e.l.f. Nourishing Night Cream for skin with dark spots
Jojoba
Aloe Barbadensis
Shea Butter
Glycerin
Sodium HyaluronateAverage
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate moisturizing benefits for your normal skin due to glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and plump effectively.
- While generally safe and suitable for normal skin, the formula lacks ingredients specifically targeting your primary concern of pigmentation.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no reported irritation risks from its ingredient profile.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it too hard so it absorbs nicely.
- For the best moisture, you can apply it when your skin is slightly damp. This helps your skin stay soft and happy.
- Remember to avoid the eye area when applying. Always do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 3.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly effective at deeply hydrating and soothing dry, flaky, and sensitive skin, leaving it plump and soft by morning. Most users appreciate its lightweight, non-greasy texture that absorbs quickly. A smaller number of users with highly sensitive skin reported mild irritation or found the fragrance to be strong.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Provides deep hydration, making it ideal for dry skin.”
- “Highly moisturizing, transforming dry skin.”
- “Replenishes lost moisture and soothes skin.”
- “Keeps it hydrated, even for those with dry patches.”
Affordable price Often Mentioned
- “Affordable yet effective.”
- “Skin-loving ingredients at good-for-you prices.”
- “A little goes a long way, providing good value.”
- “Affordable and effective in nourishing the skin.”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Texture is incredibly light and absorbs quickly.”
- “Lightweight, non-greasy formula that absorbs effectively.”
- “Does not feel oily or tacky and is creamy and light.”
- “Absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue.”
Soothes sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “Soothing and helps to calm any irritation.”
- “Gentle ingredients that work overnight to repair.”
- “Reduces flakiness, dryness, and irritation.”
- “Great option for sensitive skin.”
Overwhelming fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Concerns about the fragrance.”
- “Strong floral scent might be overwhelming.”
- “Eyes even watered during application.”
- “Not completely unscented.”
Insufficient moisture Rarely Noted
- “Lacking moisture, it's lacking emollient.”
- “Just did not do it for me.”
- “Not a moisturizing product.”
- “Did not do anything for moisturizing my skin.”
Mild burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “Initial application you do get a little bit of a burn.”
- “Did get a little bit of a burning and tingling.”
- “Might be overwhelming if you have sensitive skin.”
- “Read ingredient lists carefully to avoid any potential irritation.”
Sources: lovi.care, target.com, walmart.ca, desertcart.com.pa, influenster.com, ubuy.mq, and more
Questions and answers
How well does e.l.f. Nourishing Night Cream work for skin with dark spots?
This night cream hydrates normal skin well, but it lacks ingredients that specifically target dark spots. A product for this skin needs effective brightening ingredients along with moisturizers to properly fade dark spots while keeping the skin soft and smooth.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this cream a fit by keeping your skin hydrated and smooth, though it does not contain ingredients that target dark spots. A moisturizer for skin with dark spots needs effective brightening ingredients alongside hydrating components.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
What does Jojoba Oil do for skin with dark spots?
Jojoba oil is unlikely to directly fade dark spots, but it helps strengthen and repair the skin barrier so your complexion stays calm and healthy. To effectively target dark spots, a product of this type needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or antioxidants.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2022International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017
What does Aloe Vera do for skin with dark spots?
Aloe vera helps fade dark spots and uneven skin tone by slowing down pigment production and reducing sun-induced discoloration. Using it regularly may gradually clear up stubborn marks and make the skin look more even and bright.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cream goes in the moisturizer step, applied after your cleanser, toner, and any treatment both morning and night. Dark spots need a routine that includes targeted brightening ingredients and gentle exfoliants to help fade uneven tone effectively.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the cream after your retinol treatment to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a moisturizer alongside active treatments is unlikely to cause irritation and may help support your skin barrier while you use retinol.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this cream daily as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated. Regular daily application helps improve moisture levels and keeps skin feeling soft and comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your skin, as its formula has a safe profile with no reported irritation risks. However, since it is an average fit for skin with dark spots, a product for this skin needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to help fade dark spots.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream on your body and around your eyes, as its gentle moisturizing formula is safe for the skin there. However, because the skin on the body and around the eyes is thinner than facial skin, you should watch for any sensitivity when trying it in these areas.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Why other moisturizers fit skin with dark spots better
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Dimethiconol, Tocopheryl Acetate Ve, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium Edta, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract Fruit, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Sugar Maple Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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