13 Miracle-Working Night Creams For People in Their 20s — All Under $55
Night is a cherished time for your skin. It's when you slow down and give your body's largest organ a break from exposure to the elements, allowing it to restore and repair itself. Of course, there are some top-notch face moisturizers you can (and should) use to help the process along. While not everyone has the income for La Mer — including this editor — there are options for every budget.
Before you slip between the sheets at night, consider grabbing one of these affordable buys from Sephora or Ulta. They're all under $55, and they're all packed with ingredients that will help your skin heal while you catch some much-needed zzz's.
Mario Badescu Seaweed Night Cream
We've got soothing seaweed to thank for the glow that comes after using this cream. You're busy minding your own business (sleeping) while collagen, elastin, and other ingredients in the mineral-rich formula are hard at work.
Sephora Collection Firming Sleeping Cream
Clean and powerful?! This firming cream contains 95 percent natural-origin ingredients (including fruit acids and natural peptides), but still manages to hydrate, soften, and protect skin.
Fresh Lotus Anti-Aging Night Moisturizer
The antioxidant-rich super lotus in this overnight cream gives it superpowers. After all, it's never too early to address dry, dull, or otherwise stressed skin.
Fresh Lotus Anti-Aging Night Moisturizer ($19-$48)
Laneige Lavender Water Sleeping Mask
Bring a love of lavender to your skin with a special-edition scent of this bestselling overnight mask. Your face gets hydrated, and this sweet treat complements your favorite bath salts and pillow spray, too.
Roc Multi Correction 5-in-1 Restoring Night Cream
Admittedly, I've never been a Roc girl, but after trying this, I've seen the light. This 5-in-1 cream almost makes me wish I had more wrinkles just so I could use it to smooth them out. (Almost.) It's a light moisturizer, but it really packs a punch. I woke up in the morning and my skin felt, and looked, hydrated.
Mario Badescu Protein Night Cream
This stuff is so thick it feels like there must be actual proteins that some genius skin scientist injected in here. How it's only $22 is beyond me, but it's a miracle in a tiny little jar.
Origins High-Potency Night-a-Mins Oil-Free Resurfacing Cream with Fruit-Derived AHAs
This product is so packed with good stuff for your skin that it even smells like vitamin C! (And by that, I of course mean it smells like sweet oranges.) It's silky, nongreasy, and will make you feel like you're doing something really good for your skin. Is it possible to soak in vitamins while you sleep? Who cares, this stuff feels scrumptious on your skin.
Origins High-Potency Night-a-Mins Oil-Free Resurfacing Cream with Fruit-Derived AHAs ($44)
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream
I was skeptical about this so-called "gel-cream" for your face, but I'm a believer now. Packed with hyaluronic acid (aka a moisture-trapping skin plumper), this milky gel is surprisingly effective. Plus, it will cool you down if you may have gotten too much sun that day.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream
This thick miracle worker is so thick it veers more toward solid than liquid. Its promises to hydrate, soothe, and firm are not empty! You may need a spoon to scoop it out of the jar, but your skin will thank you.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream ($38)
Olay Regenerist Regenerating Night Recovery Cream
You know when you're at the pharmacy and everything around you is $9 and you get to the skin care aisle and you're hypnotized into thinking $22 is an obscene amount of money for a night cream? It's really not, and this stuff is totally worth it.
TULA Hydrating Day and Night Cream
Ah, I love a good dual-action product, but can this really be effective if it's made for day AND night? The answer is yes, thanks to some powerful antioxidants. Plus, it smells like cucumber so you'll feel like you just came from the spa.
Aveeno Ultra Calming Nourishing Night Cream
How could you not love something with "ultra calming" in the name? By the end of the day, my skin is tired and needs a break, and this is the perfect remedy. It's another unscented option, for those with sensitive noses.
BareMinerals Butter Drench
If your skin craves moisture (and really, doesn't it always?), this night cream will make you feel like a princess. It's superthick, like the consistency of a good buttercream frosting — just don't eat it. If you're looking for something a little lighter, try its sister, Essential Moisturizing Soft Cream. It's light (perfect for oil-prone skin) and a great option for both night and day.