DERMA E has long held a respectable corner in the natural beauty aisle yet it may still fly under the radar for anyone who shops on autopilot. The California-born brand marries clean formulations with dermatologist cred giving ingredient lovers plenty to get excited about.
The latest mouthful from its lab, Ultra Hydrating Advanced Repair Night Cream, certainly sounds like it moonlights as a superhero. According to DERMA E the cream is meant to flood skin with moisture, smooth away the day’s rough edges and help you greet the mirror with a plumper more youthful look come morning.
I spent a solid two weeks slathering it on nightly to see if the promises live up to the poetry and, more importantly, if it earns a spot in your bedtime routine.
Disclaimer: this review is not paid or sponsored in any way. All observations are my own and results with skincare can differ from person to person.
What Is Ultra Hydrating Advanced Repair Night Cream?
Ultra Hydrating Advanced Repair Night Cream is a leave-on moisturizer designed specifically for overnight use. Classified as an overnight treatment, it is meant to stay on the skin for the entire sleep cycle rather than being rinsed off like a mask. Overnight treatments take advantage of the skin’s natural nighttime repair processes, when cell turnover is at its peak and exposure to daylight stressors is zero, giving active ingredients a longer uninterrupted window to work.
This particular formula targets dryness and early signs of aging with a combination of humectants, emollients and occlusives. Hyaluronic acid pulls water into the skin, plant oils such as macadamia and jojoba soften the surface, while squalane and ceramide NG help reinforce the moisture barrier. Green tea extract and vitamins C and E add an antioxidant element intended to curb free radical damage accrued during the day.
The texture is billed as ultra rich, which signals a thicker consistency suited to normal through very dry skin types. It can be applied after cleansing and any lighter serums, replacing a standard night cream. People with oily or blemish-prone skin may find the heavy finish too occlusive, but for dehydrated complexions the formula aims to deliver a cushion of lasting hydration that persists until morning.
Did It Work?
In the name of science I benched my usual overnight treatment for three days before starting the test run and felt very professional about the whole thing. Fourteen nights later I figure the lab coat still fits and the results are in.
Night one the cream felt thick yet surprisingly spreadable. A blueberry sized dollop covered face and neck without tugging and the subtle herbal scent faded before I got through a single podcast episode. It sat on the skin for a few minutes then settled into a dewy film that never turned greasy on my normal-to-combination complexion. By morning my cheeks felt cushiony and the faint tightness I often wake up with had vanished.
Through the first week that bounce held steady. Makeup went on smoother and midday dryness around my mouth stopped making cameo appearances. I did not notice any dramatic plumping or soft focus effect on fine lines but the overall texture looked more even and felt calm.
Week two told a slightly different story. The rich layer that once vanished started to linger by sunrise and I spotted two tiny clogged pores on my chin. Nothing volcanic but a sign that the occlusive finish can border on too much for areas that are already balanced. Hydration remained strong yet the promised visible reduction in aging markers never fully materialized. My smile lines looked about the same and the minimal post-sun pigmentation on my forehead did not budge.
So did it deliver? If the goal is a reliable overnight quencher that leaves skin plush and comfortable then yes it scored. If you are banking on noticeable firming or wrinkle softening within a fortnight keep expectations realistic. I appreciate its calming moisture blanket but with shelves already crowded by hydrators that play nicer with mixed skin types I will finish the jar then likely move on.
Ultra Hydrating Advanced Repair Night Cream’s Main Ingredients Explained
The formula is built on the classic moisture trifecta: humectants, emollients and occlusives. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate fall into the humectant camp pulling water from the environment and deeper skin layers toward the surface for that morning-after bounce. Aloe juice pitches in here too offering calming sugars that help temper redness.
Next come the emollient players that smooth the rough edges of the stratum corneum. Macadamia seed oil, jojoba seed oil and squalane coat microscopic cracks so light refracts evenly and skin feels silky. Macadamia oil sits higher on the comedogenic scale than jojoba or squalane which means it can clog pores in some users with oily or congestion-prone zones. Stearic acid plus the fatty alcohols (cetyl and stearyl) add further slip and softness yet share a moderate comedogenic rating. If you are acne sensitive patch test first or keep the cream away from the nose and chin where sebum runs higher.
To lock everything in place the formula leans on dimethicone, the breathable silicone that forms an imperceptible film preventing overnight water loss without suffocating skin. Ceramide NG mimics elements of the skin barrier fortifying defenses against future dehydration while panthenol and allantoin lend soothing benefits that make the cream friendly to reactive complexions.
Antioxidant support shows up through green tea extract plus tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) and ascorbyl palmitate (a fat-soluble vitamin C ester). They scavenge free radicals created by UV exposure and pollution helping keep collagen stores intact over time. There are no retinoids or strong exfoliating acids so irritation risk stays low although fragrance oils are present which may bother the super sensitive.
Good news for ethical shoppers: every listed ingredient is either plant derived or lab synthesized so the product is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Pregnancy is more nuanced; while the ingredient deck lacks obvious contraindications it still contains fragrance compounds and preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Expecting parents should always clear any leave-on topical with their healthcare provider.
Final housekeeping note: the preservative system relies on phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin, a duo considered safe within current concentration limits. The natural fragrance is pleasantly subtle yet not disclosed in full which may be a deal breaker for those who prefer complete transparency. Overall the ingredient list reads like a well balanced script starring moisturizers first, protectors second and nothing too flashy stealing the show.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the quick hit list after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Plumps dehydrated areas overnight so skin feels soft and cushioned by morning
- Rich yet spreadable texture that layers easily over serums without pilling
- Vegan cruelty free formula with a solid mix of humectants emollients and antioxidants
- Subtle fragrance dissipates fast making it friendly to scent sensitive noses
What to Consider:
- Heavier finish may encourage clogged pores on oily or breakout prone zones
- Anti aging claims stay modest with little visible change in fine lines during the test period
- Jar format means more air exposure and finger dipping which may irk hygiene purists or shorten potency over time
My Final Thoughts
The idea of waking up looking eight hours younger is seductive marketing poetry but in real life a night cream’s job is far more pragmatic: keep water in, keep irritation out and maybe cajole a bit of glow while we drool on the pillowcase. DERMA E’s Ultra Hydrating Advanced Repair Night Cream largely meets that brief. After two weeks my skin stayed decisively comfortable through fickle radiator weather and the soft pillowy feel first thing was hard to ignore. The downside is that the same buttery blanket can feel heavy on combination zones and, at least for me, the promised wrinkle blur was more whisper than shout. Still, a 7/10 feels fair for consistent hydration with minimal drama.
I would hand the jar to anyone with dry to very dry skin or barrier sensitivity who wants a cleaner leaning formula that skips retinoids. If you are oily, acne prone or already love a lighter gel texture you might find yourself blotting by breakfast. As for repeat purchase potential, I will finish the jar then decide based on how many winter winds are left to fight. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, but only after asking what their T-zone has to say about rich creams.
For readers hunting a wider net of options I have road tested plenty of night warriors and a few deserve special mention. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is the crowd-pleasing all-rounder I keep buying for its cushy feel and wallet friendly price tag that somehow suits both my Sahara cheek days and my oilier chin nights. If you crave a lighter but still replenishing hug, BIOOSSANCE Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue leaves skin velvety without the pore gamble. Fans of bouncy water-gel textures should try LANEIGE’s classic Water Sleeping Mask which soaks in fast yet never disappears by dawn. Lastly, Medik8’s Advanced Night Restore offers a sophisticated barrier boost with a vitamin cocktail that genuinely earned its spot on my top shelf during last year’s cold snap.
Before you slather anything new please channel your inner scientist and patch test behind an ear or along the jawline. I know I sound like an over-protective parent but reactions can and do happen. Remember too that any gains you see will stick around only as long as the product stays in rotation so keep that jar near the toothbrush if you want the hydration halo to last.