Meet the overnight moisturiser that made me reconsider night creams

I’ve never been a ‘night cream’ kind of girl. Naughty, I know, but with sensitive skin, it’s hard enough finding one moisturiser that won’t take me into ‘flush’ territory, let alone two. Especially considering I’m not even able to watch for signs of irritation overnight, due to being, well, unconscious and probably dreaming about Harry Styles. It’s just too risky!

There’s also the fact that even the name ‘night cream’ sounds too rich for my face. And so when a new option arrives on the scene, I tend to think ‘oh how nice for someone with normal skin’ and continue on my merry (AKA dehydrated) way. It’s definitely a little rude that the deep hydrators that have the ability to actually quench my face’s eternal thirst are generally too much for its sensitivity levels, but I try not to be too bitter about it.

And yet even with all these ‘no, and here’s why not’ lines permanently in place, there was something about the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Overnight Moisturiser ($44.95 at La Roche-Posay) that said ‘I’m not like other night creams’…

The product

Okay, fine, I know what that vague ‘something’ was – the brand name always serves as a giant green flag for me. La Roche-Posay was one of the first sensitivity-friendly brands I learned I could trust, and so I always take their product drops extra seriously. I mean, if this beloved brand of mine was telling me that even I, with my angry, reactive skin, needed a night moisturiser, then maybe I did?!

Did you clock the phrase night moisturiser instead of night cream? Promising! The other tempting part was how clearly it conveyed who it was for: dry, sensitive skin types. Me! I practically morphed into the ‘hand raised emoji’ while reading the back of the bottle.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Overnight Moisturiser review

One pump of the formula and I was feeling pretty positive. It’s a lightweight gel-cream that feels like silk on the skin. If silk was cooling, calming and packed with moisture that you could practically hear your face drink up, that is.

Like all of La Roche-Posay’s sensitivity-savvy products, it smells crisp and clean, but not of anything, which is always appreciated. It leaves a slight ‘glistening’ effect on the skin but sinks in almost instantly, leaving no greasy residue in its wake. So yes, even your silk pillowcases are safe. Phew, I know.

As for its slot in my routine, I kept it simple across the board, cleansing in the shower and then going in with the overnight moisturiser, applying a thin layer all over my face and neck. It was a total breeze to add to my routine, as it didn’t require any tweaks beyond simply putting it on, which takes about five seconds flat, even if you take a moment to really massage it in. I also love the fact that it’s a pump bottle rather than a pot – not only is it way more hygienic but it dispenses the perfect amount of product every time. One pump and I’m sorted for the night ahead.

I was glad to see the fact that the instructions specifically advised applying over the eye area and neck, too. My neck is the area most prone to itching and irritation, so any help I can get there is a blessing. And a product that’s actually suited to being applied around the eyes is one that wouldn’t dare irritate them. Two extra points in the ‘win’ column.

It passed the ‘first try’ test with flying colours. Anyone with sensitive skin is always on high alert when sampling a new formula, but this one caused no stress. After monitoring my skin for about an hour post-application, it still felt calm, and so I dozed off in peace. And in the morning? No issues at all! My face even felt a tad less tight, after just one night.

I would say a week in is when I started to notice the biggest change – I was waking up with far less ‘flush’ factor, looking like I’d maybe gone for a light walk instead of having run a marathon like I usually do in the A.M. Apparently sleeping is hard work for sensitive skin.

The final verdict

On top of the general redness reduction (which continued to improve with my nightly applications) I also noticed differences in the dehydration and tightness departments. So I’d say continued improvement can be expected with consistent use. And that’s exactly what I’ll be committing to. The Toleriane Dermallergo Overnight Moisturiser  helped me fill a role in my routine that I’d stopped recruiting for, and I’m so glad to have found a worthy contender.

All up, here's what I would tell anyone with dry and sensitive skin quizzing me on whether they need a night cream. No, you don’t. They’re not designed for you. What you do need is a night moisturiser. And this is a phenomenal formula to try.

Main image credit: Supplied

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