Apeer Active Skincare may not yet hold household name status but those who follow ingredient focused formulations have likely seen the label pop up on bathroom shelves and Instagram reels alike. The indie brand is quietly earning a reputation for marrying science backed actives with a no fuss philosophy and I was curious to see if their simply titled Night Cream could live up to the whispers of praise.
The name is almost comically straightforward. Night Cream. No celestial references no botanical poetry just a plainspoken promise that something beneficial happens while you sleep. According to the brand the formula bathes skin in moisture locking squalane ceramides and provitamin B5 then supports firmness with hyaluronic acid and vitamin A so you greet the mirror looking rested rather than rumpled.
To find out if that promise held true I swapped my usual evening moisturizer for Night Cream every other night in week one then nightly in week two paying attention to hydration levels texture and any morning after glow. I kept the rest of my routine constant so any changes could be traced back to this single jar.
For transparency this is not a paid or sponsored review. The product was purchased with my own money all observations are personal and results can vary depending on individual skin types needs and routines.
What Is Night Cream?
Night Cream is an overnight treatment from Apeer Active Skincare designed to work while the skin’s natural repair processes are most active: after you turn off the lights. Products in this category usually deliver a higher concentration of emollients and targeted actives than daytime moisturizers since they do not have to sit comfortably under makeup or sunscreen. The goal is simple hydration and recovery during the roughly eight hours you are not touching your face.
This particular formula focuses on two core tasks. First it replenishes water and lipids with squalane ceramides provitamin B5 and glycerin to keep transepidermal water loss in check. Second it supports firmness and surface renewal with hyaluronic acid and a gentler vitamin A derivative. The brand advises easing in at two to three nights a week then moving toward nightly use as tolerance builds which is standard guidance for anything containing retinoids. There is no fragrance and the ingredient list reads like a greatest hits compilation of barrier support and anti aging staples.
Did It Work?
In the name of scientific rigor I benched my usual overnight treatment for three nights before starting the test run feeling very much like a lab coat was the only thing missing. Fourteen days struck me as the sweet spot long enough to see real movement yet short enough to avoid the “was it diet or skincare” guessing game.
Application was exactly as instructed: a nickel sized scoop warmed between palms then pressed into face neck and chest. Night one impressed me with texture alone; a buttery cream that melted without the greasy aftertouch heavy moisturizers sometimes leave on my pillowcase. By morning my skin felt pleasantly cushioned, not revolutionary but comfortably supple.
Midweek I began to notice a mild uptick in plumpness around my laugh lines and a subtle gloss on the high points of my cheeks that did not cross into oily territory. I credit the squalane glycerin duo for that early glow. However I also woke up to a tiny whitehead on my chin which may have been coincidence though I suspect the richer butters played a cameo. Nothing dramatic but worth noting for fellow combination skin types.
During the second week when I moved to nightly use the cream stepped up its game in barrier support. Post shower tightness disappeared within minutes of application and redness along my nose was visibly quieter. I did not see major changes in firmness or fine lines which is expected since retinyl palmitate works at a gentler pace, yet overall tone looked a touch more even. Importantly there was zero irritation peeling or flaking so the recommended ramp up schedule seems well judged.
So did Night Cream keep its promise of hydration and overnight renewal? Mostly yes. My skin stayed comfortably moisturized, calmer and marginally brighter across the 14 day window. Still the results stopped short of transformative and I missed the multitasking punch of my regular peptide sleep mask. I will happily finish the jar especially in colder months but I do not see myself slotting it into the permanent roster.
Night Cream’s Main Ingredients Explained
Squalane is the headline hydrator here, a lightweight lipid that mimics skin’s own sebum and helps prevent moisture loss without the greasy slip of mineral oil. Because it is plant derived in this formula it keeps the jar squarely in vegan friendly territory. Working alongside it are ceramide NP and provitamin B5, two barrier-loving molecules that patch up micro cracks in the stratum corneum so water stays put. Glycerin and sodium PCA round out the humectant squad by drawing ambient moisture into the upper layers for that morning-after bounce.
For those chasing plumper looking skin, sodium hyaluronate and hexapeptide-11 tackle firmness from different angles. Hyaluronic acid acts like a temporary moisture magnet, swelling between skin cells, while the peptide is thought to encourage fibroblasts toward better collagen organization. The retinyl palmitate present is a gentler vitamin A ester that slowly converts to retinoic acid in skin so you get mild resurfacing benefits with a lower risk of irritation compared to prescription retinoids.
Not everything is purely innocuous though. Shea butter and caprylic/capric triglyceride both carry a medium comedogenic rating which means they can occasionally clog pores in oil-prone complexions. If you are unfamiliar with the term, comedogenic refers to an ingredient’s tendency to block follicles and create blackheads or whiteheads. Anyone who breaks out easily may want to patch test before committing to nightly use.
The formula is technically suitable for vegetarians and vegans since no animal-derived ingredients are listed. That said, citrus fruit extracts and sugarcane/mapple leaf acids introduce a small amount of naturally occurring AHAs which could raise photosensitivity, so robust sunscreen the next morning is non-negotiable.
Pregnant or breastfeeding readers should proceed with caution. Even though retinyl palmitate is mild it still falls under the broader vitamin A umbrella and dermatologists typically advise avoiding topical retinoids during pregnancy unless cleared by your doctor. Better to shelve the jar for nine months than second-guess later.
Rounding out the deck are tocopherol (antioxidant support), leuconostoc ferment (a probiotic-style preservative) and phenoxyethanol plus ethylhexylglycerin for broad spectrum preservation. No added fragrance keeps the risk of sensitization low but the subtle nutty scent of shea butter does peek through. All things considered the ingredient lineup reads smart, barrier focused and friendly to a wide range of skin types so long as you respect the ramp-up schedule and your own pore tendencies.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks here is the straightforward breakdown.
What Works Well:
- Rich buttery texture sinks in fast leaving skin cushioned not slick
- Noticeable overnight hydration plus calmer morning tone thanks to the squalane ceramide B5 trio
- Gentle vitamin A ester delivers mild resurfacing with no sting or peeling so ramp-up is stress free
- Fragrance free vegan formula keeps potential irritants to a minimum
What to Consider:
- Shea butter and caprylic/capric triglyceride may nudge combo or breakout-prone skin toward congestion
- Results feel supportive rather than game changing so those chasing dramatic firming might crave more active punch
- Jar packaging looks clean on the shelf yet demands a spatula for hygiene and can feel spendy for a straight-up moisturizer
My Final Thoughts
Night Cream turned out to be the skincare equivalent of a reliable sedan: not flashy, rarely thrilling, yet you appreciate its steady performance when you glance in the rear-view mirror every morning. After two weeks on the road my skin felt hydrated, calmer and marginally brighter but it never quite hit the turbo button on firmness or radiance. I would still score it a respectable 7/10 because consistency counts and irritation-free vitamin A is nothing to shrug at.
If someone with normal to slightly dry skin asked whether I would recommend it I would nod yes and hand them a spatula along with the jar. If they were oily, congestion-prone or chasing rapid line-smoothing fireworks I would steer them toward something lighter or more aggressive. The price also nudges it into “treat” territory so the value equation hinges on how much you prize a calm, cushioned barrier over dramatic anti-aging theatrics.
As for alternatives I have actually emptied each of these so the suggestions come from firsthand mileage, not window-shopping. Deascal’s Nocturnal Revive Cream is the dependable all-rounder that covers hydration, barrier support and gentle renewal for every skin type at a friendlier cost per pump. When my skin screams for repair after a long flight I reach for BIOSSANCE Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue which swaddles the face in a plush cocoon yet never breaks me out. For nights I want to wake up looking as if I have been misted with dewy fog, LANEIGE Bouncy & Firm Sleeping Mask delivers that elastic, well-rested spring. And when I crave a spa-like experience, ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Night Cream offers a silky finish and a touch of firming luxury that feels like slipping into high-thread-count sheets.
Whichever route you choose remember a few unsexy but important housekeeping notes. Patch test first on your jawline even if I sound like an over-protective parent, ease in slowly when vitamin A is involved and accept that any glow you earn is rented not owned so regular use is mandatory.