- Good for: Sensitive skin, skin care on a budget
Best for Dry Skin: La Mer Crème de La Mer
- Pros: Rich and nourishing texture, available in a range of sizes
- Cons: Very pricey
For a luxe treat, try La Mer’s cult classic Crème de La Mer (and bask in the skin care flex of displaying it on your sink). Made with the brand’s proprietary Miracle Broth, which mainly consists of moisturizing algae extract, its nourishing consistency feels great on dehydrated skin, Dr. Glodny says. He adds that it’s also a good choice for people concerned with signs of aging: Your skin tends to get drier as you get older, and a rich cream can help efficiently replenish its moisture.
- Good for: Very dry and dehydrated skin, signs of aging, fans of luxury skin care
Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Night Cream
- Pros: Non-irritating formula, absorbs easily (according to reviews)
- Cons: Might not be as thick as some people would prefer
La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Dermallergo Night Cream is a good option for people with sensitive skin because it’s fragrance-free, which reduces the risk of irritation, Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatologist and the founder of Ocean Skin & Vein Institute in Manhattan Beach, California, tells SELF. It’s also on the lighter side, thanks to a gel-cream texture that still feels nourishing.
- Good for: Sensitive skin, oily skin, combination skin
Best for Signs of Aging: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer
- Pros: Formulated to refresh skin’s appearance, relatively affordable
- Cons: Some reviewers dislike the scent
The hero ingredient in Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer is retinol, which makes it an especially good pick for people who are concerned about fine lines or skin texture, Dr. Shokeen says. By speeding up skin cell turnover, retinol can help unclog pores, boost the health of your skin barrier, and give your skin a brighter, fresher appearance overall. Just remember to wear sunscreen in the morning, since retinol can make your skin more sensitive to harmful UV rays.
- Good for: Fine lines, uneven skin texture, dullness, hyperpigmentation, and dark spots
Best for Irritation-Prone Skin: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Sleepair Intensive Mask
- Pros: Soothing formula, green tint helps immediately offset redness
- Cons: May feel a little too heavy for some people
If you have dry, irritated skin that’s prone to inflammation, including redness, the Cicapair Tiger Grass Sleepair Intensive Mask from Dr. Jart+ is worth a try. Dustin Portela, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in Idaho, likes it for its calming, anti-inflammatory ingredients like centella asiatica, a plant extract that tends to be soothing and hydrating.
- Good for: Redness, irritation, dry skin, rosacea
Best Splurge: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 242
- Pros: Extremely nourishing formula, suitable for a range of skin concerns
- Cons: Very pricey
This night cream from SkinCeuticals has earned a holy grail reputation for its ability to restore the skin’s barrier, Aanand N. Geria, MD, FAAD, the founder of Geria Dermatology in New Jersey, tells SELF. Its key ingredients include ceramides and vitamin E, both of which help to moisturize and strengthen the skin. Dr. Geria also likes the Triple Lipid Restore cream because it contains antioxidants to help prevent the signs of free radical damage, like fine lines and dark spots caused by sun exposure.