Moisturizer is the foundation of any skincare routine, but there is no such thing as the best moisturizer for men. Sure, there may be a winner who caters to the majority of skin types and needs, but every man should do himself a favor and create a skincare program based on his own unique skin requirements. What works for oily skin may not be as effective for dry skin. Similarly, acne-prone skin differs from sensitive skin—and what about people who have both sensitive and acne-prone skin? Clearly, there is a lot to ponder.
Don’t let that complicate your search for the right product, though. Instead, scroll through the picks below to see if something feels like it’s missing from your routine. What exactly should you expect from a moisturizer, though?
“The role of a moisturizer can be multi-faceted,” explains board-certified dermatologist Kunal Malik, MD, of Spring Street Dermatology in NYC. “Its primary role is hydrating and replenishing moisture lost throughout the day. It should also help strengthen the skin’s barrier function, protecting it, and sealing in active ingredients.” (Active ingredients are the part of a product that’s actively working to better your skin—such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, Vitamin C) Dr. Malik points out that, because of these functions, moisturizer plays both defensive and proactive roles—in building barrier reinforcements and actively moisturizing and containing treatment-focused ingredients.
Best Face Moisturizers
- PrettyBoy Revival Recovery Gel Moisturizer (Best Overall)
- Jackfir The Classic Daily Facial Moisturizer (Best for Sensitive Skin)
- Cardon Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer (Best for Oily Skin)
- Marin Soothing Hydration Cream (Best for Dry Skin)
- COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream (Best for Acne-Prone)
- Supergoop Triple Prep Weightless SPF 40 (Best SPF Moisturizer)
- Protocol Water Lock (Best Night Moisturizer)
PrettyBoy Revival Recovery Gel Moisturizer
Texture: Gel – Key ingredients: Niacinamide to soothe, smooth, and fortify skin; squalane and hyaluronic acid to hydrate; apple fruit extract to buff away dead skin cells; and ceramides to reinforce barrier functions.
If only I could give each and every one of you this moisturizer, I would in a heartbeat. And I’m certain you would all love it too: The high concentration of active ingredients in this one will benefit your skin rather than serve as a marketing ploy.
As someone who overuses skincare products as part of my job, I look to PrettyBoy’s hydrator to center my skin—with its soothing and barrier-reinforcing recipe. But on top of that, this one can be pretty much anything you need it to be (and all of those things at once), from lightweight day cream to high-powered recovery night cream.
It suits every single skin type. It can nourish your facial hair and prevent flaking beneath the beard. It can cushion skin and shield it after a shave and even neutralize your need for an eye cream. PrettyBoy is the first men-centric brand to earn the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, so with that foundation, it’s universally friendly for all skin types.
Jackfir The Classic Daily Facial Moisturizer
Texture: Cream – Key ingredients: Aloe vera to soothe inflammation and redness (as well as hydrate), plus a heap of moringa seed oil and squalane to further boost moisture levels.
If you have sensitive skin, may I suggest building an entire regimen out of Jackfir products? Let this moisturizer be your centerpiece since its aloe-powered formula will keep skin cool, calm, and hydrated. It’s also a terrific moisturizer for dry skin (which is how my partner relies on it), whereas my oily and acne-prone self will use it in wintertime or overnight when the dermis-drying heater is cranked up. Jackfir’s premise is that their products clear almost every bar regarding sensitivity concerns, with certifications from EWG and Leaping Bunny.
Cardon Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
Texture: Gel – Key ingredients: Cactus extract to soothe inflammation and hydrate skin, Vitamin E to nourish, and niacinamide to fortify skin’s barrier.
Marin Soothing Hydration Cream
Texture: Cream-Balm – Key ingredients: Calms skin with marine glycoproteins, while hydrating with squalane and hyaluronic acid.
This cult-favorite cream out of Lobsterville, Maine (aka Portland) is one of my favorite products I got acquainted with this past year. It’s a multitasking hydrator, as replenishing for your cracked knuckles, hangnails, and ashy elbows as it is for your dry mug. (For that reason, I suggest you opt for the larger tube.) My partner’s praises are like mine but multiplied since this nourishing cream salvaged his itchy, flaky skin after we moved and adapted to different water and air qualities in a new city.
As someone whose hands are constantly parched from testing cleansing products (and from too-hot showers), this is a great last-step product before bed, to ensure I wake with supple skin—and fall asleep faster since I’m not agitated by how dry things feel. It’s like an instant quenching of thirst. It is a bit too dense for my oily skin on most days but serves as a brilliant recovery cream when I need that extra assurance from a moisture-trapping product.
COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream
Texture: Cream-Balm – Key ingredients: Calms skin with marine glycoproteins, while hydrating with squalane and hyaluronic acid.
The fever and adoration for COSRX’s cream is real. And yes, it really is fueled by snail secretions (ethically sourced at that!). I’d endorse this stuff for pretty much every skin type, which is why I’m logging it here under “acne prone”—since they have some fairly specific needs beyond other types. I’m the kind to use serums, treatments, and cleansers to target my own blemishes and to layer a dense-but-not-occlusive barrier over the top of those serums and treatments (you know, something to trap the actives inside the skin while nourishing from the outside). While the craze around “slugging” suggests occlusive and skin-blanketing protection from moisture loss, this snail-mucin moisturizer is far more lightweight to never suffocate pores and yield more blemishes. Quite the opposite, especially when I’ve layered retinol or salicylic acid beneath.
Supergoop Triple Prep Weightless Multitasking SPF 40
Texture: Cream – Key ingredients: Ectoin, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin supremely hydrate skin, while chemical SPF filters neutralize UV rays without wearing heavily.
This could just as well be the “best overall” winner on this roster, given that I largely encourage guys to combine moisturizer and SPF into one daytime step. Supergoop’s formula is pillow light—almost impossibly invisible in terms of skin feel, and yet extremely shielding in terms of UV defenses. My partner and I have actually fought over “whose moisturizer this is” whenever we get down to the last application, even though there are dozens of terrific backup options ready to deploy. Supergoop, I adore you and all of your suncare assortment—but this product most of all.