These Luxurious Creams Work The Overnight Shift For Your Skin

Winter is notoriously rough on our skin, causing it to become dry, itchy, flaky, and anything but glowy. Carving out some extra time in your beauty routine to give your skin the care it needs can definitely make a difference, but we get that’s not always convenient.

Cue night creams. These little tubs and tubes of skincare splendor are formulated specifically for pre-pillow application. They’re often a bit creamier and intense, which means they help you wake up bright-eyed and gorgeous.

“As the weather changes, humidity drops and the air becomes dry, we need to boost moisturization and lock in hydration as much as possible,” notes Tami Blake, a licensed esthetician and founder of Free + True. “It’s time to give our skin a little extra TLC and layer skincare products more generously. Applying a thicker, occlusive moisturizer with butters over serums with humectants to lock in hydration can keep skin supple and moisturized.”

For a dreamy night cream worth your bread, start with our favorites below.

Korres Black Pine Plump-Up Sleeping Facial, $68

Greek-inspired skincare is Korres’ MO, and the brand’s Black Pine Plump-Up Sleeping Facial definitely delivers on that front. It’s inspired by Greece’s prehistoric pine trees, which somehow managed to survive the Ice Age. (Thankfully our skin doesn’t have to endure quite that much even on the blusteriest of nights.) While you sleep, this silky plumping cream helps replenish hydration, smooth skin, and minimize lines.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, $19

For a dermatologist favorite with a friendly price tag, try CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream. It’s formulated with peptides and ceramides to support the skin barrier, as well as shea butter and hyaluronic acid to moisturize and hydrate. It also contains niacinamide, another skincare hero that’s known to help brighten your complexion.

Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask, $54

We love a good K-Beauty moment, and Sulwhasoo is the queen of luxurious, modern-meets-traditional Korean formulations. The Overnight Vitalizing Mask is made with jujube (an antioxidant-rich Asian fruit) and pomegranate extracts, as well as shea butter, castor oil, and a handful of botanical extracts. You can apply this non-sticky mask directly over the rest of your skincare products to lock in moisture, then rinse in the morning.

Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair, $88

Your skin barrier helps defend your skin from the elements while keeping moisture locked inside. When it becomes weak or damaged, your skin starts to feel rough, dry, itchy, and dull. Tatcha’s fragrance-free, Indigo Overnight Repair aims to improve those signs by calming irritation via Japanese indigo, bolstering the skin barrier with ceramides, and balancing your microbiome with mondo grass root.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, $25

While heavy formulas might often be associated with improved moisture, Laneige’s lightweight Water Sleeping Mask proves that’s not always the case. The primary ingredient of this oil-free sleeping mask is “hydro ionized mineral water,” which is basically a juiced-up version of water that’s packed with six moisture-maximizing minerals – zinc, manganese, magnesium, sodium, calcium, and potassium. It also helps calm skin with antioxidant-rich ingredients such as apricot and primrose.

Lancer Skincare Intensive Night Treatment, $155

We’ve got a bit of a splurge for you, but if you’re craving an indulgent pampering then this is your dream cream. Lancer’s Intensive Night Treatment features its Hylaplex technology, an inventive “cross-linked” form of hyaluronic acid, peptides, and plant-based compounds. It’s also made with marula oil and soybean extract to plump, hydrate, smooth, and replenish.

IT Cosmetics Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep Night Cream, $54

If you’re the type who craves a luxe sensorial experience before hitting the pillow, this pale purple, lavender-scented night cream is a sure bet. It’s made with ceramides to reinforce the skin barrier, hyaluronic acid to plump and support skin elasticity, and adenosine to double down on moisture. It’s also formulated to be transfer-proof to ensure your skin gets the goodness and not your pillowcase.

Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask, $22

This classic moisturizer from Glossier is creamy, dreamy, and a real hero when it comes to deep hydration. A trifecta of sweet almond oil, squalane, and hyaluronic acid team up to soften and smooth, while licorice root and lemon fruit extract gently brighten skin for a more even complexion. The result is skin that glows – even when winter weather isn’t working in your favor.

Let us know which of the above night creams you’d like to try most! And if you have one you swear by, name drop in the comments!

Disclaimer: Every product we review has been independently selected and tested without bias by our editorial team. We never take payment to review products, although some brands allow affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you purchase a product by clicking on one of our links.