My Night Creams Are Always Expensive—This $12 One Totally Surprised Me

There's no denying that night creams are one of the more expensive skincare products out there. Some can even set you back over $100, which some people might deem a worthy investment. One thing's for certain, though: A night cream is an important beauty product.

"A night cream hydrates the skin," explains New York City board-certified dermatologist Elyse Love, MD. "Nighttime moisturizers are important because we typically use drying ingredients, like retinols, at night. Night creams help restore the skin's balance so that these active ingredients don't dry out the skin."

So, yes, a night cream is an essential skincare step for most, but that doesn't mean you have to splurge on one. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable options out there, and I happened to find some of the best.

To share a bit about my own skin journey, I used to religiously use moisturizers that were no less than $75. My skin is extremely sensitive and breaks out easily, so finding the right skincare products hasn't been easy. To be honest, I kind of wrote off drugstore options because I thought they wouldn't be conducive to my skin goals, but boy, was I wrong. I found a $12 cream that I use day and night that's designed to deeply hydrate even the most sensitive skin.

If you're curious to learn more about my favorite drugstore night cream and you'd like to do your research before you buy one of your own, keep on reading. I'm sharing my favorite below and asked the experts for their tips on how to shop for a night cream at the drugstore.

Best for Fine Lines and Wrinkles: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream ($20)

Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleraine Double Repair Face Moisturizer ($19)

Best for Mature Skin: Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Max Face Moisturizer ($31)

Best for Oily Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream ($20)

Best for Dry Skin: Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Night Cream With Hyaluronic Acid ($14)

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer ($12)

My Top Pick: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

How to Choose a Night Cream

A few experts weighed in on what to look for in a night cream. Board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, has a few pointers when it comes to choosing the right night cream for you at the drugstore. "When considering a night cream, some key ingredients include retinol, which is a vitamin A derivative and works to regulate skin cell turnover and boosts collagen production," she says. "Hyaluronic acid helps to boost moisture and plump the skin, as well as peptides, which can help to firm the skin."

"For nighttime, I like products that are corrective and restorative," says dermatologist Karen Chinonso Kagha, MD, who looks for ingredients like retinol or retinoids, antioxidants, and gentle acids. Makeup artist and VaultBeauty app founder Courtney Summers adds that she prefers night creams with ingredients like vitamins A, C, and E; retinol; and AHA, which are perfect for anti-aging and hydration. "Nighttime is when your skin prepares and regenerates itself, so night creams tend to be a richer moisturizer with a higher concentration of anti-aging ingredients," she explains. "The key to flawless makeup is great skin, which should be attended to both day and night."

Night Creams for Specific Skin Types

Your skin type might also factor in to your night cream choices, especially if you have acne-prone or dry skin. For oily or acne-prone skin, Kagha recommends choosing a product that has chemical exfoliants and other corrective active ingredients that target acne. And you'll want to pay attention to the formula. "Acne-prone skin tends to benefit from oil-free and gel-cream formulations, especially in the summer, as these products are hydrating but light," adds Love.

Garshick says, "Those who are acne-prone should focus on night creams containing retinoids, like adapalene or retinaldehyde, or exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid, which can help to unclog the pores. Other ingredients that can be helpful include azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfur."

While the above can be helpful for some who struggle with acne, it's important to also note that your skin could be too sensitive to use the above actives in your night cream. If that's the case, you'll want to stick to a super-mild exfoliant in the form of a toner or serum (I personally love Sofie Pavitt's Mandelic Clearing Serum, $54) and follow with a sensitive skin–friendly moisturizer like the one from Vanicream.

If you're dealing with dry skin, you might be better off with heavier creams, according to Love. Look for creams that have ultra-hydrating ingredients since that's probably your main skin concern.

How to Shop for a Drugstore Night Cream

It's possible to find a quality night cream at any price, Summers says, adding that she has drugstore and name brands that she uses daily. The main difference between a cheaper brand and a more expensive option is that the latter might include more good-for-the-skin ingredients. "Typically, more expensive night creams also contain active ingredients such as retinoid and/or AHA in addition to moisturizing ingredients," Love says.

When going down the drugstore aisle, Kagha says to pay attention to what your particular skin needs are. "Always check the active ingredients to see what the product is targeting," she explains. "Avoid products with fragrance or other potential allergens, especially for sensitive skin."

The Best Drugstore Night Creams

Best for Fine Lines and Wrinkles: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

Best for Sensitive Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

Best for Mature Skin: Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Max Face Moisturizer

Best for Oily Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream

Best for Dry Skin: Cetaphil Rich Hydrating Night Cream With Hyaluronic Acid

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer

More of the Best Drugstore Night Creams

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.