I Ditched My Fancy Night Cream for a $17 One and Love the Result

I only know one person with actual glass-like skin and it’s my hair stylist. After years of chatting while she covered my (increasingly graying) roots, I finally asked her about her skin routine. Interestingly (and a little bit infuriatingly) she revealed that years ago she purged her skin-care products down to four: a Cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer, SPF and a CeraVe night cream. No retinol, no serums; nothing extra, nothing fancy. I remember on the subway ride home making excuses for how flawless skin like hers couldn’t possibly be that simple—she’s a few years younger, genetics, skin type, lifestyle habits, etc.—and all of that may be true. It wasn’t until I ran out of my favorite jar of (expensive) night cream that I dug a little deeper into her recommendations, specifically CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream.

I’m not sure why I was surprised to learn that CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream has nearly 40,000 perfect ratings on Amazon. CeraVe is a beloved and highly recommended brand by almost every dermatologist I’ve ever spoken to. With the brand’s signature blend of ceramides, hyaluronic acid and peptides, the Skin Renewing Night Cream has everything it needs to soften, hydrate and renew tired, dull and lax-looking skin.

BUY NOW – $17

About My Skin

I am 36 years old with combination skin that gets easily dehydrated. Simply put, sometimes my skin is dry, sometimes shiny, and without the right amount of hydration it can quickly feel tight and uncomfortable. As the weather cools and the air gets drier, switching to a deeply hydrating moisturizer is a must.

The Texture: Thick and Velvety

This cream is ultra-thick—much thicker than I expected it to be—but it sinks into my skin quickly. The instructions say to apply a few tiny dots around the face and blend, and truly that’s all you need. If you’re looking for a glazed doughnut product, this isn’t it—it’s so rich it leaves my skin almost velvet-looking.

The Formula: Peptides, Ceramides and more

As mentioned above, CeraVe’s night cream contains a trio of essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, Biomimetic peptides and niacinamide. This blend promises to restore and strengthen the skin barrier and keep skin super soft, plumped and supple overnight. It’s also fragrance-free, making it a safer choice for sensitive skin types.

My Thoughts

For less than $20, CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream can’t be beat. Immediately after applying, my skin feels so much smoother, and when I wake up in the morning my complexion feels so comfortable I almost forget to start my skin routine. And while no night cream can compete with my three-year-old waking me up in the middle of the night, in the two weeks since I made the switch, I already notice some of my fine lines are less noticeable, and my skin has a bounce to it it simply didn’t before. I’m still not at my hair stylist’s glass-skin status or anywhere near her minimal routine quite yet (see below), but it’s a good reminder that effective skin care doesn’t have to come with a high price tag.

My Updated Skin Care Routine

AM: Typology L32 – Radiance Serum with 11% Vitamin C ($43), Naturium Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5% ($17), Dermalogica Phtyo Naure Lifting Eye Cream ($115), Merit Beauty Great Skin Priming Moisturizer ($38) and Supergoop! UnSeen Sunscreen ($22)

PM: Bioderma Micellar Water ($19) if removing makeup, La Roche-Posay Toleraine Hydrating Gentle Cleanser ($18), Agency Future Formula (prescription, $40 per month), Dermalogica Phtyo Naure Lifting Eye Cream ($115), CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream ($17) and Laneige Sleeping Lip Mask ($24)

Shoppers’ Reviews

Still not convinced? One shopper says CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream leaves their skin “feeling exceptionally soft and rejuvenated by morning.” A second called it a “cherished component” of their routine because of its “remarkable hydration” and how the cream helped “visibly” improve their skin texture. A third says their skin is “so silky and soft” and that the cream “spreads on like a dream.” Finally, one 59-year-old shopper says they love it so much they also use it during the day, because it makes their dry skin “so soft and supple” and it’s the only moisturizer that helps prevent makeup from settling into wrinkles.