t stop there: Our skin tone looked more balanced and even than it did before, likely due to the amino acids in the formula. Clocking in at one ounce, the jar is one of the smallest on our list, but it’s genuinely worth every penny. Price at time of publish: $245 Size: 1 oz | Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, red algae, glycerides | Best for: Dry, aging or combination skin Best Drugstore Differin Restorative Night Moisturizer 5 Ulta View On Amazon View On Target View On Walmart Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 5/5 Effectiveness 5/5 What We Love: Differin’s Restorative Night Moisturizer leaves skin refreshed, smooth, and moisturized — without any greasy, oily residue.What We Don’t Love: This might not be moisturizing enough for super dry skin. Differin’s Restorative Night Moisturizer is a great night cream for middle-of-the-road skin with a refreshingly low price tag. It can be difficult to find an effective night cream for combination skin: A too-heavy texture will cause our skin to feel too oily, while something too light won’t moisturize it enough. Luckily, the Differin Restorative Night Moisturizer struck a perfect balance for our skin, providing deep hydration without any greasy, oily residue. It was neither super thin nor too thick, so it spread across our skin easily and was absorbed within a minute or two. And best of all, it worked remarkably well on our acne-prone skin, thanks to its gentle, non-comedogenic formula. Our one note is that this cream might not be hydrating enough for those with seriously dry skin, but if you’re looking to toe the line between a thick and thin consistency, this one’s for you. Price at time of publish: $15 Size: 2.5 oz | Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, allantoin, ceramides | Best for: Irritated, acne-prone skin Best for Dry Skin First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration 4.9 Sephora View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Target Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 5/5 Effectiveness 4.7/5 What We Love: This soothing moisturizer is surprisingly lightweight and deeply hydrating.What We Don’t Love: The formula contains eucalyptus oil, which might be irritating for sensitive skin types. A favorite among dermatologists and editors alike, it’s no surprise First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Intense Hydration Moisturizer made it on our list. This moisturizer features colloidal oatmeal, allantoin, and shea butter, all of which offer excellent healing and skin-protecting properties. And as its name suggests, the hydration it delivers is intense, but we were surprised at how light and airy it felt on our skin; we could barely feel it once it settled into our skin. We also loved its texture: It felt velvety, smooth, and ever-so-slightly cooling upon application. Our skin really drank the cream right up, and almost immediately looked plumper and more rejuvenated. Those effects lasted — and continued to improve — throughout the entire eight weeks of testing. However, we would like it even more if the packaging were easier to use. We’d much prefer a tube or pump situation over the current mega-sized jar (though it does get some bonus points for the XL size). Our other concern is the inclusion of eucalyptus oil in the formula, which can be irritating for sensitive skin. Price at time of publish: $38 Size: 6 oz | Active Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, allantoin | Best for: Dry to normal skin, aging skin, eczema, combination skin Best for Oily Skin Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream 4.7 Ulta View On Amazon View On Target View On Walmart Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 5/5 Effectiveness 4/5 What We Love: This lightweight moisturizer provides the right level of hydration and consistency for oilier skin types.What We Don’t Love: The formula is definitely meant for oily skin, meaning it’s not thick enough for dry or normal skin. Night creams tend to be heavier than their daytime counterparts, which can make it difficult for grease-prone skin to find one that doesn’t turn them into an oil slick overnight. However, we were pleasantly surprised with how nicely Olay’s Regenerist Night Recovery Cream Face Moisturizer felt on our skin. It’s not oily or heavy, and it blended quickly without feeling watery. We also didn’t have to excessively massage it into our skin for it to absorb. Our skin felt great each time we used it — moisturized and supple, but never oily. We attribute these effects to two ingredients: Niacinamide and amino peptides, both of which help the skin retain moisture and help it look smoother. That being said, the formula is definitely meant for oilier skin types. If you’re looking to heal serious dry spots and flaking, this likely won’t do it, but for anyone looking for non-greasy boost hydration, start here. Price at time of publish: $27 Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, amino peptide | Best for: Aging, oily skin Best for Sensitive Skin Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Cream 4.8 Walmart View On Amazon View On Target View On Walmart Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 4.8/5 Effectiveness 4.6/5 What We Love: The combination of hyaluronic acid, olive extract, and pro-vitamin complex results in a moisturizing formula that doesn’t feel heavy.What We Don’t Love: We wish this came with a pump top or at least some sort of scooper. When you have sensitive skin, trying out new products can be a nerve-wracking endeavor. However, Cetaphil’s Rich Hydrating Night Cream put our worries to rest with their hypoallergenic and fragrance-free night cream. This non-greasy formula felt lightweight, but still very moisturizing on our dry, sensitive skin. While we love the look and feel of hydrated skin, we definitely don’t like the feeling of anything thick or heavy on our face, and we were delighted that this cream kept our face feeling supple and refreshed, but without a goopy feeling. This night cream also played well with other products. Even when we used a variety of serums underneath, the night cream acted almost like a sealant of sorts, locking in all the previously applied goodness and absorbing right into the skin. The cream promised to be hydrating, lightweight, and good for sensitive skin and without a doubt, it delivered on all three fronts. The only potential downside is the tub container; we wish it came with a pump top or at least some sort of scooper. Price at time of publish: $18 Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, olive extract, pro-vitamin complex | Best for: Sensitive, dry to normal skin Best for Aging Skin First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream with Peptides and Niacinamide 4.9 First Aid Beauty View On Amazon View On Target View On Sephora Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 5/5 Effectiveness 4.7/5 What We Love: Despite its thick, fluffy texture, this cream absorbs in seconds, giving skin immediate hydration.What We Don’t Love: The jar packaging is clunky and makes it difficult to scoop out the right amount of product. First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Firming Collagen Cream already topped our list of best collagen creams, thanks to its wide array of benefits. It tackles loss of firmness, uneven tone, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and dull texture. At first, we were surprised at just how thick this cream looked — it reminded us of whipped meringue — but it glided across our skin easily. It felt creamy and velvety, and our skin drank it up right away. We loved the way our skin felt after using the cream — immediately hydrated and smooth. After using the night cream for a week, our skin felt smoother, softer, and more radiant. We also saw a subtle improvement in the appearance of our fine lines and wrinkles, as well the amount of dry flakes that typically flare up around our nose. The packaging, however, definitely has some room for improvement. While scooping the thick cream out, it would get stuck underneath our nails, which was annoying, but not the end of the world. Price at time of publish: $44 Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Collagen, peptides, niacinamide, colloidal oatmeal | Best for: Aging, dry to normal, sensitive skin Best for Dull Skin Fresh Lotus Antioxidant Night Moisturizer 4.9 Sephora View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 5/5 Effectiveness 4.8/5 What We Love: This feels, smells, and performs exactly how you’d imagine a luxurious, high-quality night cream would.What We Don’t Love: That luxurious scent could cause some irritation for those with sensitive skin. At the beginning of our test, our skin had a serious case of the winter blues — it was so dry and dull that it almost hurt to touch (this tends to happen every January due in part to the dry, frigid East Coast weather). After incorporating this night cream from Fresh into our routine, our taut, dry skin became soft, plump, and all-around healthier looking and feeling. Not only did our skin feel more moisturized, but its texture also looked smoother and more even. Because this night cream has such a rich consistency, likely due to the inclusion of shea butter and vitamin E, it spread beautifully onto our skin, never leaving a heavy or sticky feeling behind. It also smells divine — there’s a subtle peach scent from the peach leaf extract that gives the cream a light, floral aroma. That said, the added fragrance — as great as it smells — means there could be potential irritation for those with sensitive skin. Price at time of publish: $56 Size: 0.5 oz | Active Ingredients: Lotus, shea butter, vitamin E, peach leaf extract | Best for: Aging, dehydrated skin Best for Acne-Prone Skin SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry Nighttime Face Moisturizer 4.7 Skinceuticals View On Walmart View On Dermstore View On Skinceuticals.com Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 4/5 Effectiveness 5/5 What We Love: This dual-action night cream exfoliates and hydrates skin all at once.What We Don’t Love: The texture is extremely thick and it definitely takes some work to fully absorb into the skin. When you think night cream, exfoliation probably isn’t the first benefit that comes to mind — but maybe it should, especially if you have acne-prone skin. Skinceuticals Renew Overnight Dry Cream combines soothing, nourishing ingredients, like aloe and chamomile, with a blend of lactic and glycolic acids to gently exfoliate the skin’s surface, sloughing away dead skin cells and grime. And it seriously works: Every time we put this on, we knew we’d be waking up with remarkably healthier-looking skin. When we first started to use the night cream, our skin was dotted with hormonal acne, blemishes and hyperpigmentation. It looked dry, dull, and ruddy, and we weren’t really expecting miracles. Our first impression was its body butter-type consistency, which made us hopeful that it wouldn’t wear off over time, but really go to work overnight instead. Due to its dense texture, it did take some extra effort to massage into our skin, but once it did, it felt like heaven. If we had a breakout or were extra dry, our skin felt tingly when applying the cream; it didn’t cause any redness or irritation, it just made us think that the active ingredients were getting to work. We were surprised to see our blemishes clear up and our hyperpigmentation fade. Every night we used this product, we felt confident that we’d wake up the next day with healthier-looking skin. This night cream was developed specifically for dry, acne-prone skin, so if you’re not looking for increased cell turnover to manage breakouts, you don’t need the acids that this option offers. Price at time of publish: $76 Size: 2 oz | Active Ingredients: Botanical extracts, mixed hydroxy acid blend | Best for: Dry to normal, aging, acne-prone skin Best Retinol Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Repair Cream 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Dermstore View On Paulaschoice.com Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 5/5 Effectiveness 5/5 What We Love: This concentrated cream taps the power of retinol to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while attracting and locking in moisture.What We Don’t Love: We noticed occasional pilling when paired with other products. For anyone ready to incorporate a retinol-based product into their routine, Paula’s Choice RESIST Intensive Repair Cream with Retinol is a great place to start. With an ultra-creamy texture filled with peptides and antioxidants, this cream kept our skin hydrated, while providing all the anti-aging benefits of retinol. We like to use a thick moisturizer at night, so we immediately loved the way this thick cream looked, and once we saw how easily it applied and settled into our skin, we were hooked. This was our first time trying a retinol, and we noticed that our face looked firmer and brighter as the weeks went on. During the testing period, we experienced a few dermatitis and dry skin flare-ups, but on nights when we used this cream, we woke up with skin that felt more hydrated and looked less irritated. Generally, the night cream layered well, but there were a few instances where it pilled. We still recommend the product, especially to those looking for a thick cream and an easy way to introduce retinol into a routine. Price at time of publish: $37 Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, antioxidant blend | Best for: Aging, dry skin Best for 30s Fenty Skin Instant Reset Brightening Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream 4.6 Sephora View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Fentybeauty.com Our Ratings Feel 4.5/5 Absorption 4.7/5 Effectiveness 4.5/5 What We Love: Our skin looked noticeably hydrated and supple after just one use — and the results last for days.What We Don’t Love: Though this dries down well, it can feel a bit greasy upon application. In your 30s, you want your skincare to really work — it’s not enough to smell nice or look good, we’re looking for serious results that leave skin refreshed, nourishing, and luminous. That’s why we loved the Instant Reset Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream from Fenty: We woke up every day with that signature RihRih glow. Although it’s called a gel cream, it looked to us more like a cream than a gel, but when we applied it, it felt cooling on our skin and absorbed quickly like a gel, yet gave us the hydration we’d expect from a cream. Even after it was absorbed, our skin felt slightly tacky to the touch, but by the time we woke up, our skin felt hydrated and looked plump and smooth. Even better, our skin became softer with each use and our cheeks began to look firmer, too. Overall, we thought the result was fabulous. With this cream, you have to trust the process and be patient with the sticky residue — it will go away, it just takes some time. Price at time of publish: $45 Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Kalahari melon oil, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Best for: Acne prone, oily to normal, combination skin Best for 40s The Outset Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream 4.8 The Outset View On Sephora View On Heydayskincare.com View On Theoutset.com Our Ratings Feel 5/5 Absorption 5/5 Effectiveness 4.3/5 What We Love: This night cream is just easy — it was formulated without harsh ingredients or added fragrance.What We Don’t Love: It sometimes made our retinol clump up. Sometimes the best products are the simplest ones, and the Outset’s Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream makes anti-aging look easy. While the formula includes some powerhouse anti-aging ingredients (like niacinamide and bakuchiol) we also appreciated that it doesn’t contain any added fragrance or harsh ingredients known to cause irritation. We fell in love with this night cream from the first application thanks to the silky, buttery consistency that melted into our skin within minutes. Though it didn’t completely mitigate our contact dermatitis flare-up, our skin did feel softer and appear brighter after the first week. As the weeks passed by, our complexion became even more luminous and plump, too. By the end of the two-month test, we had barely made a dent in the jar, yet our skin felt nourished and renewed. Our one gripe with the otherwise perfect formula was the slight pilling we experienced when used on top of other products, notably retinol. Price at time of publish: $54 Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Hyaluroset complex, niacinamide, bakuchiol, evening primrose, licorice extract | Best for: Normal to dry, aging, combination skin Best for 50s Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Cream 4.2 Sephora View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Ulta Our Ratings Feel 4.5/5 Absorption 4/5 Effectiveness 4/5 What We Love: The super hydrating formula has a cooling sensation upon application, and it doesn’t sting or cause irritation when massaged into extra-dry spots.What We Don’t Love: It feels a bit greasy at first, but disappears after a few minutes. Before adding this into our routine our skin was angry — the cold, winter weather had not been kind to us and our face was a dry, flakey mess. This thick cream swooped in to repair and protect our complexion, though. The ultra-plush texture felt a bit greasy upon application, but it also provided an immediate cooling sensation that really soothed our extra-dry spots. It did take about 10 minutes for it to fully melt into skin, but once it did we felt fresh and relaxed. While the night cream diminished some of our dry patches, it didn’t completely mitigate the issue. Our extra flakey areas were still rather dry, but the cream overall helped improve our moisture retention, and we’re confident that with more time our skin will be in the best condition. Price at time of publish: $76 Size: 1.7 oz | Active Ingredients: Peptide complex, ceramides, ginger root| Best for: Aging, dry to normal, irritated skin Our Testing Process After researching the most popular night creams, we handpicked 20 of the top-rated options and shipped them to our editors across a range of ages and skin types and concerns, to integrate into their nightly skincare routine for two months. We rated each night cream based on how quickly it absorbed, whether it sufficiently hydrated our skin, and the overall result it gave us. Once the data was collected, we selected the 14 night creams who earned the highest praise and wrote about our experiences using the products in this article. What to Keep in Mind Your Skin Type When choosing a night cream — really when choosing any skincare product at all — it’s important to consider your skin type and specific needs. Here’s the good news: Almost everyone, even the oiliest of us, can benefit from a boost of hydration and moisture, making a night cream the perfect vehicle for targeted skincare. Still, what works for someone with perpetually dry skin won’t work as well on someone with oily skin, and so on. In terms of a night cream, you’ll want to use your skin type as a guide to help find the right consistency and texture for your needs. As a general rule of thumb, those with oilier skin should look for lighter formulas while those with drier skin should opt for a richer, more occlusive cream. Consider where you fall along that spectrum when choosing a night cream. For example, the Fenty Skin Instant Reset Brightening Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream With Niacinamide is a great option for someone who might not consider themselves particularly oily but is definitely not dry. Meanwhile, the Outset Restorative Niacinamide Night Cream is great for those with drier skin. It’s worth noting that skin tends to lose its moisture-retention capabilities as we age, meaning a night cream that once worked for your skin might not be ideal 10 years from now. Your Skin Concerns Overnight, skin is in maintenance mode, and you have the time for ingredients to really penetrate into the skin, explains Massachusetts-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch. When it comes to the active ingredients in your night cream, that’s where your particular skin concerns and goals come into play. Maybe you’re dealing with breakouts and post-acne hyperpigmentation, or perhaps your skin has been looking a bit dull and dry. Maybe you have several concerns. Think about how your skin performs on a monthly basis as well as how it is overall — some concerns might be based on external factors like hormones and stress, whereas others (persistent acne, dryness, etc.) are more inherent. Both are important to take into consideration when looking for a night cream. “Night creams usually contain active ingredients that have extra hydration or anti-aging benefits, including skin firming or brightening,” explains Dr. Zeichner. “Look for a night cream that contains ingredients that address your particular skin needs.” For those dealing with hyperpigmentation and dullness, you’ll want to focus on ingredients that lighten dark spots and brighten the skin. Meanwhile, those with red, irritated skin should focus on soothing ingredients that will calm inflammation, Dr. Hirsch shares. Active Ingredients Once you’ve pinpointed your skin type and concerns, now it’s time to look at the ingredients. “My general advice is to start with one active ingredient at a time, especially in a richer base,” Dr. Hirsch says. “That way, if there’s any irritation, you’ll know the source.” For those dealing with dryness, look for ingredients like glycerin, oats, ceramides, and squalane — something like the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration Moisturizer is a great choice thanks to the addition of colloidal oatmeal. Similar hydrating and soothing ingredients are great for calming redness — ingredients like licorice root, green tea, and centella. According to Dr. Hirsch, ingredients including retinoids, antioxidants like vitamin C, green tea, and kojic acid, effectively address dullness and hyperpigmentation. We’d suggest trying Paula's Choice RESIST Intensive Repair Cream, which has both retinol and antioxidants in its formula. Dr. Hirsch also suggests salicylic acid to help get breakouts under control, as well as congestion and oiliness, and if you’re focused on aging gracefully, look for night creams with retinoids, antioxidants, and peptides. Your Questions, Answered What does night cream do? Night cream tends to feature a thick base and, sometimes but not always, a combination of active ingredients meant to target specific skin concerns, Dr. Hirsch says. Because skin is in maintenance mode while you sleep, night creams are able to penetrate deeper into the skin. “The skin undergoes normal circadian rhythms, in which specific activities occur in the morning and others in the evening,” Dr. Zeichner says. “Skin hydration has been shown to decline in the afternoon, continuing into the evening, so it makes sense to apply night cream to address the biology of the skin itself.” Is night cream different than other moisturizers? Both Dr. Zeichner and Dr Hirsch say there are typically two main differences between night creams and other, traditional moisturizers: There’s no SPF in night creams, and they tend to have a thicker base. Because we don’t (or at least shouldn’t) wear makeup to bed, it’s a great time to apply something a bit thicker that might not sit as well under makeup. And, by putting actives in that thicker base, the occlusive properties claim to deliver more results. What Is InStyle Picks? Did you notice the InStyle Picks seal of approval at the top of this story? That means our team of testers has reviewed every product on this list using a unique methodology to ensure it's really worth your time, money, and attention. We may get samples for free to try but we never promise positive (or any!) coverage in exchange. Put simply: InStyle picks are products we love, and we've put them to the test to be sure you will too. Want more product recommendations? From best-in-class concealer to the black pants you need for work, check out all of our InStyle Picks content. Why Shop With Us Danielle Cohen is a freelance beauty writer and editor with more than five years of experience reporting on the beauty industry and testing products. For this story, she compiled results from our real-world testing and wrote about our experiences testing the top-ranking night creams. She also interviewed two dermatologists, Dr. Ranella Hirsch and Dr. Joshua Zeichner, for their insights related to night creams. The 11 Best Anti-Aging Creams of 2023 for Smooth, Plump Skin