For anyone who has strolled the aisles of Australian pharmacies, Natio is a familiar sight with its clean packaging and botanical ethos. The family owned brand champions fuss free skincare that feels approachable yet polished and I have long admired its ability to marry gentle formulations with sensible pricing.
Enter the Intensive Moisturising Night Cream, a title so earnest it practically tucks you into bed. According to Natio this overnight treatment pairs Avocado Oil, Squalane and a bouquet of essential oils to cocoon skin in hydration so you wake up looking rested and comfortably dewy. Application is as straightforward as cleanse, tone and massage upward then let the cream do the heavy lifting while you sleep.
Curious to see if this bedside promise holds up, I swapped out my usual night cream for this one and committed to it for a full two weeks. The goal was simple: gauge performance, texture and value and determine if it deserves a spot in your routine and your budget.
Disclosure: this is not a sponsored or paid review. All observations are drawn from my personal experience and skin type and results can differ widely from person to person.
What Is Intensive Moisturising Night Cream?
Intensive Moisturising Night Cream is an overnight treatment, which means it is designed to work while you sleep when skin’s reparative processes are naturally more active. Unlike day creams that focus on protection from environmental stressors, overnight formulas lean into richer textures and longer wear time to deliver sustained hydration and nourishment.
This particular cream sits firmly in that category. It combines emollients like Avocado Oil and Squalane with a blend of essential oils to help replenish moisture and soften the skin’s surface. The product is applied after cleansing and toning, then left on through the night to support a more supple rested look by morning. Its remit is straightforward: provide a concentrated hit of hydration without the need for additional steps or rinse off.
In short, think of it as the last step in your evening routine, sealing in any serums or treatments you have applied and creating a cushion of moisture intended to leave skin comfortable and hydrated come sunrise.
Did It Work?
In the spirit of rigorous skincare science I shelved my regular overnight treatment for a full three days before cracking open the jar, a sacrifice that felt both noble and vaguely reckless. Fourteen nights strikes me as a decent window to judge a moisturiser so I logged texture, absorption and next-morning skin feel like a diligent lab assistant armed with a mirror.
Night one the cream felt plush and comforting, more soufflé than balm. It spread easily and left a satiny film that bordered on dewy but never greasy. By morning my cheeks were pleasantly bouncy though the glow had faded to a soft matte rather than the promised dew. No irritation, no heavy residue on the pillowcase, a promising start.
Through the first week results stayed consistent: reliable hydration with zero clogging around my nose and chin. I did notice a mild boost in suppleness, especially after evenings spent in blasting central heating. Still, the transformation was subtle. Friends did not gasp at my radiant visage and my fine lines looked no more or less pronounced than usual.
The second week told the same story. The cream buffered my skin against overnight dryness but did not dramatically shift tone or firmness. On mornings after a glass of wine or too little sleep the formula helped me avoid that tight papery feel yet I cannot say I woke up looking markedly “rested.” A quick spritz of mist and a lightweight serum delivered similar comfort at roughly the same effort.
So did it work? Technically yes. It hydrates well, plays nicely with other products and never sparked a breakout. Yet the effect stopped at good basic moisture rather than crossing into wow territory. For that reason I will finish the jar but I doubt it will earn a permanent slot on my shelf.
Main Ingredients Explained
Front and centre is Avocado Oil, a lush emollient brimming with fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E that drape the skin in a soft occlusive layer so water cannot escape overnight. It is, however, rated around 3 on the comedogenic scale which means some acne-prone users might notice clogged pores if they layer it too thickly. (Comedogenic simply means the tendency of an ingredient to block pores and trigger breakouts.)
Squalane follows, the lighter weight partner that mimics our own sebum and sinks in quickly to reinforce the skin barrier. Natio uses plant-derived squalane so the formula is vegetarian friendly and very likely vegan although anyone strict on sourcing may want to confirm the origin with the brand.
Aloe Vera Juice appears high on the list lending soothing humectant benefits that calm any post-cleansing redness. Tocopheryl Acetate offers an antioxidant nudge while glycerin and propanediol pull moisture into the upper layers for that cushiony feel seen on night one.
The essential oil medley (bitter orange peel, ylang ylang, palmarosa, geranium and rosewood) is what gives the cream its spa-like scent but it is also the wildcard for sensitive noses or reactive skin types. Fragrance components such as benzyl alcohol and parfum sit mid-list so anyone dealing with dermatitis or rosacea may prefer an unscented option.
Texture comes courtesy of cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate and hydrogenated coco-glycerides, all fatty alcohols and esters that stabilize the formula and add slip. Their comedogenic ratings hover between 2 and 3 which should be fine for normal to dry complexions yet could be a watch point for those battling persistent congestion.
Worth noting for expectant or breastfeeding readers: while nothing in the INCI screams high risk, essential oils can penetrate the skin and certain obstetric guidelines recommend limiting topical EO exposure. Speak with a healthcare professional before introducing any new leave-on product during pregnancy.
The preservative system relies on phenoxyethanol plus ethylhexylglycerin, a modern combo that keeps microbes at bay without parabens. No silicones, no mineral oil and no animal-derived collagen show up which will please ingredient minimalists.
All in all the roster feels balanced and gentle, yet the presence of richer plant oils and fragrance means it skews toward dry to normal skin rather than oily or highly sensitive types. Patch test first and you will likely sidestep surprises.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks here is the straightforward rundown.
What Works Well:
- Cushiony texture that spreads easily and seals in evening serums without feeling heavy
- Reliable overnight hydration leaves skin soft and comfortable even in dry indoor heating
- Ingredient list avoids silicones and mineral oil which can be a selling point for minimalists
What to Consider:
- Essential oil fragrance and added parfum may not suit reactive or scent sensitive users
- Rich plant oils could feel too occlusive for oily or congestion prone skin
- Hydration is solid but the formula delivers subtle rather than transformational results
My Final Thoughts
After a fortnight of nightly slathering I can safely say Natio’s Intensive Moisturising Night Cream is a solid player that keeps its head down and gets the job done but never quite brings the fireworks. It excels at comfort, sits politely over actives and cushions the skin enough to fend off heater-induced parched patches. If your complexion is normal to dry, enjoys a botanical scent and prefers a cream that behaves rather than dazzles, the jar merits a look. Oily or breakout-prone types may feel it tips into richness while anyone scent sensitive could find the essential oil bouquet a touch chatty at bedtime.
In the grand league table of overnight hydrators I’d rank this a respectable 7/10. I would recommend it to a friend who wants uncomplicated moisture on a mid-range budget but I would also mention there are other contenders that deliver a bit more oomph for roughly the same outlay. Chief among them is Deascal’s Nocturnal Revive Cream, an all-rounder that somehow balances velvety nourishment with a weightless dry-down that flatters every skin type I’ve tried it on. If you crave firmer morning contours ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Night Cream earns its cult status with a noticeably springier finish. Those seeking barrier repair with minimal fragrance might love BIOSSANCE Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue which cocooned my skin through a long-haul flight and left not a hint of sensitivity. For dewy lovers LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask remains the midnight glass of water that never tips into grease.
Whichever route you choose remember a night cream is only as good as your consistency. Patch test first (sorry to sound like the over-protective parent you never asked for) and accept that any glow you win will pack its bags the moment you slack off.