It’s a well-known fact that skin repairs itself at night more effectively than during the day. That is why I always firmly believed that a night cream is absolutely necessary, so I started using one in my early 20s. To this day, a rich overnight moisturizer is a staple in my PM beauty routine. For the past few weeks I’ve been interchangeably testing two night creams: GLAMGLOW DREAMDUO Overnight Transforming Treatment & Eminence Bright Skin Overnight Correcting Cream, and I might as well spill the beans right away and say that I liked both.
While my skin’s condition has changed over the years, the general rules of choosing products for my AM and PM lineup are pretty much the same as they were 10 years ago:
- Cleanse
- Exfoliate
- Moisturize
- Nourish
- Protect
Night creams usually fit into the last two categories, depending on the formula, but the two products I wanted to share with you today do more than that.
GLAMGLOW DREAMDUO Overnight Transforming Treatment ($59 for 0.68 oz. + 0.68 oz.) comes in a jar with two compartments. One side houses a pearlescent Dreamserum, enriched with over a dozen different vitamins and antioxidants to protect the skin. The other side contains grayish Dreamseal – a blend of potent botanicals, Hyaluronic Acid and Mozuku Green Algae to moisturize and plump the skin. Both have a lovely gel-cream consistency that spreads easily on the skin, and a pleasant tropical scent, papaya maybe?
“A moisturizing serum and seal dream team overnight treatment for visibly plumper, more hydrated skin that lets you to wake up to a soft, smooth complexion.”
I’ve been using GLAMGLOW DREAMDUO Overnight Transforming Treatment on and off for about 2 weeks now, and every morning I wake up looking rested. The texture is perfect for combination skin – not too light, not too heavy; my face feels sufficiently hydrated, and not overloaded with product. Dreamduo creates an occlusive layer on the skin, sealing in the active ingredients from my serums and essences that I apply right after cleansing, while providing additional antioxidant benefits.
You will LOVE it if:
- You like the idea of having two different products in one jar.
- You like the smell of papayas.
- You have normal or combination skin.
- You are looking for a medium to lightweight hydrating overnight moisturizer.
You will HATE it if:
- Jar packaging is an issue.
- You prefer unscented skincare.
- You prefer all-natural products.
Eminence Bright Skin Overnight Correcting Cream ($64 for 2 oz.) is a brand new product that just launched earlier this month, and I am already a fan! This natural & organic alternative to conventional brightening treatments contains over 30 [!!!] different organic botanicals, ubiquinone, salicylic acid, lactic acid, vitamins, and emollients to exfoliate, nourish, brighten, protect, and repair the skin while you sleep. The price is not exactly budget-friendly, but you get a lot of product for your buck – each 2 oz. jar is filled to the top. Each jar also comes with a nice plastic spatula to help make scooping out the product more hygienic.
“Brighten skin with this ultra-rich moisturizer formulated to address the look of hyperpigmentation while you sleep.”
Designed to complement the rest of Eminence Organics VitaSkin™ Bright Skin Collection range, Overnight Correcting Cream is currently the brand’s most potent brightening treatment. Considering how many different products they make, that is not a claim to be taken lightly. The main thing to keep in mind while using this cream is that you seriously shouldn’t skip sunscreen. On the days when I use it, I wake up with visibly tighter, more lifted, brighter skin, and I know that lift is due to chemical exfoliation. This is especially important for brightening products – don’t allow the skin to overproduce melanin by exposing it to UV rays, or you will end up having more hyperpigmentation than you needed to treat in the first place.
Unlike most conventional moisturizers that contain synthetic or petrochemical emollients, Eminence Bright Skin Overnight Correcting Cream has a cream-paste texture, and does not immediately melt into the skin. My advice is to warm a small amount between warm palms or fingertips, and gently press into the skin until absorbed.
Fun fact: this cream smells like Head & Shoulders shampoo, no kidding! Except theirs was made in the lab, and this one was grown in the fields.
You will LOVE it if:
- You like natural & organic skincare.
- You are looking for a natural at-home treatment for hyperpigmentation.
- You prefer beauty products free of synthetic fragrances.
You will HATE it if:
- Jar packaging is an issue.
- You have very oily skin.
- You don’t like the fuss of “pressing in” the cream until it absorbs by the skin.
DON’T use it if:
- You can’t commit to applying SPF30+ every day.
BOTTOM LINE:
GLAMGLOW DREAMDUO Overnight Transforming Treatment and Eminence Bright Skin Overnight Correcting Cream couldn’t be more different, but each plays a very important role in my weekly routine. I use DREAMDUO four to five days a week to hydrate and plump the skin, and combat the environmental damage with loads of antioxidants. Overnight Correcting Cream is my twice a week brightening treatment to improve the appearance of sun damage and post-acne scarring, which I still have plenty of.
From years of personal experience, I came to believe that every skin type can benefit from a separate overnight cream. It doesn’t necessarily need to be labeled as such, as long as it provides the perks of a night treatment. During the daytime stick to lightweight formulas that provide moderate antioxidant protection and sit well under makeup. At night – repair, restore, and nourish the skin with richer, more complex formulations, and you’ll be rewarded with glowing, luminous complexion every morning.
Do you think night cream is necessary? Why/why not? If you could splurge on one night cream, which one would it be? Let me know in the comments below!
Both intriguing night creams. Does Glamglow say why the two products are separated rather than mixed together? I’m not sure that I get why you need a separate “sealing in” step rather than applying them at once.
No, they do not specify that, so this is probably just for skintertainment aspect (which I personally enjoy). Just by looking at the ingredient list, both contain occlusives, so you could mix them together and the effect will be the same.
These both sound like products I would enjoy. While I strongly dislike jar packaging from a sanitary standpoint, I will suck it up for a good product.
Right on point, Courtney! I’m not a huge fan of jar packaging either, but at least Eminence comes with a spatula, and Glamglow is small enough that it won’t go bad before it’s used up.
I’m always a little scared to use products that absolutely require sunscreen, I’m scared I’ll forget and get burned to a crisp!
I like the looks of the split jar though 🙂
You need to wear sunscreen after any product that exfoliates your skin, whether it’s chemical (like retinol, glycolic acid, etc) or physical (like a scrub, a Clarisonic brush, etc). Most products do not state that on the packaging though.
And I’m with you on the split jar, it’s much more fun that way haha 🙂
My day cream has SPF15 which is better than nothing, but also not really good enough – especially considering you’re supposed to reapply sunscreen throughout the day, which I never do on ‘normal’ days although I’m careful to if I’m specifically out in the sun.
You go girl, that’s already better than 90% of the people I know! 🙂 I struggle with reapplication, too, so it’s not just you.
Since I always wear sunscreen it would be a problem but unfortunately I’m not sure if I could tolerate the scents. I’ve got some Glamglow samples that I’m going to try out though to see how well my skin likes them.
I personally find Glamglow a bit too fragranced. Some of their scents don’t seem to bother me at all, while others make my eyes water – they’re that strong. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
I tried some Glamglow masks in the past. I should revisit this brand!
I would love to hear what you think of them as an aesthetic RN!
I think I’ll pass on the Eminence Bright Skin Overnight Correcting Cream because I have oily skin but I want to try that Glam Glow!
Yeah, it’s definitely overkill for oily skin since the formula is rich and balmy. Plenty other brightening treatments for oily skin out there, so it’s not the end of the world <3
I want to try the Glam Glow, it sounds perfect. I think the split container is cute. I’ll add that to my list of splurge items!!!
Always happy to share a good find!
I do love a night cream or repair type mask. I’ve been using on daily the last few weeks. My skin seems to love it. 🙂
I know what you mean, there is something about a good night cream that makes all the difference 🙂
I haven’t tried any GlamGlow yet – but it always catches my eye! This is definitely interesting and I like the split container
The split container is very unique, indeed! Glamglow products always have this “wow” factor to them, there’s always something different. Like, pieces of tea and birch leaves in a facial mask, or diamond dust in the scrub.
Night cremes aren’t my thing just yet but I do a basic moisturizer before sleep.
As long as you found something that works for your skin, you’re set 🙂 And it doesn’t have to be a special night cream.
As someone with ridiculously dry skin I this night creams are super necessary. I would splurge on both of them if I could.
You’re spot on! Night creams are especially great for dry skin. I think Eminence would work better than Glamglow in your case, because it’s more nourishing.
I love glam glow!
Me, too! They have fantastic products, don’t they?
Great review. I would love to try either of these night cremes.
Thank you!
Pretty much all of my preferences fit in the loves categories you listed above so I think these would be a great match for me!
That’s awesome, I’m glad you find them helpful! I’m sort of experimenting with this new “love/hate” format because it’s faster to make a quick list of things than writing wordy paragraphs about pros and cons.
I love the duo packaging!!! This is pure genius!!!