These Night Creams Tackle Fine Lines and Wrinkles While You Sleep (2025)

This best-selling moisturizer helps make skin look brighter and feel softer thanks to its hydrating, anti-aging formula that’s packed with retinol, niacinamide, and peptides. It’s garnered over 10,000 five-star ratings on Amazon!), with one shopper writing: “This moisturizer has completely changed the game for me...Fine lines have visibly reduced, and my skin feels smoother and more vibrant.”

What we think: “I love the light and creamy texture and the fact that it’s fragrance-free so the smell doesn’t keep me up at night. And my middle-aged skin definitely appreciates the nightly dose of retinol,” says Health News Room Deputy Editor, Marisa Cohen. “I have tried more expensive brands, but always go back to this one.”

If you’re looking for a reliable drugstore night cream, CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream has you covered. In fact, it’s the number one best-selling night cream on Amazon, with over 42,000 ratings. “This is a great product at a very reasonable price point,” says Dr. Castilla. “It contains ceramides which can help repair the skin barrier and also hyaluronic acid which boosts skin hydration.” Karan Lal, D.O., M.S., F.A.A.D., double board-certified cosmetic dermatologist with Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ also recommends this product for all skin types thanks to its stellar ingredient list.

What reviewers think: “I am 77 years old, and have been using this night cream every night for the last three months,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. “In my opinion, this is a good night cream that helps to moisturize the skin. It has little to no odor, and absorbs quickly into the skin without feeling greasy…After using it, the next morning my face feels smooth and looks healthy.”

This hydrating face cream received top marks in our round-up of the best moisturizers for sensitive skin for its skin-quenching, ultra-gentle formula that is packed with powerful ceramides. It’s even earned a stamp of approval from the National Eczema Association as it is free from dyes, fragrance, lanolin, formaldehyde, and parabens. Plus, it comes in at under $15 for a whopping one pound of product that will last for a long time, making it an amazing value pick.

What reviewers think: “Now that I’m in my 60s, I’ve found that my skin has grown less elastic with age and prone to dryness and wrinkles, specifically growing crepey,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. “Vanicream goes on a little thick but rubs in pretty well, easing the Arizona summer dryness along with the crepey skin.”

This highly-rated barrier repair cream helps soothe, repair, and nourish dry or distressed skin with an ultra-reparative formula. It contains colloidal oatmeal to support skin recovery while beta-glucan boosts moisture to tackle dryness. This product has also received the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance and claims to be safe for sensitive skin.

What we think: “It is light and the moisture stays, it doesn’t just dry up or sink in, so it feels like it lasts,” says Prevention Executive Editor Stephanie Dolgoff. “I also like that it doesn’t have a scent and isn’t goopy, so I don’t worry about it leading to breakouts.”

This cream is a “well-rounded product for all skin skin types that has the ability to help improve the appearance of the skin,” says Dr. Lal. He loves that it provides 72 hours worth of hydration with moisturizing collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, and lipids. Plus, he says it’s sensitive skin-friendly and won’t irritate most complexions.

What reviewers think: “I’m a woman in her 40s who is perimenopausal. What this means for my skin is that I’m lucky enough to have early signs of aging AND acne at the same time,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. “I LOVE love love this moisturizer!! My skin looks the best it has in years. I’ve also noticed skin redness and irritation diminishing, my pores look smaller, I’m just looking more refreshed and dare I say younger!”

Boasting 4.5 stars overall and over 33,000 Amazon ratings (and climbing!), this popular cream deeply hydrates, soothes, and plumps skin with snail mucin—a popular Korean skincare ingredient made of snail secretion filtrate (though snails aren’t harmed in the process of collecting it)—as well as hyaluronic acid and betaine. With a formula that’s hypoallergenic and free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, this moisturizer should be great for sensitive skin.

What reviewers think: “This cream is great for my 66-year-old face. It’s creamy and silky and plumps up my skin,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. “I like that it absorbs fairly quickly and doesn’t have much of a scent. I use this every night and have noticed that my wrinkles are less visible.”

Dr. Lal is a fan of this fragrance-free cream from RoC. “It contains hyaluronic acid and other great ingredients that hydrate your skin for 48 hours,” he says. All in all, it’s a great pick for people who have very dry skin and are in need of a night cream, but who also want an effective retinol formula. However, it could potentially be irritating to sensitive skin—so experts suggest using it every other night to start.

What reviewers think: “I have tried many products to help with dryness and wrinkles,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. “This is the first product that really helped with fine lines. I am 70 and my daughter had not seen me for nearly a year. One of her first comments was on how good my skin looked! So, it was not my imagination.”

“This is a very gentle retinol formulation good for people just introducing retinols into their skin care routine,” explains Dr. Castilla. “It can give you the anti-aging benefits of a retinol while also maintaining skin hydration.” Dr. Lal also recommends this formula as it is good for all skin types and helps hydrate the skin with hyaluronic acid. Did we mention it’s a favorite of Jennifer Garner’s, too?

What we think: “I have extremely dry and sensitive skin, so I have had my fair share of bad retinol experiences, until this cream. Not only is it hypoallergenic and fragrance/dye free, but it is also filled with tons of highly moisturizing ingredients to keep flakes and dry patches at bay, meaning that it's actually gentle enough for daily use,” says Prevention Senior Commerce Editor, Charlotte Lewis. “Since starting, I have noticed my complexion appears more even and the texture is way bouncier and smoother.”

If you’re looking for an overnight mask to apply along with your standard night cream, you can’t go wrong with this pick from Laneige. It quickly absorbs into skin to moisturize overnight, thanks to hydrating ingredients like squalane and hyaluronic acid.

What reviewers think: “This stuff works wonders for my skin. I live in a very dry climate and putting this on before bed makes my skin so moisturized and plump when I wake up,” shared one Amazon customer.

Looking for a luxurious night cream that’s worth the splurge? This elegant cream calms and hydrates the skin while fighting the signs of aging, according to Heidi Waldorf, M.D., a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine of Mount Sinai in New York. That’s because it’s rich in antioxidants (like vitamins C and E), peptides, niacinamide, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid. Pro tip: Make sure you apply the product down your neck, an often-neglected area.

What reviewers think: “This is a great creamy moisturizer for dry skin that also reverses the signs of aging! My skin soaks this moisturizer up!” wrote one Sephora reviewer. “It’s not sticky or tacky. I can wear makeup over it without it getting cakey or settling into creases. My skin is so soft and hydrated! Fine lines and sun spots are diminishing! Even those pesky laugh lines are fading. My neck and face have more of a healthier, youthful appearance!”

“This is a very moisturizing formulation good for sensitive or mature skin types,” says Dr. Castilla. In fact, this night cream is specifically made for sensitive skin types, including allergy-prone skin and dry skin, with a formula that’s fragrance-free, oil-free, paraben-free, and non-comedogenic. Packed with comforting ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, and vitamin E, this top-rated cream helps restore the skin barrier, aiding in overnight repair of the skin.

What reviewers think: “This is the only product I can use that calms and keeps my skin moisturized,” one reviewer with rosacea and dermatitis said. “It heals the skin barrier without a heavy or greasy feel. It sinks in immediately...It just keeps my skin nice—less red, intact barrier, no breakouts, no burning, no flaking.”

If you’re looking for a night cream for sensitive skin that includes retinol, this drugstore option is a great buy. The soothing formula works to soften and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with retinol yet is non-irritating and gentle on skin. In addition to retinol, it contains coenzyme Q10, a powerful antioxidant, as well as hydrators like glycerin and vitamin E.

What reviewers think: “This product has done more to reduce the appearance of wrinkles than any expensive product I’ve used. My face looks much more youthful,” wrote one Amazon shopper.

If you have oily skin, you might stray from night creams due to their reputation for having a bit of a thicker texture. But you can feel safe slathering on this pick from CeraVe. “The lightweight formulation with niacinamide is great for oily and acne-prone skin types,” explains Dr. Castilla. “It also includes ceramides which help repair the skin barrier.”

What reviewers think: “I’ve had oily, acne-prone skin all of my life...Every moisturizer I’ve tried in the past has been too much for my skin and has made me break out. Until this one,” wrote one Amazon shopper. “It’s super light and moisturizes without feeling heavy or clogging my pores. My skin even looks healthier, plumper, and more glowy.”

This moisturizer has become an instant favorite of Dr. Lal, who appreciates the multitasking formula that “does three different things.” He explains that it contains ceramides, squalane, glycerin, and lipids to help moisturize the skin; a special peptide that helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; and lactic acid to provide gentle exfoliation and encourage skin cell turnover.

What reviewers think: “This has changed my skin for the better. I have combination sensitive skin with redness and more and more dry patches as I move along in my 30s,” wrote one Sephora reviewer. “It’s a very gentle, non-fragranced scent and melts into the skin beautifully. It’s great on top of all of my serums, and over time, my skin texture has become more even.”

This luxurious cream is suitable for all skin types, but it’s especially ideal for mature, normal, and dry skin. “The lipids in this cream are great for skin hydration and repairing the skin barrier while not being too thick or occlusive,” explains Dr. Castilla. The antioxidant-rich, moisturizing cream aids in improved elasticity and radiance, as well.

What reviewers think: “Yes, it’s pricey...but it really works! After eyeing this cream I took the plunge and have never looked back,” wrote one customer on the Dermstore site. “My face feels hydrated, healthy, and luminous. I feel like it has healed my skin barrier.”

This luxurious overnight face mask from RéVive is designed to “rescue” your complexion, claiming to “visibly transform and renew skin.” It contains a variety of impressive ingredients, like a special bio-renewal peptide, mineral-rich adaptogenic mushrooms, and emollients like shea butter, aloe, and urea.

What we think: “This is definitely a splurge, but a little goes a long way and the jar includes a good amount of product. I use it when my skin needs an extra boost of hydration and other night moisturizers aren’t cutting it: A layer of this leaves my complexion incredibly soft and bouncy, and any irritation calmed by morning. The balm formula feels so soothing and pampering going on skin, too,” says April Franzino, senior beauty and style director, Hearst Lifestyle Group.

✔️ Consider retinol. “The good night creams are the ones that have retinol,” Dr. Lal says. “It’s best to use at nighttime, so it does not get degraded by the sun.” Retinol is a powerful, multitasking ingredient that “helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, increases skin thickness, and improves collagen production,” continues Dr. Lal. Retinol can be irritating, though, so start gradually by applying the cream a couple of times a week, to every other day, to nightly use. Always use face sunscreen the morning after you apply a retinol product.

✔️ Try a formula with peptides. “Peptides are really important, essentially helping repair your skin barrier,” explains Dr. Lal. “Think of peptides as fertilizer for your skin’—helping your skin heal, building collagen, softening fine lines, and overall nourishing your skin.

✔️ Go fragrance-free. Dr. Lal suggests looking for products without fragrance as a general rule of thumb, but notes that for a night cream, this is especially important as the product will be on your skin overnight, for a long period of time. “Don’t just look for unscented, make sure the packaging says ‘fragrance-free,’” explains Dr. Lal.

✔️ Stick with hydration. While Dr. Castilla suggests avoiding “very occlusive” night creams (think: heavy oils or petrolatum), which can lead to clogged pores and breakouts, there are a number of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients to look for. “I recommend everyone look for products that have things like ceramides, squalene, dimethicone, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid,” explains Dr. Lal. “These are ingredients that are going to help your skin barrier stay hydrated even if you are using other ingredients like retinol which can dry you out.”

✔️ Consider your skin type. “Dry or mature skin types should look for thicker creams, while oily skin types can consider a thinner, light-weight formulation,” explains Dr. Castilla. You also may want to tailor your night cream to the time of year, as Dr. Castilla notes that thicker formulations are best suited in cold, winter months while thinner formulations are often needed during humid, summer months.

According to Dr. Lal, the best way to use a night cream for aging skin is to keep things simple. “Most of these night creams are already very moisturizing and hydrating, so you can use them as a standalone product after cleansing your skin at night,” he explains. While you’re more than welcome to use your favorite anti-wrinkle serums in conjunction with your night cream, if you prefer a one-and-done product, a night cream is sufficient all on its own.

However, if your night cream doesn’t contain retinol, Dr. Lal suggests using a retinol product a few nights per week as well (before applying your night cream), especially if you’re looking to target the visible signs of aging. Just check the ingredient list to make sure all of your products work well together and won’t irritate skin when used in tandem.

Our team conducted extensive research and consulted Karan Lal, D.O., M.S., F.A.A.D., double board-certified cosmetic dermatologist with Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ; Carmen Castilla, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor at Mount Sinai in New York; and Heidi Waldorf, M.D., a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine of Mount Sinai in New York.

We also tested Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer, Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Moisturizer, Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream, and RéVive Rescue Balm Overnight Face Mask.