7 Best Face Moisturizers For Men: Stay Safe & Smooth In 2024 | FashionBeans

You know those mornings when you wake up, look in the mirror, and have a jump scare at what’s staring back at you? If so, you can probably benefit from the best face moisturizers for men.

After rubbing the sand from your eyes and washing your face with something (hopefully better than 3-in-1 soap), slap on some moisturizer and see how ready you feel to conquer the day.

Aside from hydrating dull skin, a face moisturizer can have far reaching benefits. We’re talking mitigating fine lines and redness, brightening a tired complexion, and protecting your skin from sun damage. If you incorporate only one new addition into your routine, make it a face moisturizer.

To take the guesswork out of figuring out what to use, I’ve rounded up the seven top options below. Keep reading to find the best face moisturizers for men based on your unique needs and skin type.

Key Takeaways

After walking into Sephora with one too many men, I’ve finally realized that choosing skin care products can cause a guy heart palpitations. Luckily, I’ve been navigating this world for decades and have the knowledge you need.

So, if you want to fast-track the moisturizer hunt without trying dozens of products, Kiehl’s Facial Fuel is the ultimate pick. It’s rejuvenating, hydrating, and revives tired skin with a vitamin-heavy formula.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly daily product, the L’Oreal Men’s Expert Vitalift is the best daily face moisturizer for men looking to hydrate while cutting down on fine lines and other signs of aging.

Best Overall: Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Moisturizer

Why it’s great: Kiehl’s is definitely on the higher end when it comes to men’s skincare products, but that’s because they really work. It’s definitely one of the best face moisturizers for men.

Utilizing a combination of natural and innovative ingredients, this moisturizer is free from parabens and sulfates while packed with invigorating components like vitamin C, caffeine, and chestnut extract to jumpstart a sleepy complexion.

Who is this for? Great for any guy suffering from tired skin, this daily facial moisturizer is energizing with antioxidants from vitamin C and E and will help breathe new life into your face. It goes on smooth and doesn’t leave a greasy layer, perfect for daily use, especially if you like a good smelling lotion.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: It’s important to note that this is the 75 milliliter bottle of Facial Fuel, versus the full-sized moisturizer which is 200 milliliters.

Scent: Herbal | Item Form: Cream | Active Ingredient: Caffeine, vitamin C, chestnut extract | Size: 2.5 fl oz | SPF: None | Skin Type: All

Best Luxury: Clinique For Men Moisturizing Face Lotion

Why it’s great: Clinique is for more than just women — in fact, the brand has an entire skincare line dedicated to men, and the facial moisturizer is one of their best offerings.

Created by dermatologists, this face moisturizer for men is designed to hydrate with urea (an organic compound that helps exfoliate and mitigate skin dryness), along with glycerine which locks moisture in the face.

Who is this for? For men looking for an all-rounder, this moisturizer is ideal for morning and nighttime use, ensuring that your skin stays fresh and protected around the clock. It’s also super lightweight, if you don’t like the feeling of more heavy-duty creams.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: This moisturizer lacks SPF, so if you’d like sun protection, you’ll need to layer it with sunscreen.

Scent: None | Item Form: Cream | Active Ingredient: Urea, glycerin | Size: 3.4 fl oz | SPF: None | Skin Type: Normal

Best on Amazon: Jack Black Double Duty Face Moisturizer

Why it’s great: Jack Black is one of the front-runners when it comes to male grooming products, and this face moisturizer for men lives up to the brand’s reputation. Combining SPF with a vitamin-rich formula, this one uses organic ingredients like blue algae extract and sea parsley to cut down on irritation and trap moisture in the skin.

Who is this for? Specially formulated for male skin, this is the best daily face moisturizer for men looking to protect themselves from sun damage while hydrating pores and looking fresh.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Working with oily or acne prone skin? Opt for Jack Black’s Clean Break moisturizer instead, which has an oil-free formula that works to even skin tone and refresh skin.

Scent: Herbal | Item Form: Cream | Active Ingredient: Blue algae extract, sea parsley, vitamins A & E, phospholipids | Size: 3.3 fl oz | SPF: 20 | Skin Type: Normal

Best Everyday: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

Why it’s great: This is the best face moisturizer for men, and it does double duty. In addition to hydrating, it also works to repair the skin’s barrier to protect your face from the throws of daily life.

The French don’t fool around with hydration either — this moisturizer offers up to 48 hours of oil free hydration designed to keep pores clear while giving your face a much needed daily refresh.

Who is this for? Stellar for sensitive skin, this face moisturizer for men skips the hard stuff, free from parabens, alcohol, oils, and fragrance. It’s also a prime choice for smoothing out skin texture and cutting down on discoloration for skin that looks and feels renewed.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: If you prefer creams with UV protection, then La Roche-Posay makes the same Toleriane moisturizer with SPF 30.

Scent: None | Item Form: Cream | Active Ingredient: Ceramide-3, niacinamide | Size: 2.5 fl oz | SPF: None | Skin Type: Sensitive, dry

Best Budget: L’Oreal Men’s Expert Vitalift Face Moisturizer

Why it’s great: This retinol formula is a top pick for the best daily face moisturizer for men who are battling wrinkles and signs of aging. The cream works to firm and tighten the skin on the face while also cutting down on irritation, dryness, and discoloration.

Who is this for? Whether you’re climbing up there in age or are simply looking for preventative measures, this is the best daily facial moisturizer for men hoping to maintain their youthful appearance.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Although there is no shortage of claims that this is a godsend for wrinkles and fine lines, it can have a greasy feel while it absorbs into the skin.

Scent: Woody | Item Form: Cream | Active Ingredient: Pro Retinol | Size: 1.6 fl oz | SPF: None | Skin Type: Rough/Aging

Best SPF: CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

Why it’s great: Perfect for refreshing dull skin first thing in the morning, this CeraVe lotion is a top pick for the best face moisturizer for men. It’s lightweight, oil-free, and full of SPF to set your day off on the right note.

CeraVe, in general, is well-loved by dermatologists, so if you have sensitive skin or specific concerns, then this moisturizer should hit the sweet spot.

Who is this for? If you don’t like the feeling of a sticky face moisturizer for men, then this is a great option. It absorbs into the skin quickly, and instead of ingredients that bog you down, it’s packed with hydrating agents like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to bring your skin to life when waking up.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: Because of the sunscreen component, this moisturizer leaves a white cast on the face.

Scent: None | Item Form: Cream | Active Ingredient: 3 ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Size: 3 fl oz | SPF: 30 | Skin Type: Normal

Best for Wrinkles: Rugged & Dapper Age Defense Face Moisturizer

Why it’s great: It’s pretty amazing how many effective ingredients have been packed into a single formula. Dripping in hyaluronic acid, shea butter, jojoba oil, and aloe vera, this is the best daily face moisturizer for men who need a heavy hit of hydration.

It also works to diminish fine lines and wrinkles without any parabens, sulfates, fragrance, or animal testing.

Who is this for? Guys with oily, sensitive, or acne-prone skin will benefit from this daily facial moisturizer. It’s also an apt choice for older gents given that it works to boost collagen production.

Flaws but not deal-breakers: The newer version of this moisturizer is much more watery than the previous formula. If you’re accustomed to the old recipe, then you may be disappointed with this one.

Scent: None | Item Form: Cream | Active Ingredient: Aloe, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, shea butter | Size: 4 oz | SPF: None | Skin Type: All

Buying Considerations for the Best Face Moisturizers for Men

Skin Type

The main consideration when choosing the best face moisturizers for men is skin type because skincare is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Moisturizers work differently on various types of skin, with unique ingredients designed to target specific concerns.

For example, if you have an oily or acne-prone complexion, then you should choose an oil-free moisturizer, which will hydrate without clogging pores.

On the other hand, if you struggle with dry and flaky skin, then you may want to consider a heavy duty moisturizing cream rather than a more lightweight serum.

Understanding your skin type is essential to choosing a moisturizer that will really work for you. If you’re unsure of your skin type, these are the main complexions, as well as how they may appear on a daily basis, and the products to choose:

• Oily: If you have oily skin, your face may appear shiny or greasy, mainly in the T-zone. Choose an oil-free moisturizer that won’t clog pores or cause breakouts by adding to the oil on your face.
• Dry: Dry skin may have patches or flakes, appearing (and feeling) rough. A cream-based moisturizer will help cut down on itchiness and soothe irritated or red skin.

• Normal: Rather than swinging to one side of the scale, normal skin is more balanced, allowing a wide variety of products to work their magic. Choose a standard moisturizer with SPF to protect your skin from UV rays and keep it hydrated.

• Combination: Combination skin means that you have a little bit of everything — a bit dry here and a bit oily there. It’s more effective to choose a moisturizer with various target areas rather than a single goal to suit your varied skin.

• Sensitive: Finally sensitive skin means that your complexion may be more delicate, needing special ingredients to appeal to your touchy face (for example, aloe, which has soothing qualities). It’s also important to remember that sensitive skin may also be oily, dry, or combination, so you’ll want to choose a moisturizer that’s not harsh while also going after your unique concerns.

Target Problem Areas

Aside from skin type, moisturizers can help target specific problem areas, which will help you choose one suited to your unique purposes. For example, if you want to target fine lines, wrinkles, and signs of aging, you may want to choose a moisturizer with retinol in it.

Maybe you’re experiencing redness, which may lead you to choose a moisturizer with calming properties from aloe or shea butter. It helps to define what you hope to accomplish with your face moisturizer in order to choose one that will work to solve your issues.

Ingredients

This leads us to ingredients, which are the backbone of any skincare product. Although you can understand your skin type and problem areas, you won’t solve anything without a basic understanding of what ingredients to look for.

In face moisturizers, you’ll commonly find buzzwords like hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and even sea algae, which are hydrating agents. These are commonly fused with antioxidants and vitamins, which help brighten the complexion.

Finally, many moisturizers include SPF for UV protection, which is a great choice for a daily face moisturizer since it will protect you from the sun.

Although there’s no shortage of good guys in the skincare area, you may also want to be aware of negative ingredients in face moisturizers. Sulfates, parabens, and alcohol can have adverse effects on sensitive skin.

But the good news is that plenty of the best face moisturizers for men skip these additions for a natural product — bonus points if it’s cruelty-free.

How We Chose

With thousands upon thousands of options on the market, choosing the best facial moisturizers for men was no easy feat. To determine the top options, I used the following criteria:

User Reviews: The main aspect when choosing the top face moisturizer for men is the user reviews. Although anyone can give their opinion on a product, if it’s overwhelmingly positive (or negative), you know the brand is onto something.

All of the moisturizers on this list are backed by verified user reviews, many of which state that they ordered the product repeatedly.

Brand Reputation: It was also important to choose products backed by a strong brand reputation. Many of the brands on this list create their products with dermatologist oversight, and others are household names.

Versatility: Although a moisturizer may work for one guy, it may not have the same effect on another. For this reason, I strived to choose products with a high degree of versatility, ensuring that they work well for multiple skin types, use cases, and beyond.

Price: Finally, accessibility is one of the most important aspects of choosing skin care, because after all, if you’re going to use the product every day, you should be able to afford it. The moisturizers on this list cover an extensive range of price points so every man can find the right fit for his face (and budget).

Why Trust Us?

Jane is fueled by espresso and quality skincare — she’s passionate about helping men break into the world of an everyday skincare routine, no matter how macho they seem to appear.

Jane is a firm believer that everyone should have access to products that make them feel good from the inside out, which is why she loves writing about men’s skincare, from this article on facial moisturizer to her recently published pieces about the best eye cream and toner pads for men.

By combining her passion for grooming with her detailed research, Jane ensures that the products she recommends, including the best face moisturizers for men, meet high standards of quality and effectiveness. Trust in Jane’s expertise and dedication to help you achieve optimal skincare results.

Final Verdict

As the secret weapon in any skincare arsenal, the best facial moisturizer for men is Kiehl’s Facial Fuel, which hydrates, stimulates, and rejuvenates skin for a fresh looking complexion every day. For a more budget-friendly option, L’Oreal Men’s Expert Vitalift moisturizer works to reduce fine lines while reviving an aging face.