How to Choose a Night Cream for Your Skin Type

CNN Underscored asked me how to choose a night cream, and this week I'm one of the experts quoted in their roundup, The best night creams for glowing skin by morning, according to dermatologists. A product list is a helpful start, but the question I hear at ROW 89 is more personal: which one is right for my skin? So here is the longer version of my answer, the way I explain it to patients on East 89th Street.

I am Rocio Romero, a board-certified physician assistant (PA-C) and Practice Director at ROW 89 on the Upper East Side. This time of year, night creams come up in almost every visit, because the radiators are back on from Yorkville to Carnegie Hill and Lenox Hill, and skin feels it.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a rash, burning that doesn't settle, or a skin condition such as eczema or rosacea that is flaring, please see a board-certified dermatologist or your doctor.

Do you really need a separate night cream?

Not always. A night cream is usually a richer moisturizer, sometimes with an ingredient that works better after dark. Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Melissa Piliang describes night creams as thicker formulas meant to moisturize, soothe and repair skin while you sleep, and day creams as lighter ones focused on protection, including sunscreen.

There are two good reasons to treat night differently:

Some ingredients belong at night. Retinoids make skin more sensitive to the sun, so the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises using them at night. Exfoliating acids such as glycolic acid also increase sun sensitivity, according to the FDA.
Your skin keeps a schedule. A 2019 review in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology describes water loss from the skin increasing in the evening, and suggests that moisturizers may offer more benefit when used in the evening hours. The research is still early, but it's one more reason not to skip moisturizer before bed.

If your everyday moisturizer keeps your skin comfortable and you don't use active ingredients at night, it can do double duty. If your skin feels tight by morning, or you're adding a retinoid or an acid, a dedicated night cream earns its spot.

Start with your skin type, then your main concern

When someone asks me for "the best night cream," my first questions are about their skin, not the product. Here's how I narrow it down:

Dry or tight, especially in winter: a richer cream with barrier-supporting ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, shea butter or squalane. The AAD suggests that people with dry skin start with a cream or ointment rather than a lotion, and notes that fragrance can irritate dry skin.
Oily or breakout-prone: your skin still needs moisture, just less of it. A light gel or gel-cream labeled non-comedogenic is usually more comfortable, and the AAD cautions that too much moisturizer can clog pores.
Sensitive or easily red: a short ingredient list and no added fragrance. A cream can feel beautiful and still be wrong for reactive skin.
Fine lines or rough texture: a night cream with a retinoid, such as retinol or retinaldehyde, or a gentler option such as bakuchiol, a plant-based ingredient often used as a retinol alternative. Look for moisturizing ingredients and peptides alongside it.
Dark spots or uneven tone: ingredients such as azelaic acid, glycolic acid or niacinamide can help with the look of dark spots, but only alongside daily sunscreen. Without sun protection, new spots keep appearing.

Not sure which group you're in? A facial is a good time to ask, because your esthetician sees your skin up close, under good light.

The two creams I recommended to CNN, and who they're for

CNN asked each expert for specific picks. Here's the thinking behind mine.

For dark spots: Glytone Enhance Brightening Complex

This is a lightweight cream with azelaic acid and glycolic acid, which is why I like it for someone who wants to work on the look of dark spots and add hydration at the same time. As I told CNN, because it contains exfoliating acids, introduce it slowly and wear sunscreen during the day.

In practice, that means two or three nights a week at first, usually not on the same night as a retinoid, and SPF every morning. The FDA recommends that alpha hydroxy acid products, the family glycolic acid belongs to, tell users to wear sunscreen while using them and for a week afterwards.

For a rich, luxurious ritual: La Mer The Rejuvenating Night Cream

If you love a plush texture, this is the splurge I suggested. It has moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter and glycerin, plus peptides and the brand's marine retinol alternative, MRA-3. It does contain fragrance, so if your skin is very sensitive, I'd choose something simpler.

Neither cream is a must-have. A fragrance-free drugstore cream with ceramides and glycerin can do a lot for dry winter skin. What matters most is matching the formula to your skin and using it consistently.

How I tell patients to introduce a new night cream

Patch test first. The AAD suggests applying a new product to a quarter-sized spot on your inner arm or the crease of your elbow twice a day for 7 to 10 days. If you get redness, itching or swelling, wash it off gently and don't use it again.
Then start small on your face. Try it on one small area for a few nights before you apply it everywhere.
Adjust the amount or the texture. If a cream feels too heavy, use less of it or switch to a lighter formula.
Know when to stop. If it burns, stings or makes your skin very red, stop using it and try something gentler. Discomfort is not a sign that a product is "working."
Change one thing at a time. Add one new product, give your skin a couple of weeks, then decide. If you start three things at once and react, you won't know which one caused it.
Go slowly with retinoids. The AAD recommends starting with the least potent retinoid you can find, every other night, and building up as your skin adjusts, with a moisturizer to help reduce irritation. Retinoids should not be used during pregnancy, so check with your doctor if you're pregnant or trying to conceive.

A simple night routine, in order

Cleanse gently to remove sunscreen and makeup. Use lukewarm water and skip the scrubbing.
Apply your treatment, if you use one, such as a retinoid or an exfoliating acid. Alternate nights rather than using both together; the AAD notes that exfoliating while using a retinoid can make dry skin worse.
Finish with your night cream. On nights without an active, Cleveland Clinic suggests moisturizing within a few minutes of washing, while skin is still slightly damp.
In the morning, sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, as the AAD recommends, and especially if you use a retinoid or acids at night.

For more on layering, see our guides to applying skin care products in the right order and serum vs. moisturizer. New to retinol? Start with Retinol for Beginners.

Radiator season on the Upper East Side

From Carnegie Hill brownstones to Yorkville walk-ups, the heat is on. Under NYC's heat rules, building owners must provide heat from October 1 through May 31, and warm, dry indoor air pulls moisture from your skin while you sleep. A richer night cream, a bedroom humidifier and shorter, lukewarm showers all help. Our winter barrier-repair guide has the full plan.

Where a facial fits in

A night cream is daily maintenance. A professional facial is more like a reset, and a good moment to ask what your skin actually needs. At ROW 89, on the second floor, the Ultra-Hydrating Glow Facial is a good fit for skin that feels tight and dull in winter. Once your skin is calm, a light peel can help with dullness and uneven tone; see our chemical peels. Bring a photo of your night cream's ingredient list to your appointment and ask what to pair it with.

For dark spots or melasma that aren't fading, or redness that keeps coming back, please see a board-certified dermatologist. Some of the most effective options need a prescription. Our guide to melasma and hyperpigmentation explains more.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a day cream and a night cream?

Day creams are usually lighter and often include sunscreen. Night creams are usually richer, and some contain ingredients such as retinoids or exfoliating acids that are better used at night because they can make skin more sensitive to the sun.

Do I need a separate night cream?

Not always. If your moisturizer keeps your skin comfortable and you don't use active ingredients at night, it can do double duty. A richer night cream helps most when your skin is dry, especially in heated winter apartments.

Can I use a night cream every night?

A plain moisturizing night cream, yes. With a retinoid or exfoliating acids, start two or three nights a week and build up slowly as your skin tolerates it. Stop any product that burns, stings or makes your skin very red.

What kind of night cream is best for sensitive skin?

Look for a short ingredient list with no added fragrance and soothing, barrier-supporting ingredients such as ceramides and glycerin. Patch test first, and skip strong actives until your skin is calm.

How do I patch test a new night cream?

The AAD suggests applying it to a quarter-sized spot on your inner arm or the crease of your elbow twice a day for 7 to 10 days. If you get redness, itching or swelling, wash it off gently and don't use it again.

Book at ROW 89

ROW 89 is at 219A East 89th Street, between Second and Third Avenues, about 5 minutes from the 86th Street Q station and about 10 minutes from the 86th Street 4/5/6. Facials are on the second floor, and we're open 10am–8pm daily.

Ultra-Hydrating Glow Facial, 80 min, $148: book online
HydraPure facial, 60 min, $139: book online
Vitamin C facial, 60 min, $109, for dull or uneven-looking skin: book online
Express Peel, 45 min, $89, once your skin is calm: see chemical peels

Browse every service on the full online menu. Questions about your night routine? Call (212) 722-1959 or text (917) 554-1005.

How to Choose a Night Cream: What I Told CNN, and What I Tell My Patients on the Upper East Side