The Best Night Creams To Invest In Now

Night Cream 101: Everything You Need To Know

What Is Night Cream & What Does It Do?

‘A night cream should help hydrate, strengthen and restore your skin as you sleep,’ explains Aruj Javid, Group Pharmacist at LOOKFANTASTIC. ‘Night creams often have a rich texture and are formulated with antioxidants and peptides alongside moisturising ingredients to help replenish your skin barrier, which get to work overnight.’

How Does It Differ From Day Cream?

‘Where a day cream usually has a lighter texture and can help to protect your skin from environmental aggressors such as UV rays, pollution and weather changes, night creams are thicker and can help to provide extra moisture to dry skin as a more intense hydrator,’ says Aruj, who also tells us that one of the biggest questions she’s been asked is whether you can use night cream during the day.

‘Your night cream may not be suitable to use during the day especially if it has a thick moisturising texture (which may cause your face to look shinier), it is formulated with night-time ingredients such as retinol and exfoliating acids and, most importantly, it has no daily SPF protection,’ she explains. ‘Therefore, for daytime, apply a day cream with added SPF broad-spectrum UVA/UVB to help protect your skin indoors and outdoors against those pesky all-year UVA rays.’

When To Apply Night Cream

And when it comes to applying night cream, Aruj tells us that the best time to whack it on is ‘during your evening skincare routine after cleansing, applying a toner and then your serum, eye creams and any other treatments. Apply your night cream as the last step to help lock in hydration whilst adding a veil of moisture to your skin – don’t forget to apply it to your neck as well.’

We’ve also heard concerns around applying night cream over retinol, as it’s been said that some cream combinations can irritate the skin. Aruj assuages our worries, however, as she says that you can apply a night cream over retinol: ‘However, opt for a soothing and calming night cream. To help minimise any irritation you can also opt for a cream that is fragrance-free and formulated without exfoliating ingredients.’

Some also come with retinol already in the mix, putting any worries around skincare layering to rest. ‘There are night creams formulated with the powerhouse ingredient retinol to help hydrate your skin alongside to help minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; this is a great option if you are a beginner to retinol.’

How To Find The Right Night Cream

Aruj advises that we keep our skin type in mind when picking up any new skincare product. ‘Choose a night cream that is suitable for your skin type – normal, dry, oily, sensitive or combination,’ she says. ‘You may prefer something that also helps with skin concerns such as dark spots, redness-prone skin or dryness. There are also many formulations available to help comfort and soothe your skin during the evening, which is great if you struggle with inflammation.’

Ingredients To Look Out For

If you’re stuck for choice, take a gander at the ingredients label to help narrow down your search. ‘Generally, moisture-rich ingredients, such as humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, can help to boost and support skin hydration whilst you sleep,’ explains Aruj. ‘Emollient ingredients such as shea butter and lipid-replenishing ceramides can also help to reduce dryness for soft supple skin.

‘Antioxidants such as vitamin C best known for the role of a radiance booster working to brighten dull-looking skin,’ she continues. ‘Other skin-beneficial ingredients to help revive dull skin such as alpha-hydroxy acids like glycolic acid can help to gently exfoliate your skin to help smooth the appearance of a coarse skin texture.’

Are Night Creams Worth It?

According to Aruj, night creams are indeed worth having in your skincare routine. ‘They help to provide extra hydration to your skin, as well as fortify and plump your skin barrier with replenishing ingredients and antioxidants,’ she explains. ‘A night cream can also help your skin retain moisture alongside appreciably helping to recharge your skin after a long day.’ So, there you have it.

Featured image: Lauren Sepsi, Unsplash