No matter the season, night cream is the hard-working essential our skin needs.
It’s one of the best ways to seal in moisture, hydrate, and restore skin with minimal effort. This is all the more true in winter, when dry air and indoor heating can strip our skin and leave it tired and dehydrated. Different skin types benefit from different levels of hydration.
Whether your main concern is acne or ageing, there’s a night cream for you. Read on for our favourites.
The best night creams to buy in NZ

01
Overnight Sensation Night Moisturiser
$50 at Hey Bud
Best for: acne-prone skin in need of a serious moisture hit
Even oily and acne-prone skin needs extra hydration during autumn and winter. Dry air can cause the skin to overproduce sebum and lead to more breakouts, so don’t shy away from nourishing ingredients. This hemp seed oil-powered night moisturiser from Hey Bud replenishes the skin with intense moisture, leaving a radiant complexion without clogging pores.
Packed with antioxidants to restore hydration, it contains aloe vera to soothe irritated, thirsty skin, and rapeseed oil to combat premature ageing. With a rich, creamy formula and no fragrance or essential oils, it’s non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types. If you’re wary of hydrating formulas or your skin is temperamental, don’t worry: Hey Bud offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, so you’ve got nothing to lose.
This night moisturiser is fantastic! I really love how soft and plump my skin feels after using it nightly for the past two weeks. I’ve noticed a real difference, especially since I’m prone to dryness and sunburn. It’s super hydrating—this is now a staple in my skincare routine. Thanks, Hey Bud!”
Review on Hey Bud
Size: 50g

02
Eucerin Q10 Active Night Cream
$29.96 from iHerb
Best for: those needing a one-stop shop when it comes to an evening skincare routine
The unassuming little jar is quietly earning cult status among those in the know. The star ingredient of this night cream is Coenzyme Q10. Known for its antioxidant superpowers, Q10 is naturally found in our skin, but, like our patience for poor skincare, it declines with age. Eucerin’s formula replenishes this vital molecule, helping to boost cell regeneration while you sleep. It also contains vitamin E and pro-retinol.
The result? Skin that feels firmer, smoother, and more luminous by morning. Free from alcohol, fragrances, and colourants, it’s ideal for sensitive skin types. The texture is rich but not greasy; a soft, velvety balm that melts into the skin and leaves a nourished glow.
“I hardly write reviews, but this moisturiser deserves it. I love this night cream—it absorbs beautifully overnight and leaves my face feeling supple and hydrated. It’s thick, which is my favourite thing about it, plus it has retinol. Affordable and effective. Good size, great packaging!”
Review on iHerb
Size: 48g

03
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Night Cream
$23.57 from iHerb
Best for: sensitive skin in need of extra nourishment
Palmer’s is a staple in the body care game, but don’t sleep on its facial moisturiser. It’s packed with the same ultra-hydrating properties that made the original body lotion iconic. Retinol, peptides, and Vitamin E work in harmony to boost collagen, soften fine lines, and even out skin tone, while the hero ingredient, cocoa butter, deeply moisturises and calms dry, stressed skin.
The texture is lusciously thick and the scent is that familiar, warm cocoa aroma that instantly transports you to a happier place (possibly involving chocolate and fluffy slippers).
What’s particularly impressive is its ability to strike a delicate balance: rich enough to quench thirsty skin, but with a non-comedogenic formula that won’t clog pores or feel heavy by morning. Instead, skin wakes up soft, plump, and velvety, with that elusive “well-rested” glow that no concealer can fake…. (we’ve tried).
“This face cream is my go-to since discovering it a few months ago. I have oily, sensitive skin, so finding something that works has always been hard. This night cream is ultra-hydrating. I even use the face oil during the day. My skin has never looked better—and it smells divine!”
Review on Palmers.com
Size: 75g

04
L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Golden Age Night Cream
$27.99 at Chemist Warehouse
Best for: ageing skin in need of a collagen hit
As we age, our skin begins to lose that all-important collagen. Nighttime is the perfect time to repair and replenish so you can wake up glowing. This L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Golden Age Night Cream is designed for mature skin that’s lost some of its natural radiance and resilience.
What makes this formula a standout is its unique rosy glow complex: a subtle blush tint that brings an instant healthy hue to skin that’s often left dull and tired. But this isn’t just cosmetic. Behind the rosy veil lies a powerhouse blend of neo-calcium and flower extracts, specially chosen to fortify thinning skin and restore density overnight.
The texture is a velvety balm-meets-gel hybrid—ideal for those whose skin feels fragile, dry, or papery.
“The L’Oreal Paris Golden Age Re-Densifying Night Cream is a product I have always wanted to try so was thrilled when given the opportunity to try it. Having mature aged skin I find my skin has become dryer in texture and was thrilled to find only after a short time using this product nightly that the feel of my skin felt smoother and more supple and on waking no tightness. The product is easy to use and when applying only needing a very small amount for each application.”
Review on Chemist Warehouse
Size: 50ml

05
Emma Lewisham Supernatural Face Crème Riche
$158 at Emma Lewisham
Best for: those wanting that luxe facial feeling — every day
This Aotearoa-founded skincare line is known for luxe, rich ingredients that make you feel like you’ve just stepped out of the spa. The jewel in the crown is this overnight cream, packed with powerful, hydrating essentials.
This ultra-restorative night cream contains 30 high-performing active ingredients, including plant stem cells, liposomal CoQ10, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. Clinically proven to boost collagen production at a cellular level by up to 21 per cent, it targets the full spectrum of skin ageing.
The texture is rich, yet weightlessly absorbed, like a cashmere blanket for your skin. After just two weeks, skin feels plumper, smoother, and visibly more luminous.
And the cherry on top? Sustainability is stitched into every layer of this jar. The crème is carbon positive, refillable, and packaged in fully recyclable materials.
This Emma Lewisham Supernatural Face Crème is an outstanding moisturizer that delivers deep hydration lasting hours. It enhanced my skin elasticity, firmness, and collagen production, visibly reducing fine lines. I love that it’s cruelty-free and safe for use for anyone! This luxurious cream left my skin feeling supple, youthful, and deeply moisturized. Highly recommend for anyone seeking effective, natural skincare solutions.
Review on Emma Lewisham
Size: 50ml

06
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Ageing Overnight Cream
$223 Adore Beauty
Best for: treating the signs of everyday exposure and damage
Housed in a sleek silver jar, this cult-status night cream is powered by Idebenone, one of the most potent antioxidants in skincare science. Touted as more effective than CoQ10 and green tea, it shields the skin from environmental damage while boosting its natural repair cycle, making it a true guardian angel for skin exposed to UV, pollution, and stress.
The buttery, rich texture melts in without residue, so you don’t need to worry about it rubbing off on your pillow. With continued use, skin appears firmer, fine lines soften, and tone evens out, revealing that elusive glow of well-rested, well-cared-for skin. It’s especially effective for dry, fatigued, or mature skin craving deep regeneration.
This cream is amazing! Feels beautiful, absorbs well and I really notice the difference with my skin looking so much better and clearer. I’ve had compliments from friends asking what have I done to my skin? It’s looking great.
Review on Adore Beauty
Size: 50ml
How does night cream differ from day cream?
During the day, our skin acts as a shield against environmental aggressors. This is when we experience the highest skin barrier protection, thickness, and sebum production.
Conversely, evenings are for intense repair. It’s during the night that we experience peak DNA repair and cell renewal. As skin barrier function is at its lowest, it’s essential to support it as much as possible.
What kind of protection does night cream offer?
Our skin defends us against everything from pollution to UV rays, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures, especially in winter when we’re constantly shifting between indoor heating and cold outdoor air.
As moisture loss is typically higher overnight, a cream rich in ceramides and moisture-boosting ingredients is ideal. Ceramides help restore the skin’s barrier, improving its natural defence against premature ageing while visibly firming and nourishing the complexion.
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