The exokiss journal · skincare · 3 min read
Best night cream for dry skin: what to look for, and how to layer it
By the exokiss team ·
In short
- A good night cream for dry skin combines three things: humectants that draw in water, barrier lipids like ceramides, and rich butters or oils that seal it in.
- Apply it as the last step at night, over damp skin or a hydrating serum.
- Fragrance-light formulas are kinder to very dry, easily irritated skin.
- Over 40 or 50? The same rules apply. Add a peptide or retinol-alternative step if smoother-looking skin is the goal.
Dry skin loses water faster than it can hold it, and night is when a richer cream can do its best work: no makeup, no sun, and hours of uninterrupted contact. Here's what to look for in a night cream for dry skin, and how to get the most from it. Browse our face moisturizers as you read.
What makes a night cream good for dry skin
| Look for | What it does | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Humectants | Draw water into the skin | Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, aloe |
| Barrier lipids | Refill the "mortar" between skin cells | Ceramides, plant oils |
| Emollients and occlusives | Soften and slow water loss overnight | Shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba, sunflower oil |
Ceramides are a big part of the skin's natural barrier, and dry skin often has fewer of them. That's why ceramide creams are a go-to for skin that feels tight and rough.
Our Ceramide Night Cream
Our Ceramide Night Cream is a rich cocoa-and-shea cream with 0.2% ceramides, aloe leaf juice, and jojoba and sunflower oils. It wraps dry skin in moisture, so it feels soft and supple by morning. It is vegan (plant waxes, no beeswax), COSMOS Natural and made for normal to dry skin.
A 3-step night routine for dry skin
- Tone: Hydrating Toner, a water-light rose toner with hyaluronic acid, pressed in after cleansing.
- Hydrate: Prebiotic Jelly Serum, a light jelly with 2% prebiotic ferment for comfortable-feeling skin.
- Seal: the Ceramide Night Cream as your last step.
Tip: apply cream to skin that's still slightly damp from toner or serum. You'll trap more water under it.
Choosing a night cream by age and goal
- Very dry or tight skin: a rich ceramide-and-butter cream at night.
- Dry skin and fine lines (40s, 50s, 60s): add a treatment serum under your cream, such as peptides or a plant retinol alternative. Read peptide serum vs retinol.
- One cream for day and night: our Peptide AM-PM Cream with 2% sodium PCA keeps skin feeling supple morning and night.
What to avoid when skin is very dry
- Harsh, foaming cleansers that leave skin squeaky.
- Too many exfoliating acids at once.
- Hot water and long showers.
- Heavily fragranced products, if your skin reacts easily.
Is your body dry too? Rough elbows, knees and shins need a different kind of cream from your face. Read what urea cream does for rough, dry skin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best night cream for dry skin?
Look for a rich cream that combines humectants (like glycerin or hyaluronic acid), barrier lipids (like ceramides) and butters or oils (like shea or jojoba). Choose a texture you enjoy, because you'll use it every night.
Do I need a separate night cream?
Not always. Dry skin often benefits from a richer cream at night, but a well-made day-and-night cream can cover both if your skin is only mildly dry.
What are the benefits of using a night cream?
A night cream gives your skin hours of uninterrupted moisture, so dry skin feels softer and more comfortable by morning.
What is the best cream for very dry, aging skin?
A rich ceramide cream at night, with a peptide or retinol-alternative serum underneath, covers both dryness and the look of fine lines.
Should I put night cream on damp or dry skin?
Slightly damp skin is best: the cream helps hold in the water that's already there.
Sources
Coderch L. et al. Ceramides and skin function. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003;4(2):107–129.
Product details are taken from the exokiss product pages. This article is general information, not medical advice.
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