The Best Night Creams

Texture: Cream | Base: Water-based | Active ingredients: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides

For something lighter than the night cream, I like the PM version of the Cerave Facial Lotion. I’ve previously recommended it as the best nighttime option for dry-skin types, noting that it’s a good, basic option and will also help if you’re experiencing any itchiness or irritation thanks to the niacinamide. Like all other Cerave products, it contains ceramides, which helps to support the skin barrier, along with hyaluronic acid for an added boost of hydration. I recently tested this formula after a dermaplane snafu and was pleased at how nourishing it was despite the lightweight feel. It’s a lot thinner than the renewing night cream, which has an ultrathick feel, but still delivers a good amount of hydration. It’s ideal if you want your night cream to work double time, as it’s light enough for daytime use too.

Active ingredients: Heparan-sulfate analog, green-tea extract, sodium hyaluronate | Consistency: Rich cream | Price: 1.7 ounces (Approx. $96 per ounce)

If you’ve accidentally overexfoliated with acids or physical scrubs that compromised your moisture barrier, or if you’ve recently undergone chemical or laser treatments, celebrity facialist Candace Marino recommends that you use this night cream from Senté. “It hits heavy with moisture without the weight you feel with most creams,” she says. Its biggest draw is its use of heparan sulfate, a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the skin and is important for maintaining its health. “It promotes deep hydration, decreases inflammation, and stimulates collagen and elastin production,” she says, adding that it’s also noncomedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores).

Active ingredients: TFC8, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B5, hydrolyzed rice protein | Consistency: Lightweight cream | Price: 1.7 ounces (Approx. $168 per ounce)

For those with hard-to-manage dry skin, Augustinus Bader’s fancy cream is a good option. I like its plush, pillowy texture, which goes on smooth and gives skin a layer of moisture. I also like that it contains actives, which makes it an all-in-one option. There’s two formulas to choose from, one for normal to oily skin and one for dry skin, so you can choose based on skin type. Zimmerman is also a fan. He recommends it for “the laziest nights when you don’t have time to slather on a million serums but you still want all the anti-aging benefits.” Aesthetician Joanna Czech also likes it, calling it “super-repairing,” and noting that it “stimulates skin’s natural process of rejuvenation.” The price tag is high, but as Rio once pointed out, it’s a very coveted cream, and the Cut’s former beauty director, Kathleen Hou, wrote that when she tried the cream it made her skin look “healthier, sort of like there was a good bra holding things up under it.”

Active ingredients: Plant-based oils, lipid complex | Consistency: Thick ointment | Price: 1.7 ounces (Approx. $39 per ounce)

“Slugging,” the process of moisturizing your skin with an occlusive as the final step in your skin-care routine has become popular in the past few years as people have incorporated it to combat dry skin by preventing water loss overnight. The standard go-to for this is Vaseline, but I used the Futurewise balm last winter and found that it helped with my ultradry skin. It contains hydrogenated vegetable oil instead of petroleum jelly, which offers similar benefits and results but isn’t a crude-oil by-product. It also contains a lipid complex that helps to support the skin’s barrier. The texture is slightly thinner than Vaseline but it doesn’t feel any less protective, which is nice for overall comfort and skin feel.

Active ingredients: Lactic acid, retinoid | Consistency: Cream | Price: 1 ounce (Approx. $125 per ounce)

If you want to try a night cream with retinol, I recommend this one from Skinbetter, which I use on alternating nights. While prescription retinoids like tretinoin don’t tend to offer much in the way of moisturizing, there are lots of over-the-counter products that utilize vitamin A but balance it with moisturizing ingredients and complementary actives to improve the overall look of skin. In addition to retinol, this cream contains exfoliating lactic and glycolic acid. I’ve been using it for a little over seven months, and in that time I’ve noticed a brighter and clearer complexion. The stubborn hyperpigmentation on my chin has lightened considerably, and I’ve observed fewer breakouts overall. It’s not incredibly moisturizing, but it does work nicely on its own and isn’t the least bit irritating. According to Green, it’s also useful for those with oily skin. Along with facilitating cell turnover to unclog your pores, she says, it tightens them, making oily skin look less shiny. Mattioli says the cream has “an amazing combo of retinol and glycolic acid in a mix of moisturizing antioxidants, and it’s hydrating enough for almost any skin type … perfect for mature skin to firm and soften wrinkles.” Dr. Jeremy Brauer is a fan as well. “Retinol is key to evening moisturizing,” he says, mentioning that the AlphaRet Overnight Cream works especially well. Marino also likes AlphaRet and says it is as effective as tretinoin without the side effects.

Active ingredients: Pro-xylane, glycerin, shea butter | Consistency: Cream | Price: 1.7 ounces (Approx. $44 per ounce)

If you’d rather not use a retinol — maybe it’s already in your routine or you aren’t ready for the commitment that comes with incorporating one — you can still address skin issues like wrinkles and hyperpigmentation with other ingredients. Lal recommends this night cream from La Roche Posay for all of those things. Its main active ingredient is pro-xylane, a sugar-protein hybrid derived from beech trees that helps to support skin and attract moisture. It also contains moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and glycerin as well as dimethicone, which also gives it a silky feel.