Picking a moisturizer without understanding one’s unique skin type is like blindly buying a birthday gift for a stranger. Sure, it’s nice to get a gift, but learning a bit about the person will make it a much nicer transaction. One formula may leave one guy dewey, another guy with flakes, and a third guy moisturized and balanced. Oil levels, seasonal shifts, sensitivities, and how prone you are to acne should all be considered before picking any random bottle off the shelf at Target, and with a little thought the purchase will be much more worthwhile.
A moisturizer does more than just hydrate the skin on the spot: That light layer doubles as a shield for the skin, trapping moisture in the skin and warding off external environmental threats with key active ingredients. If one formula can do all of that without irritating the skin, drying it out (which moisturizers can do!) or adding excess oiliness, you’re on the right track.
The SPY staff has tested a billion moisturizers over the years, and the biggest standouts are below in a roster of the best men’s moisturizers, along with picks from two board-certified dermatologists: Dr. Carly Roman of Modern Dermatology in Seattle and Dr. Ashley Magovern, Medical Advisor for Dermstore. Read on for all of their picks, as well as advice on how to choose the best moisturizer, with wisdom from Magovern and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Ariel Ostad, Founder of Dr. Ariel Ostad’s Medical Grade Skincare.
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What the Experts Say
Here are the key ingredients to consider in daytime and nighttime moisturizers, according to Ostad and Magovern. (Yes, it’s common to have separate products for day and night, given one is worn while encountering environmental stressors throughout the day, and the other for rapid healing and recovery during slumber.)
Daytime Moisturizers
These are the key ingredients to seek out in daytime moisturizers.
- Hyaluronic Acid: “This powerful hydrating ingredient helps plump the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” said Ostad. Magovern added: “Hyaluronic acid is a natural humectant that hydrates and plumps the skin. It works well on all skin types and is gentle yet extremely effective.”
- Ceramides: “These lipids help form the skin’s barrier and prevent moisture loss, said Ostad. “Ceramides help maintain the skin’s natural protective barrier.” Furthermore, said Magovern, ceramides repair skin in addition to that added moisture kick.
- Glycerin: “Here’s a great base ingredient since it is a humectant, meaning it pulls moisture to the top of the skin and keeps the skin barrier hydrated,” said Magovern.
- Niacinamide: “Niacinamidehas anti-aging properties that support skin elasticity, regulate oil production, and improve the skin’s natural barrier function,” explained Magovern. It pairs well with almost all other skincare ingredients and is tolerated by pretty much all skin types.
- SPF: There’s no harm and, in fact, plenty of good in choosing an SPF-packed moisturizer as a daytime hydrator. Ostad advises choosing one with mineral sun-shielding ingredients as opposed to chemical ones: “Zinc and titanium are my preferred mineral SPF ingredients, I prefer 4% [minimum concentration] of both for moisturizers. An increase in this concentration can lead to the white, ashy appearance some get when using sunscreen.”
Magovern instructed, “Regardless of what concentration of zinc oxide is in your moisturizer, you should reapply your sunscreen product every two hours.”
Night Moisturizers
The best ingredients in nighttime moisturizers don’t align 1:1 with daytime options. Obviously, SPF at night isn’t necessary. Plus, it’s important to support the skin’s regenerative cycle during sleep. A night cream will thus focus on repair, as well as added defense against drying factors like air conditioning or cold winter air.
- Retinoids: Retinol-packed moisturizers rely on the Vitamin A-derived ingredient to help reduce and prevent visible signs of aging. “Retinoic acid improves tone, texture, and signs of aging by increasing cell turnover and stimulating collagen production,” said Magovern. “Over-the-counter versions of natural retinoids include retinol, retinyl palmitate, and retinaldehyde and function to keep the pores free of debris and build-up.”
- Ceramides: Just as they benefit skin barrier function during the daytime, ceramides are extremely useful in restorative night creams. “This will help reinforce the skin barrier, preventing moisture loss and supporting overall skin health,” said Ostad.
- Peptides: “These can help stimulate collagen production promoting firmer and more elastic skin,” said Ostad. They are also very commonly found in eye creams for their ability to slow and reduce puffiness, dark circles, as well as fine lines and wrinkles.
- Salicylic Acid: This ingredient is commonly found in formulas targeting oily skin and acne-prone skin, for its ability to seep into the pores and free up trapped oil and skin cells. It can cause redness in higher concentrations and is thus better incorporated into nighttime regimens in targeted creams.
Cardon Hydro-Boost 3-in-1 Gel Moisturizer
I’m always looking for an opportunity to preach the word of Cardon to the world. And while I’m a huge fan of the brand’s daily SPF30 moisturizer, I find that this non-SPF gel moisturizer is a true unsung hero in that brand’s soothing, K-Beauty-inspired assortment.
It’s got this incredibly light consistency, that disappears into my skin on contact, no matter how dry or oily I am on the day. (Nor how hot or cold the weather is that day.) I love to use it both day and night; by day I layer an SPF product over the top of it, while I let this one be my standalone hydrator at bedtime.
This product uses cactus extract as its hero ingredient, which soothes skin as much as aloe (if not more than), and also boosts hydration in the skin. I’d even recommend using it as a post-shave skin resuscitator, to keep irritation at bay.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Don’t underestimate drugstore options. In our roundup of the best drugstore moisturizers, SPY and Dr. Magovern both named CeraVe the best because of its lightweight, oil-free formula and universal appeal. Not to mention, it’s quite affordable compared to the competition.
“Many drugstore skincare brands are recommended by dermatologists because of their extensive clinical research and development, accessibility, and simple ingredient list,” said Magovern. “The price of skincare doesn’t always reflect its quality, which is why it is important to check the ingredient list and potency.”
She went on to say that while medical-grade skincare typically has a higher potency of active ingredients, “many drugstore formulations are comparable to expensive brands that upcharge for reasons like packaging and marketing.” In addition to SPF 30, CeraVe’s recipe also includes ceramides for barrier repair, plus niacinamide to soothe and nourish skin, as well as hyaluronic acid for a moisture kick.
ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30
Here is another product in which Magovern and I align, though it’s far from “drugstore” and is instead quite luxurious. Elemis is one of the first luxe brands I familiarized myself with as a grooming writer, and remains one of my favorite brands to promote thanks to its skin-firming, sea-sourced formulas.
“In addition to SPF, the formula includes botanical and marine extracts that improve visible signs of aging,” said Magovern. Its hero ingredients, padina pavonica (brown seaweed extract) and ginkgo biloba work overtime to keep skin looking and feeling firm and supple. I found it especially useful in pollution-clogged NYC (back in my Big Apple days), as a great defense against pollution throughout the day. It wears a little heavier than others on this roster, but you deploy it for its many defenses and proactive recipe, after all.
Doctor Rogers Restore Face Cream
Roman cited this as her “absolute favorite and go-to for even the most sensitive, irritated, or rosacea-prone skin”. I second the notion. This product’s restorative impact on skin is unparalleled. I commonly use it as a night cream, when my skin is at risk of becoming dehydrated by heaters or air conditioning, and it ensures that I wake up without any dehydration.
“It is thoughtfully made with a small number of key ingredients, including niacinamide, glycerin, and shea butter, to hydrate and restore dry skin,” added Roman. “A huge perk is the addition of adenosine which helps to decrease the appearance of wrinkles, likely by stimulating collagen production.”
Skinbetter Science Hydration Boosting Cream
“Skinbetter Science’s cream is lightweight but still delivers long-lasting hydration,” said Roman of this product that I consider a dermatology office staple. (It’s like those hair-salon-staple brands that only retail in the salon themselves.) That’s why you won’t find this product on Amazon or the likes; it’s very “If you know, you know.”
“It contains all of our favorite ingredients, including niacinamide, ceramides, lipids, and glycerin,” Roman elaborated. “These work together to improve your skin’s own barrier function allowing it to maintain moisturizer. As for working on oily skin, it pairs wonderfully with any acne actives, like retinoids or exfoliating acids.”
PrettyBoy Revival Recovery Gel Cream Moisturizer
Here’s a perfect example of a universal-case moisturizer. It is foremost made for sensitive skin types, and is even approved by the National Eczema Association. So, if it can soothe and nourish the most inflammatory of skin types with its gentle, niacinamide- and hyaluronic acid-powered formula, then it can certainly suit everyone else. (Oily skin included, thanks to a lightweight gel formula.)
It travels easily, a pea-sized pump will cover you, and it feels both cooling and invigorating upon application.
PCA Skin Clear Skin Moisturizer
Acne-prone skin demands lightweight, non-clogging formulas that allow the pores to breathe and prevent blemishes from forming. That’s one aim of PCA Skin’s moisturizer, which Magovern recommends to her pimple-prone patients.
“It is great for acne-prone individuals due to its high concentration of niacinamide,” she explained. “In high concentrations like this, niacinamide soothes irritated skin and is effective at controlling sebum production.”
And while there are many moisturizers out there that deploy more aggressive oil-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, I like to use daytime hydrators that focus on hydrating. I let the serums and treatments and night creams target my blemishes, and just ask that my daytime moisturizer not to aggravate acne which makes PCA Skin’s product a perfect pick.
LA Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Ultra-Light Zinc Oxide SPF 50
“It is hard to find a mineral SPF that does not leave a heavy white cast,” said Roman. “But this one leaves you with a matte finish and even skin tone.” On top of that, this is an elevated drugstore pick, so it achieves its ends without breaking the bank.
I also think of this product as a facial SPF that has hydrating benefits, as opposed to a facial moisturizer with SPF. I find it extremely sufficient for high-sun-exposure beach days as my go-to defense above the neck, and a light-enough wear for everyday use in summer. I will often layer it above a lightweight moisturizer (like, for example, Cardon’s gel moisturizer in the top slot on this roster). However, leave it to LaRoche-Posay to provide an antioxidant-rich, sensitivity-friendly facial SPF that also hydrates and nourishes the skin.
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Magovern adores SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Cream because it “specifically targets signs of aging caused by glycation, the process in which excess sugars in the body bind to collagen and elastin, disrupting its integrity.” That’s a pretty high-level function, which aligns with SkinCeuticals’ reputation as a high-level, research-backed, results-oriented skincare label.
“This multi-corrective treatment is formulated with 18% concentrated Proxylane™ to improve the skin’s laxity, as well as 4.25% wild fruit flavonoid blend of blueberry and pomegranate extracts to protect against said glycation,” Magovern elaborated. I take the doctor’s word for these things, and as a longtime loyalist to SkinCeuticals, I might have to jump on board this product’s train, too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moisturizer for Men
What do moisturizers do for the skin?
Moisturizer not only nourishes and hydrates skin, but it also prevents dehydration by trapping pre-existing moisture inside the deeper layers of skin. It also sits atop the skin and is an extra line of defense against environmental toxins, especially when reinforced with active ingredients like niacinamide, antioxidants, and SPF.
What is the best men’s moisturizer?
SPY chose Cardon’s gel moisturizer as the best overall men’s moisturizer, for its ability to work with all skin types, provide gentle and soothing hydration, as well as to work perfectly during the daytime and overnight. It’s a terrific universal pick that satisfies most skin types and is easy to layer with a facial SPF, too.
Do you need a separate moisturizer for day and night?
It isn’t absolutely necessary to have two separate moisturizers for day and night, but it can be useful. For example, using an SPF-packed moisturizer or lightweight option during the day can be good (to prevent sun damage and excessive sweating, respectively). At night, while the skin cells regenerate and while the skin is at risk of drying out due to air conditioning or heat, it can be useful to wear a heavier moisturizer with more revitalizing ingredients.
