Night Cream vs Day Cream: What's the Difference, and Do You Need Both?

Walk into any beauty aisle and you'll see “day cream” and “night cream” side by side. Are they really different? Here's the simple version.

What a day cream does

During the day your skin faces sun, heat, pollution and air-conditioning. A day cream is usually lighter, and many, including our Day Cream with SPF, add sun protection, the one step dermatologists agree matters most against tanning and dark spots.

What a night cream does

At night your skin is at rest and there's no sun to block. Night creams are often richer and focus on one concern, such as acne, pigmentation, dullness or dryness, with hours of uninterrupted time on your skin.

Do you need both?

If you have a specific concern, the most useful pair is a targeted night cream plus daytime sun protection. A pigmentation night cream without daily sun care is fighting the sun every day.

A simple routine

Morning

1. Wash your face.
2. Apply your usual moisturiser.
3. Apply the Day Cream with SPF gently and merge it well.

Night

1. Wash your face before bed and pat dry.
2. Apply a small amount of your night cream.
3. Massage gently. You don't need to merge it completely.

Which night cream is yours?

• Night Acne Cream: acne-prone skin
• Night Pigmentation Cream: dark spots and uneven tone
• Night Brightening Cream: dull skin
• Night Nourishing Cream: dry skin