Cetraben may not be the flashiest name on the beauty shelf but dermatologists and anyone with temperamental skin know it is quietly dependable. The British brand’s roots in medical moisturisers lend it credibility that even bigger skincare houses often chase.
The product at hand, Nourishing Facial Night Cream, sounds like it was named during a late-night brainstorm where every comforting word got a seat at the table. According to Cetraben, this cream combines jojoba seed oil and shea butter to flood dry sensitive or eczema-prone skin with hydration, forming a cocooning layer that calms while you sleep. They suggest pairing it with the matching cleanser and lean on their British Skin Foundation approval to seal the promise.
I gave the jar a fair shot: two full weeks of nightly use, skipping my usual actives to let it shine on its own. The goal was simple, see if it justifies a spot in an already crowded night-time lineup and ultimately if it is worth your hard-earned money.
Disclaimer: this review is not paid or sponsored. All opinions are based on my personal experience and results will vary from person to person.
What Is Nourishing Facial Night Cream?
Nourishing Facial Night Cream is Cetraben’s take on an overnight treatment, a category of products designed to sit on the skin while you sleep when its repair processes are naturally more active. Unlike lighter day moisturisers, overnight creams tend to be thicker so they can form a slow-releasing layer that locks in hydration for several hours without interference from sunscreen or makeup.
This formula is built around jojoba seed oil and shea butter, two occlusive ingredients that help reduce water loss. Added glycerin and castor oil bring extra humectant and emollient benefits which aim to soften dry patches. The brand positions it specifically for dry sensitive or eczema-prone skin so the blend is free of strong acids or retinoids and relies instead on barrier friendly lipids, panthenol and squalane to soothe.
Application is straightforward. Cleanse, pat dry, then smooth a modest layer of the cream over the face and neck. Cetraben advises pairing it with their Moisture Protect Facial Cleanser but the cream can follow any gentle cleanse. Used correctly it should create a protective film that remains until morning at which point it can be rinsed away before daytime skincare.
Did It Work?
In the spirit of rigorous scientific inquiry I benched my beloved overnight treatment for a few days before starting Cetraben’s cream, then committed to a full 14 night run. I figure two weeks is long enough for skin to send up either thank you notes or SOS signals.
Night one impressions: dense but not glue-like, it spread without tugging although it sat glossy for a solid hour. I woke up with that familiar slightly oily film yet my cheeks felt pleasantly supple. By night three my reactive forehead had calmed after a cold windy day which gave me an early confidence boost.
Through the first week I noticed something interesting. On mornings after central heating had been blasting, areas that usually feel papery around my mouth stayed soft. The cream clearly excels at sealing moisture in. However the trade-off was a faint tackiness that clung to my pillowcase despite conservative application. Not a deal breaker, just a reminder this is a night-only formula.
Week two told a more nuanced story. Hydration levels plateaued; my skin was comfortable but not progressively plumper. A tiny cluster of clogged pores appeared on my chin, the kind that surface when oils outnumber actives in my routine. They cleared quickly once I reintroduced a light exfoliant yet it showed the cream can be a touch rich if you are combination rather than purely dry.
Did it deliver on its promises? Largely yes. It cocooned, calmed and kept transepidermal water loss in check. What it did not do was wow me beyond basic barrier support. I will finish the jar on harsh weather nights yet I will not be giving it permanent residency in my already crowded shelf. For those with persistently dry or eczema prone skin it may be a quiet hero, for my moderately thirsty complexion it is a solid but unremarkable guest star.
Nourishing Facial Night Cream’s Main Ingredients Explained
The backbone of this formula is jojoba seed oil, a waxy oil whose composition mimics human sebum so it sinks in easily and helps regulate moisture without feeling overly greasy. Partnered with it is shea butter, a rich lipid source packed with fatty acids that form a soft occlusive seal to curb overnight water loss. These two give the cream its buffer-against-the-elements character and are the reason my cheeks stayed calm even after a radiator marathon.
Glycerin shows up high on the list and that is always a good sign. As a humectant it pulls water into the upper layers of skin, plumping fine lines in the short term and supporting barrier recovery in the long term. Castor oil and coconut oil join the party for extra emollience while squalane, the lighter cousin of squalene, adds a non-greasy cushion that smooths texture.
Soothing support comes from panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) which attracts moisture and has mild anti-inflammatory properties, plus a marine-derived pseudoalteromonas ferment that manufacturers tout for its ability to encourage skin repair proteins. Tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) provides antioxidant backup against sneaky nighttime free radicals, keeping lipid oxidation in check.
Preservation is handled by phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and ethylhexylglycerin, a quartet often found in sensitive skin products because they keep the jar microbe-free without harsh parabens. A light fragrance sits at the end of the deck; I detected a faint clean scent that dissipated after a few minutes and did not trigger redness.
Worth flagging: coconut oil, castor oil and shea butter all score mid to high on the comedogenic scale which rates how likely an ingredient is to clog pores. If you are acne-prone or combo like me keep an eye on congestion and consider alternating nights.
Those avoiding animal-derived ingredients should note the inclusion of polyglyceryl-3 beeswax. That makes the cream technically vegetarian friendly but not vegan. No common retinoids or high-dose acids are present so on paper it looks pregnancy-safe, still the safest route is to run any topical past a healthcare provider before slathering when expecting.
Lastly, the formula is water-based and silicone-free so it layers well over hydrating serums without pilling. The jar packaging means you will want to keep fingers clean to avoid contamination although the preservative system should handle incidental slips.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the quick hit rundown after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Delivers consistent overnight hydration that keeps dry sensitive and eczema prone skin comfortable till morning
- Soothes wind chapped or irritated areas without stinging thanks to panthenol and squalane
- Rich occlusive layer seals in serums yet feels lighter than classic mineral oil balms
- Subtle scent fades fast so it will not clash with other products
- Price sits in the approachable bracket for a barrier focused night cream from a dermatologist trusted brand
What to Consider:
- Tacky finish can transfer to pillowcases before fully absorbing
- Heavier oils may encourage minor congestion on combination or acne prone skin if used nightly
- Jar format means extra diligence with clean fingers to avoid contamination
My Final Thoughts
Night creams are the unsung stage managers of a skincare routine, working behind the curtain while we face-plant into our pillows. After a fortnight with Cetraben’s Nourishing Facial Night Cream I can say it does the job it sets out to do: hydrate, cocoon and placate cranky skin. It never irritated my reactive cheeks, kept tightness at bay and behaved respectably under the scrutiny of central heating. Still, it stopped short of delivering that “where have you been all my life” transformation I get from heavier hitters. On my personal applause meter it earns a steady 7/10 stars.
Who will love it? Anyone whose skin feels as parched as a crossword in August and who wants a fragrance-light, dermatologist-backed formula that focuses on barrier repair rather than exfoliation or anti-aging fireworks. Who might not? Combination or acne-prone types that already struggle with congestion or anyone chasing dramatic brightening or firming results. I would recommend it to a friend with eczema-leaning dryness, but I would also advise keeping a clarifying mask on standby if blackheads gate-crash the party.
Of course my vanity is an equal-opportunity shelf, so I have field-tested plenty of late-night hydrators. If Cetraben feels a touch too straightforward, Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is an excellent all-rounder that somehow manages to be rich and breathable at the same time, suiting every skin type at a wallet-friendly price. Those craving a silkier slip might enjoy Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue by BIOSSANCE, which throws in antioxidant flair without clogging pores. If dewy glass-skin is your goal, Water Sleeping Mask by LANEIGE layers like a cool drink and never stains the sheets. And should you need serious nourishment after a day in harsh elements, Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Night Cream from First Aid Beauty offers cushiony comfort with a side of peptides.
Before you slather anything new from brow to jawline, remember the unglamorous but crucial step of patch testing on a discreet patch of skin. Results hinge on consistent use, so keep the jar in rotation if you want the benefits to stick around. Sorry to sound like an over-protective parent but your future self will thank you.