10 Best Night Creams in India 2021 - Buying Guide Reviewed by Dermatologist

Dr Hitaishi Kaushik is working as a research associate in the dermatology lab at PGIMER, and she pursued her PhD in dermatology. She's done M.Sc. in medical biotechnology from PGI, Chandigarh. Also, she has won many awards at international conferences for her work on the effect of drugs on melanocytes in vitiligo.

Use the information in the buying guide to determine which night cream is best suited for your skin type and the beauty concerns you are trying to address. Our list contains products by CeraVe, L'Oreal Paris, Garnier, WOW Skin Science, and more.

During our sleep, our body speeds up the repair processes. These products support our body, so we get the results we desire faster. You can buy night creams to moisturize your skin, improve your skin tone, minimize wrinkles, reduce tan, and many more. 

The main difference between a day cream and a night cream is that a night cream doesn't contain SPF. It also tends to have a higher concentration of ingredients. Try to apply it at least an hour before you go to bed to give it time to get absorbed into the skin.

Read our buying guide to learn how to choose a night cream based on your skin type, condition, and the ingredients you should look for.

Consider your skin type above all while you are shopping for night creams. They are available for dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin. Read through to learn how to choose the right ingredients.

People with oily skin tend to stay away from all types of creams, even moisturizers. But you can buy night creams that don't add to your struggles. Some products only mention the skin concern they address and not the skin type, so read the package thoroughly before you buy.

You can also look for ingredients normally seen in cosmetics for oily skin like retinol, salicylic acid, and tea tree oil. Don't worry if you find oils in night creams intended for oily skin. The amount of it will be enough to bring about positive changes to your skin, but not high enough to make it oily, for example, jojoba oil.

If you are still not comfortable applying heavy night creams on your skin, go for gel or fluid-based ones. These types will always be light and gentle on your skin.

A moisturizing night cream will not be heavy but will still have the ingredients to soothe your skin. The most common and popular ingredients are hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, shea butter, jojoba oil, and ceramides. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that draws water from the surroundings and locks it in the cells. 

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that fights the drying effects of free radicals, and ceramides prevent transepidermal water loss by forming a barrier. Both ingredients are anti-inflammatory and reduce irritation due to skin conditions like eczema, which causes inflamed, itchy, and cracked skin.

The definition of combination skin is different for different people. Some say combination skin means it is dry during cold weather and oily during hot. Some argue that combination skin has dry and oily areas on the face. If you are with the second group, you will have to buy two types or just one intended for combination skin.

Look for green tea extract, grapeseed extract, jojoba oil, retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid. Combination skin night creams can hydrate your skin enough to promote the healing process and prevent excess oil production.

People with sensitive skin usually stay away from cosmetics. It could be as simple as the colors and fragrances added to it. Or it could be preservatives, thickeners, or emulsifiers. Don't worry if the fragrance is an essential oil or the thickener is plant-based, like xanthan gum. Take a look at some ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction.

A thickener and humectant called sorbitol and a silicone emollient called dimethicone can cause rashes and contact dermatitis on your skin. Another chemical called Triethanolamine works as a pH balancer but can cause eye problems and dry skin. Many products use safer alternatives to these harmful ingredients.

Parabens are used as preservatives. Their safer alternatives are sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, glycerin, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, etc. Silicones like dimethicone can give the product a smooth appearance. Safe alternatives include coco-caprylate or caprate and butylene glycol dicaprylate or dicaprate.

If you have normal skin, you can focus on correcting your other beauty concerns like wrinkles, acne, and dullness. Find out which ingredients work best for your beauty concerns from the sections below.

Acne flareups occur when the hair follicles on your skin get clogged with oil and dirt and get infected with bacteria. Applying a night cream for acne will help your skin heal while you are asleep. The ingredients should be anti-inflammatory, exfoliating, and antibacterial.

Some of them are alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs, tea tree oil, green tea extract, retinol, aloe vera, and vitamin E. You can even try gels and lightweight creams that don't clog pores or build-up sebum.

Night creams for wrinkles and fine lines are often marketed as anti-aging. The ingredients in those night creams boost collagen production (collagen is a protein that maintains the skin elasticity), hydrate, and exfoliate the skin to improve its elasticity and appearance. Retinol is the most popular choice for companies in anti-aging night creams.

Vitamins C and E improve collagen production and regulate oil production, while humectants like hyaluronic acid hydrate the skin and make it supple. Peptides can make your skin look firmer, and niacinamide, with its potent anti-oxidant properties, build new cells, lighten dark spots, and decrease wrinkles. Niacinamide can also calm inflammation on your skin.

Your skin may darken because of sun exposure and dirt buildup. Night creams have the capability to improve your skin complexion right from the first night of usage. Apply an hour before bed, so the product absorbs well into your skin. 

You can find visible changes the next morning. But a dull complexion due to dead skin and dirt build-up can only go away if the night cream has exfoliants in it. 

You can find skin brightening night creams with yogurt, vitamin C, glutathione, salicylic acid, etc., that bleaches and exfoliates your skin. Some natural skin brightening ingredients are saffron, turmeric, sandalwood, and lemon. Look for the natural ingredients mentioned in this article for a healthy and glowing skin. 

Night creams can take care of your skin at night. What about the daytime? You need cleansers and face washes to remove dirt or makeup from your skin. Maybe frequent exposure to the sun has dulled your complexion. 

Follow the links below to read out articles about the best face washes and cleansers for dry skin and whitening creams for your face. We also have recommendations for the best products in the market in our Top 10 section in every article. 

There are expensive products that give you overnight results and affordable ones that can take up to four weeks to show your visible results. You can use ones that give overnight results if you have a wedding or a conference the next day where you need to present your radiant self. The affordable ones can stay in your cupboard for your daily beauty routine.

Always do a patch test of the products before applying them to your face, neck, or other visible areas. If you have oily skin, don't stay away from night creams; buy one that doesn't make your skin greasy.

Author - Arun F Xaviour