8 Top Korean Night Creams In 2024
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase.
On the hunt for the top Korean night cream?
You’re in the right place!
A night cream is an integral part of your skincare routine, whether you’re following a 10-step Korean skincare routine or keeping it simple with cleanse, tone, and moisturize.
A night cream is usually the last step to lock in all the wonderful products you’ve used, as well as to deeply hydrate and boost skin regeneration.
Putting on a good night cream can mean waking up with softer, brighter, and plumper skin.
Who wouldn’t want that, right?
But with so many options to choose from, how do you find the perfect night cream for you?
No worries, we’ve got you covered! We have come up with the top-selling and highly-rated K-beauty night creams that are worth a try. Interested? Check them out below!
Table of Contents
- 1 Choosing a Korean Night Cream: Important Points to Consider
- 2 Top Korean Night Creams for Hydrated and Plumper Skin
- 3 Korean Night Creams for All Skin Types
- 4 Korean Night Cream for Sensitive Skin
- 5 Korean Night Creams for Dry Skin or Oily Skin
- 6 Korean Night Creams for Normal Skin
- 7 K- Beauty Night Cream FAQs
- 8 Take Your Pick
Choosing a Korean Night Cream: Important Points to Consider
As a fellow K-beauty addict, we know the sheer joy that comes with discovering a new product to add to your skincare routine – be it a cleansing balm or a night cream.
We also know how disappointing it can be to find out that your new purchase isn’t working out and isn’t doing your skin any favors.
That’s why we’re here to help!
If you’re on the lookout for a new Korean night cream, there are some important points to remember to ensure that you choose the top one that is suited to your needs.
1. Skin Type
Choosing a night cream can be a trial and error for some. But if you want to minimize the blunders, make sure to choose a night cream that is formulated for your specific skin type.
As a primer, here are the most common skin types:
Normal
You have relatively smooth and glowing skin texture; not many blemishes, pores, or imperfections; and you do not usually react when trying new products.
Oily
Your face usually looks shiny or feels greasy; prone to acne breakouts and blackheads; and may have larger, more visible pores.
Dry
Your face may be flaky and rough; it can feel itchy and easily irritated; with a dull or rough appearance; and more visible lines.
Sensitive
Your face can be normal, oily, or dry but it is prone to redness, itching, or dryness when exposed to environmental irritants, triggers, and harsh chemicals.
Combination
Some parts of your face may be oily, while other parts may be dry or normal.
2. Skin Concerns
The top night cream will depend on your skin. You need to choose one that can address your needs. This can be done by taking a closer look at the ingredients in your night cream.
Here’s a quick guide that you can use:
Anti-aging
Choose night creams with active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, peptides, coenzyme Q10, and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that promote cell regeneration.
Dull skin
To brighten the skin, look for night creams with AHAs, beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), and lactic acid, which gently exfoliates the skin.
Dry, dehydrated skin:
Treat your parched skin with a night cream with ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, anti-oxidants, and emollients for softer, plumper skin.
Oily, acne-prone skin
Here, it’s all about texture and consistency. Pick creams with a lightweight or gel consistency that don’t feel too greasy and prevent clogged pores.
Redness and inflammation
To soothe your skin, pick a night cream with niacinamide, licorice root, vitamin E, glycerin, ceramides, ambophenol, and oats.
Sensitive skin
You want to look for ingredients such as rice extract, aloe vera, ceramides, and Centella Asiatica that calm the skin, as well as creams with clean and hypoallergenic formulations.
Related: 9 Top Korean Toners For Different Skin Types
3. Consistencies and Formulations
Apart from considering your skin type and skin concerns, you also need to consider
when choosing a night cream. Make sure to keep in mind the following:
Gels vs Creams
If you have normal to oily skin, you might see better results in night creams with a gel consistency.
Meanwhile, those with dry, sensitive, or mature skin may benefit from the added moisture that heavy creams provide.
Active Ingredients
You want a night cream that’s packed with active ingredients like Centella Asiatica, AHAs, colloidal oatmeal, or retinol that will work to soothe, repair, and revitalize your skin as you sleep.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Avoid night creams with alcohol, parabens, allergens, irritants, fragrances, and other ingredients that can damage or trigger your skin.
The good thing about K-beauty is that most products are clean and free from these harmful chemicals.
Top Korean Night Creams for Hydrated and Plumper Skin
With so many options in the market, choosing your K-beauty night cream can be a daunting task. But, we’ve got you covered.
Check out this list!
- Helps hydrate, brighten, and smoothen your skin
- Targets dryness, dullness, and uneven texture
- Suitable for all skin types
- Hydrating night cream perfect for everyday use
- Improves skin barrier to retain more moisture
- Suitable for all skin types
- Keeps your skin hydrated from night to day
- Lightweight cream that can penetrate the skin deeply
- Suitable for all skin types
Korean Night Creams for All Skin Types
It’s a no-frills moisturizer that always gets the job done!
This ultra-moisturizing cream will make your skin soft and supple 24/7.
Features:
- Napier’s original formula features herbs with skin-calming and soothing properties,
- Hydrating cream absorbs quickly and deeply penetrates the skin
- Free of mineral oil, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and animal-origin ingredients
If you’re into clean beauty, the belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb is a must-try! Despite its lightweight texture, you’ll be greeted by an explosion of intense moisture.
Simple is not usually a word I associate with K-beauty. Believe me, my medicine cabinet is chock full of products!
But for nights when you want to keep it straightforward, the belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb is all you will ever need.
This night cream has a light, fluffy texture that blends seamlessly into the skin.
But don’t be fooled because true to its name, it delivers when it comes to moisture. The product is quickly absorbed and deeply penetrates the moisture barrier, giving you soft and supple skin.
If that weren’t enough, the product also has skin-calming and soothing properties thanks to belif’s Napier’s original formula — a proprietary blend of natural ingredients including comfrey leaf, heartsease, meadowsweet, and oat kernel extract.
Perfect for those with dry and cracked skin, but suitable for all skin types!
Pros: Versatile, it’s light enough to use during the day; Deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin; Doesn’t leave a greasy residue; No harmful ingredients, clean beauty-approved
Cons: It’s pricey (but a little goes a long way!); Natural ingredients could trigger those with sensitive skin
This night cream has never failed me, I always wake up looking fresh and hydrated.
A lightweight formula that hydrates and makes your skin glow.
Features:
- A blend of probiotics to smoothen skin and melt away dead skin cells,
- Now with squalane to hydrate, brighten, and strengthen your skin barrier
- Targets skin dryness, uneven texture, and dullness
Say goodbye to dry and dull skin with the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. It’s a super hydrating night cream that will have you looking radiant!
Years after its release, the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask is still one of the top Korean night creams on the market. And rightfully so, because this product is that good!
The Korean cult fave has been given an update so that it provides even more hydration, brightening, and softening.
It now contains a probiotic complex, featuring lactobacillus fermented lysate and trehalose, to smoothen out skin texture and reduce dead skin cells. It also has squalane to hydrate and brightens up your complexion.
The Laneige Water Sleeping Mask is versatile and suitable for all skin types.
It can provide intense moisture for those with dry skin, but the gel formula is light enough to use for those with oily or acne-prone skin.
It’s also free of parabens, sulfates, and other harmful ingredients that can trigger sensitive skin.
So for a clearer and brighter complexion, give this top-selling night cream a try!
Pros: Hydrates and brightens the skin; Gel is cooling and does not cause breakouts; Comes in different sizes to meet your specific budget; Absorbs quickly and has no greasy residue
Cons: Does contain alcohol, silicone, and a slight fragrance
I can always count on this collagen cream to revive my parched skin!
The cream provides long-lasting moisture and gives you soft and bouncy skin.
Features:
- Updated formula has even more collagen content,
- The cream glides easily and is quickly absorbed into the skin
- It’s perfect for everyday use
The Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream is still a strong contender after all these years. Give skin the moisture it needs with this dependable night cream!
The Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream is another tried and true when it comes to K-beauty night creams. And with an updated formula, this super hydrating cream has gotten even better!
The cream now contains 65.38% hydrolyzed marine collagen, so you’ll have no problem achieving that chok chok skin.
It has a bouncy gel-like texture with fine particles to ensure that the cream is quickly absorbed into the skin and you don’t have to deal with any greasy residue.
The Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream is also enriched with tocopherol and vitamin E to boost the moisture-retaining ability of your skin.
The night cream is suitable for all skin types, but those with rough skin texture or weak moisture barrier will enjoy this even more.
So why not give it a try?
Pros: Will keep your skin hydrated up to 12 hours after application; It’s ideal for everyday use—especially in dry and humid weather!; No scent so suitable for those with fragrance allergies
Cons: May not be as hydrating for those with severe dry skin or during winter
Korean Night Cream for Sensitive Skin
It’s a calming cream that serves your skin in many ways!
This blue-tinted cream is hydrating and helps soothe sensitive skin.
Features:
- Guaiazulene calms down skin irritations, redness, and sensitivities,
- Centella Asiatica extract boosts skin regeneration and prevents hyperpigmentation
- Non-irritating formula is ideal for stressed and damaged skin
With a beautiful blue tint, the Dear Klairs Midnight Calming Cream is a product that is soothing to both the eyes and skin.
When it comes to Korean night creams, the Dear Klairs Midnight Calming Cream is what you would call a workhorse.
That’s because it can be used to treat different causes of skin irritation or redness. You can use it to treat acne spots to prevent scarring, lather it after laser procedures, prevent irritation after shaving or sunburn, and the list goes on!
If you’re dealing with irritated or stressed skin, the Dear Klairs Midnight Calming Cream may be what you’re looking for!
It is formulated with Guaiazulene, which is derived from skin-soothing chamomile, as well as Centella Asiatica, which reduces inflammation and boosts skin regeneration.
A small amount applied on sensitive spots will be enough to keep your redness at bay!
Pros: Multipurpose product that hydrates and soothes; Non-irritating and suitable for daily use
Cons: You may need an additional moisturizer or cream to apply all over the skin
I know my skin is in good hands with this gentle, hydrating cream.
A hypoallergenic moisturizer that is safe for sensitive skin
Features:
- Deeply moisturizing and nourishing on dry, sensitive skin,
- Hypoallergenic, even suitable for babies to use
- Can be used to hydrate the face and body
Whether you have eczema-prone skin or you’re dealing with post-treatment dryness, the Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream will soothe and moisturize your skin.
When skin is sensitive, it’s important to use gentle products that won’t trigger your already dry and sensitive skin. That’s where the Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream comes in.
Initially developed for those with atopic dermatitis and other skin sensitivities, this night cream is free from harmful ingredients including mineral oil, parabens, and artificial fragrance that could irritate or damage your skin barrier.
With tiny white beads that burst upon application, this night cream provides intense hydration to the skin.
This is due to ceramides in the formula, as well as Korean heritage ingredients such as perilla seed extract and ginseng root extract.
They help strengthen your skin barrier and prevent moisture loss so you can have long-lasting soft and supple skin.
Pros: Deeply moisturizing and give you soft, supple skin; No fragrance and other skin irritants; Budget-friendly as you only need a little to hydrate the skin
Cons: Cream can be too rich for oily, acne-prone skin
Korean Night Creams for Dry Skin or Oily Skin
It’s a simple cream but highly effective in hydrating my skin.
A lightweight water-based cream that brings dry and dull skin back to life.
Features:
- Alaska Glacier Water is rich with minerals to nourish and hydrate skin,
- Xpertmoist keeps skin safe from environmental irritants and stressors
- 7 Peptide Mix refreshes and gives you glowing skin
Give your skin the hydration it deserves with the Saturday Skin Waterfall Glacier Water Cream.
Saturday Skin’s Waterfall Glacier Water Cream is one of my go-to Korean night creams – especially during the summer.
The formula is lightweight and doesn’t feel tacky but oh boy, it is like a tall drink of water for my parched skin!
How is that possible? The base ingredient is Alaska Glacier Water, which is rich in minerals to give your skin that deep hydration.
The proprietary blend of peptides, amino acids, moss extract, and ferment extracts also calms the skin and reduces redness. Slather on this cooling cream for supple and bright skin!
Pros: Does not irritate sensitive skin or cause breakouts; Fragrance-free; A little goes a long way so you can enjoy this product for longer; No harmful ingredients, cruelty-free and vegan
Cons: At first, the cream feels a bit tacky or sticky; Must be stored properly to avoid evaporation
Korean Night Creams for Normal Skin
It’s a 2-in-1 product that keeps me hydrated 24/7!
You can keep your skin hydrated with two formulas suited for day and night.
Features:
- Day cream has vitamin C and green tea for brighter and more energized skin,
- Night cream has lavender and vitamin E to soothe and strengthen your skin
- Free of parabens, artificial color, and artificial fragrance
For an uncomplicated K-beauty routine, the NEOGEN Vita Duo Cream Joan Day and Night Duo Cream has got you covered
In collaboration with famous Korean influencer Joan Kim, NEOGEN has created the Vita Duo Cream that will give you bright and hydrated skin from morning to night.
You’re essentially getting two products in one. Who doesn’t love that, right?
The day cream works to brighten and energize skin with powerhouse ingredients like vitamin C and green tea. Then at night, slather the soothing cream with hints of lavender to promote skin regeneration.
Pros: Inexpensive but highly effective; Brightens dull skin, can fade dark spots; Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles
Cons: Not suitable for daily use — especially if you have sensitive skin; Glue-like texture is not for everyone
Helps me fight signs of aging without breaking the bank.
This retinol night cream smoothes fine lines and wrinkles
Features:
- Retinol helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles,
- Swiftlet nest extract has anti-aging properties and nourishes the skin
- EGF enhances skin appearance and elasticity
You don’t need to spend big bucks to get the results you want. For youthful-looking skin, check out the Elizavecca Milky Piggy EGF Elastic Retinol Cream.
Not using retinol yet? Why not start with the Elizavecca Milky Piggy EGF Elastic Retinol Cream?
The night cream has a retinol concentration that is gentle enough (about 0.75%), but you are still able to see great results!
Key ingredients like retinol, swiftlet nest extract, and EGF help minimize fine lines and wrinkles, smoothen skin texture, and boost skin regeneration.
Though aging is completely normal (and acceptable!), you can maintain your youthful glow with this night cream. It has niacinamide too, which can target hyperpigmentation.
The night cream has a unique elastic texture but as it is absorbed, there is no sticky feeling at all. And with retinol use, make sure to use sunscreen during the day!
Pros: Inexpensive but highly effective; Brightens dull skin, can fade dark spots; Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles
Cons: Not suitable for daily use — especially if you have sensitive skin; Glue-like texture is not for everyone
K- Beauty Night Cream FAQs
Is Night Cream Necessary?
It depends! Some people can get away with using their day cream at night.
However, it’s worth noting that day creams have a lighter consistency and are formulated with certain ingredients such as SPF and antioxidants to protect us from sun damage and other environmental stressors.
Night creams, on the other hand, usually have ingredients that target certain skin concerns.
For instance, ceramide night creams can help with dryness while retinol night creams can reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
According to board-certified dermatologists, nighttime is the optimal time to revitalize and refresh the skin.
That’s why night creams also tend to have thicker consistencies so that the ingredients can better penetrate the skin while you sleep.
So to give your skin the chance it needs to repair and rejuvenate, adding a night cream to your routine can be a good investment!
When Should I Start Using Night Cream?
There’s no right age to start using night cream.
Most people start applying night cream in their early to mid-20s because that’s when they first see some signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, dullness, hyperpigmentation, uneven texture, and age spots.
Starting young is better because you can use a night cream as a preventive measure.
Before any lasting damage is done, give your skin the pampering it needs to keep it healthy and strong. This is because once signs of aging appear, the reversal process becomes much harder.
So if you’ve been thinking about getting a night cream, take this as a sign and go for it!
Take Your Pick
By now, you’ve learned a lot about night creams and how to choose the top one for your specific skin concerns. We’ve also introduced you to nine of the top Korean night creams in the market.
There’s no stopping you from getting the right one. Add a night cream to your skincare routine now, the sooner the better!
Want to add more products to your K-beauty routine?
Check out these articles:
- 15 Korean Shampoos & Conditioners In 2022
- 10 Korean Cleansing Oils In 2022
- 7 Korean CC Creams To Try Out In 2022