Lucy Abbersteen
No matter how extensive or minimalistic, a good moisturiser is always the final step of a solid evening skincare routine. And for those with oilier complexions, using the best night cream for oily skin helps to balance and restore your skin while you sleep – without any greasy feel come morning.
For a long time, a popular belief was that oily skin doesn't need moisturiser; however, it can still get as dehydrated as dry complexions. That said, it's important to choose the right skincare for oily skin so as not to overwhelm it nourishment that's richer than it can handle.
“Night creams typically have a richer consistency thanks to the fact they contain a higher oil-to-water ratio," says consultant dermatologist Dr Catorina Maybury, medical lead for skincare brand Dermatica. "This can clog pores and contribute to acne or rosacea." In other words, the best night cream for these complexions is something of a balancing act.
To help you select the right one for your skin's needs and budget, our beauty team and expert contributors tested several moisturizers to review the very best night creams for oily skin.
The best night creams for oily skin, reviewed by our beauty team
RRP: £11 for 50ml | Key ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, omega fatty acid complex
Reviewed by: Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith
The INKEY List's aim is to make effective skincare as straightforward as possible with With quite a unique gel-like texture that melted into a more watery consistency when we rubbed it into our skin, this brilliant, budget-friendly moisturizer drenches the skin with hydrating ingredients without overloading it. This makes it one of the best night creams for oily skin in general, but especially so when you consider its price tag.
When testing, we found that it also works really well on top of other skincare products, such as serums, to help lock them in. And even though it may sound slightly niche, one of our testers also really likes to use this as a barrier cream when applying the best fake tan for face to prevent streaks along the hairline. All in all, it's a very handy little multitasker.
Pros
- Oil-free formula that's not greasy
- Nice squeezy tube and minimally-designed packaging
- We found it also made a good barrier cream
Cons
- If you like scent, you’ll find the fragrance-free cream a bit boring
RRP: £150 for 50g | Key ingredients: Melipona enzymatic, collagen booster, glycerin
Reviewed by: Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith
First and foremost, this is a great night cream for oily skin because it feels light and refreshing, yet deeply hydrating – not to mention the luxurious packaging. However, to justify its (considerable) price tag, it of course has to do more than that. This cream has been designed to help lift the skin, plump up cheeks, and soften wrinkles. It can also be used as a hyperpigmentation treatment as it's designed to fade the appearance of dark spots.
The star ingredient is Melipona enzymatic, a natural ingredient created by bees that helps lift and support skin bringing back volume into the face. (Don’t worry, no bees are harmed in the making of this product.) The ingredient is extracted from the beehives, and Chanel has created an eco and socially sustainable project with local beekeepers so the bees and their environment are protected. We loved using this cream – our tester's skin felt plump, content, and comfortable.
Pros
- Lifts and plumps skin
- Smooths wrinkles
- Socially and environmentally conscious
Cons
- Extremely expensive for size
RRP: £67 for 50ml | Key ingredients: Japanese wild rose, Japanese leopard lily, green tea
Reviewed by: Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith, Lucy Abbersteen
Tatcha is a cult US-Japanese brand that only came to UK shores in early 2022 – but when it did, sales went through the roof. It’s easy to see why. Japanese skincare has become renowned for using the best of the best skincare technology that exists along with some of the finest ingredients – and this is no exception. The formula contains wild rose to help reduce the appearance of pores as well as smooth the skin’s surface, while the leopard lily is an anti-inflammatory.
At a glance it has quite a thick consistency, but sinks into the skin easily without feeling heavy or greasy. It left our tester's complexion feeling and looking velvety, so if you did want to use it during the day, it would definitely make a great base for makeup, too. Not to mention our skin didn't feel at all greasy the next day. The packaging is also a lovely touch of luxury, and looks gorgeous in our bathroom cabinets.
Pros
- Has a light, fresh scent
- Gorgeous texture – thick, yet sinks into the skin with ease
- Beautiful packaging that feels well-made and good quality
Cons
- Expensive
RRP: £72 for 50ml | Key ingredients: Marigold flower extract, blue light-activated algae extract, hyaluronic acid
Reviewed by: Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith, Lucy Abbersteen
As well as containing hyaluronic acid, which is the moisture maker for the skin, this very clever cream contains a Nobel Prize-inspired ingredient, AquaPort technology, which channels hydrating ingredients to the areas of the skin that need it most. This is a key element for oily skin as it prevents your complexion from getting overloaded at the surface and becoming even more oily.
The more efficiently the skin is hydrated, the plumper and fuller it looks, and our testers certainly found that to be the case after applying this silky-smooth cream. Another clever element that prevents the skin from being overloaded is the dose applicator that pumps out the perfect amount of moisturiser with each press. In short, this cream is a dream to use and left our skin feeling all bouncy and soothed (we've also tested the hydrating serum from the range and deem that excellent, too). It's the best night cream for oily skin if dehydration is one of your biggest skin concerns.
Pros
- Handy dose applicator
- Silky watery texture
- Contains Nobel prize-inspired ingredient
Cons
- Not the most eco-friendly packaging
RRP: £85 for 50ml | Key ingredients: Vitamin E, algae extract, witch hazel
Reviewed by: Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith
We’re yet to encounter a SkinCeuticals product that isn’t impressive. And while this is "only" a simple moisturiser, it’s been perfectly formulated for oily skin and gets to work on delivering hydration where it’s needed as well as helping reduce the appearance of pores. I also love that it's suitable for day and night use.
It contains ingredients to help calm skin such as chamomile extract whilst witch hazel gets to work on reducing the look pores as much as it can – no skincare product can actually shrink a pore, no matter what they claim – it also reduces excess oil. On testing, I found this ideal for layering over other skincare thanks to its light texture, it would work especially well on top of one of SkinCeuticals many, super-efficient serums (like our pick of the best vitamin C serum in the luxury category) but it's also lovely and hydrating worn on its own.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Can be used day and night
- Won’t overload the skin
Cons
- Quite expensive
RRP: £89 for 50ml | Key ingredients: Organis sea lily extract, harungana, gorse extract
Reviewed by: Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith
This new cream has been designed and formulated specifically to help menopausal skin, which may make you wonder what it's doing on this list of the best night cream for oily skin. The reason is that many women experience hormonal breakouts and hot flashes during menopause that create the need for refreshing, skin-balancing products suited to naturally oily skin types. Plus, I think this has been so brilliantly put together that it really does work and suits so many skins.
Clarins always harness the power of plant extracts in their formulas and in this one you’ll find organic sea lily extract which helps reduce the dehydration that menopause can cause whilst still balancing out any oily areas too. It also contains organic harungana extract which has been proven to be as effective as the best retinol creams at balancing and retexturizing the skin but doesn’t come with any of the skin sensitivity issues. And finally, there is organic gorse extract which helps tone and firm the skin, a key issue for menopausal skin. I found this to be a lovely, revitalizing buy that feels like a treat to use.
Pros
- Supports skin structure
- Targets effects of menopause on complexion
- Signature Clarins spa-like scent
Cons
- If you’re not menopausal, there are other night creams for you
RRP: £26 for 60ml | Key ingredients: Wild butterfly ginger, plant-derived squalane, pink indigo
Reviewed by: Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith
With its very slight pink tint (that completely disappears on application), this night cream feels like velvet when you put it on the skin. It contains pink indigo which works at reducing inflammation in the skin and wild butterfly ginger help give the product its gorgeous scent but also defends the skin against environmental aggressors like pollution.
These are all things that oily complexions need, plus I loved how it left my skin feeling and looking slightly matte, which is also the holy grail for complexions prone to shine and also makes this a great option to wear during the day too. It contains nearly 100% natural ingredients and almost half of them are organic. The products are made in small batches to reduce waste and the factory is powered by 100% wind power. A brilliant product from a brilliant brand.
Pros
- Creates a lovely matte finish
- Gorgeous clean soap-like scent
- Product (and brand) has amazing eco credentials
Cons
- Hard to fault
RRP: £47 for 44g | Key ingredients: Squalane, probiotic extracts, chicory root
Reviewed by: Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith
Tula has been created by Dr Roshini Raj, a gastroenterologist who is an expert in probiotics. She knows how important they are for our internal health and her range aims to deliver the same balancing and calming properties they have in our guts, to our skin.
This gorgeous, silky cream works perfectly on oily skin both day and night, but you may find you only need it at night. I didn't find it greasy at all, it didn't clog my pores and I love that it contains both pro and prebiotics, which help balance oil levels. There are other ingredients such as squalane that also get to work on maintaining optimum hydration as well as smoothing out fine lines. It has quickly become a best-seller and I can see why - but that's also a little annoying, as it can sell out really quickly. If you see this night cream around - pounce!
How we tested the best night cream for oily skin
A selection of night creams we tested for this feature
When selecting and testing the night creams for this guide, our testers had a natural advantage in that they have an oily skin type. This means that our sebum-overloaded complexion was perfectly placed to try dozens of creams, and handpick the ones that left our skin feeling hydrated and fresh in the morning, not looking like an oil slick.
As well as how they appeared and felt on our skin, we also looked at texture and ingredients – paying close attention to the inclusion of any oil to ensure it wasn't a type that was very likely to clog pores – and pore-clearing actives such as salicylic acid, niacinamide, and azelaic acid. We also made sure to consider various price points and value for money.
How to choose the best night cream for oily skin to enhance your skincare routine
There are a few different factors to consider when choosing the right night cream for your oily skin, which we've listed below.
- Budget: Before you begin browsing, have a firm idea of your budget in your mind. While there are some excellent, luxurious creams in this guide, more expensive does not always mean better, and there are plenty of reasonably-priced, high-performing options for oily skin on the market, too.
- Key ingredients: There are many skincare ingredients that are effective for tackling oily and/or blemish-prone skin – such as salicylic acid, AHAs, niacinamide, and retinoids, for example. Seeing them on a cream's ingredients list is a good indication that it's a good match for oily skin.
- Non-comedogenic: Oily skin is often also prone to breakouts, so you want to avoid clogging your pores wherever possible. If a cream is marked as being non-comedogenic, this means the formula does not contain ingredients that will clog pores.
How do you know if you have oily skin?
It’s fairly easy to spot oily skin, but if you are unsure there are some key identifiers. “[It] tends to be diffusely oily all over, rather than just in the T zone,” explains aesthetic doctor Dr Ana Mansouri, founder of the Dr Ana clinic in Birmingham.
Still not sure? There's a quick trick for assessing your skin type that's worth trying. “Cleanse in the morning with a gentle, non-stripping cleanser and leave your skin for an hour," she explains. "If your skin feels oily all over the face, you likely have an oily skin type. If it feels more on the dry side all over, you likely have a dry skin type. If it feels oily in the central T zone while normal or dry in the surrounding areas, you likely have a combination skin type."
Should you use night cream if you have oily skin?
Of course. You may find that you don’t need to apply night cream every night, as serums with active ingredients may be more beneficial. For example, if you’ve discovered your best retinol cream or you’ve worked out how niacinamide can help keep pores unclogged then you may find they are already keeping your oily skin under control.
But on your night 'off’ from active treatments, or even layered on top of them, you may feel your skin just needs some simple hydration and that’s where a night cream plays its part. "It’s important to understand that oily skin types can indeed become dehydrated and therefore still require hydration. I tend to utilize the evening routine to ensure my patients with oily skin types stay hydrated,” says Mansouri, who also adds, “The seasons and weather can play a part too. During summer time my patients with oily skin tend to need creams and moisturizers less often.”
Which cream is best at night for oily skin?
Consistency is always key in skincare, whatever your skin type, and for nearly all your skincare products. But this is even more so for oily skin because it can get weighed down so easily, and that’s not what you want to happen. “Switching to a gel-based or lighter texture formulation will be a better bet for those with oily skin as they will find this far better to apply and leave on,” says Maybury. “Avoid any products that contain excess oil to prevent any breakouts, and look for non-comedogenic products, which means products that contain ingredients that don’t block pores.”
What stops oily skin?
Nothing can "stop" oily skin, as creating oil (sebum) is a natural mechanism for our skin that helps to keep it healthy and functioning well. That said, it's possible for our skin to overproduce oil – and that’s when congestion and breakouts can occur, both of which are common in those with oily skin.
The key is to ensure that the skin is sufficiently hydrated and moisturised, so that the skin isn't triggered into producing more sebum to counter dehydration. Ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide are great for helping to regulate oil production, while hyaluronic acid is a great hydrator that helps to keep skin's hydration levels topped up.
Our expert panel
Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith is an experienced journalist who has worked in the beauty industry for more than 15 years and, along with woman&home, has contributed to titles such as Stylist, The Daily Mail and The Times. She is on the constant hunt for products that add luminosity to her complexion without making her naturally oily skin look greasy – making her a perfect main tester for this guide to suitable night creams.
Lucy Abbersteen is a freelance beauty editor and one of woman&home's contributing beauty editor. With close to a decade of experience in the industry – and with hair as one of her specialisms – she's tested a lot of hair tools on her curly hair during her career. As such, she's also shared her insights on some of the top-rated dryers in this guide.
Dr Catriona Maybury is an NHS consultant dermatologist based at St George's Hospital in London. She is also the medical lead for personalised skincare service Dermatica. As an extremely qualified skin expert, she has explained some of the characteristics of oily skin and how to choose a night cream accordingly.
Dr Ana Mansouri is an aesthetic doctor and the founder of the Dr Ana clinic in Birmingham. As an experienced medical professional, she is an expert in the skin and has shared her insights on what makes a good night cream for oily skin.