Boost your beauty sleep & give skin some serious TLC with these must-have night creams to suit every skin type & budget
Want to wake up to a well-rested glow and smooth, hydrated skin? Well, thanks to these hardworking skincare heroes, you can.
We all know that sleep is incredibly important for skin health, but have you ever considered how your skin’s needs change around the clock? A well-formulated night cream brings multiple benefits to your skin, but the most important one to be mindful of is moisture. Read on to discover why your skin needs extra hydration at night and how to choose the best overnight moisturiser for your skin type, plus the must-try products that you can buy from Boots.
Why is it so important to incorporate a night cream into your daily skincare routine?
So, you’ve already found a day moisturiser that you love. Can’t you just slather the same product on before bed? If you’re serious about meeting your skin’s needs around the clock, unfortunately, the answer is no.
During the day, lightweight SPF creams that can layer under make-up are ideal. However, our skin needs a longer-lasting dose of moisture and a higher concentration of active ingredients at night. Day and night creams are specifically formulated to achieve different skincare aims.
Our skin responds in a variety of ways to our circadian rhythm. When we sleep, our skin goes into ‘recovery mode’ – healing wounds and helping to repair UV damage from sun exposure. Sebum and oil production decrease during this period, so the skin loses more moisture.
A good overnight moisturiser guards against your skin’s loss of hydration while introducing powerful active ingredients to help target specific skin concerns. The benefits of these ingredients could include firming and anti-ageing, brightening and rejuvenating, or soothing and strengthening the skin barrier.
How do night creams work?
Overnight moisturisers replenish, support and restore the skin during your eight hours of shut-eye. The best night creams are carefully formulated to nourish skin with long-lasting moisture while we sleep. This means a richer formula, thicker consistency, and a higher concentration of active ingredients such as retinol, peptides and hyaluronic acid.
How to choose the best night cream for you
The first step to selecting the perfect night cream is considering your skin type. Would you describe your skin as oily, dry, sensitive, or mature?
Oily skin still needs a dose of moisture during sleep, but it’s best to opt for lighter, non-greasy formulas. Look for the word ‘non-comedogenic’ in the product description, which means the moisturiser won’t clog pores.
Dry skin can benefit from intensive moisturisation, so opt for richer, heavier creams that will last all night long. Emollients such as shea butter can help to nourish and protect against dryness.
If your skin is sensitive, it’s worth avoiding strongly perfumed products and chemical exfoliants such as AHAs. Look for ceramides and probiotic active ingredients which can help restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier. It’s also worth checking that products are dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic to avoid any adverse reactions.
Mature skin can benefit from anti-ageing actives, such as retinol and peptides, to help minimise the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid can help hydrate and deliver a plumping effect to rejuvenate skin.
Find your perfect night cream at Boots
With a wide range of night creams, expertly formulated to support different skin types, our list of top picks span different price points, so there’s something to suit every budget.
9 of the best overnight moisturisers available at Boots
Best overnight moisturiser for total rejuvenation
Try: Liz Earle Skin Repair Hydrating Night Cream
• Size: 50ml
• Vegan formula*
• Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive
• Approved as cruelty-free under the Leaping Bunny Programme
Ideally, we’d all get eight hours of shut-eye each night, but too often, life gets in the way. Luckily this hydrating hero is on hand to mimic the look of a good night’s sleep – whether you’ve had it or not! This botanically-powered formula is packed with powerful, plant-based ingredients, including renewal-boosting 4 o’clock flower, hyaluronic acid, and hydrating borage seed and avocado oil. Simply smooth over the face, neck, and décolletage as part of your evening skincare ritual. The benefits aren’t just skin deep, either – enjoy the relaxing rose and lavender scent before you drift off into a peaceful slumber.
Best calming night cream for sensitive skin
Try: Aveeno Face Calm and Restore Re-Hydrating Night Cream
• Size: 50ml
• Non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula
• Formulated for sensitive skin
• Dermatologically tested
• Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free formula
• For normal to dry skin
Sensitive skin calls for soothing active ingredients, and this formula is packed full of them. Prebiotic oats help to restore the natural moisture barrier, while antioxidant feverfew calms reactive skin. The velvety texture helps lock in 48 hours of hydration while absorbing quickly (without unwanted greasy residue). It’s ticked every box when it comes to sensitivity. Hypoallergenic? Yes. Dermatologically tested? Of course. It’s also non-comedogenic, so it won’t block pores. The results? Nourished, soothed, and re-hydrated skin that’s ready to face the day.
Best anti-ageing overnight moisturiser
Try: No7 Future Renew Night Cream
• Size: 50ml
• Dermatologist approved
• Developed by world-leading scientists
• Part of the Future Renew Range, tested on over 4,000 women
Fancy reversing the visible signs of skin damage every night? Thought you might. With No7’s new patent-pending peptide technology, you can harness the work of world-leading scientists while you sleep. The formula features Pepticology™, an exclusive technology designed to support the skin’s natural self-repair, along with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and niacinamide. Now you can dream about softer, smoother, brighter skin all night long – and wake up to it too.
Best bargain moisturiser for sensitive skin
Try: Simple Water Boost Moisturiser Skin Quench Sleeping Cream
• Size: 50ml
• No harsh chemicals, artificial colours, or perfume
• Suitable for dehydrated, dry, or sensitive skin
On a budget? No problem. This bargain night cream takes skin from dry to dewy without breaking the bank. The formula is enriched with plant extracts and skin essential minerals and works naturally to replenish your skin and lock in moisture while you rest. After cleansing, smooth the silky cream over your face and neck before bed. Simple!
Best plumping overnight moisturiser
Try: Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Night Cream
• Size: 50ml
• Suitable for dry and normal skin
• Instantly melts into the skin
While we’re not able to squeeze in a daily facial, this nightly skin cream might just be the next best thing. Expertly formulated by Clarins Laboratories, it’s designed to support the skin’s barrier function all night long to help plump up fine lines and boost radiance. Hyaluronic acid, organic leaf of life extract, and squalene combine in this all-round superstar cream, so you can wake up to spa-worthy skin every day.
Best luxury overnight moisturiser
Try: Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial
• Size: 50ml
• Suitable for all skin types
Yes, the packaging is beautiful, but what’s inside really does count with this luxurious night cream. All skin types will benefit from this ingredient-packed formula, including vitamin C-rich Camu Camu, moisturising Cocoa Butter, and prebiotic banana flower extract. It’s the ultimate indulgence to transform dull, tired-looking skin into a radiant, replenished complexion.
Best night cream for an overnight glow
Try: Fenty Skin Instant Reset Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream
• Size: 50ml
• Suitable for all skin types
• Non-comedogenic
• Refillable packaging
• Recyclable outer box
Been burning the candle at both ends? Hit the reset button on your complexion with this nourishing gel-cream formula. It’s rich enough to deliver eight hours of continuous hydration, yet lightweight enough to sink effortlessly into the skin. The benefits don’t stop there – with ingredients to smooth and plump lines, improve dark spots and pores, and boost elasticity, this night cream is an outstanding all-rounder.
Best hyaluronic moisturiser for intense hydration
Try: Vichy Aqualia Thermal Spa Night Cream
• Size: 75ml
• Intensely moisturises all night
• Plumps and softens skin
• Calming spa fragrance
Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water has a cult following among skincare gurus – and for good reason. This game-changing night cream harnesses that power and combines it with a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid, renowned for its powerfully hydrating properties. As a result, skin feels comfortable, soothed, soft, and visibly radiant – a great start to any day.
Best overnight moisturiser to brighten dull skin
Try: Botanics All Bright Hydrating Night Cream Moisturiser with Natural AHAs
• Size: 50ml
• Cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny certified
• Suitable for vegans*
• Formulated for dull skin
• Recyclable packaging
• Not recommended for sensitive skin
Dreaming of a gorgeous glow? Make it a reality with this plant-powered night cream. Natural hibiscus AHAs (also known as alpha hydroxy acids) help gently exfoliate skin and increase cell turnover. The formula plumps, softens, and refreshes your skin to reveal a more radiant, even skin tone by morning. So, it’s goodbye dull skin, and hello dreamy glow.
