Any skincare aficionado knows that the nighttime routine is key to glowing skin. While I’m not opposed to slathering myself in serums and sunscreens during the day, it’s more of an appetizer to the molten lava cake that is a nighttime serum. Why do I look forward to my end-of-the-day wash?

Why should you use a night cream daily?

Well, like the entire body, sleeping is a time during which your skin is healing, restoring, repairing, and providing the dewy glazed doughnut look all of us are after. “The goal of an evening skincare regimen is to treat and restore, whereas a morning skincare regimen’s goal is to protect and prevent damage,” says dermatology expert Maria Tempera, DO. “An effective night cream will have a more thick, rich consistency and contain active ingredients like retinol or AHAs to increase cell turnover, treat and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve texture and tone, and more.”

Peep a few of the best night creams, below:

What ingredients should you look for in a night cream?

Here are a few ingredients to keep an eye out for in your night cream, according to Dr. Tempera:

• Retinol: stimulates collagen and fights acne
• Peptides: which helps with skin’s elasticity
• Chemical exfoliants: includes alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) that help with cell turnover, skin tone, and texture to help promote collagen production and get you glowing skin
• Ceramides: lipids (aka fats) to help lock in moisture by forming a protective layer
• Glycerin: helps with hydration and brings water into the skin
• Hyaluronic acid: holds 1,000 times its weight in water to help to lock in moisture

When in your routine should you apply your night cream?

Double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Dr. Tiffany Libby, MD, recommended this lineup for applying your skincare at night. “Before your night creams, apply your active ingredients like serums specific to your skin’s concerns, whether they be brightening, hydrating, or reduction in signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles,” she says. “Applying the night cream afterward helps to further drive in these activities and increases their ability to work. Night cream is often the last step of your evening skincare routine,” she said.

Experts weighed in and provided the best 20 night creams for every skin type below: