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12 best anti-ageing night creams to sleep your way to a youthful glow

From lightweight gels to rich creams, we’ve found something for every skin type

Helen Wilson-Beevers
Thursday 22 August 2024 18:14 BST
Nighttime is a key moment for restoration, as your skin goes into cell turnover recovery mode while you sleep
Nighttime is a key moment for restoration, as your skin goes into cell turnover recovery mode while you sleep (L’Occitane/Murad/Antipodes/The Independent)
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Anti-ageing night creams aren’t just for mature skin and can be used to hydrate and improve fine lines at any age. As the final proactive part of your routine, applying night cream is an easy self-care ritual to do before bed.

Collagen production declines in our 20s, with skin also bearing the brunt of increased stress or hormonal changes. And with many of us having spent a significant amount of time in front of our screens this past year, it’s thought that free radical production from blue light exposure can contribute to skin ageing prematurely.

Anti-ageing skincare doesn’t just encompass products that work against the natural ageing process – aside from fine lines and wrinkles, it’s important to look for effective products that nourish and protect our skin from stressors. Nighttime is a key moment for skin restoration, as your skin goes into cell turnover recovery mode while you sleep.

This is also when it loses the most moisture, so it will really drink up any hydrating skincare you apply, making this the best opportunity for maximum replenishment.

One anti-ageing hero ingredient worthy of its ever-growing hype is retinol, a vitamin A derivative that can be found in different strengths, depending on the brand or product type. Retinol helps neutralise the aforementioned free radicals by promoting elastin and collagen production.

Consequently, the skin becomes smoother and pores appear reduced, resulting in a toned, more radiant complexion. However, if you do go for a retinol-based night cream, make sure you’re wearing SPF during the day, as its powerful properties make skin much more sensitive to the sun.

Additional anti-ageing ingredients to look out for include hyaluronic acid, which is known for its skin-plumping properties, and AHAs (or alpha hydroxy acid), which also promote collagen production, diminish fine lines, and reduce the appearance of dark spots.

How we tested

When putting these night creams to the test, we looked for rich and lightweight textures, as well as overnight masks to make sure every skin type and preference has been catered for. We wanted creams that made our skin look more glowy and plump come morning. Similarly, we paid close attention to any short-term effects, for example, any reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, as well as texture changes. Lastly, we considered price points. Keep reading for those that made the cut.

The best anti-ageing night creams for 2024 are:

  • Best overall – Charlotte Tilbury magic night cream: £28, Cultbeauty.co.uk
  • Best budget option – Nivea hyaluron cellular filler anti-age night cream: £7.47, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for dehydrated skin – L’Occitane immortelle precious overnight mask: £62, Loccitane.com
  • Best for over 40s – Eve Lom time retreat intense night cream: £63, Lookfantastic.com
  • Best for sensitive skin – No.7 protect & perfect intense advanced night cream: £22.45, Boots.com

Charlotte Tilbury magic night cream

best anti-ageing night creams reviewed IndyBest
  • Best: Overall
  • Size: 15ml, 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Retinol, vitamin E, glycerin, squalane and vitamin C
  • Skin type: Dry skin
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Fragranced: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Has a plumping effect
    • Feels like three products in one

Presented in a dazzling prism-shaped pot with a gold detailed lid, this is the largest version of Charlotte Tilbury’s cult-favourite magic night cream available. Lavishly thick, the elixir is almost a gel-like texture – which is so satisfying to apply, much like an extravagant serum, mask, and moisturiser hybrid. On its ingredient list are vitamin C, time-release retinol and peptides – a powerhouse formula for anti-ageing.

Its therapeutic scent comes courtesy of frangipani, making for a sweet and indulgent fragrance that we found calming upon winding down for bed. Enveloping skin in a softening layer, we felt as if we were slathering on rich, intense hydration. And the next morning? We saw glowy, plumped-up skin, and a welcome dewy effect that was most definitely new.

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Nivea hyaluron cellular filler anti-age night cream

best anti-ageing night creams IndyBest
  • Best: Budget cream
  • Size: 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Water, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, creatine and magnolia extract
  • Skin type: All skin types, supposedly, though we might use sparsely if you have oily skin
  • Cruelty-free: No
  • Fragranced: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Creatine works to boost skin cell turnover
    • Available in matching serum, eye/lip and day cream variations
  • Take note
    • Quite expensive for a shea butter-based cream

A brand-new product in a recyclable plastic pot – with the classic branding – Nivea’s latest night cream contains a combination of hyaluron and collagen, and aims to activate skin cells into producing their own hyaluronic acid and collagen.

A glossy cream that glided across our tester’s skin, this product settled as a nourishing veil before soaking in, and we awoke to silky-soft skin that looked surprisingly smoothed, firmed, and hydrated, particularly given the affordable price tag. We also noted how the additional enriching magnolia extract made for a gently sweet scent too.

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Dr Dennis Gross ferulic + retinol anti-ageing moisturiser

best anti-ageing night creams
  • Best: For fine lines and wrinkles
  • Size: 60ml
  • Key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and fine line-minimising bakuchiol
  • Skin type: Normal to dry
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Fragranced: Not artificially, though lavender and lemon do give the cream a scent
  • Why we love it
    • Smoothing and brightening
  • Take note
    • Not as well-suited to sensitive skin

The velvety feeling cream includes AHAs and retinol, while also being vegan-friendly. Smoothing onto our skin, we found that it absorbed quickly, and its antioxidant components made it extremely softening. Given its active ingredients, we did gradually build up use and noticed slight initial tingling but no major irritation.

Our tester also noticed the texture and tone of her skin looking and feeling smoother after first use, and even more radiant after one week. Testament to the powerful ingredients, we’d recommend this if you’re looking for a potent skincare product specifically targeting fine lines and wrinkles.

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L’Occitane immortelle precious overnight mask

best anti-ageing night creams IndyBest
  • Best: For dehydrated skin
  • Size: 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, glycerin, soothing immortelle oil (helichrysum essential oil) and avocado extract
  • Skin type: Dry, normal and combination
  • Cruelty-free: No
  • Fragranced: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Less immediately harsh than retinol (in terms of stinging)
    • Dual mask and night cream functionality
  • Take note
    • Features silica which is disputed for its safety in the beauty and food consumption industries

Technically an overnight mask, this anti-ageing number focuses on the effects of blue light, mirrored by its blue glass jar. Although you can apply a thick layer as a quick 10-minute treatment, we prefer sleeping with this pillowy soft product on for the whole night. Its skin renewal benefits come from low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and immortelle essential oil, a natural retinol alternative.

A glossy consistency somewhere between a mask and lotion, our tester reported it to be cooling and relaxing on the skin. Refreshing rather than overbearing, it even helped us fall asleep, and in the morning our skin was toned, brightened, smoothed, and soothed – a big drink for those dehydrated areas.

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Eve Lom time retreat intense night cream

best anti-ageing night creams IndyBest
  • Best: For 40-plus
  • Size: 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Retinol, shea butter, squalene, aloe vera and anti-inflammatory linalool
  • Skin type: Normal to dry
  • Cruelty-free: No
  • Fragranced: Not artificially, but sandalwood oil and chamomile oil do scent the formula
  • Why we love it
    • Works to minimise age spots
    • Promises to hydrate skin for as much as 24-hours
  • Take note
    • Features a few ingredients that aren’t acne-friendly

This formula contains the fancy-sounding liposome encapsulated retinol complex, which, in a nutshell, is a gentle vitamin A extract to work on improving fine lines minus any irritation usually associated with traditional retinol. Offering a wonderfully rich consistency, the cream has a relaxing floral scent and comes complete with an application spatula.

Instantly making skin feel calm, it smooths the complexion while soaking in fast. Our tester experienced deep nourishment in the form of plumped up skin, much less visible fine lines and a generally brighter tone. Particularly relaxing to apply because of its abundantly thick texture, a little goes a long way with this one.

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Clarins multi-active night cream

best anti-ageing night creams IndyBest
  • Best: For 30-year-old skin
  • Size: 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Niacinamide, sea holly extract, glycerin and cocoa butter,
  • Skin type: Dry skin
  • Cruelty-free: No
  • Fragranced: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Works to shield the skin against oxidative (environmental) damage
    • Improves skin’s toughness
  • Take note
    • Only targeted at one skin type, though we can appreciate the ease of shopping this afford

The night cream to buy if you’re looking for a natural retinol alternative, this cream from Clarins combines sea holly extract and niacinamide to protect skin from stress and premature ageing. Presented in a glass jar, this glistening smooth cream felt lightweight on our tester’s skin and sunk in almost immediately. We were also pleased to discover that you can apply as much or as little as you want without the need for wiping excess product off. Gently nourishing because of its composition, the cream is calming on skin and, after some sleep, our tester’s complexion appeared soothed, quenched, and refreshed.

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Elemis pro-collagen overnight matrix

best anti-ageing night creams Indybest
  • Best: For dry skin
  • Size: 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Hydrating padina pavonica algae, glycerin, vegetable oil, squalane, glycolic acid - the list goes on and on...
  • Skin type: Dry skin
  • Cruelty-free: No
  • Fragranced: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Plumps, firms and boosts radiance for a more youthful-looking complexion
    • A little goes a long way
  • Take note
    • Its long oil-heavy ingredient list might not be best suited to sensitive skin type

A gel-cream formula, this overnight treatment combines Elemis’s signature marine-based ingredients such as microalgae and padina pavonica, a brown alga found in the ocean. These aim to rebalance stressed areas of skin while we sleep, as the release of stress hormones causes a decrease in both collagen and hyaluronic acid production (our skin-friendly elements).

Also contributing to its inviting spa treatment scent, which is unbeatable in our opinion, we picked up on a blend of geranium, lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, and peppermint. The cream reminded our tester of a freshening balm with a soft gel feel that was rich and comforting on the skin. Satisfyingly thick to apply, our tester’s face looked deeply moisturised, rehydrated and much less stressed after use.

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Ole Henriksen dewtopia 5% acid firming night crème

best anti-ageing night creams IndyBest
  • Best: For dull skin
  • Size: 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Water, glycerin, lactic acid, bakuchiol, edelweiss stem cell and anti-inflammatory radish root
  • Skin types: All
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Fragranced: Not artificially, but lemon and liquorice do scent the cream
  • Why we love it
    • Vegan-friendly
    • Boosts skin’s luminosity
  • Take note
    • Alcohol in ingredients list may not be suited to ultra dry skintypes

A butter yellow-coloured night cream, this rich crème includes plant-based retinol alternatives, bakuchiol and edelweiss stem cell, as well as AHAs. Designed to fight signs of ageing, the product’s consistency is a silky cream gloss that glides onto skin. Satisfyingly smooth to apply – with a subtle uplifting scent – and quite lightweight for a night cream, our tester’s skin became more supple with use. It also managed to hydrate our tester’s often dry forehead, and we noticed our dark undereye circles appeared brighter, which was a welcome bonus.

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Tata Harper crème riche

best anti-ageing night creams Indybest
  • Best: For 50-plus
  • Size: 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Skin conditioning hordeum vulgare leaf juice, avocado peptides, jojoba, shea butter and hyaluronic acid
  • Skin type: Dry
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Fragranced: Not artificially, but floral and citrus oils do add scent
  • Why we love it
    • A lovely luxurious formula to use as a moment of self-care before bed
    • Nourishing and hydrating
  • Take note
    • A lot of ingredients for sensitive skin

Although not specifically named as such, this product works best at night, so the active ingredients (including hyaluronic acid and essential fatty acids) can soak into the skin most efficiently. Although it is undeniably a considerable investment, the packaging highlights its decadence. In a green glass jar with a gold lid, the piece de resistance is a tiny gold spoon for precise and clean portion control.

The refreshing botanical scent reminds us of summer flowers and reflects the natural floral ingredients. Buttery soft, it’s thick and creamy without being cloying, and glides across the face, neck and decolletage, before soaking straight in. Our tester’s skin became brightened and toned after use, with skin significantly hydrated, making those fine lines and wrinkles look much less obvious.

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Murad retinol youth renewal night cream

best anti-ageing night creams Indybest
  • Best: For firming
  • Size: 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide, water, mineral oil, soothing urea and glycerin
  • Skin type: All bar sensitive skin
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Fragranced: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Certainly does improve brightness and skin’s elasticity
  • Take note
    • Formulated with mineral oil which can be seen as a cheap ingredient for such a premium brand
    • Heightens skin sensitivit

This cream comes in a recyclable pot and features a useful push-down release top to make the application feel cleaner. The formula includes several active ingredients such as niacinamide, elastin-boosting dipeptide and retinol – because of the powerful components, you may experience sensitivity with daily use. And as our tester’s skin is prone to that, we found applying the cream three times a week worked best.

The cream is a lightweight sheen on skin, and although it did tingle a little at first, due to the ingredient blend we saw impressive results, with our tester’s skin appearing firmer and brighter. We particularly noticed an improvement in frown lines and our tighter, less tired-looking forehead.

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Antipodes culture probiotic night recovery water cream

best anti-ageing night creams
  • Best: For hydrated skin
  • Size: 60ml
  • Key ingredients: Water, jojoba oil, glycerin, vitamin E, carrot oil and grapefruit
  • Skin type: Combination to oily
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Fragranced: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • One of very few oily skin-appropriate anti-ageing night creams
    • Its point of difference (compared to similar creams) is the native New Zealand mamaku black fern’s positive effect on stressed skin

A brand-new launch from the New Zealand-born brand, this cream features plant-based hyaluronic acid and focuses on strengthening the skin’s healthy microbiome – its natural protective barrier. Its anti-ageing components come from balancing probiotic ingredients. A calming lilac shade, our tester enjoyed the soothing plant fragrance, and how it made their skincare regime feel even more relaxing. Satiny soft, the cream glides across the skin, absorbing with ease and leaving no excess. It felt gentle on the skin, providing nourishment that was visible in our hydrated, brightened complexion.

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No.7 protect & perfect intense advanced night cream

no7 .jpg
  • Best: For sensitive skin
  • Size: 50ml
  • Key ingredients: Vitamin E, shea butter, vitamin A (retinol), vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and collagen peptides
  • Skin type: Dry, normal and sensitive
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Fragranced: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Fragrance is designed to help boost sleep quality
    • Matching serum, eye cream etc. are available

Part of the brand’s popular protect and perfect range, you’ll recognise the classic packaging on this one. This anti-ageing night cream includes retinyl palmitate, a mild enough retinoid for those of us with sensitive skin. Plus, peptides have been included to help boost the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid. The composition specifically focuses on free radicals generated by sun and stress, and we found it to have an inviting, clean scent. With a thick consistency that took time to soak into the skin, it did sit on the surface for a while, but its richness meant our tester’s skin felt soothed and nourished the next morning.

  1.  £22 from Boots.com
Prices may vary
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The verdict: Anti-ageing overnight creams

Our best buy goes to Charlotte Tilbury’s rich and indulgent magic night cream. If you’re looking for powerful active ingredients, we also loved Dr Dennis Gross’s moisturiser. For a mid-range price point, we really rate L’Occitane’s mask night cream multi-tasker. But for a truly affordable option, plump for Nivea’s hyaluron cellular filler anti-age night cream.

Tackle fine lines, wrinkles and dullness with the best anti-ageing serums

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