Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of brandsSave this storySave this story
Do you really need two separate moisturizers? You might! While daytime formulas are typically made to layer easily under sunscreen and makeup, the best night creams have the luxury of going richer—and can sneak in actives you might prefer to use after dark, such as retinoids, many of which are sensitive to light and can lose stability and effectiveness with exposure. But let’s begin with the baseline: Start by looking for a mix of “humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid to attract water, barrier-supporting lipids such as ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids, and emollient or occlusive ingredients that help reduce water loss overnight,” says Anetta Reszko, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. That extra cushioning can be especially welcome for extra-dry or mature skin, when a thicker cream may make potentially irritating active ingredients easier to tolerate. Ahead, our favorite nighttime formulas for making “beauty sleep” feel a little more literal.
Our Top Night Creams
- Best Overall: Medik8 Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream, $99
- Best Exfoliating: L’Oreál Paris Revitalift Triple Power Rich Night Moisturizer, $36
- Best Retinol Alternative: La Mer The Rejuvenating Night Cream, $230
- Best for Dry Skin: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced, $185
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What’s the difference between a day cream and a night cream?
- What ingredients should I look for in a night cream?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Medik8 Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream
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Medik8
Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream
Amazon
Dermstore
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Allure commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann applying the Medik8 Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream
Sarah Hoffmann
Why it's worth it: Noticing that your skin doesn’t feel quite as firm or bouncy as it once did? Medik8’s Advanced Pro-Collagen+ Peptide Cream targets those changes. A big part of that comes down to proteins and peptides, the small chains of amino acids that support the proteins responsible for skin’s structure and bounce. The formula’s GF MiniProtein is a growth factor-inspired “mini protein” designed to support the look of skin’s underlying structure, while collagen amino acids and oligopeptide-1 add even more support. There’s also carnosine, a peptide that defends against glycation (the process that can make collagen stiff and less flexible over time).
Medik8’s sunflower sprout-derived NAD+ Longevity Booster helps maintain your skin’s natural levels of NAD+, a molecule involved in cellular energy and repair that naturally declines with age. Meanwhile, encapsulated endonuclease, an enzyme involved in DNA repair, addresses signs of UV-related skin damage. While those ingredients play the long game, the moisturizing side of the formula offers more immediate gratification: Polyglutamic acid and sodium hyaluronate draw in water for a plumper look, while squalane, shea butter, ceramides, and cholesterol seal in moisture and give the cream its satisfyingly rich—but surprisingly quick-to-absorb—texture.
Tester feedback from commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann
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“I've been a dedicated user of Medik8's Liquid Peptides Advanced serum for some time now, so I was already sold the elite combo that is Medik8 formulas and peptides when I started using this moisturizer. While I don't have noticeable wrinkles—yet—to track progress against, I do notice an overall plumping effect on my skin from using a whole jar. My skin is sensitive and oily, so I'm prone to redness and patches of buildup if I don't keep my routine very balanced. I use a retinoid every night, and I've found that applying this afterwards staves off any negative side effects, and I'm left with hydrated skin without my usual slew of annoyances. The finish is really satin-y, absorbs quickly (a through line with Medik8, I'll always award bonus points for speedy applications), and I really feel like my skin texture and tone have never been better.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce market editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: GF MiniProtein, carnosine, squalane, shea butter, ceramides, amino acids, polyglutamic acid, sodium hyaluronate
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Retinol Alternative: La Mer The Rejuvenating Night Cream
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La Mer
The Rejuvenating Night Cream
La Mer
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the La Mer The Rejuvenating Night Cream
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it's worth it: Don’t be fooled: La Mer’s The Rejuvenating Night Cream isn’t just Crème de la Mer moonlighting as a p.m. formula. This 2026 Allure Best of Beauty-winning treatment for mature skin introduced the brand’s proprietary MRA-3, or Marine Retinol Alternative-3, a plant-based complex designed to deliver retinol-adjacent benefits—namely, supporting cell renewal—without retinol itself. It still taps La Mer’s famous Miracle Broth, a fermented blend featuring sea kelp that purportedly strengthens the skin barrier and soothes irritation, but pairs it with a more modern lineup of skin-smoothing and firming ingredients. Four peptides, including palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, target the look of fine lines and firmness, while magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (a vitamin C derivative) brings antioxidant and brightening benefits.
The cream’s richness comes mainly from shea butter, joined by jojoba oil, mango butter, dimethicone, and glycerin to create a rich, moisture-sealing base, while sodium hyaluronate pulls in hydration. Think of it as a treatment and moisturizer in one: It works on fine lines, firmness, and uneven texture while giving dry skin a serious dose of moisture overnight. One thing to note: While the brand positions the formula as sensitive skin-friendly—and our tester with sensitive skin experienced no irritation—it does contain added fragrance and eucalyptus oil, which may be worth keeping in mind if your skin is particularly reactive.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“For years, my nighttime skin-care philosophy was basically: Slap on my morning moisturizer and call it a day. And as a devout Crème de la Mer fan—it’s been a fixture on my birthday and holiday wish lists for years—I didn’t think I was missing much. Little did I know my dry, sensitive skin could get along so well with something this rich. Thick creams have historically felt more suffocating than nourishing on me, but The Rejuvenating Night Cream has the dreamiest texture: plush and comforting without making me feel like my skin can’t breathe. I’m in the final stretch of my 30s (a long-winded way of saying I’m 39), and fine lines, dullness, and a little laxity have become increasingly noticeable, especially around my eyes, where shadows can make the area look more hollow. I love waking up to skin that feels deeply moisturized and looks plumper and fresher. I reach for it on the nights I take a break from my prescription tretinoin, and its gentle retinol alternative already seems to be helping smooth my skin. I’m excited to see what a few more months of consistent use can do.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Miracle Broth, MRA-3, shea butter, peptides, sodium hyaluronate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (vitamin C)
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Dark Spots: L’Oreál Paris Revitalift Triple Power Rich Night Moisturizer
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L’Oréal Paris
Revitalift Triple Power Rich Night Moisturizer
Amazon
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the L’Oreál Paris Revitalift Triple Power Rich Night Moisturizer
Sarah Han
Why it's worth it: Normally, your chemical peel and moisturizer likely occupy two separate steps in your routine, but the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Rich Night Moisturizer rolls both into one convenient jar. Its 10% exfoliating blend combines glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and gluconolactone—a polyhydroxy acid that also doubles as a humectant—to whisk away dead surface cells and gradually soften the look of fine lines, rough patches, and crepey texture. And while exfoliating acids don’t technically have to be reserved for bedtime, using them at night makes it easier to keep them separate from other potentially irritating actives like vitamin C. (If a retinoid is already part of your routine, consider alternating nights rather than layering the two, especially if your skin runs dry or is sensitive.) The rich, moisturizing, and hyaluronic acid-packed base also gives dry skin much-appreciated hydration. There’s also acetyl hexapeptide-8, a peptide commonly used in line-smoothing formulas, plus ascorbyl glucoside, a vitamin C derivative that brightens uneven tone and provides antioxidant protection.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“If you presented me this cream in generic packaging, I honestly wouldn't be able to tell that it's a drugstore formula. It's nice and thick in the jar and holds its shape as you scoop it out of the tub but melts in smoothly as you massage it in—I like that I have to take an extra moment to really work it into the skin. After all, it's the last step of my nighttime routine—I've got to make sure this seals everything I've applied before properly. As someone who has combo skin and doesn't reach for a standard rich cream until the temperatures start to dip (a.k.a. at the time of writing this quote) and my skin starts to feel tighter, this is exactly the heavy-duty moisturizing upgrade I need from my lightweight gel-creams and creams. Since it has a blend of exfoliating acids, I love using this every other night that I don't use retinol/retinal. With this combo, I feel like my skin-care routine really covers/does it all!” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, hyaluronic acid, acetyl hexapeptide-8, ascorbyl glucoside
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced
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SkinCeuticals
A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced
SkinCeuticals
Dermstore
Bluemercury
Allure senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor applying the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced
Jesa Marie Calaor
Why it's worth it: Sugar isn’t just something your dentist has opinions about—it can affect how your skin ages, too. Through a natural process called glycation, excess sugars attach themselves to collagen and elastin, forming compounds known as advanced glycation end-products (A.G.E.s). Over time, glycation can make those normally springy support proteins stiffer and weaker, contributing to wrinkles, crepiness, sagging, and dullness. SkinCeuticals’ A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced tackles these signs of aging mainly with its star ingredient, 18% concentrated Proxylane, an (ironically) sugar-derived molecule that supports skin’s structure and makes it look firmer and plumper.
From there, 4.25% blueberry- and pomegranate-derived flavonoids (antioxidant compounds naturally found in plants) defend against oxidative stress, while 3% HEPES (a synthetic compound that has gentle exfoliating properties) encourages cell turnover. Glycyrrhetinic acid—derived from licorice root—calms inflammation and addresses the dull, uneven tone associated with glycation, while 1% niacinamide further supports the skin barrier and keeps irritation in check. And because mature skin typically needs moisture just as much as it needs treatment, glycerin, shea butter, and panthenol give the formula a rich, cushioning feel.
Tester feedback from Allure senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
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“Many moisturizers sting my dry, sensitive skin—but not the A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced. It coddles my skin, comforting the extra-dry patches and leaving my complexion bouncy and bright.”—Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 18% concentrated Proxylane, 4.25% wild fruit flavonoids (blueberry and pomegranate extracts), 3% HEPES, 1% niacinamide, glycyrrhetinic acid
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Lightweight: Revision Skincare D·E·J Night Face Cream
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Revision Skincare
D·E·J Night Face Cream
Amazon
Dermstore
Why it's worth it: Revision Skincare was ahead of the curve on one of skin care’s now-favorite power pairs: The brand was among the earliest to combine bakuchiol with retinol, and its D·E·J Night Face Cream puts both to work in the same formula. Why use the two together? Retinol is the more proven gold standard for improving fine lines and uneven texture, while bakuchiol offers its own antioxidant and skin-smoothing benefits and may complement retinol without adding more irritation potential. Here, 0.25% time-released retinol makes this an especially “approachable option for retinol beginners,” says Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in East Norriton, Pennsylvania. Because the retinol is released gradually rather than all at once, skin gets a steadier dose over time, which can help minimize the dryness and irritation that often come with starting a retinoid.
More is happening beyond retinol and bakuchiol, too. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, an oil-soluble form of vitamin C, brings antioxidant and brightening benefits, while sodium hyaluronate and glycerin help keep skin hydrated. Squalane, ceramides, and cholesterol help reinforce the skin barrier, which can be useful as your skin adjusts to retinol.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 0.25% time-released retinol, bakuchiol, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (vitamin C), peptides, sodium hyaluronate, squalane, ceramides, cholesterol
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair
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Tatcha
Indigo Overnight Repair
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: There’s nothing inherently more effective about treating redness at night, but bedtime gives skin a welcome break from daytime triggers like UV exposure, heat, pollution, and makeup—and creates an ideal opportunity to pile on the soothing, barrier-focused care. Tatcha’s Indigo Overnight Repair makes the most of that downtime with a “serum-in-moisturizer treatment that visibly calms irritation, strengthens the skin's barrier, and balances the microbiome for a healthy, hydrated glow,” says Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Minneapolis. The standout is Japanese indigo extract, a botanical traditionally prized for its soothing properties and rich in antioxidant compounds. It’s joined by fermented rice that brings a microbiome-focused element to the formula, plus green tea and additional antioxidant-rich botanical extracts. As for those barrier-strengthening ingredients Dr. Liu mentioned: Ceramides, linoleic acid, and hydrogenated lecithin replenish components of that protective layer, while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate keep skin hydrated.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Japanese indigo extract, fermented rice, ceramides, linoleic acid, sodium hyaluronate
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Intermediate Retinoid Users: Eau Thermale Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream
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Eau Thermale Avène
RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream
Amazon
Dermstore
Bluemercury
Why it's worth it: Once you’ve gotten comfortable with retinol, retinaldehyde (a.k.a. retinal) is one way to level up your routine. Eau Thermale Avène’s RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream is a nourishing repair cream formulated with 0.1% retinaldehyde (or retinal for short), a retinoid that’s a step up in potency from retinol. The why: Retinal needs just one conversion step to become retinoic acid, the active form of vitamin A that skin can use, while retinol requires two. But Avène doesn’t leave retinal to fend for itself: The formula surrounds it with the brand’s soothing thermal spring water, plus niacinamide to reinforce the skin barrier and squalane, shea butter, and sodium hyaluronate to keep dryness in check. Together, the formula targets fine lines, uneven texture, and loss of elasticity without skimping on the moisture that makes a stronger retinoid easier to apply consistently.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: 0.1% retinaldehyde, niacinamide, Avène thermal spring water, squalane, shea butter, sodium hyaluronate
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Drugstore: CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
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CeraVe
Skin Renewing Night Cream
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream keeps things refreshingly simple for sensitive skin. “It’s a non-greasy, fragrance-free option that focuses on hydration and doesn’t include any added, potentially irritating ingredients,” says Dr. Saedi. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate replenish hydration, while shea butter and dimethicone lock it in, giving dry skin some much-needed cushioning as you snooze. Three types of ceramides replenish the lipids that make up the skin barrier, further preventing moisture from slipping away overnight. And hydration isn’t its only agenda: “It also contains peptides, which add a firming and smoothing element” to the otherwise barrier-first formula for a low-key way to address signs of aging while you sleep, says Dr. Saedi.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: ceramides, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, shea butter, niacinamide, cholesterol, tripeptide-1 and caprooyl tetrapeptide-3
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a day cream and a night cream?
The biggest difference between a night cream and a day cream usually comes down to texture and moisture. “The biggest difference when you see something marketed as a night cream is that it’s thicker,” says Dr. Saedi. “Thicker creams are designed to be very hydrating and are often more occlusive, helping to prevent water loss from your skin as you sleep.” That matters because transepidermal water loss can increase overnight. “We lose water in the skin at night, so nighttime is all about locking in moisture,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hamden, Connecticut.
Day creams, on the other hand, tend to be lighter so they layer comfortably beneath sunscreen and makeup—and some contain SPF themselves. That said, there’s no rule that says a moisturizer labeled “night cream” can only be used after dark; unless it contains an ingredient better reserved for nighttime, such as a retinoid, the distinction is often more about how the formula feels and fits into your routine.
What ingredients should I look for in a night cream?
A good night cream should first and foremost keep skin hydrated and reinforce its protective barrier. “Ceramides are great for barrier repair,” says Dr. Saedi. “They help strengthen the bonds between the cells in the top layer of your skin, which prevent moisture loss.” She also recommends looking for humectants such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which attract moisture to the skin.
From there, you can tailor your night cream to whatever else you want to tackle while you sleep. “Night moisturizers sometimes also include ingredients for mature skin,” Dr. Saedi says. That might mean retinoids and peptides for fine lines and wrinkles, or gentle exfoliating acids for uneven tone and texture—just be mindful of piling too many potentially irritating actives into the same nighttime routine.
Meet the experts
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hamden, Connecticut
- Jenny Liu, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota based in Minneapolis
- Anetta Reszko, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Nazanin Saedi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Plymouth Meeting Dermatology based in East Norriton, Pennsylvania
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best night creams, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
