1
Home/ Guides/ best nighttime moisturizers
10 Best Nighttime Moisturizers
Published 10/29/2026
The best nighttime moisturizer works while you sleep, sealing in water and feeding skin repair ingredients like peptides, ceramides, and retinol. These picks range from light gels to rich creams and overnight masks, so you can match one to your skin and pair it with a hyaluronic acid serum.
Our top picks
Swipe →
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Compare the best nighttime moisturizers
Choose by what you want your night cream to do. Barrier creams fix dryness, retinol creams target lines and spots, and overnight masks give a quick moisture boost.
| Pick | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Most skin types at night | Plumper skin by morning | Dehydrated skin needing a boost | Fine lines and dark spots | Allergy-prone, reactive skin | Rough, flaky, or eczema-prone skin | Stronger retinol on a budget | Simple night hydration | Calming red, stressed skin | Sensitive skin with fine lines |
| Key actives | Peptides · Niacinamide · Ceramides | Omega lipids · Squalane | Aloe vera · Panthenol | Retinol · Collagen peptides · Niacinamide | Neurosensine · Vitamin E | Colloidal oatmeal · Ceramides · Shea butter | Retinol · Hyaluronic acid | Shea butter · Hyaluronic acid | Centella · Probiotics · Shea butter | Coenzyme Q10 · Pro-retinol |
| Texture | Rich cream | Whipped cream | Gel-cream | Cream | Cream | Whipped cream | Cream | Rich cream | Cream | Cream |
| Skin fit | Normal to dry | Dry, normal | All skin types | Normal, mature | Very sensitive | Very dry | Normal, mature | Normal, dry | Dry, sensitive | Sensitive, mature |
|
Edyt score
Methodology: The Edyt Score reflects a comprehensive analysis of ingredient profiles, concentration levels, and formulation standards. It is an objective technical evaluation of the product's composition, separate from crowd-sourced user reviews. | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| Notes | - | - | Sleep mask · Aloe | Peptides | Ultra-gentle | Oatmeal | Neck-friendly | Dewy | - | Q10 |
| $ / size | $15.44 | $46.50 | $39.95 | $29.94 | $31.97 | $30.63 | $19.97 | $12.00 | $21.00 | $14.49 |
| Shop | Buy on AmazonRead review | Buy on AmazonRead review | Buy on AmazonRead review | Buy on AmazonRead review | Buy on AmazonRead review | Buy on AmazonRead review | Buy on AmazonRead review | Buy on AmazonRead review | Buy on AmazonRead review | Buy on AmazonRead review |
Our picks, explained
Best overall
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
A night cream with peptides, niacinamide, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid.
CeraVe's night cream combines peptides for firmness with ceramides and hyaluronic acid for moisture, all at a drugstore price. It feels rich without being greasy and wakes skin up looking softer.
Why it makes the list
- Peptides and ceramides in one affordable jar.
- Fragrance-free and gentle on sensitive skin.
What to keep in mind
- Jar packaging means dipping fingers in each night.
Best luxury night cream
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Cloud Cream
A whipped overnight cream with omega-rich lipids and squalane.
Kiehl's turned its cult Midnight Recovery oil into a whipped cream for people who prefer not to use a face oil. Omega-rich lipids and squalane restore the barrier overnight, and skin looks plumper the next morning.
Why it makes the list
- Airy texture feels light but hydrates deeply.
- Barrier-focused formula suits dry, tired skin.
- Made with mostly naturally derived ingredients.
What to keep in mind
- It is expensive for such a small jar.
Best overnight mask
Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask
An oil-free overnight mask with aloe vera and panthenol.
Clinique's Moisture Surge mask goes on as the last step at night and stays on until morning. Aloe vera and panthenol give dehydrated skin a big moisture boost without oils, so it works for oily types too.
Why it makes the list
- Oil-free, so it suits oily and combination skin.
- Works as a nightly cream or a weekly treat.
What to keep in mind
- Can transfer to pillowcases if applied thickly.
- Pricier than a standard night cream.
Best retinol
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Cream
A fragrance-free retinol night cream with collagen peptides.
Olay's retinol night cream is one of the gentler ways to start retinoids, pairing retinol with collagen peptides in a fragrance-free base. It targets fine lines and dark spots while still feeling like a moisturizer.
Why it makes the list
- A gentle first step into using retinol.
- Fragrance-free and non-greasy on the pillow.
What to keep in mind
- Sensitive skin may still need to build up slowly.
Best for sensitive skin
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Night Cream
A soothing night cream with Neurosensine and vitamin E for ultra-sensitive skin.
Dermallergo Night is made for skin that reacts to almost everything, with no preservatives, fragrance, or common allergens. Neurosensine and vitamin E calm and hydrate, leaving skin comfortable through the night.
Why it makes the list
- Tested on allergy-prone and ultra-sensitive skin types.
- Minimal formula with no fragrance or preservatives.
What to keep in mind
- The tube is small for what it costs.
Best for very dry skin
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, 6 oz + 1 oz Bundle
A whipped cream with colloidal oatmeal and ceramides for very dry skin.
This whipped First Aid Beauty cream is a go-to for dry, flaky patches and skin prone to eczema. Colloidal oatmeal and ceramides soothe and rebuild overnight, and the whipped texture absorbs better than you would expect.
Why it makes the list
- Calms rough, itchy dry patches by morning.
- Works on the face and the body alike.
What to keep in mind
- It is too rich for oily skin.
Best drugstore retinol
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer
A retinol and hyaluronic acid night cream for face and neck.
Rapid Wrinkle Repair uses Neutrogena's accelerated retinol with hyaluronic acid to soften lines on the face and neck. It is stronger than many drugstore retinol creams, so ease in a few nights a week.
Why it makes the list
- Noticeable retinol strength for the price.
- Works on the neck as well as the face.
- The formula is made without parabens.
What to keep in mind
- Can cause flaking for the first few weeks.
Best budget
e.l.f. Holy Hydration Nourishing Night Cream
A low-cost night cream with shea butter that leaves skin dewy by morning.
E.l.f.'s night cream keeps things simple with shea butter and soothing extracts in a rich, soft cream. It is a good first night moisturizer for people who just want dewy, comfortable skin when they wake up.
Why it makes the list
- Very low price for a dedicated night cream.
- Rich feel that suits dry skin.
What to keep in mind
- No retinol or peptides for anti-aging.
- It contains fragrance, which can irritate some skin.
Best Korean night cream
SKIN1004 Probio Cica Enrich Cream
A Korean cream with fermented centella, probiotics, and shea butter.
SKIN1004 pairs fermented Madagascar centella with probiotic extracts and shea butter for a soothing overnight cream. It suits skin that turns red or blotchy and wants calm, steady hydration while you sleep.
Why it makes the list
- Fermented centella helps calm redness overnight.
- Richer than most Korean gel creams.
What to keep in mind
- Shea butter may be too heavy for oily skin.
Best gentle anti-aging
Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream
A night cream with Q10 and pro-retinol made to be non-irritating.
Eucerin's Q10 night cream is aimed at people who want anti-aging help without the sting of full retinol. Coenzyme Q10 and pro-retinol soften fine lines over a few weeks, and the formula is made for sensitive skin.
Why it makes the list
- Gentler on skin than true retinol creams.
- An affordable jar that lasts for weeks.
What to keep in mind
- Results are slower than with retinol.
How we made this list
We looked at night creams and overnight moisturizers made for evening use. Hydration, repair ingredients, texture, and skin fit set the order. Scores reflect formulas and brand claims, not lab tests.
- Checked hydration. We favored creams with ceramides, squalane, or hyaluronic acid.
- Looked at repair. Retinol, peptides, and Q10 counted for anti-aging needs.
- Sorted by skin type. We matched each cream to dry, oily, sensitive, or mature skin.
- Kept one per brand. Each brand appears once so the lineup covers more needs.
FAQ
What is the best night moisturizer?
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream is our top pick because it pairs peptides with ceramides and hyaluronic acid at a low price. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Cloud Cream is the luxury choice for plumper skin, and Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 suits fine lines.
Do I really need a separate night moisturizer?
You do not always need one. Your day cream can work at night if it has no SPF. A dedicated night cream helps when you want richer hydration or ingredients like retinol that break down in sunlight.
What is the difference between a night cream and an overnight mask?
A night cream is a moisturizer you use every evening. An overnight mask is usually thicker or more hydrating and goes on as the last step, often a few nights a week. Some gel masks are light enough for nightly use.
How did Edyt Beauty pick these?
We compared night creams and overnight moisturizers by hydration, repair ingredients, texture, and skin fit, and kept one per brand. CeraVe leads because it covers moisture and anti-aging basics at a drugstore price.
What should I put on before my night moisturizer?
Cleanse first, then apply any serum while skin is still slightly damp. A niacinamide serum helps with oil, pores, and redness, and it layers easily under most creams. If you use retinol, apply it on dry skin before moisturizer to cut irritation. Finish with your night cream to seal everything in.
This is general beauty guidance, not medical advice. Patch-test new products if you have sensitive skin or known allergies.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from links on this page. Prices and availability change.