The 12 Best Healthy Aging Night Creams According To The Pros + What To Look For

This star-studded overnight cream will help exfoliate excess dead skin cells and debris, minimize the appearance of pores, help manage breakouts, and reduce shine—without stripping the skin. Here’s a rundown on how: The AHA complex is pH balanced, so it doesn’t disrupt the skin while it’s providing powerful exfoliation and deep clean of the pores. Niacinamide bolsters the skin barrier, while helping to control pimples. And seven (seven!) types of hyaluronic acid provide ample hydration to various levels of epidermis. 

What users say:

Glow Recipe has built a cult following for its efficacious, yet fun, products. And this star formula is one of the fan favorites. One user comments on the non-greasy texture, which is a must for those with oil-prone skin: “Love this line of products and this one particularly. It’s not heavy and doesn’t make your face greasy like most night treatments.”

This thick cream supports the skin barrier structure and helps nurture the microbiome—making it ideal for those whose skin shows signs of irritation and inflammation (read: sensitive skin folk.) The Japanese indigo extract can visibly calm skin by hydrating dry patches and reducing redness. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid hydrate and bolster the barrier. Finally, the mondo grass root and fermented ingredients help balance the skin’s microbiome. 

What users say: 

A sign of success for any product is if it inspires repeat purchases. Well, one reviewer said she’s on her fourth bottle: “Let me tell you how amazing this product is for your dry, dehydrated skin. I’m on my fourth treatment and I absolutely love it!”

"This is the time when you really begin to see collagen loss and saggy skin," holistic esthetician Elle Feldman once told us about aging during this decade. Skin care experts, beauty editors, and users alike adore this cream (it’s one of the top recommended creams I hear on my podcast). It works so well because it targets multiple signs of skin aging by using innovative, botanically based ingredients. The most impressive is the plant transforming growth factor beta-2 (plant-TGFβ2), to help skin regenerate at the cellular level. It also uses peptides to hydrate and improve the appearance of fine lines, amino acids for collagen support, and two very powerful antioxidants (astaxanthin and chebula) to neutralize free radical damage.  

What users say:

As with any skin care product, it’s good to give it at least a few weeks to see full results, but users are surprised at how fast it works. Says one who has been using it for two weeks, “I notice a difference in the tone and texture of my skin. My skin is visibly firmer with reduced hyperpigmentation. My neck and face feel smoother.”

Salicylic acid is one of the best known ingredients to treat and target acne. The chemical exfoliant targets oils and lipids, so it dissolves sebum and breaks down skin cell membranes (which can help excess dead skin cells shed faster). This moisturizer uses an encapsulated version at 0.75%, which is potent enough to target breakouts, while also being gentle enough for more sensitive skin types. The hydrator also uses niacinamide for blemish control and barrier support. 

What users say:

Treating acne is complicated, as the skin condition has multiple influencing factors. So you should never rely on one product to do all the work. (It usually takes a whole routine, plus lifestyle habits such as stress management and nutrition!) However, one user noted, “the salicylic acid helps to keep any of the acne producing oils to a minimum. This, combined with the acne spot treatment are a great acne fighting combination to keep your face and skin free from acne!” 

A texture so dreamy and cloud-like, you’ll look forward to applying as part of your wind-down ritual. The blend uses antioxidant-rich botanical oils (like rosemary, primrose and lavender oils), shea butter, squalane, and omega fatty acids to provide your skin deep hydration that lasts. The omega fatty acids in particular replenish and repair your skin’s moisture barrier, so your skin is better able to hold in hydration throughout the night (when transepidermal water loss is most common.)  

What users say:

The texture of this cream must be experienced—users simply rave about it: “I can't tell you the difference this cream made in my skincare routine! It's been a nightly indulgence. My skin looks and feels amazing.” 

While retinol is most often used as a treatment step (i.e. as a serum or gel to be used immediately after washing, and before the moisturizer), some folks prefer to fold the ingredient into their creams in order to condense steps. There’s an added bonus to doing this: It often is easier on the skin, since creams are made with hydrators and emulsifiers to buffer any irritating side effects. This option is the top of the line as far as retinol creams go: It’s made with an encapsulated retinol, plant-based bakuchiol, and the antioxidants ferulic acid and rambutan. In combination these reduce hyperpigmentation, ease fine lines, and help build collagen overtime.

What users say: 

mindbodygreen beauty writer Emily Rekstis speaks highly of this cream, writing: “The embodiment of a retinol cream, this buttery moisturizer is formulated with hydrating antioxidants like centella asiatica alongside anti-aging powerhouses retinol and bakuchiol.” Another user agrees, saying: “I've bought 3 times. It's the best!.” 

Those with combination skin know how challenging finding a good nighttime product is. Too thick and occlusive, and it’s a recipe for congested skin come morning. Too thin or stripping, and the drier areas of skin will be parched. This option meets skin in the middle. The AHA blend (it’s made with glycolic and lactic acids) provides a gentle exfoliation, while the Edelweiss stem cells firm skin and strengthen the barrier. And the base is a super hydrating mix of shea butter and botanical extracts to further provide moisture. 

What users say:

It’s a transformative night cream, reviewers note: “I wake up with plump, moisturized skin and it feels so soft. It absorbs pretty quickly and doesn’t leave any residue or sticky feeling.”

This beloved multipurpose cream can double as a very thick nighttime treatment—in fact, it’s the secret weapon for many natural skin care experts (like myself!). While I wouldn’t recommend this for acne-prone skin, for those on the drier side this will provide intense hydration and stop transepidermal water loss at night. (It’s similar to slugging.) Plus it’s made with calming botanicals such as calendula and chamomile. 

What users say: 

Don’t take my word for it, everyday users swear by using this as a face cream, too: “My must have. Tiny bit of it rescues the skin. Sometimes, I put it on after [my] serum at night to seal everything in, when my skin needs extra nourishment.”

For easily irritated and sensitized skin that needs a restart, this barrier cream will provide soothing comfort ASAP. The star ingredient is colloidal oatmeal, which is dermatologist go-to for repairing skin and easing inflammation. It also contains niacinamide for skin barrier support and hyaluronic acid to attract and hold moisture. A not so small side effect to look forward to: The formula firms and lifts skin in the process.  

What users say:

Not only is it densely hydrating, folks with inflammatory skin conditions (like rosacea) have noted it helps heal their skin: “My face looks very nourished after using this cream at night. I also have rosacea and this does wonders to minimize the red blotches my cheeks occasionally experience.”

Who doesn’t want to wake up with brighter, more vibrant skin? Well this bakuchiol infused face cream will get you there. The ingredient works to improve skin cell turnover and fade discoloration and dullness. It also includes the brightening antioxidant Vitamin C, as well as squalane, ceramides and hyaluronic acid for hydration support—a must for glowing skin. And not for nothing, but it also has an incredible texture: It’s called “melt moisturizer” because it feels like it’s melting into the skin. 

What users say: 

The texture of this product inspires rave reviews, like this one: “It is lightweight, and like the name says it melts into my skin leaving smooth, hydrated, and glowing skin!”

Chebula is a powerful antioxidant that addresses multiple signs of aging skin, from fine lines to dullness. But it doesn’t stop there, the formula contains several super botanical extracts that are antioxidants: aloe, green tea, and acerola cherry, just to name a few. This is all infused in a buttery base made with mango seed butter and several botanical oils. They also have a serum version of the cream, which is a personal favorite of mine (I’m rarely without a bottle). 

What users say:

If this all sounds too good to be true, reviewers say that the results back up the claims: “I am always a bit skeptical about the effects of moisturizers. But this cream is remarkable.”

This dermatologist tested and designed night cream offers glowing results at a reasonable price point. The blend uses botanical oils (such as jojoba and safflower), as well as mango seed butter to offer intense hydration. There’s also hyaluronic acid to pull in and hold water, as well as squalane to support the skin barrier. 

What users say:

Night creams tend to be costly, but with this formula you can wake up with vibrant skin on a budget: “When I woke up the next morning I was in love with how much better my face felt.”