Neighbourhood Botanicals may not be splashed across every billboard yet but within indie skincare circles the London label enjoys a near cult status for its playful branding and high integrity formulas. The team has a knack for turning kitchen garden ingredients into bottles that look good on the bedside table and usually behave just as well on skin.
Enter Dream Dream Dream Night Facial Oil. The name reads like a lullaby in triplicate and, according to the brand, the bottle promises a vitamin A-rich cocoon that calms repairs protects and generally tucks normal to dry complexions in for the night. A roster of rosehip sea buckthorn and blue tansy sounds like a greatest hits album for anyone chasing morning-after radiance. Naturally I had to see whether the glowing press release translated into glowing skin.
I swapped out my usual evening treatment for this oil for a straight fourteen nights, keeping the rest of my routine minimal to let it take center stage. What follows is an honest rundown of how it fared, whether it justifies its premium price tag and who might want to add it to their own bedtime ritual.
Disclaimer: this is not a paid or sponsored review. The product was purchased with my own money and all observations are personal. As always, skincare results can differ wildly depending on individual skin type, sensitivity and lifestyle factors.
What Is Dream Dream Dream Night Facial Oil?
This is an overnight treatment, meaning it is designed to be the final step before sleep rather than a daytime hydrator. Overnight products sit on the skin for several uninterrupted hours, giving slow release actives more time to do their job while the body is already in repair mode. Instead of water or lightweight gels, Dream Dream Dream uses a base of cold pressed plant oils which create an occlusive layer that seals in any moisture applied beneath it.
The formula targets normal, dry and mature skin types that tend to lose water overnight and wake up looking dull or tight. Its headline ingredient group is natural vitamin A precursors found in rosehip oil and sea buckthorn, paired with centella, pomegranate and blue tansy for additional soothing and antioxidant benefits. Because the vitamin A is plant derived it converts gradually on the skin and is considered safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The texture is richer than a serum but less waxy than a balm so the brand advises five drops massaged into damp skin or patted over moisturiser. Used this way it promises to calm irritation, reinforce the skin barrier and leave a softer more radiant complexion by morning rather than chasing instant brightness in the moment of application.
Did It Work?
In the spirit of rigorous home laboratory standards I benched my usual overnight treatment for three nights before starting the trial, which made me feel very scientific indeed. Fourteen consecutive evenings then felt like a fair window to see real changes rather than first impression fluff.
I used the oil exactly as instructed: five drops warmed between palms then pressed into a still damp face. On cooler nights I layered it over a lightweight hydrating serum while hotter evenings called for the oil alone. The texture sat somewhere between silky and syrupy so it needed a full five minutes to settle before my head hit the pillow. Scent wise the blue tansy and geranium mix was herbal spa meets potpourri drawer, pleasant but strong enough that my partner asked what candle I had lit.
Nights one to three delivered a plush, glazed look by morning although I also woke up with a faint shine on my T-zone. By night five the slight tightness I usually get across my cheeks had eased and old redness around one spot was less angry. Still, the promised “soft radiant complexion” read more like a gentle glow rather than a wow moment.
The midway mark was the high point. My skin felt cushioned and I caught a healthy bounce in bathroom light, yet pores around my nose looked the same and the flaky patch on my chin staged its usual comeback by dinner. Absorption continued to be an issue if I applied more than five drops; anything extra migrated into my fringe and left a faint saffron halo on a white pillowcase. Lesson learned.
During the final stretch I paid attention to repair claims. A small scratch from overenthusiastic exfoliation healed at its normal pace, neither faster nor worse. I did not experience breakouts which speaks to the non-comedogenic promise, but I also did not notice a significant barrier boost compared with my regular retinal cream.
So did it work? Partially. Dream Dream Dream lives up to its calming promise and gives dry bits a plush feel, but the radiance and restorative hype landed closer to subtle than spectacular. At this price I want a product that replaces at least two steps in my routine or delivers a visible wow. I enjoyed the two week fling though I will not be giving it a permanent slot on my nightstand. If your priority is a natural, pregnancy safe oil that soothes more than it transforms then you may well fall harder than I did.
Dream Dream Dream Night Facial Oil’s Main Ingredients Explained
First up is rosehip oil, the natural poster child for gentle vitamin A. Both cold pressed and CO2 extracts appear here so you get a double hit of trans retinoic acid precursors that encourage cell turnover without the sting that lab made retinol can cause. Its fatty acid profile leans heavily on linoleic acid which dry or barrier compromised skin loves, yet it keeps a low comedogenic rating so it should not clog most pores unless you are very acne prone.
Sea buckthorn fruit oil looks almost neon orange and that color comes from beta carotene, another form of pro vitamin A. Alongside antioxidants it delivers omega 7, a rare fatty acid that can make skin feel bouncier come morning. It has a middling comedogenic rating around 2 out of 5 which means those prone to congestion may see tiny bumps if they apply more than the suggested five drops. Comedogenic simply refers to how likely an ingredient is to block pores and trigger breakouts.
Gotu kola extract, aka centella or cica, is the calming anchor in the blend. Rich in madecassic and asiatic acids it helps dial down redness and supports collagen repair, making it a smart partner for vitamin A which already encourages renewal.
Pomegranate seed oil brings punicic acid, an anti inflammatory omega 5 that can soothe irritation while reinforcing the skin barrier. Its texture is surprisingly light for such a nutrient dense oil so it balances the heavier kokum butter that follows.
Kokum butter is a solid plant butter melted into the mix to lend stearic acid, giving the finish a cushioned feel. Although many butters are known to be pore clogging kokum’s rating sits low, roughly a 0 to 1, so it is less likely to suffocate skin compared with the more famous cocoa butter.
Cranberry seed oil is included for its unique 1:1 ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 plus natural vitamin E, helping lock in moisture while scavenging free radicals. The light texture also thins out heavier components so the oil absorbs rather than lingers.
Finally blue tansy essential oil provides that spa like indigo hue along with chamazulene and sabinene which are prized for reducing irritation. It is potent so sensitive noses will pick it up instantly but the concentration is low enough to stay within IFRA fragrance guidelines.
The whole formula is plant based and free from animal derivatives so it is suitable for both vegans and vegetarians. All vitamin A here is naturally occurring which makes the blend considered pregnancy safe, still it is sensible to clear any topical containing vitamin A with your healthcare provider first. Essential oil allergens like linalool and citronellol are listed on the INCI so patch testing is smart if you react easily. Overall the ingredient list reads like a who’s who of barrier friendly botanicals with only moderate comedogenic risk for combo or acne prone users.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the straightforward breakdown after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Leaves dry areas cushioned and noticeably softer by morning without clogging pores
- Gentle vitamin A route makes it a reassuring option for pregnancy or easily irritated skin
- Rich yet movable texture spreads easily so the recommended five drops cover face and neck with no tugging
What to Consider:
- Can sit shiny for hours if you exceed the suggested dose, especially on combination zones
- Herbal essential oil aroma is pronounced and may not suit scent sensitive users
- Results stay in the subtle camp which may feel underwhelming for the premium price bracket
My Final Thoughts
After a fortnight of marinating my face in Dream Dream Dream I can honestly say it earns a solid 7/10. It nails comfort, smells like an apothecary at midnight and never once picked a fight with my easily cranky cheeks. Yet those grand promises of transformative bounce and next level repair stayed more bedtime story than plot twist. I have tested enough overnight treatments to know when a product is a quiet achiever and when it is a showstopper; this sits happily in the first camp.
If your skin is normal to dry, you love a natural ingredient deck and you do not mind a visible sheen while you Netflix then drift off, this oil could be your glass of warm milk. Barrier compromised, pregnancy navigating or scent loving users will also appreciate its gentle vitamin A path. On the flip side, oily or congestion prone types, hardcore retinoid devotees and anyone chasing dramatic resurfacing in a single bottle may find the results politely underwhelming. Would I recommend it to a friend? Only the right friend. The one who collects botanical oils like vinyl records, not the one who wants their pores blurred by sunrise.
For those shopping around, a few alternatives I have road tested and rate highly: Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is the reliable allrounder that covers hydration, gentle exfoliation and barrier support at a kinder price point. Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue by BIOSSANCE is my pick for lightweight yet cushiony moisture when humidity spikes. Water Sleeping Mask by LANEIGE offers an almost weightless gel that quenches thirsty skin without leaving oil on the pillowcase. Finally Pro-Collagen Night Cream by ELEMIS serves a plush, spa scented option that improves elasticity when you can stretch to its luxe tag.
Whichever route you choose, remember a few housekeeping rules. Patch test first on a quiet corner of skin (sorry to sound like an over protective parent) and give any overnight product a good four weeks before judging the encore. Results fade if you quit the routine, just like muscles do when you skip the gym, so sustained use is the secret sauce.