Nighttime is the right time to look after your skin
You probably know by now that getting ample sleep is good for your skin. Your body boosts blood flow to the skin and regenerates cells while you snooze. So why not use those hours in bed to supercharge your skincare? After all, it's likely the longest stretch of time that a product can stay on your face uninterrupted. Plus, the slight increase in body temperature that occurs while we sleep can actually help with product absorption. Which means nighttime is the right time to invest in those active ingredients that really make a difference. You're never too young to start taking care of your skin and it's never too late to invest in yourself. But which night cream is right for you? That depends on a lot of factors—what you're looking to accomplish and how much you're willing to spend. But to help you out, our team of skincare fanatics put a bunch to the test over the past few weeks to bring you the ones worth making room for in your medicine cabinet.
A little (just three or four drops) of this concentrated blend of potent botanical extracts goes a long way. Packed with squalane (a natural lipid derived from olives), as well as evening primrose oil (high in omega fatty acids), this lightweight oil will hydrate and smoothe skin with noticeable results in days, not weeks. Plus, it smells of calming lavender.
Midnight recovery concentrate face oil,
$42 by Kiehl's
This buttery cream is like bringing the dermatologist office home. It absorbs fast and leaves a silky matte finish (no greasiness to stain your pillow). Powered by the brand's signature “Phyto-Retinol Blend,” retinol, bakuchiol and ferulic acid work together to visibly firm skin while decreasing troubling lines in two weeks. Additional antioxidants help replenish skin's moisture barrier for lasting hydration and brighter skin.
Advanced retinol + ferulic intense wrinkle cream,
$77 by Dr. Dennis Gross
This is a night cream genuinely designed to help you get to sleep. An encapsulated essential oil blend is formulated to help promote deep, restful sleep for healthier-looking skin. The gel absorbs into the skin in seconds so this is perfect for anyone who doesn't want to waste time with a routine. Slap it on, go to sleep and wake up with bright, hydrated skin that looks like you slept a full eight hours (even if you didn't).
Sound Sleep cocoon night gel-cream,
$89 by Dermalogica
Serums are great because they're potent formulas that pack a punch. This highly active elixir contains an advanced 2% retinol to stimulate cell turnover and restore elasticity, along with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to boost hydration and lessen pigmentation and scarring. Probiotics help protect the skin barrier for optimal sebum levels (making this formula suitable even for oily skin). In short, it's an advanced retinol that penetrates deep to deliver big results without the risk of skin sensitivity.
Anti-aging night serum,
$165 by Patricks
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Problematic skin deserves nightly love too. This adaptogen-rich, oil-free night cream will help heal blemishes and prevent future breakouts while you sleep. It exfoliates dead skin to clear out pores while balancing and refining your skin's texture and clarity with a proprietary blend of alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids. Hyaluronic acid moisturizes without clogging pores and botanicals like aloe, turmeric and astragalus calm skin thanks to their natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Acne remedy overnight repair moisturizer,
$40 / $24 by Jack Black
Not all night creams have to be pricey. CeraVe is a no-nonsense brand beloved by dermatologists because it gets the job done and never causes skin problems. Their night cream is a rich, emollient formula packed with a trifecta of super skincare ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and ceramide. Together they moisturize skin, repair damage and shrink pores while soothing inflammation and minimizing redness. All for under fifteen bucks.
Skin renewing night cream,
$14.30 by CeraVe
You know how good you look after applying a sheet mask for fifteen minutes? (You better.) Well, this is a mask you apply and leave on for hours—letting it work its magic until you hop in the shower. Just massage the gel cream into your face and neck, wait 10 minutes for it to dry and then crash. While you sleep, it fights signs of aging and environmental skin stressors with a botanical formula that's great at relieving redness and under-eye darkness.
Overnight sleeping mask,
$75 by The Grey
The common practice of stealing time back from your sleep to gain a little leisure time is called “revenge bedtime procrastination”. Here’s how to fight it in order to get to bed on time.
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