If you’ve started to see changes in your complexion with each passing birthday, you might also have noticed that the skin care products you relied on in your 20s have lost their magic touch. As you get older, the texture of your skin changes, and the products you use often need to evolve along with it. A great place to start? Adding a night cream formulated for mature skin to your arsenal.
But first, let’s talk about what we mean by products that are suitable for “mature skin” or “aging skin.” These terms are often thrown around to position products as anti-aging cure-alls, but that’s not how we’re using them. Here, “mature skin” simply refers to skin that has started to age—something that happens to all of us. Beginning in your 30s, then onward into your 40s, the collagen in your skin decreases (which can make your skin look thinner or saggier), Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist at Premier Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, tells SELF. When that happens, you might notice more visible fine lines and dark spots or a loss of firmness, Brendan Camp, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, tells SELF.
The passage of time isn’t the only thing that contributes to signs of aging—genetics, the environment, and your lifestyle also factor in, Lauren Penzi, MD, a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, tells SELF. For example, someone who regularly spends long periods of time in the sun without adequate protection may show earlier signs of sun damage than someone who slathers on sunscreen every day.
Night creams can’t reverse years of tanning or turn back the clock, but they can be beneficial for people whose skin is starting to show the effects of such things. To help you reap all the benefits, we spoke with dermatologists about the top products for aging or mature skin and which ingredients you should look for while shopping.
Our top picks Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry Runner-Up: Summer Fridays Rich Cushion Cream Ultra Plumping Moisturizer Best Budget Pick: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Best Plant-Based: Peak Scents Organic Rose Phyto3 Night Cream Best for Dry Skin: Belif Aqua Bomb Sleeping Mask Best for Sensitive Skin: Youth To The People Adaptogen Deep Moisturizing Cream Best for Oily Skin: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment Best for Fine Lines: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Moisturizer Best Splurge: Charlotte Tilbury Refillable Magic Night Moisturizer with Retinol FAQs about shopping for a night cream
What should you look for in a night cream for mature skin?
Any good night cream should help your skin retain the moisture that it naturally loses overnight. And, as SELF has previously reported, your skin tends to get drier as you get older, so ending your bedtime routine with a product that prevents water loss is all the more important. Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides are all great ingredients for boosting your skin’s hydration and keeping your skin barrier healthy in the later decades of life, Dr. Penzi says.
Ingredients that will help your skin retain its elasticity and texture are also useful as you age, Dr. Zubritsky adds, pointing specifically to retinol, niacinamide, and peptides. She explains they have brightening, smoothing, and firming properties that play nicely with a range of skin types.
Are face creams for daytime and nighttime really different?
Actually, they often are. Night creams and daytime moisturizers differ in their formulation because they’re meant to address different concerns: Products for daytime tend to include SPF and antioxidants like vitamin C to protect against harmful UV rays and environmental stressors like pollution that you’re likely to run into while you’re out and about, says Rachel Westbay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical. They’re also usually a bit lighter weight. On the other hand, night creams don’t contain SPF and are usually made with ingredients like retinoids and peptides, which help with skin-cell turnover and collagen production, says Dr. Westbay. They’re heavier to combat moisture loss overnight, may contain ingredients, like retinol, that make you more sensitive to the sun, and typically, are specifically meant to target fine lines and wrinkles.
“Night creams are generally thicker and richer to deeply nourish and repair the skin while you sleep,” Dr. Westbay says. “Ultimately, night creams are generally more focused on long-term skin health and rejuvenation, while day creams emphasize protection and daily hydration.”
How do you use night cream?
Ideally, night creams should be applied every night, after you put on serums or use a product with retinol (if this is different from your night cream), says Dr. Westbay. “You should use enough to fully cover all the skin on your face, excluding the upper and lower lids, but not so much that a layer still remains after it’s fully absorbed,” she says. This product should be your final step and will help seal in moisture and your other skin care.
Using recommendations from the derms we consulted, we found the best night creams for mature skin, with options that’ll help address additional concerns like breakouts, dryness, and irritation.
Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry
SkinCeuticals
Renew Overnight Dry
Pros
Suitable for most skin types Non-greasy feel (according to Dermstore reviewers) Moisturizing and restorative
Cons
On the pricey side
Both Dr. Camp and Dr. Penzi recommend this luxe night cream from SkinCeuticals. It contains plant-derived ingredients like aloe extract, which soothes and moisturizes the skin, helping it feel smoother and look brighter. It’s one of the priciest creams on our list, but reviewers say it’s well worth the investment for its ability to blur lines and pores. A little goes a long way, and its skin-softening effects will make it a repeat purchase (when you do, eventually, run out).
Other notable ingredients
Calming chamomile extract, glycerin (a tried-and-true moisturizer) | Fragrance-free
Just about anyone curious about higher-end night creams
Runner-Up: Summer Fridays Rich Cushion Cream Ultra Plumping Moisturizer
Summer Fridays
Rich Cushion Cream Ultra Plumping Moisturizer
Pros
Very nourishing formula A less pricey alternative to our overall pick
Cons
Some reviewers noticed pilling after applying
According to Dr. Penzi, this cream from Summer Fridays is an excellent option for major hydration: It uses hyaluronic acid (a lightweight but highly effective moisturizer that Dr. Zubritsky recommends) to plump, which fills in fine lines, making them less noticeable. It’s also formulated to support your skin barrier, a.k.a. its protective outer layer that retains moisture while keeping irritants and bacteria out.
Plus, the rich formula helps even texture with a blend of fruit extracts and it has a rich, thick consistency that reviewers reportedly love: “The texture is incredibly smooth, effortlessly absorbing into the skin. It feels so soothing and cool upon application, leaving my skin feeling remarkably soft,” one wrote on Sephora.
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, moisturizing and anti-inflammatory squalane
Dry skin, skin barrier repair, fine lines
Best Budget Pick: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24
Olay
Regenerist Retinol 24
Pros
Relatively affordable Lightweight Brightening
Cons
Might not feel as thick and nourishing as some would like
Dr. Zubritsky likes Olay’s Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer for its restorative effects—and we like it because you can find it at nearly any drugstore. It employs several skin care stalwarts to help brighten, smooth, and strengthen the skin, including niacinamide (or vitamin B3) and peptides. However, its star ingredient is retinol, which speeds up cell turnover to help shed dead skin and encourage collagen production. The result? Your skin should look fresher and clearer with regular use (note: it may take several months to see improvements). If you’ve never used a product with retinol before, Dr. Zubritsky says this is a great one to try, noting that it should be gentle enough for sensitive skin types.
Other notable ingredients
Fine lines, loss of firmness, dullness, retinol newbies
Best Plant-Based: Peak Scents Organic Rose Phyto3 Night Cream
Peak Scents
Organic Rose Phyto3 Night Cream
Pros
Made with plant-based ingredients Contains antioxidants to combat visible signs of aging Reviewers love the texture and scent
Cons
Contains essential oils, which some skin types can find irritating Shipping is only free for purchases over $100
If prioritizing natural and plant-based ingredients is important to you, check out this night cream from a woman-owned small business. “The first several ingredients in this overnight moisturizing cream are oils, butters, and waxes, such as beeswax, organic shea butter, cocoa butter, pomegranate butter, organic oils of olive, rosehip seed, avocado, argan, raspberry seed, and coconut,” says Dr. Camp. “These ingredients trap moisture in the skin to restore hydration overnight and leave skin feeling soft and smooth in the morning.” This gentle cream also contains hyaularonic acid, rose, and antioxidants (like vitamins C and E) for reducing inflammation and minimizing visual signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
We also love that you can order a small sample of the cream (for $8) to take it for a test-drive before committing to a full-size jar.
Other notable ingredients
Moisturizing hyalauronic acid
People who prefer products made from natural ingredients
Best for Uneven Texture: Paula’s Choice Intensive Repair Cream
Paula’s Choice
Intensive Repair Cream
Pros
Addresses major signs of aging Retinol-beginner-friendly
Cons
Some reviewers found that the pump bottle made it difficult to access all of the product
Menopause (and perimenopause, the transitional period before menopause) affects everyone who menstruates differently. But the hormone fluctuations that come with it often cause some major changes in your skin, Dr. Zubritsky says. As SELF has previously reported, when your estrogen levels decrease, your skin starts to lose collagen and ceramides—the lipids that provide structure to your skin’s outer layer and help maintain its moisture. As a result, your skin may look and feel rougher, thinner, drier, and less supple, Dr. Penzi says.
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