Healing and Hydration: The Best Natural Night Cream

We are all searching for the best way to moisturize our skin, and while some products help, others just don’t seem to make a difference. I’ve especially noticed in the winter months that my daily moisturizer simply isn’t up to par with battling my dry skin. When our go-to products aren’t working effectively for us, it’s only natural to start looking for more intense help. That is where night creams come in! It’s especially important to look for a natural cream if you’re like me and would rather skip putting any extra chemicals into your skin. Don’t let the marketing fool you; it’s completely possible to find a fantastic all-natural night cream. Let’s discuss a few products to find the best natural night cream on the market.

Beauty’s Secret Weapon: Night Creams

The Benefits of a Night Cream

Let’s be honest: dry, flaky skin is a real issue. Night creams can honestly make such a difference when it comes to tight, stripped, and raw skin. Night creams work differently than daily moisturizers. Regular face lotions are ideally lightweight, oil-free, and the perfect amount of hydration while providing an even base for makeup. Many daily moisturizers even include sunscreen for filtering out those damaging UV rays during the day. Night creams, on the contrary, are thick. These creams quite often need to be scooped from a container and spread onto our skin. These creams are chemically engineered to follow your body’s natural process of repairing itself during your sleep cycle. They work with your skin’s healing abilities at night to provide ingredients for extra nourishment and greater repair. Beyond that, though, let’s talk anti-aging. If you’ve noticed fine lines and wrinkles, night creams could potentially work wonders for you. Most of the creams we will be discussing are not only super-hydrating products but their natural chemistry help with preventing signs of maturing skin. It’s always a gut-wrenching moment when you think you spot a wrinkle or notice a line forming on your skin. I would personally much rather invest in a high-quality, natural cream than let those lines have their way!

Throughout the day, your skin is exposed to a thousand different damaging foreign bodies, pollutants, and harsh chemicals. This is first and foremost why it’s important to cleanse your face before bed, however, taking it a step further with a night cream may produce even more fantastic results. At that point, not only will you be giving your skin a clean palette to repair, but you’ll be providing it with tools–vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats–to do an even better job. Your skin cells will already naturally repair itself while you sleep, so it’s the most effective time to take advantage of adding more nutrients.

Night creams are designed to give your skin the nourishment it needs to recover any lost nutrients during the day, repair any possible damage, and also potentially give your skin a healthier, glowing sheen. These creams can work their magic with hydrating your skin, and also by encouraging collagen production to increase elasticity. The nutrients of these creams reach deep into your dermis to help repair those cells causing the fine lines, wrinkles, and aging spots.

Why All-Natural Creams?

We all know we should avoid chemicals if we can, whether in food, cleaning supplies, or beauty products. It’s not uncommon to hear about the dangers of typical chemicals found in nearly everything, and health professionals warn us to look for organic whenever we can. We know these things, but what difference does it actually make?

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard about parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals and synthetic dyes. Sure, these don’t sound fantastic, but why are they important to avoid? In brief, parabens imitate estrogen in the body and have been discovered in malignant breast tumors, as well as linked to reproductive issues.

Phthalates enable the product to absorb quickly into the skin, and as helpful as that sounds, they have also been classified as a probable carcinogen. Further, petrochemicals have been linked to numerous problems such as anemia and nerve damage. In case you didn’t know, synthetic dyes are considered petrochemicals, and beyond that, they are also suspected as potential carcinogens.

What to Look For When Comparing Natural Night Creams

When you’re comparing natural creams, there are a few aspects to look for. First off, consider your skin type. Anyone can have dry skin, including those whose “type” of skin is oily or acne-prone. However, if you do happen to have oily skin and you’re on the hunt for a natural night cream, look for a product suited for all skin types. There are numerous night creams on the market, but several of them are only designed for dry or combination skin, and those could cause your face to produce more oil or break out with acne.

Second, look for the texture. Some creams try to disguise a poorly-made product as a night cream, but the texture of their cream is more akin to a lotion. Lotions are typically water-based, and therefore thin. When choosing a night cream, you certainly want a thick cream that needs to be scooped out and worked into your skin. A high-quality night cream will always be thick and luscious, not a thin lotion. The thickness makes all the difference in assisting your skin with moisture retention throughout the night, which produces ideally soft, supple skin in the morning. Third, look for commonly known natural hydrating ingredients, such as aloe vera, coconut oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, essential oils, vitamins, and so on. These ingredients will give you an excellent indication that this cream could possibly do a wonderful job hydrating and repairing your skin. These powerhouse ingredients are nature’s superfoods and plants, well-known for years for their nearly magical properties. You’d do well to find a natural cream utilizing them!

This natural night cream is focused on gentle rejuvenation with several incredible powerful ingredients, such as Vitamins E and B, coconut oil, rosehip, rooibos, green tea, vanilla bean, and even shiitake mushroom. Each of these ingredients work on their own and as a team to infuse your skin with antioxidants, hydration, elastic collagen, and brighter skin tones. Green tea is simply bursting with antioxidants, which fight free radicals and repair existing damage by clinging to the radicals and deactivating them. Green tea is also rich in polyphenols, which are known for their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer properties. These polyphenols enable green tea to help reduce puffiness, redness, and skin discoloration or issues.

Rosehip, though perhaps not very common, is full of antioxidants as well, while also nourishing our skin with the healthy essential fatty acids. These fatty acids help with tissue regeneration and hydration, due to their repair of our skin cells. The regeneration properties could also help with anti-aging as it repairs collagen, smoothing out those fine lines, and toning loose skin. Ingredients: Aqua (distilled water), cetostearyl alcohol, ethoxylated sorbitan ester, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, glycine soja (soybean) oil, steric acid, isopropyl myristate, vanilla planifolia (vanilla bean) extract, lentinula edodes (shiitake mushroom) extract, rosa canina (rosehip) fruit powder extract, aspalathus linearis (rooibos) extract, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, DMDM hydantoin, potassium sorbate, colorant, parfum (fragrance), tetrasodium EDTA, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin C ester, tocopherol (vitamin E), cobalamin (vitamin B12)

• Not labeled as ideal for all skin types
• Some complaints that it has a fake vanilla scent

Not only is this night cream completely natural, it is also 80% organic! I love the fact that you don’t have to worry about chemicals or preservatives in this cream, as well as knowing most of the ingredients are organic to top it off. We all know organic is better, but it can be hard to find good organic products. This cream is made without fillers or binders, which makes it very thick, very easy to absorb, and only requires a little at a time. The key ingredient here is their beeswax with pollen and propolis! Beeswax protects the skin from foreign particles while still allowing for breathability. It is an antibacterial agent and, additionally, it draws moisture into the skin, sealing it for superior moisture retention.

This night cream also contains honey and olive oil, which are both extremely moisturizing on their own. The combination of beeswax, honey, and olive oil has been seen as an excellent treatment for bacterial skin conditions, as they inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Further, olive oil is full of fatty acids, which help rejuvenate our skin and encourage collagen production. Increased collagen elasticity is a prime factor in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Finally, Bee Friendly’s night cream is packed with antioxidants from the olive oil, beeswax, and honey for protecting your skin from free radicals. As a bonus, they are cruelty-free. Ingredients: Purified Water, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Beeswax with Pollen & Propolis, Raw Hawaiian Honey, Geranium Essential Oil, Lemon Essential Oil, Vitamin E. Handmade by Holistic BeeKeepers in Hawaii!

• Greasy
• A little pricey for the 2 oz jar size

Neutrogena has already made a fantastic impact with their Naturals line, but let’s take a closer look at their night cream. This multivitamin cream is infused with Vitamin C, B, and E. Vitamin C aids collagen production, and as we have covered, collagen helps reduce those annoying fine lines and wrinkles. Further, Vitamin B is an excellent choice as it is a super vitamin of sorts with evening skin pigmentation and breaking down pesky oils to reduce acne. Finally, the Vitamin E they have used in their cream is helpful for its antioxidant properties in keeping your skin safe.

This cream may not be labeled as 100% all-natural, however, it is 97% natural, with the remaining three-percent of ingredients used for binding the cream. This cream, though thicker than regular water-based lotion, isn’t heavy or greasy and is non-comedogenic, so it won’t cause acne. The cream potentially won’t simply moisturize your skin overnight, it could likely heal and repair your skin with its regenerating ingredients. Ingredients: Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Heptyl Undecylenate, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Ilex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Stearic Acid, Gluconolactone, Maltodextrin, Sclerotium Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance

• Not labeled as ideal for all skin types
• Not 100% natural

This Andalou Naturals night cream is specifically formulated for those with sensitive skin. I have a feeling most of us choose natural products due to skin sensitivity originally, so this is a bonus to me. Rose and pomegranate are key ingredients in this cream. Rose oil helps with skin regeneration, scar reduction, and discoloration. It is known for killing harmful bacteria, clearing acne, and more.

Pomegranates are rich in substances called anthocyanins and hydrolyzable tannins, which apparently have the ability to prevent cancer and tumors. Additionally, pomegranate is known as an antimicrobial, which helps with preventing the spread of bacteria and fungi and therefore may indeed be helpful for healing skin conditions. Finally, pomegranates are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and especially for their help with anti-aging. These fruits are packed with nourishment for fibroblasts, which help encourage collagen production for reducing wrinkles and firming skin. For the cherry on top, this heavenly-scented night cream is organic, which is something I would always prefer to purchase when I’m already looking for all-natural products. It is non-GMO, vegan, and cruelty-free as well. Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Purified Water (Aqua), Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate, Vegetable Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Plant Stem Cells (Alpine Rose, Malus Domestica, Solar Vitis) and BioActive 8 Berry Complex*, Stearyl Alcohol, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Soothing Complex: [Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Boswellia Serrata (Boswellin) Extract], Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*†, Bisabolol, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil*, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Distillate*, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Juice*, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract*†, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Extract*†, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rose Isolates, Vanilla Isolates, Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Flower Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil* *Certified Organic Ingredients †Fair Trade Ingredients

• Not labeled as ideal for all skin types
• Some complaints that it isn’t as moisturizing as expected to be

The Era Organics night cream looks to live up to its name in terms of super hydration. It truly does seem like it would be an oasis for your skin as it is packed with sixteen different natural ingredients to soothe, heal, hydrate, and repair. With numerous vitamins as well as coconut oil, cocoa seed, hemp oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, honey, aloe vera, and more, this cream covers all its bases. Further, it is suitable for all skin types, specifically sensitivity, and it is chemical-free, non-greasy, and won’t clog pores. This product is made in the U.S. and is also cruelty-free.

This cream can be used as a day or night cream, which probably says something about their formula, considering day creams must be thinner. However, it does look like it is a reasonably thick cream, and customers are advised that a little goes a long way. Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis Gel (Aloe Vera), Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Organic Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Leptospermum Scoparium Mel (Manuka Honey), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cehami (Centipeda Cunninghamii), Organic Glycerin, Emulsifying Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Spirulina Maxima (Blue-Green Algae) Extract, Aphanizomenenon Flos-Aquae (Blue-Green Algae) Extract, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic Olea Europaea Fruit (Olive) Oil, Organic Jasmine Grandiflorum, Organic Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Organic Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Methylsulfynolmethane (MSM), Tocobiol (Vitamin E), Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Oat Amino Protein, Organic Frangipani (Plumeria) Extract, Sacchromyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment Hydrolysate, Saccharomyces/Potassium Ferment, Adenosine Triphosphate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Manihot Esculenta (Tapioca) Starch, Sodium Hydroxide, Titanium Dioxide, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Organic Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol

• Not exclusively a night cream
• Only comes in a 2 oz jar

The Best Night Cream – Conclusion

When considering these options for night creams, there is one in particular that stands out slightly above the rest. As you consider a natural night cream, you’ll want to find one that is thick, yet not greasy or pore-clogging. You’ll want a cream within your price range, but still high-quality with numerous natural ingredients for healing, hydration, and repair. Ideally, even though it’s natural, you’d still like it to be dermatologist-tested, just to be safe, as certain natural creams can still cause harsh reactions. As we evaluate all of these criteria, it becomes obvious that the Andalou Naturals night cream is the clear winner of the group. We mentioned in the review that it seems to check off all the boxes for a preferred night cream, and that still stands. It is completely organic, which is basically the safety-seal on the “all-natural” promise. It is a thick cream, non-greasy, and non-comedogenic, so you won’t have to worry about acne breakouts. It is specifically formulated as a night cream to intensely help repair your skin overnight, rather than a day/night cream. This product is filled with healing, soothing, and hydrating ingredients from roses and pomegranates, which truly seems to be a superfood for our skin’s nourishment. The cream is dermatologist-tested, and to top it off, cruelty-free. Though perhaps not considered cheap, this night cream is still within a fairly affordable range. All five of these night creams would likely work incredibly for our purpose, but it does seem that the Andalou Naturals cream ranks in first place as the best natural night cream for face.