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Last Updated on August 25, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

day vs night moisturizer difference

I’m a minimalist. When it comes to skincare, that is (books and dresses, I can never have enough of). I want flawless skin as much as anybody else, but do I really have to use 1001 products to make that happen? I’m too lazy for a long skincare routine. I’ve already got rid of toner and eye cream. Next, I’m thinking of doing away with moisturizer.

Well, not doing away with it completely. I’m just wondering, do you really need two moisturizers, one for the day and one for the night? Can’t just the one do? Is there really a difference between a day cream and a night cream or is this just a clever marketing ploy to make us buy the same thing twice (like eye cream, you know?). Let’s take a look at the day vs night moisturizer debate:

rosehipplus hydrating day cream

Daytime Moisturizers

There are two special things about daytime moisturizers:

1. Daytime Moisturisers Have SPF

The sun is around during the day, so it makes sense to load day creams with SPF. That keep you protected, right? Mmmmm… There are two problems with this:

  1. Lots of these creams have a very low SPF. Like 8 or something. Seriously, if it ain’t at least 15, don’t bother. It won’t protect you that much. And honestly, even SPF 15 is the bare minimum. Derms usually recommend SPF 30+ because UV damage adds up little by little every single day – even when it’s cloudy or you’re sitting by a window. That “SPF 8” in your fancy moisturizer might protect you for about 15 minutes in the sun… after that, you’re basically naked out there. It’s like wearing flip-flops to a marathon. Technically shoes, but not giving you the protection you actually need.
  2. You need to use something crazy like 12 layers to get the SPF stated on the label. Who does that?! Here’s the deal: SPF tests in labs use a lot of product-around a quarter teaspoon for your face alone. That’s like a big blob of cream. Most people barely use a pea-sized amount because they don’t want to feel greasy, so they get a fraction of the protection on the label. Your SPF 30 cream might actually be working more like SPF 10 if you’re stingy with it. Sunscreen is always the better choice. It’s made to be slathered on in the right amounts.

Of course, if you don’t wear sunscreen, a moisturizer with SPF is better than nothing. But then, why aren’t you wearing sunscreen?!

Related: Do Cosmetics With SPF Provide Adequate Sun Protection?

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):

2. Daytime Moisturisers Are More Lightweight

Day creams tend to have a lighter texture because they’re worn them under makeup. If they were richer, they’d turn your face into a greasy and shiny mess! They’re basically the “throw it on and go” kind of cream.

You don’t have to wait forever for it to sink in, it doesn’t fight with your foundation, and you don’t feel like you’re melting by 2pm. It’s just enough hydration to stop your face from feeling tight, but not so much that you’re shiny before you even leave the house. Oily skin people especially know the deal-too heavy and you’re blotting all day.

Best Picks:

  • Cerave Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM With SF30 ($19.99): A lightweight lotion with ceramides and SPF to keep skin soft and protected. Available at Boots, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Superdrug, and Ulta
  • La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer UV SPF 30 ($26.99): Enriched with ceramides and niacinamie to protect your skin’s barrier. Available at La Roche Posay and Ulta
  • Paula’s Choice Resist Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF30 ($39.00): My fave moisturizer with SPF for oily skin, it provides mineral protection in a very lightweight texture. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, and Sephora

Night Moisturisers

Again, there are two things that set them apart from day moisturisers:

1. Night Moisturisers Have A Richer Texture

Duh! Already covered that, Gio! Yeah, but I just want to mention why. You don’t wear makeup while you sleep (you DON’T, right?), so no one cares if their creams take a bit longer to absorb. As long as it doesn’t take ages and turns their face into a war zone, that is!

Plus, your skin naturally loses more water at night through something called transepidermal water loss (yep, it’s a thing). That’s why richer creams feel like a cozy blanket for your skin. They seal in hydration while you snooze so you don’t wake up looking like a dried raisin.

skinsense by abi cleeve hydranet night cream

2. Night Moisturisers Have Higher Concentrations Of Anti-Aging Ingredients

Retinol. Vitamin C. Glycolic acid. All that amazing stuff that kicks your wrinkles away. And make your skin more susceptible to sun damage, too (oh, the irony!). Of course, you can wear them during the day with a good sunscreen, but they’re best used at night. Especially if you’re not religious with your sun protection.

Here’s the thing nobody says out loud: your skin’s basically on a different schedule at night. During the day it’s like, “shields up, protect me from the sun, dirt, makeup, random guy coughing on the train.”

At night? It finally drops the armor and goes into repair mode. That’s when all the behind-the-scenes stuff happens: cells turn over faster, collagen gets built, damage from the day gets patched. So if you slap retinol or acids on before bed, you’re piggy-backing on what your skin’s already doing. It’s like giving the repair crew better tools.

Best picks:

  • CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($20.99): It uses humectants that hyaluronic acid and glycerin to attract water into your skin and ceramides to moisturise skin without adding more oil to it. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Dermstore, and Ulta.
  • Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream ($68.00): Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream ($68.00): A lightweight cream that plumps up wrinkles and gives oily skin all the moisture it needs. Available at Cult Beauty, Sephora, and SpaceNK
  • Paula’s Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer With Retinol ($42.00): A rich night moisturiser with retinol and antioxidants to treat and prevent wrinkles. Available at Cult Beauty, Paula’s Choice, and SpaceNK.

Related: 5 Anti-Aging Superstars You Should Include In Your Skincare Routine

Should You Use Both A Day And A Night Moisturizer?

The case sounds compelling, doesn’t it? They do slightly different things, so you need both. But… I’m NOT convinced. I think it depends on your needs.

Take me, for example. Once upon a time, I would never have used a day cream without SPF. But now I know the SPF there doesn’t really work, I don’t care if my moisturizer has it or not. I just put on sunscreen afterwards and that’s it. So, that’s not enough for me to use a separate day cream.

The night cream makes a more compelling case. If my night cream contains retinol, yes, I’ll use it only at night and put on something else in the morning. But, I prefer to use retinol in serum form these days. Those tend to use a higher concentration and penetrate the skin more easily, so they work better.

When I do that, I use the same moisturiser both in the morning and at night. When you take out SPF and retinol, day and night moisturizers aren’t that different anymore. For you, it may be different. If you’re getting your retinol or glycolic acid fix from your moisturizer, or if using a day cream with SPF makes you feel better, then use two separate creams. Skincare is all about knowing the rules and tweaking them to fit your needs.

Related: Why Serum Is The Real Workhorse Of Your Skincare Routine

Common Questions People Ask

Can I Just Skip Moisturizer Altogether?

You can, but your skin might hate you for it. Even if you’re oily, that doesn’t mean you’re hydrated. Oil is grease, water is hydration – two different things. Strip your skin with cleansers or acne stuff and don’t put anything back? Hello, irritation and random breakouts. Moisturizer is basically the peacekeeper that keeps your barrier from throwing a tantrum.

What About Combination Skin? Do I Need Two?

Nope. You don’t need a bathroom cabinet full of creams just because your T-zone is oily and your cheeks are dry. Get one light lotion for all over, then if your cheeks are still thirsty at night, slap a bit more on there. Done. It’s layering, not rocket science.

Are Expensive Moisturizers Worth It?

Most of the time? Nah. Your skin doesn’t know if the cream came from Target or in a $200 jar with gold lettering. As long as it’s got the basics – glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid – it’s gonna hydrate. The extra money usually goes to the packaging and the “luxury” vibe. If you like the vibe and it makes you happy, fine. But don’t think you’re missing out if all you’ve got is a drugstore tub.

The Bottom Line

Yes, day and night moisturizers ARE different (most of the time). But whether you should use both or just the one depends on your needs. Honestly, moisturizers all come down to the same job anyway: keep your skin from drying out and stop your barrier from freaking out. The whole “day vs. night” thing? Nice if you like options, but not mandatory. If you’re wearing proper sunscreen in the morning and putting your actives on at night, you’re already covering the big stuff. One jar, two jars – doesn’t matter as much as actually using the damn thing. Everything else is just marketing noise.