Night cream doesn't need to be expensive?

[ImYourWomanJonSnow]

I need to replace my night cream as I have just finished a tub of Eucerin's Volume Filler, which I loved but am now trying to use only cruelty-free cosmetics. I use Ren's Bio Retinol oil but need something more to put on top as my face is dry by the morning. Am I right in thinking that it's serums/oils that have most active ingredients and it's OK to spend more on them and creams are emollients so it's a waste of money to splash out? (I am not backing this by science, just my opinion) Anyone care to share insight into night creams? Any recommendations for cheap/mid price night creams for normal skin in need of hydration and fine line filling?

I agree with you. The fine line filling, unless you mean filling them by hydrating, is more of a serum thing though, which your retinol oil would be taking care of, than a moisturiser. My favourite fine line plumping/hydrating moisturiser is Clinique Moisture Surge.

If your face is dry by the morning, rather than dehydrated, it may mean that you need more oil in your routine, rather than hydration.

Most people apply oil then moisturiser to seal it in, but ideally it should be the other way around as a moisturiser, even if it contains some oil, will have a higher water content and will not really get through an oil barrier as oil molecules are larger. As long as your moisturiser is not heavy in silicone, you should be able to do the other way around. If it has too much silicone the oil on top will make it ball up.

Thank you Nabootique Wow, reversing the order of cream/oil would never occur to me, that's so clever (and I finally understand why things get bally sometimes). I'll try that (once I find the cream).

The skin in the morning is not dry as such but it doesn't feel soft and plump, which makes me think it needs water.

Fine line filling - yes I mean filling them by hydrating. I found when I used Eucerin Volume Filler that they would be mostly gone and now I have them again under eyes since I ran out and have used oil only at night. I guess I need a similar cream to Eucerin but from somewhere that doesn't test on animals (sadly Clinique is in that camp too).

The superdrug naturally radiant night cream is really nice.

Where do you get your information from Nabootique?

It seems the companies best known for their oil recommend oil first and moisturiser on top.

Oh, I didn't think of that, sorry! Hydraluron Jelly is a nice "wet" one, which I think is okay on the animal testing front. I really love the Apivita cream/gel one as well, but they don't stock it in M&S now. Grrr.

Chardonnay I've read it in a few places, I can't remember specifically, but a quick Google turned up loads of stuff. Here are two:

stylecaster.com/beauty/face-oil-mistakes/
www.modelcocosmetics.com/general/how-to-apply-your-moisturiser-correctly/

The molecule size thing also rings a bell from GCSE science!

I don't always do it, by the way. It depends on what I'm using that day, but the general science behind the application makes sense.

While I agree that in theory a night cream shouldn't need to be all that expensive in your routine when relying on serums for actives it gets a bit harder when adding the cruelty free demand to it as you often end up in the 'natural' skincare brands that aren't all that effective for combating dehydration.

The whole cruelty free factor is also very difficult to get right per person. For example Ren, while marked as a cruelty free brand, is owned by Unilever which is very much not cruelty free, a lot of people therefore avoid it as they don't want their money indirectly ending up with Unilever.

In contrast the mother company of Eucerin has a very thorough cruelty free approach in both development stage and the purchase of raw ingredients. The only reason they are marked as not cruelty free is down to the fact that it is sold in China (which demands animal testing of all imported cosmetic products sold in physical stores for now). So it's difficult to suss out per person what they find of importance.

Anyhow, it's not cheap but worth checking out Pestle and Mortar's hydration cream, it's cruelty free from a small family owned business in the EU that only sells within the EU and has a bit of a following as it's just a great hydrating formulation for all skin types. Unfortunately not exactly cheap but it can easily double up for day and night.

Ooh, I might need to try that botemp. I didn't realise they'd released anything other than the serum.

botemp your post has really made me think. I guess I simplified this for myself by just looking at lists of test--on-animal brands. I must admit that I didn't look at wider economic implications of the brands I did choose. I was aware that some of my favourite perfumes are actually owned by horrible corporations so I stopped buying them and was gobsmacked to find some ostensibly healthy, natural brands on PETA list (like Clarins, Nuxe, Simple for god's sake).

Anyway thanks for the recommendation, looks promising that they only seem to have a few products. I wish there were sample sizes though, that is way more than I wanted to pay without trying first. Nabootique do let us know how you get on with it if you get it.

Andalou Naturals Heavenly Night Cream, 1000 Roses. About £18 from Amazon. Leaping Bunny approved.

As a range, they are reasonably priced (most things in £10-20 range) and cruelty free, not too light on the tech end either.

Also like Mychelle Dermaceuticals for the same reasons. Cactus Hydrating mask is good, haven't tried any of their night creams.

Also, you could try some olive squalene as a night cream. Akoma skincare does a reasonably priced one. I use it straight, or add it to creams/masks to boost hydration.

They sell Pestle & Mortar at Liberty in London. Might pop in next time I'm near and see if they have a tester.

I didn't realise they'd just released a retinoid oil either, Nabootique. They're taking flight much quicker than I expected.

They do make testers, I think you can request them through their website. Also, Cloud 9 sent them as samples with an order and usually have a discount code floating about.

Nice. Yes, I saw the oil on Caroline Hiron's latest video after looking at the Pestle & Mortar website yesterday. I have Luna at the moment, but might switch once I've used it up.

Oh I see they are stocked by a shop in Jersey. That's just where I'm going next week, will get a sample and report back.

I'm glad I posted on this thread, so many interesting sounding products and brands I never heard of. MiaowJario thank you. What is olive squalene?

*Should be Cloud 10 not 9

Squalene is traditionally derived from shark liver oil but since there's been a bit of a trend to go vegan in skincare these days a lot of brands are making it a point of differentiation to use a plant derived version. From beautypedia:

Oil derived from shark liver or from plants (usually olives) and sebum. Its derivative squalane is a natural component of skin and a good emollient that has antioxidant and immune-stimulating properties.

It seems to be a bit of a buzz ingredient at the moment, an entire natural skincare brand, Squalan, has just been launched around the ingredient in the Netherlands but I'm not sure if it's available internationally yet. Seems a bit pricey though...

I'mYourWoman Olive squalene is really, really moisturising. I spent a summer in Madrid a few years ago and the dry heat there really takes its toll on your skin, fast.

Discovered a moisturising mask in an olive oil shop there, which really did the business despite costing only pennies (It is Chinata Moisturising Mask- Amazon do a pack of five for £6 plus p&p, so a bit dearer than it was in Madrid but still very much worth it).

So the ingredients list on that mentioned Squalane. So I bought a wee bottle from Akoma- only £2.99. I find it very, very moisturising. It is great for getting rid of little fine lines. I mix a bit into a lot of things as a booster, or slick it on by itself as a flash mask. Apivita do an aloe based hydrating serum that works really well sandwiched underneath a bit of squalane with a cream on top. I liked Facial Expression Line Filler by Balance Me but I think that is sadly discontinued as they look to be refirmulating a lot of their range just now.

That does seem expensive Botemp That company charges 60€ for a 50ml bottle of Squalane. It's only £5.34 for 60ml from Akoma!

Pure by M&S is fab

By way of update, The Ordinary are now doing 100% plant derived Squalane.