Numerous studies indicate the importance of sleep. Not getting enough shuteye can have a serious adverse effect on attention, cognition, and mood. According to experts, sleep is also essential (approximately seven and a half hours is the sweet spot) because it’s when the body repairs itself. So, from a skin standpoint, the night is the best time to apply products with nourishing and restorative ingredients. Though all skincare steps are important in their own way, a night serum is going to work overtime while you’re catching some z’s. 

Whether you want to target fine lines and wrinkles, acne or large pores, or discoloration and inflammation, a serum is your best weapon. Unlike other products — like a moisturizer —  serums have a smaller molecular composition, meaning they can penetrate deeper to treat the skin from the inside out. 

While the common goal is to deliver high concentrations of various active ingredients into the deep layers of the skin, day and night serums are formulated with different additives to target specific a.m. and p.m. needs. While daytime serums hydrate and protect, the purpose of a nighttime serum is to resurface and repair. Also, some ingredients are better used at night because they make the skin more sun-sensitive — more on that in a bit. To help you decipher the difference, we put together a list of the best night serums that will have you waking up to a more radiant complexion. 

The List 

BEST OVERALL

BEST: Carrot and Stick Repair Serum

Formulyst Anti-Aging Concentrate

FULL LIST

Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum

Murad Revitalixer Recovery Serum

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum

Biossance Squalane and Lactic Resurfacing Night Serum

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum

Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum

Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment

PotentLift Advanced Vitamin C + B + E, Ferulic and Retinol Serum

What Ingredients to Look for In a Night Serum

The ingredients found in night serums are practically limitless, but the following are explicitly considered beneficial when worn at night.

Peptides

Peptides are amino acids that are the building blocks of specific proteins needed by the skin, like collagen and elastin. Using a serum or moisturizer that contains peptides can lead to firmer, younger-looking skin and maybe even fewer breakouts. Clinical studies revealed that peptides could cause a significant increase in dermal collagen and facial wrinkles.

AHAs and BHAs

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) are high-level exfoliants that dissolve the glue that holds together dead skin cells, resulting in a smoother, brighter, and softer complexion. They can also help soften fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. While AHAs also hydrate the skin and boost collagen production, BHAs help treat blemishes, breakouts, and clogged pores. They’re best worn at night because they make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so always wear an SPF of at least 30 during the day. 

Retinol

Topical vitamin A–based drugs called retinoids—the most used and most studied anti-aging compounds— help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Tretinoin, under the brand name Retin-A, was the first retinoid. It was used as an acne treatment in the 1970s, but researchers later discovered that it also fades actinic keratosis spots, evens pigmentation, and speeds the turnover of superficial skin cells. Retinol is one of the top skincare ingredients for softening and preventing fine lines and wrinkles, reducing pore size, encouraging collagen production, lessening the appearance of brown spots, increasing cell turnover, and improving skin texture. 

Antioxidants 

Antioxidants and supporting elements (think hyaluronic acid, peptides, alpha, and beta hydroxy acids) help promote stability, strength, and skin function. During the day, antioxidants protect, but at night they repair. 

Squalene

Squalane is a highly-effective emollient and natural antioxidant. When used over time, it can soften fine lines and wrinkles, reduce scarring, reverse UV damage, and fade skin pigmentation. To be clear, squalene is not squalane, which is more appropriate for oily, acne-prone skin versus dry, mature skin. Additionally, studies suggest squalene appears to be critical for reducing free radical oxidative damage to the skin. 

The Best Night Serums

BEST OVERALL

BEST: Carrot and Stick Repair Serum
Apply this anti-aging serum daily to keep skin hydrated and protected from free radical damage. The Repair Serum by Carrot & Stick helps lift, tighten and firm the look of skin thanks to seven plant-based neuropeptides, while synthesized growth factors help keep skin looking radiant. It’s the best anti-aging serum for 30s — and beyond.

Formulyst Anti-Aging Concentrate
Formulated with ProBioBalance and a powerful Peptide Complex, Formulyst’s fast-acting multitasker of a super serum for aging skin harnesses the natural skincare benefits of Shea Butter, Green Tea & Vitamins C+E to visibly promote the five signs of youth – radiance, elasticity, firmness, skin tone, and smoothness.

FULL LIST

Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum
As mentioned, when it comes to night serums, the more ingredients, the merrier, as it’s the best time for your skin (the largest organ of the body) to repair itself. While there are an overwhelming array of skincare brands on the market, Dermalogica continues to be a leader from a professional and consumer standpoint — and with good reason: quality, results-driven formulas. In this night serum, peptides and argan and rose oils work together synergistically to soften fine lines and wrinkles and revitalize a lackluster complexion. 

Murad Revitalixer Recovery Serum
Not only does this sphere-infused formula touted as one of the best night serums for the face, but it also reduces dark under-eye circles and puffiness, thanks to caffeine and niacinamide. A blend of neuropeptide, paracress, and cannabis sativa seed oil help to soften fine lines and wrinkles while you sleep. 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Advanced Night Repair is a face serum developed by Estée Lauder over thirty years ago. This product is credited with being the industry’s first serum. The concept behind Night Repair is that the best time to repair and heal the skin is while you sleep. The key ingredients in this face serum include bifida ferment lysate, baobab seed oil, tripeptide-32, and sodium hyaluronate. Overall, Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair is said to help with loss of firmness lines and wrinkles, dryness, dehydration, dullness, loss of radiance, and uneven skin tone.

Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum
Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum combines two of the best ingredients in skin care — vitamin C and retinol — into one lightweight serum. The formula includes three different forms of vitamin C, as well as acerola cherry extract, a botanical extract that is naturally rich in vitamin C. When applied to the skin, vitamin C helps to combat free radicals, support collagen synthesis, and reduce the formation of dark spots by inhibiting melanin production.

In addition to vitamin C and retinol, this serum contains NIA-114, the brand’s proprietary form of niacin, to strengthen the skin barrier. Together, these key ingredients are said to restore radiance and clarity, smooth away fine lines and uneven texture, and visibly firm and improve elasticity.

Biossance Squalane and Lactic Resurfacing Night Serum
Lactic acid works to exfoliate the skin by breaking down keratin,  the protein that binds dead skin cells together. It also increases cell turnover and attracts moisture to the skin (squalene is another key ingredient), resulting in a softer, smoother, and brighter complexion. While the brand claims you’ll see noticeable results in terms of texture after just one use, over time, fine lines and wrinkles are softened as well. 

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum
For those with extremely parched skin, a simple hyaluronic acid serum won’t do. For that reason, this formula is an excellent choice for extra dry skin because it contains a potent 30% HA complex made up of three different molecular sizes of HA. There are two other star ingredients: ProHyal+ (a natural form of hyaluronic acid-based on a high concentration in yeast oligosaccharides) and a 1% Pentavitin formulation that studies show keeps the skin hydrated for 72 hours. 

Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum
Full disclosure: This is not a retinol serum for rookie retinol users. This professional strength formula consists of a 5% retinoid ester blend, 1% liposomal-encapsulated retinol, and blue-green algae to provide antioxidant protection. The addition of encapsulated CoQ10 works to improve damaged or aging skin; and if you’re worried about irritation due to the strength, cactus extract, Hawaiian white honey, bisabolol, and ginger calm and soothe. 

 Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment
One of the hidden benefits of retinol for oily skin is that it sloughs off dead skin cells that can stick to the surface and clog pores. The 1% strength in this formula helps decrease oil production, while licorice and oat extracts reduce the appearance of dark spots and soothe inflammation.

PotentLift
Retinol and vitamin C work together to lighten dark spots and discoloration due to natural aging or sun damage. Vitamins B, E, and ferulic acid hydrate and repair oxidative stress due to an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body. All of the ingredients harmoniously brighten and rejuvenate the skin. 

Nighttime Face Serums: The Bottom Line

What’s the Best Night Serum available in the market? Overall, we suggest Carrot and Stick Repair Serum. 

Sleep is also essential (approximately seven and a half hours is the sweet spot, according to experts) because it’s when the body repairs itself. So, it’s the best time to apply products with nourishing and restorative ingredients from a skin standpoint. Though all skincare steps are important in their own way, a night serum is going to work overtime while you’re catching some z’s. 

Whether you want to target fine lines and wrinkles, acne or large pores, or discoloration and inflammation, a serum is your best weapon. Unlike other products — like a moisturizer —  serums have a smaller molecular composition, meaning they can penetrate deeper to treat the skin from the inside out. 

While the common goal is to deliver high concentrations of various active ingredients into the deep layers of the skin, day and night serums are formulated with different additives to target specific a.m. and p.m. needs. While daytime serums hydrate and protect, the purpose of a nighttime serum is to resurface and repair. Also, some ingredients are better used at night because they make the skin more sun-sensitive. Look for formulas that contain AHAs, BHAs, antioxidants, squalene, peptides, and retinol. 

There’s no such thing as a quick fix, and consistency is vital if you want to see results — which can take at least 4-6 weeks in most cases. Don’t give up. Stick with it, and you’ll see an improvement over time, providing you’re using a nighttime serum with a high concentration of quality ingredients suited for your skin type. 

Sources:
“The Extraordinary Importance of Sleep,” US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, December 2018.
“Do Retinoids Really Reduce Wrinkles?,” Harvard Health Publishing, April 2017.
“Biological and Pharmacological Activities of Squalene and Related Compounds: Potential Uses in Cosmetic Dermatology,” US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, January 2009.
“Anti-Wrinkle Benefits of Peptides Complex Stimulating Skin Basement Membrane Proteins Expression,” US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, January 2020.