Your head hits the pillow, you’re out like a light and your body is in shutdown mode for the next eight hours or so until you wake, right? Well, while you’re in the land of nod, your skin is doing anything but. As you sleep, your skin’s cells go through a process of regeneration. The skin’s raised temperature overnight means it’s better able to absorb active ingredients, but it also releases moisture – also known as transepidermal water loss. As a result, slathering on the right night cream will work wonders to hydrate and restore your skin, so you awake to a glowy and more luminous complexion. From anti-aging to detoxing, we run through the best night creams on the market to help you tackle your skincare concerns while you get your beauty sleep.
How to buy the best night cream for you
What’s the difference between a day cream and a night cream?
Day creams are often lighter in texture and usually aim to protect the skin from daily environmental hazards such as pollution and UV rays. You can easily apply makeup over the top of a day cream, and it can be applied at night too if your budget doesn’t allow you to invest in both (although it would be more beneficial to your skin to wear a night cream overnight). Night creams focus more on moisture and recovery. As a result, they’re richer, slightly thicker and more concentrated in terms of active ingredients. The lack of SPF in night creams also means that they are more quickly and easily absorbed by your skin as you sleep.
What features should I look out for?
The type of night cream you opt for will depend on your skincare focus. For example, if you’re looking for one that fights the signs of ageing, seek out ingredients such as retinol and peptides. If you’re in need of a detox, however, you’ll want to choose a night cream with vitamin C. Check the label for which skin types it’s best suited to, and also think about the texture itself – if you don’t want to overload oily skin, choose a gel formula that will be slightly lighter than, say, a heavier cream that would work better on drier skin.
How much should I spend?
You don’t have to spend a fortune on a product to get decent results. While there are formulas out there that command three-figure prices, there are products at the other end of the spectrum that do just as good a job. And we’ve never had more choice at this end of the market in particular, with the emergence of no-frills skincare products that forego the fancy bottles and colourful packaging to offer decent products at a price that anyone can afford. Whether it’s more hydration, plumped skin or simply a morning glow, there’s a product out there no matter your budget.
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The best night creams you can buy
1. Clarins Multi-Active Night: The best night cream for younger skin
Price:£44 | Buy now from Amazon
This little pot of rather delicious-smelling cream is the perfect starting point for anyone in their late 20s-early 30s taking their first steps into overnight skincare. It comes in two variations – normal to dry skin and normal to combination skin – and neither is too heavy or greasy that it’s likely to cause breakouts in younger skin. Its primary goal is to revitalise and brighten the skin, but also to reduce fine lines – results that you’ll see if it’s used religiously every night. Even if fine lines aren’t yet a concern, this is a great formula simply for hydrating the skin to the max overnight, despite feeling super light on application.
2. Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturiser: The best night cream for a detox
Price:£65 | Buy now from Amazon
Packed with antioxidants, you’d think this was a high-tech day cream. It does all the things a day cream should – detoxify and revitalise – but while you sleep, working much harder to deliver a brighter, plumped complexion in the morning. The man behind the Murad brand, Dr Howard Murad, is a dermatologist and trained pharmacist with years of expertise to draw on. As such, the products truly deliver; results are visible pretty much after one night’s wear. If your skin is looking dull and greasy then this pot of wonder will be well worth the £65 investment.
3. Super Facialist by Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Peaceful Skin: The best night cream for under £20
Price:£15 | Buy now from Boots
The name of this cream alone will no doubt make you want to immediately sink into bed, ready for the best night’s sleep of your life! But what you want are results, and while this isn’t a widely known skincare brand this pot of goodness impressively fulfils most of what it promises, despite the low price tag. Rosehip, cucumber and willow combine to help soothe the skin, whilst hyaluronic acid is the ideal aid for boosting moisture. Within weeks you’ll begin to notice radiant, more balanced skin. It smells sublime, too. For £14.99, it’s the ideal choice for those wanting better skin for less money.
4. Lancome Absolue Nuit Premium BX: The best night cream for under £200
Price:£150 | Buy now from Amazon
At this price, you’d be right to have high expectations. Hopefully, 20 years of stem cell research, advanced green chemistry and innovative ingredients containing precious oils to help fight ageing should help to alleviate some of the pain when handing over your credit card. On initial application the cream feels quite heavy, but it will be perfect for the mature skin towards whom this product is aimed. It absorbs quickly and efficiently – always a bonus before bedtime – and skin feels supple and looks more even by morning. It promises to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and dullness – something that can only be proven over time – but the fact that you can feel your skin firming up almost immediately suggests this high-tech formula definitely won’t disappoint.
5. Nivea Daily Essentials Sensitive Night Cream: The best night cream under £5
Price:£5 | Buy now from Amazon
A price of only £4.99 for a decent night cream? Why not? If you’re looking for no-fuss skincare that’s free of parabens, colours and perfume, and helps to soothe, moisturise and prevent redness then this is it. It may be cheap, and missing the ‘bells and whistles’ of a pot costing more, but this cream is simple and effective and does an excellent job to keep skin hydrated and balanced. You don’t need a huge amount to cover your face – apply too much and your skin will begin to feel a little tacky – so start small and build up if you feel you need more. This might not be a contender for the most attractive pot on your bathroom shelf, but for under £5, we can’t complain – especially when it proves that you can get good results on a budget.
