The 21 Best Face Moisturizers for Men 2022: Top Face Creams

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You’ve upgraded from a soap-and-water situation to a great facial cleanser that’ll make your skin feel fresh, but to really get your mug in tip top shape, you need to use a moisturizer every day. Moisturizers are important for keeping your skin hydrated throughout the day to combat everything from dryness and flakiness to shine and oil production. And it’s never too late to start using one

“Moisturizers in general have three types of ingredients: occlusives, humectants, and emollients,” says Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. “Occlusives form a protective layer over the skin to prevent loss of hydration, while humectants are like sponges that grab onto water and plump the skin, such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Emollients, such as natural oils, are ingredients that soften the outer skin layer and smooth rough cells.”

The best moisturizers for men also contain additional ingredients to help strengthen and protect the skin, not just keep it hydrated. Ohio-based dermatologist Sarah Stierman, M.D. recommends multi-tasking moisturizers that contain “niacinamide which is an anti-inflammatory B vitamin that can help stave off blemishes in oiler skin, hyaluronic acid which draws water and holds moisture against the skin, and ceramides which are lipids that help with barrier repair and soothing the skin – very important when you’re shaving regularly.” And, of course, broad-spectrum SPF to protect against the damaging rays of the sun.

Read more: Best Grooming Products for Men

All this sounds great, right? But one of the reasons lots of guys skip the all-important moisturizing step is because they don’t like how they feel. Men, including us, tend to avoid things that leave their skin feeling greasy, oily or filmy – which can make finding a moisturizer tricky. Luckily, moisturizers come in all types, even gel. “Gel moisturizers have a high water content, which is why they can be spread fairly quickly and leave little to no tacky finish,” says New York City-based dermatologist Estee Williams, M.D. Typically, what kind of moisturizer you choose depends on your skin type (gels are great for oilier skin, while thicker creams are perfect for dry skin), but the most important thing when choosing a moisturizer is finding one you like using every day. If it just sits in your medicine cabinet, it’s not going to do your face any good.

Luckily, there are thousands of moisturizers out there so finding one that’s perfect for your unique skin is possible. To make it easier, start with this list of the best face moisturizers for men.

The Best Moisturizers for Men

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    Most Versatile

    Ceramidin™ Cream

    Go heavy on the ceramides with this moisturizer, which is packed with five different kinds to help strengthen and maintain your skin barrier. It’s suitable for all skin types, but especially good if you have dry or sensitive skin but want a lighter weight option.

    Best for Flaky Skin

    Revitalizing Nourishing Cream

    Not only are there skin-nourishing lipids and antioxidants in this protective formula, but the hero is Avene’s thermal spring water from France which has been shown to soothe and calm even the most sensitive skin. It’s ideal if you have very dry, flaky skin or red, inflamed skin.

    Best for Sensitive Skin

    Golden Hour Recovery Cream

    This fast absorbing cream delivers hydration to your skin you can almost see a difference immediately. It’s great no matter what kind of skin you have, but especially good if you have sensitive skin or are prone to redness thanks to skin-soothing calendula in the formula.

    Best for Dry Skin

    Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream

    This powerful cream contains both hyaluronic acid and ceramides to deeply hydrate skin and build up the skin barrier to keep it that way. Bonus: there are also ingredients like antioxidant green tea extract and pomegranate sterols to further boost moisture.

    Best for Eczema

    Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum

    This lightweight hyaluronic acid-packed, sensitive skin-friendly serum works double duty. Use it by itself as a moisturizer, especially if you don’t like heavy creams, or in addition to your regular moisturizer for an extra boost of hydration.

    Best Night Cream

    Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream

    Somehow both rich and lightweight, this cream is a moisture bomb. It contains three different weights of hyaluronic acid, which sink into your skin at different rates, ensuring your skin stays hydrated for hours…and hours…and hours.

    Read more: Best Night Creams for Men

    Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin

    Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Face Gel Moisturizer

    North Carolina-based dermatologist Alex Zeitany, M.D. recommends fragrance-free, lightweight moisturizers that are packed with hyaluronic acid, like this one. “Hyaluronic acid can hold over 1000 times its weight in water,” which gives this gel a barely-there feeling while still being a potent moisturizer, she says.

    You can’t go wrong with a classic, which is why we always come back to this standby from Kiehl’s. It’s creamy but not heavy and suitable for all skin types, even oily skin. It hydrates your skin all day, even in cold weather, but still won’t leave your mug feeling gunky.

    Read more: Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin

    Best Tinted Moisturizer

    SmartSkincare Silc Sheer 2.0 Tinted Sunscreen SPF 40

    We love this moisturizer/sunscreen hybrid. Not only does it protect your skin from the sun, but it also “has plankton extract to help repair sun damage and citric acid to promote skin cell renewal to reduce the appearance of age spots, wrinkles and an uneven skin tone,” says Elizabeth Houshmand, M.D., a dermatologist in Dallas, TX.

    Read more: Best Tinted Moisturizers for Men

    Best SPF Moisturizer

    Total Defense + Repair SPF 34 Sunscreen

    This all-in-one moisturizer comes highly recommended by Dr. Stierman because “it has broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection in a lightweight formula that also contains antioxidants to protect against environmental pollutants and infrared radiation,” she says.

    Read more: Best Sunscreens for Men

    Ultra-Calming Daily Facial Moisturizer With Spf 30

    When you have sensitive skin, almost anything can set it off— even moisturizer. Look for versions that are specifically designed for sensitive skin like this one. It’s packed with soothing ingredients including colloidal oatmeal which “protects skin while calming inflammation,” says Dr. Zeichner.

    Read more: Moisturizer Guide

    Best Drugstore Moisturizer

    Hyaluronic Acid 2%

    New York City-based dermatologist Ritu Saini, M.D. recommends a lightweight hyaluronic acid-based moisturizer like this one. It’s great when worn by itself, but can also be used underneath another moisturizer or sunscreen for extra hydration.

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    Best Luxury Moisturizer

    Daily Hydrating Cream

    Celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas has built a luxe, effective line of skincare products that target any skin concern, and her hydrating cream is no exception. Packed with jojoba oil, zinc oxide, and avocado oil, we found that using it after a month evened our complexions.

    Toleriane Ultra Intense Soothing Care

    Switch to a thicker, creamier moisturizer like this one when the weather turns “colder and more dry” and your skin needs extra hydration, says Meredith Price, M.D., a dermatologist in Michigan (who definitely knows a thing or two about cold weather).

    Clear Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

    Massachusetts-based dermatologist Kathleen Joyce, M.D. recommends her male patients use this hydrating sunscreen as a moisturizer. “It contains niacinamide which can help with redness and acne and provides a good sunscreen in a very lightweight base,” she says.

    Read more: Best Men’s Moisturizers with SPF

    Clean Lightweight Daily Face Moisturizer

    This simple, straightforward moisturizer is a great option for nearly every guy, but especially anyone who’s not used to moisturizers yet. The formula is fragrance-free, silicone-free and perfect for even sensitive skin. Plus, it contains “probiotics to help restore a healthy skin barrier and white oat seed to protect and hydrate,” says Dr. Zeichner.

    Read more: Best Acne Spot Treatments

    Best for Acne-Prone Skin

    Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer

    Moisturizing is still important even if you have oily, acne-prone skin. If your skin is too dry, it could actually produce more oil to overcompensate for the lack of moisture. This lightweight moisturizer is specifically designed for acne-prone skin and even contains salicylic acid to help control and prevent breakouts.

    PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

    Dr. Stierman also recommends this lightweight moisturizer for night wear because it “contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide in an oil-free, non-greasy formula.” Plus, you can’t go wrong with the price.

    If you’re going to use just one product, make sure it multi-tasks. Irina Oroz, M.D., a dermatologist in Saskatoon, Canada recommends this one because it’s lightweight but still packs a punch with antioxidants and ceramides to help strengthen and restore your skin barrier as well as moisturize.

    Relax And Repair Ultimate Anti-Aging Moisturizer

    This daily moisturizer is named “ultimate” for a reason — it contains everything you could want in a moisturizer and more. Ceramides? Check. Hyaluronic acid? Check. Niacinamide? Double Check. Somehow it’s still lightweight and non-greasy, no easy feat with all those ingredients in there. Best of all, we love the travel0friendly tube—perfect to throw in a dopp kit or gym bag

    Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream

    If you have oily skin, the last thing you want to do is add a heavy cream that makes you feel even greasier–but using a moisturizer is still important in regulating oil production. The answer is this uber light weight whipped gel cream that sinks into your skin fast with no film.

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