15 Best Night Creams, Tested and Reviewed for 2023

You may think of EltaMD primarily as a sunscreen brand, but they make really great skincare products too, including this night cream that's suitable for all skin types. It helps moisturize and repair your skin barrier while you sleep, and because it's oil-free and tested to be non-comedogenic, it's unlikely this formula will clog your pores or trigger breakouts. I've tested this one on-and-off for years (I always reach for it when my skin needs a reset) and it's never made my acne-prone skin irritated or bumpy—just soft and supple.

• Key ingredients: Ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Oily, combo, dry, sensitive, acne-prone

THE REVIEW: "This is my favorite moisturizer before bed or even after I’m out in the sun and need something hydrating," writes one tester. "It’s a great price for the quality."

An excellent choice for sensitive skin types, this night cream helps soothe and repair damaged skin for a healthy glow. It's made without any potential skin irritants (like fragrance, dyes, or essential oils) and helps reduce sensitivity with soothing peptides, niacinamide, and La Roche-Posay's thermal spring water. I tested this while using Altreno (a prescription-strength retinoid for acne) and found it to be immensely helpful for minimizing redness and flaking.

• Key ingredients: Neurosensine, thermal spring water, niacinamide, glycerin, vitamin E
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, sensitive

THE REVIEW: "I have very dry skin and this product really helps," reads a tester review. "It is a good cream as it isn't thick or greasy and it left my skin skin feeling moisturized and soft. Worth it!"

I have oily skin and like to use Shani Darden's Weightless Oil-Free Moisturizer during the day, but this cream option is fantastic for night time. The formula is rich and hydrating but still oil-free so it didn't break me out or make my skin feel greasy while testing—plus it has firming peptides to help plump and smooth skin.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, squalane, hyaluronic acid
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, oily, combo

THE REVIEW: "This product is really incredible," write a tester. "I’m loving how well it works with my serums and how nicely it goes under sunscreen and makeup. I have sensitive skin and it has done nothing but good—def recommend."

This night cream from celeb facialist Biba de Sousa is a must-try for dry skin types. It's thick and creamy (in my testing experience a little goes a loooong way) and contains plant butters and oils to deeply moisturize your skin and keep it that way for hours. It also has anti-pollution benefits to help protect skin from the aging effects of free radicals too.

• Key ingredients: Peptides, lipids, shea butter, sunflower extract
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, sensitive, combo

THE REVIEW: "This is my second order of this cram, and it’s giving the more I use it. I mostly use it at night to deeply hydrate my skin and when I do I wake up with an amazing glow and smooth complexion. It's a game-changer for me."

If you're not already using a topical Rx treatment for your acne or an OTC serum with active acne ingredients (in which case a gentle, basic moisturizer is best), this night cream from Avene is a great choice. It's got retinal to regulate cell turnover, X-Pressin (a gentle exfoliant), and Synovea HR (an antioxidant that regulates sebum production)—these ingredients all work together to unclog pores, improve skin texture, and keep skin clear.

• Key ingredients: Retinal, X-Pressin, Synovea HR
• Fragrance-free? No
• Skin types: Acne-prone, oily
  

THE REVIEW: "I'm really loving this," writes a tester. "It's a great product for treating adult blemishes and has definitely minimized the blackheads around my nose."

I recommend this night cream to anyone who is dealing with acne scars, melasma, and/or dark spots. The hero ingredient is 10 percent glycolic acid, an exfoliating acid that helps dissolve dead and damaged cells on the surface of the skin to fade hyperpigmentation. The result? Clearer, brighter, more even-toned skin.

• Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, phytic acid
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, combo, oily, acne-prone

THE REVIEW: "I see a difference each morning after using this product," writes a tester, adding "my skin looks smoother and clearer and has a noticeable glow."

This retinol night cream is a must-try if you're experiencing signs of aging, like forehead wrinkles, fine lines around your mouth and/or eyes, dark spots, or sagging skin. It uses a combo of retinaldehyde (one of the strongest forms of OTC vitamin A) and peptides to stimulate collagen production and boost cell turnover for smoother, brighter skin. The formula feels really hydrating, but unlike other anti-aging night creams I've tested, it doesn't feel overly thick or pore-clogging on my skin which I love.

• Key ingredients: Retinaldehyde, peptides, antioxidants, argan oil
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, oily, combo, acne-prone

THE REVIEW: "This is a really great quality night cream, writes one tester. "It is the type of product that you will find at an aesthetician spa or office. My skin is clearer, brighter, and overall softer in the morning after using this. The pump is great and makes it easy to dispense the product."

I've tested countless celebrity skincare brands, and Scarlett Johansson's The Outset is by far my fave. I really love the night cream. It's made with clean, plant-based ingredients (and nothing potentially questionable, like synthetic fragrance or parabens) that help support healthy skin and give it smooth, glowy look. I really like the texture too—it feels just heavy enough to really hydrate my skin while I sleep but there's no greasy residue.

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, bakuchiol
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Normal, dry, combo, sensitive

THE REVIEW: "I love this for my combination skin. It’s not as silky as other brands but it feels smooth and moisturizing and doesn’t clog my pores. I wake up with hydrated skin that looks healthy and clear," writes one tester.

If you like to keep your nighttime routine quick and streamline, this multitasking night cream from Tula may just be the one-and-done product for you. It helps plump and hydrate skin, smooth the look of fine lines and rough texture, *and* brighten your skin tone, all thanks to a combo of probiotics, AHAs, and vitamin C. Basically, this night cream takes the place of your hydrator, chemical exfoliator, and brightener.

• Key ingredients: Probiotics, vitamin C, lactic acid, glycolic acid
• Fragrance-free: No
• Skin types: Dry, normal, combo

THE REVIEW: "As someone who’s taken years to heal their acne- prone skin I am cautious on what I apply, especially a thick, overnight moisturizer like this. That said, I had no issues with this—it's great for fall/winter months as our skin is less greasy. I apply mine overnight and can feel my plump skin in the morning after deep cleansing."

Retinol is a great smoothing and firming ingredient, but it can be too harsh for certain skin types. Enter: This night cream from Joanna Vargas that uses a blend of plumping peptides, firming growth factors, and nourishing plant extracts to create a similar anti-aging effect to retinol but without the risk of irritation. In my testing experience, it's great for smoothing the skin around the eye area too since it's so gentle and hydrating.

• Key ingredients: Growth factors, peptides, sunflower seed oil, macadamia seed oil, centella asiatica
• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Skin types: Dry, normal, combo

THE REVIEW: "This never happens when I try new skincare products, but I could tell an immediate difference from the first night I used this. With each use, my skin became more moist and firm."

Not only is this moisturizing cream from Native affordable, it's made without any questionable ingredients, like parabens, silicones, and synthetic fragrances or dyes. In fact, it contains only 16 clean ingredients—including niacinamide to help soothe skin and improve it's tone and texture, along with moisturizing coconut extract and glycerin. Use it before bed and you'll love how soft and smooth your skin feels come morning.

• Key ingredients: Coconut fruit juice, niacinamide, glycerin
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, combo, sensitive

THE REVIEW: "I usually get dry skin in the winter so I decided to try this moisturizer a try and it’s amazing! It really melts into your skin and doesn’t stay on top—I couldn’t live without it now," reads one review.

This night cream from U Beauty may be the most expensive option on the list, but editors and derms both agree that the active-packed formula is deserving of the hefty price tag. The blend of plant butters and waxes, hyaluronic acid, and AHAs is like a reset for dull, tired skin. It deeply moisturizes, improves skin barrier function, and gently eliminates dead skin cells for a softer, smoother surface.

• Key ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba wax, hyaluronic acid, AHAs, oat extract
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Dry, combo, sensitive

THE REVIEW: "I love all U Beauty products but this one has been the most versatile and effective for my (gracefully) aging skin," reads one review. "Its delightfully cloud-like and it instantly soothes and hydrates without feeling greasy. I sometimes even use it on my neck and chest during the day when I’m feeling dry. It’s also wonderful to use after peels and microneedling treatments to help speed healing."

Night creams are often thicker and richer than creams you'd use in the day, which is fine if your skin is on the drier side, but potentially problematic (read: pore-clogging) if you're oily or acne-prone. The alternative? This ultra-lightweight gel-lotion that's formulated with aging skin and acne-prone skin in mind. It's uses vitamin C to brighten skin while you sleep along with niacinamide to minimize the look of pores and regulate excess oil production.

• Key ingredients: Vitamin C, niacinamide, green tea
• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Skin types: Combo, oily, acne-prone

THE REVIEW: "I am 33 and have oily skin with large pores. I am also dedicated to anti-aging, and was excited to find a product that balances oil control and help with anti-aging. It goes on smooth and light over my tretinoin every night, absorbs quickly, and my face isn't greasy when I wake up the next morning. I also have some mysterious allergies to topical products, and this does not make me react at all," writes one tester.

Technically, you can use this as a day cream, but I personally love how moisturizing it is for nighttime. Like a soothing hug for your face, it's a great choice for anyone with angry, irritated skin from things like rosacea, eczema, cold, dry weather, or using too harsh of actives. The blend of calming and moisturizing ingredients instantly calm down inflammation and reduce any flaking or redness too.

• Key ingredients: Beta-glucan, vitamin C, sunflower oil, phospholipids
• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Skin types: Dry, normal, sensitive

THE REVIEW: "I added this to my nightly skincare regimen to soothe any irritation or redness that occasionally pops up with my Retin-A (especially around my nose)," reads one review. "It works like a charm and does not cause any breakouts."

This 3-in-1 product is incredibly unique. The balm texture melts into an oil when you massage it into your skin, and can be used as a makeup-removing cleanser, moisturizing face mask, or a nourishing nighttime treatment. If you're using it at night, I recommend applying a super-thin layer over your serums as the last step in your p.m. skincare routine to help lock in moisture and give your skin a dewy, hydrated finish.

• Key ingredients: Hibiscus oil, apricot kernel oil, meadowfoam oil, sea buckthorn oil
• Fragrance-free: Yes
• Skin types: Dry, normal, sensitive

THE REVIEW: "Cerabalm is the best facial balm for hydration," writes a reviewer. "I use it as a night cream and a cleanser and it leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, and radiant."