What does night serum do?

Night serums vary but most will increase skin's moisture, provide skin boosting ingredients, and help fight signs of aging. Many night serums are heavier than day serums or lotions since they have time to sink in and work overnight. This means they typically contain nourishing oils. Many night serums include ingredients like retinol that increase photosensitivity and should be avoided during the day.

Should I use a night serum?

If you want a highly effective and potent product that will work while you sleep, a night serum is an excellent choice. Night serums are useful for a variety of skin concerns from hydration to blemish fighting.

Do I need both serum and moisturizer?

You can find serums that provide moisturizing ingredients but a moisturizer is also a good idea. Moisturizer contain ingredients that help to lock this moisture in, creating a barrier to prevent dryness. Most serums provide moisturizing oils but lack the ability to lock in the hydration.

These 12 Night Serums Prove That Beauty Sleep Isn't a Myth

Giselle La Pompe-Moore

Updated on Oct 21, 2021

Reviewed by

Marisa Garshick, MD

BOARD-CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

There's a point in the evening where our bodies just start to physically reject the idea of wearing anything other than pajamas or trying to find another true-crime series to start. So off to bed we go, but not before a trip to our bathroom cabinets.

Our bodies are busy repairing bees when we've drifted off to sleep, and while we're dreaming, our skin is working the night shift, which is why switching up our nighttime skincare routines can be well worth it. We throw a lot at our skin during the day—sun, pollution, and grime—so using products that serve as supportive assistants to the regenerative process will increase the benefits of that elusive "beauty sleep" tenfold.

The best place to get your souped-up nightly skin hit is through a good serum. Serums are packed with potent actives, and as our skin is most receptive to the delivery of these ingredients at night, bedtime is the best time for their application, right between cleansing and moisturizing.

We've found powerful night serums that target specific skin concerns, so you'll be spending your time in the morning staring at your reflection instead of downing a cup of coffee.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

La Mer The Regenrating Serum at Sephora

A bio-ferment and marine peptide ferment in this formula, both work to support skin's natural collagen and elastin production.

Best for Firming:

Avène Physiolift Serum at Dermstore

This genius formula works on skin both above and below the surface, thanks to two types of hyaluronic acid.

Best for Radiance:

L'Occitane Perfecting Essence at Loccitane.com

When applied at night, the plant sugars will boost your complexion, leaving you with a radiant glow.

Best for Exfoliating:

Pixi Overnight Glow Serum at Pixibeauty.com

A gentle peel-as-you-sleep formula—this glycolic acid serum will exfoliate your skin as you rest.

Best for Repairing:

Dr. Dennis Gross Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum at Sephora

This serum contains ferulic acid and retinol to smooth fine lines and correct skin texture.

Best for Repairing, Runner-Up:

Alpha-H Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot Serum at Neimanmarcus.com

It helps with discoloration and lines and then ups the moisture for a smooth result.

Best for Darker Skin Tones:

Epara Hydrating Serum at Nordstrom

This nourishing serum expertly tackles skin discoloration, without any harsh skin-lightening ingredients.

Best for Oily Skin:

Dr. Hauschka Night Serum at Pharmaca.com

It uses gentle fruit waters and extracts that won't weigh skin down or make it any oilier than it already is.

Best for Sensitivity:

Dermalogica Serum Concentrate at Sephora

Calming oat and botanical extracts along with nourishing oils help to prevent further skin issues and help with discomfort.

Best Natural:

Vanderohe Nourishing Face Serum at Net-a-porter.com

This blend of essential oils goes deep into the skin to balance and repair.

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for in a Night Serum

best night serum: La Mer The Regenerating Serum

View On Sephora View On Cremedelamer.com View On Saks Fifth Avenue

Not only will La Mer's miracle aim to improve skin clarity and brightness, but this serum also contains a bio-ferment and marine peptide ferment, both of which claim to support skin's natural collagen and elastin production. The effect is a bouncier complexion with blurred wrinkles and pores. Bonus: The silky formula is utterly divine to apply.

Best Night Serum: Eau Thermale Avène Physiolift Serum

View On Dermstore View On Skinstore.com

This serum would be the kid in school who always aced their tests. This genius formula works on skin both above and below the surface, thanks to two types of hyaluronic acid, so it'll provide moisture as you sleep. If you've got important meetings in the morning, this is the one you need to apply the night before.

Best Night Serum: L'Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Essence

View On Loccitane.com

With skin-smoothing peony extract, this serum will leave your skin feeling as smooth as a petal. When applied at night, the plant sugars may boost your complexion—you'll up your chances of a radiant glow when you look in the mirror in the morning.

View On Pixibeauty.com View On Revolve.com

A gentle peel-as-you-sleep formula—it doesn't get better than that. Pixi's glycolic acid serum will exfoliate your skin as you rest, offering the same glow you get after a facial or mask, but without any hassle. It also has soothing aloe vera, so you won't have any redness when you head out for the day.

Best Night Serum: Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic and Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum

View On Sephora View On Dermstore

Dr. Dennis Gross's serum is addictive stuff—we're talking free radical eliminator ferulic acid combined with line-reducing retinol, so you'll likely notice a big difference in the overall texture of your skin as well as some plumping action. It'll get you even more excited about heading to bed.

ALPHA-H Liquid Gold Midnight Reboot serum

View On Neimanmarcus.com View On Selfridges.com

Just as you take your daily supplements in the morning, this nighttime serum is a daily staple that repairs skin while you sleep. A combination of glycolic acid and granactive retinoid help to renew the look of dull skin, leaving it radiant. It improves the look of discoloration, plumps up the skin, reduces lines, and then ups the moisture for a smooth result.

View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore View On Net-a-porter.com

This New Luxury Line for Women of Color Has the Night Balm of My Dreams

Formulated with the particular skincare needs of women of color in mind, this nourishing serum expertly tackles skin discoloration without any harsh skin-lightening ingredients. It also considers how dry darker skin can get, using a wealth of plant-based ingredients to up the moisture.

Best Night Serum: Dr Hauschka Night Serum

View On Pharmaca.com View On Skinstore.com

If you're not a fan of dense creams and oils at night, this light serum needs a place in your skincare routine. It uses gentle fruit waters and extracts that won't weigh skin down or make it any oilier than it already is.

Best Night Serum: Dermalogica UltraCalming Serum Concentrate

View On Sephora View On Ulta

Our skin just loves letting us know when it's not happy, and it usually shows up in redness, sensitivity, and inflammation. At times like that, the last thing you want to do is add potent ingredients to irritate it further. Consider this serum your nighttime superhero, rushing in to save your skin with calming oat and botanical extracts along with nourishing oils. It'll work through the night to help prevent further skin issues and help with discomfort.

Best Night Serum: Vanderohe No.1 Nourishing Face Serum

View On Net-a-porter.com

With oils of the absolute highest grades, this serum is a miracle worker. One sniff of the instantly relaxing scent of rose, cedarwood, lavender, and Roman chamomile essential oils is enough to send you straight to sleep. But the skincare benefits are even more special; it goes deep into the skin to balance and repair.

Best Night Serum: Elemis Hydra-Boost Serum

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Our skin loses more water at night, so applying a serum that adds moisture is essential. Using ingredients like hyaluronic acid that are a match for thirsty skin, Elemis's moisture booster is vying for a spot on your top shelf.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II

View On Sephora

We could spend an entire day discussing why Estée Lauder's serum is such a beauty-editor favorite. The short story is that it works on all the major signs of aging, smoothing over fine lines and plumping areas that have lost their volume. Put simply, it just makes you look rested, and we all need that.

If you have a complex morning routine to make you look more like yourself, try these night serums instead so you can set your alarm for a little later.

What to Look for in a Night Serum

Moisturizing Ingredients

Night serums that provide moisturizers and moisture-protecting ingredients are key. Moisture support will help your skin stay plump and replace any moisture lost when cleansing or from makeup use. Look for emollients, occlusive, and humectants—ingredients like hyaluronic acid and nourishing botanical oils.

Anti-Aging Ingredients

Boosting your skin's collagen and elastin will help keep it looking plump, fresh and may prevent or minimize fine lines. Look for marine peptides, and vitamin C. Retinol and ferulic acid are other effective anti-aging and free-radical fighting ingredients to look for in your night serum.

Chemical Exfoliants

Chemical exfoliants in your night serum can work to resurface and replenish your skin's surface. Look for serums that include ingredients like glycolic acid, ferulic acid, lactic acid, and malic acid.

FAQ

What does night serum do?

Night serums vary but most will increase skin's moisture, provide skin boosting ingredients, and help fight signs of aging. Many night serums are heavier than day serums or lotions since they have time to sink in and work overnight. This means they typically contain nourishing oils. Many night serums include ingredients like retinol that increase photosensitivity and should be avoided during the day.
Should I use a night serum?

If you want a highly effective and potent product that will work while you sleep, a night serum is an excellent choice. Night serums are useful for a variety of skin concerns from hydration to blemish fighting.
Do I need both serum and moisturizer?

You can find serums that provide moisturizing ingredients but a moisturizer is also a good idea. Moisturizer contain ingredients that help to lock this moisture in, creating a barrier to prevent dryness. Most serums provide moisturizing oils but lack the ability to lock in the hydration.

Yes, Affordable Facial Serums Do Exist—These 14 All-Stars Are Under $30

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