Ready, set, hydrate — the 15 best night creams for combating dryness

After receiving this balm from Ma:nyo, it quickly became one of my favorite nighttime products. It uses macadamia nut-derived ceramides and humectants like panthenol to lock moisture in while also balancing the skin’s natural oil levels, according to the brand. Although the texture initially seems heavy, once massaged into the skin, it absorbs really well. Plus, it keeps my skin hydrated against the artificial air of my heater without leaving behind any excess grease or residue.

Best for: All skin types

Best occlusive night cream: Futurewise Slug Balm

During the wintertime, Malin likes to use this as a last step in her nighttime routine, due to its jelly-like consistency. “I use the Cetaphil or Neutrogena night cream first, and then lock everything in with this slug balm,” she says. The balm is designed to act as an occlusive, according to the brand, and uses lipids and plant-based oils to strengthen your skin’s barrier and allow for better product absorption. 

Best for: Dry skin

Best soothing night cream: Versed Skin Sweet Relief Overnight Barrier Balm

Made with nutrient-rich butters like bacuri and kokum seed to help support your moisture barrier, Malin uses this cream whenever she needs a soothing night treatment. “When my skin is particularly raw, I slather it in this barrier balm,” she says. ”It has the consistency of butter and melts into my skin when I spread it over my face —  I wake up and my skin is 100x softer and more hydrated than the day before.”

Best for: All skin types

Best luxury night cream: Skin Better Alpharet Overnight Cream

Recommended by Willis as an option for all skin types, this cream effectively treats fine lines, wrinkles, texture and uneven skin tone, according to the brand. Plus, “[this cream] combines retinoic acid, the active used in prescription retinoids, with an alpha hydroxy acid, with little-to-no irritation,” according to Willis.

Best for: All skin types 

Best night cream for dry skin: Naturium Intense Overnight Sleeping Cream

This overnight cream from Naturium is very rich and formulated with triglycerides, squalane and glycerin, making it most effective for dry skin types, according to Willis. It should be used at least 2-3 times a week for maximum benefits, according to the brand, and it’s also vegan and fragrance-free, to reduce the chance of irritation for those with sensitive skin. 

Best for: Sensitive and/or dry skin

Best night cream for oily skin: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

“CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion is an affordable and simple moisturizer that is soothing and helps maintain your protective skin barrier,” says Willis. “I would recommend this for oily-to-combination skin that isn’t prone to acne.” The lotion has an oil-free formula that uses essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to hydrate and soothe skin while sleeping, according to the brand.

Best for: Oily or combination skin

Best night cream for sensitive skin: Alphascience Ultra Deep Cream

This cream is designed to help prevent future damage by using proteins to firm and thicken skin, according to the brand. “[It contains] powerful and unique ingredients to activate stem cells, prevent collagen degradation and stimulate collagen synthesis,” says Mraz. She especially recommends this cream to those with sensitive skin.

Best for: Sensitive and/or mature skin

Best brightening night cream: Sunday Riley C.E.O Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream

While most night creams are formulated with hydrating ingredients, this option from Sunday Riley also targets dull skin with vitamin C to brighten your skin while you sleep, according to the brand. Other notable ingredients include lime pearl, a natural source of alpha-hydroxy acid, and bisabolol, an antioxidant known for its soothing properties, according to Sunday Riley. It also has a 4.6-star average rating from 1,525 reviews on Amazon.

Best for: All skin types

Best K-beauty night cream: Peach & Lily Overnight Star Night Cream

This night cream from K-beauty brand Peach & Lily uses antioxidant ingredients like berry and black ginseng extracts to firm and nourish skin, according to the brand. It’s also formulated with peptides to help reduce fine lines, and has a lightweight non-greasy formula, says Peach & Lily. The cream is also a top-rated best seller, with a 5-star average rating from 790 reviews on Peach & Lily.

Best for: All skin types

Best night cream for irritation/redness: Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum

Made for those with sensitive skin, this serum-in-cream moisturizer is formulated with ingredients like Japanese indigo and red sage root to calm irritation, and ceramides and hyaluronic acid for moisture and hydration, according to the brand. Along with calming and hydrating properties, this cream also uses mondo grass root to help cultivate good bacteria, says Tatcha, which improves the overall texture and tone of your skin. This cream is also a Tatha bestseller, with a 4.5-star average rating from 1,939 reviews on Tatcha.

Best for: Sensitive skin

When shopping for a night cream, experts recommend considering factors like cost, the cream’s ingredients, and your skin’s individual needs and sensitivities. To help you find the best night creams for your skin, I expanded on some of their advice below:

• Active ingredients: Experts recommend looking for ingredients that focus on moisturizing and replenishing exhausted skin. Also, “retinol and alpha hydroxy acids are great ingredients to look out for, as they reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve uneven skin tone,” says Willis. Mraz also recommends firming and collagen-stimulating ingredients like genistein, saponaria stem cells, and lupine protein.
• Skin type: According to Mraz, despite popular belief, all skin types benefit from night creams — however, depending on your skin type, there may be some considerations that you should keep in mind. 
• Price: Both experts emphasize the importance of shopping within your means when choosing a night cream. “More expensive is not necessarily better,” says Mraz. Willis also warns against purchasing popular products blindly: “Don’t purchase something just because it went viral on the internet,” she says. She suggests reading ingredients and patch testing before making any big purchases.

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Dr. Serena Mraz is a board-certified dermatologist at Solano Dermatology in Vallejo, California, specializing in general and cosmetic dermatology while also practicing as a research clinician.
• Tiara Willis is a New York-licensed esthetician and skin care influencer, focusing on skin care and beauty for women of color.

I’m an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, covering skin care, wellness, home and kitchen, lifestyle and more, including stories on the best acne spot treatments and the best hyperpigmentation products. For this piece, I interviewed dermatologists and estheticians on the best night creams, including how to use them and tips on shopping for one of your own.

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