At the end of a long day, completing a multistep skin-care routine may be the last thing you want to do — but after washing your face, there are some very compelling reasons to go for a night cream. According to dermatologist Dr. Michele Green, “Nighttime is the restorative time for your skin, so you should give your skin the extra TLC by using a night cream.” She says night creams “address different concerns than daytime moisturizers.Typically, they provide intense hydration and concentrated ingredients to fight signs of aging and other issues.
”We heard similar things from Dr. Noelani Gonzalez, the director of cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai West, who points out that night creams tend to be thicker than daytime moisturizers, use exfoliators to improve skin texture, and contain more hydrators to replenish moisture lost during the day (so you wake up looking less tired and puffy). They also contain ingredients like retinol, which shouldn’t be used during the day.
Generally speaking, Gonzalez suggests looking for a night cream with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides for hydration, retinol as an acne fighter and anti-ager, or antioxidants like resveratrol for protecting against environmental stress. “Glycolic acid also helps exfoliate and renew, and niacinamide helps with redness for those with conditions like rosacea and acne.” We asked eleven dermatologists and facialists for their recommendations on the ones that are worth the money, the ones that fight acne, and the ones that might help slow down early signs of aging. Here are their picks.
