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Moisturizer is the cornerstone of any skin care regimen, but truthfully, there’s no such thing as a single best moisturizer for men. What works on oily skin may not be great for dry skin. Ditto for acne-prone skin versus sensitive skin—and what about people with sensitive and acne-prone concerns? Clearly, there’s a lot to consider.
“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, or 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.
So, which is the best men’s moisturizer for you? Read on for our tested picks and expert advice for finding the right one for your specific skin needs.
The Best Men’s Moisturizers, According to GQ
Looking for Something Specific?
Best Moisturizer for Men Overall: PrettyBoy Revival Recovery Gel Moisturizer
Why we love it: If I could gift each and every one of you this moisturizer, I would in a heartbeat. As someone who tests skin care products as part of my job, I turn to PrettyBoy’s hydrator for its soothing and barrier-reinforcing recipe. But on top of that, this moisturizer can be pretty much anything you need it to be, from lightweight day cream to high-powered recovery night cream. It suits every single skin type, and can nourish your facial hair and prevent flaking beneath the beard, if you have one. It can also cushion your skin and shield it after a shave and even neutralize your need for an eye cream. Plus, PrettyBoy is the first mens skin care brand to earn the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance. (Seriously, it’s so good.)
Best Fast-Absorbing Moisturizer: Narcyss AM PM Multi-Purpose Moisturizer
Why we love it: Breaking into the men’s grooming sphere isn’t easy, but buzzy brand Narcyss has made waves by focusing on substance, style, and simplicity. Founded in 2020 and formulated in Paris and Sweden, Narcyss champions small-batch production. Their approach is refreshingly simple: natural formulations, great packaging, and no gimmicks. They often use adaptogens—active compounds from plants and mushrooms—in their formulas that help protect and repair skin naturally and effectively. I really dig the versatility of the brand’s AM PM moisturizer. Its texture is rich enough for nighttime recovery yet also sufficient for daytime use (hence the AM PM), and while it skips standards like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, it’s packed with betaine, green tea extract, and aloe vera to hydrate and protect. Fast absorbing, for all skin types, and with a fantastic herbaceous scent, it smells as good as it works. This moisturizer is for anyone, whether you’re upgrading or looking to try something new. (Note: As a newer European brand, shipping can take some time, but it’s worth the wait.)
Best Moisturizer for Irritated Skin: Aesop Seeking Silence Facial Hydrator
Why we love it: We know Aesop is much more than its iconic hand soap. I’ve been using their grooming products for years, and they keep getting better and more refined with high-quality, often natural ingredients—and they’re simply more effective at what they’re formulated to do. A prime example is the new Seeking Silence moisturizer, which lives up to its name. This lotion provides a moment of moisturizing zen, especially if you’re dealing with razor burn, windburn, or sunburn. A little scoop of this lightweight lotion goes a long way. Squalane hydrates, ginger root reduces inflammation, while bisabolol treats redness. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt that the packaging exudes apothecary cool.
Best Multi-Action Moisturizer: Malin+Goetz Advanced Renewal Moisturizer
Why we love it: This new advanced formula moisturizer from perennial grooming go-to Malin+Goetz feels more like a serum than a moisturizer. It’s a super-concentrated formula that smooths and firms like a serum while delivering serious hydration through its moisturizing components. The magic lies in its proprietary complex of peptides, squalane, and apple stem cells. This proprietary complex acts as a super antioxidant, mimicking skin cells to protect and rejuvenate. Use it a few times a week for maximum impact, and let the sleek cobalt-blue dispenser, adorned with the iconic M+G font, add a touch of style to your routine.
Best Overnight Moisturizer: Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream
Why we love it: The first thing you’ll notice about the Golden Hour Recovery Cream (beyond the fitting name) is its texture. It’s somewhere between a lotion and a rich cream, with viscosity clearly a priority in its formulation. It’s also packed with serious nutrients: antioxidants; vitamins A, C, and E; plus essential fatty acids like omega 3, 6, 7, and 9. Add in calendula, sea buckthorn, and blackcurrant, and you’ve got a hydration dream team working to boost moisture, firmness, and elasticity. You can feel it getting to work almost instantly, and while it’s not an ideal daily morning moisturizer (unless it’s the depths of winter), this ultra-rich cream absorbs fairly quickly to work as an overnight repair aid.
Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin: ATWATER Oil Regulator Facial Moisturizer
Why we love it: While my hands tend to bear the brunt of winter, my facial skin leans less dry year-round, so I can only handle thicker overnight creams about once a week. For daily use, I stick to moisturizers designed for oily or normal skin, and while there are plenty of great options, this formula from Atwater hits all the right notes. It keeps skin matte yet hydrated, thanks to a specific oil control complex paired with niacinamide and brown algae extracts. Together, they minimize excess oil and reduce surface shine while absorbing oil overnight like a pro. Aloe leaf adds hydration and soothes the skin, but what stands out is how soft my face feels immediately after application. Kudos to ATWATER for a fantastic hydrating skin solution designed for the overactive sebaceous glands club.
Best Moisturizer with SPF: Jack Black Dual Defense Face Moisturizer
Why we love it: SPF isn’t just for the summer, people. While many moisturizers include SPF, we’re particularly impressed by this oil-free hydrator from the grooming pros at Jack Black. Lightweight yet hardworking, its dual-purpose formula combines hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to boost moisture, while a mineral SPF 30 protects against harmful rays. Plus, an antioxidant blend of cranberry, rosemary, and green tea helps combat free radicals and strengthen your skin’s barrier. It’s a fantastic daily go-to, especially for those who spend more time outdoors.
Best Moisturizer with Retinol: Geologie Skin Repair Moisturizer
Why we love it: Why does retinol get a category? It’s a collagen-boosting powerhouse that’s been a staple in serums for years and is sometimes used in low dosages in moisturizers, too. Formulas like Geologie’s incorporate .2% retinol alongside hydrating standards like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. This dynamic team tackles multiple skin concerns: hydration, barrier repair, brightening, anti-aging, evening skin tone, and acne control, all while delivering serious overnight rejuvenation (hence the PM label). Remember that retinol’s potency requires a gradual introduction and is not a daily moisturizer, so apply every few nights. Bonus points for the thoughtful “dime-size” graphic on the back of the tube, to help you use just the right amount of this potent lotion.
The Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin Men: Jackfir The Classic Daily Facial Moisturizer
Why we love it: 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.
The Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin Men: Marin Soothing Hydration Cream
Why we love it: This cult-favorite cream out of Portland, Maine 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.
The Best Moisturizer for Combination Skin Men: Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion
Why we love it: Your dermatologist’s favorite drugstore brand has a roster of products that are perfect for every skin type. This one satisfies a vast majority of us: It wears light enough like a gel to never suffocate the oilier patches of skin, while also doubling down on hydration to center the more dryer skin types. Whether you have a combination of both, or are on a specific side of the oil-level spectrum, this gentle moisturizer will keep your skin soft and satisfied. It’s especially useful as a post-shave moisturizer, since it is replenishing and gentle on freshly compromised skin, too.
The Best Men’s Moisturizer for Acne-Prone Skin: COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream
Why we love it: 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.
The Best Moisturizer for Plumping: Dr Dennis Gross DermInfusions Blur and Repair Cream
Why we love it: Usually when you read the words “blurring” on a product, it means that the product is loaded with silicone, which can bring on breakouts and clog pores for some people. This product, however, does so without needing to tap silicone, and instead unites four different weights of hyaluronic acid to plump skin at every level and taps shea butter and ceramides to smooth skin in just an hour. In the long term, this moisturizer will also help to plump and blur lines with resveratrol, an ingredient known for anti-inflammatory properties and peptides that firm. When we used it for a month, we saw not only an instant glow-up that helped skip appear plumper, but also the fine line reduction that came with consistent, daily use.
More Moisturizers We Love
Why we love it: In terms of grooming products, we should mark time as “BC” and “AC”—Before Cardon and After Cardon. I can’t fathom how I ever got by without their core products, including this stellar lightweight gel. It’s perfect on my oily skin, no matter the time of day or night, and even my dry-skinned partner will use it as his go-to morning moisturizer (he will wear something denser at bedtime, though). It’s brilliant at controlling the redness I am prone to around my nose and cheeks, too, and layers beautifully underneath a daily SPF. Seriously, if you ever want me to wax poetic about a favorite all-time brand, here’s my frontrunner and one of their best products. (The Clay Cleanser and SPF 30 Moisturizer are to die for, too. In fact, that’s a nearly perfect regimen right there. It really can be that easy.)
Why we love it: 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.
Why we love it: If I want to go to bed without any concern for how the bedroom air (be it humid or dry) will impact my skin as I sleep, then I wear Water Lock over top of my serums and retinol. It’s the perfect night cream, especially for anyone whose bedtime regimen has additional steps that need to be trapped inside the skin in order to perform their best. And so, pretty much every single night, I’m layering on Protocol’s product as a final step in my regimen unless it’s so egregiously humid and hot that I need just a lightweight gel. This terrific balm is the epitome of “slugging,” a generous (but never suffocating) occlusive that ensures I wake up looking rested and radiant. And despite my skin being on the more oil and acne-prone side, I have had zero issues with the weight of this balm, of which I currently have three tubes.
Why we love it: This one is an investment, but if you are looking for a remedial, eczema-neutralizing recipe, then tada: Tata Harper’s new cooling and calming cream is it. This highly active formula even has the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association and works wonders as a makeshift night mask when your skin is especially in need of repair and rejuvenation (perhaps post-shave, post-razor burn, or post-binge drink after a fun night out with friends). Use it exactly as that if the investment feels too steep for everyday moisturizing. It’s a brilliant bullpen ringer.
What to Know About Different Skin Types
Remember, no two people have the same needs from a skin care product; typically, you should factor in your skin’s oil levels (including a lack of oil), as well as conditions like acne, sensitivity, loss of resilience over time, and more. Here are the key qualities to look for in a moisturizer based on key skin conditions and demands.
Dr. Malik says to choose light, oil-free, water-based formulas, and bonus points if they promise to have non-comedogenic ingredients (meaning their formulas are proven to not clog pores). For this same reason, you’ll want to avoid hefty suffocating creams and oil-heavy products, he notes. (Hey, your skin makes enough sebum as it is!)
Read More: How to Deal with Oily Skin
Look for moisture-drawing ingredients, known as humectants (hyaluronic acid, glycerin, urea), says Dr. Malik—as well as skin-softening emollients (urea doubles as this, plus squalene and shea butter). Many dry-skin moisturizers have a richer feeling texture than other options, he adds. Also, avoid formulas heavy on alcohol as well as added (artificial) fragrance.
Read More: 5 Ways to Get Rid of Dry Skin
With sensitive skin, you don’t want many bells and whistles. Formulas should be fragrance-free, paraben-free, lanolin-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and alcohol-free. Ideally, the brand will signal as much with its messaging, too, noting that the product is safe for the most sensitive skin types. Dr. Malik says to look for soothing ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal, as well as skin-barrier-boosting ones like ceramides.
Read More: The Best Skin Care for Sensitive Skin
If you are prone to pimples, you have to balance this with other skin variables (like dryness, oiliness, sensitivity, etc). So your search for the best product becomes one of balance and priorities. But universally, be sure your products are non-comedogenic, with oil-free formulas, says Dr. Malik. Ideally, your regimen will include acne-fighting ingredients somewhere, though it doesn’t have to be your moisturizer that pulls all that weight. (Those pore-clearing ingredients include salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and niacinamide.) Make sure any moisturizer wears light and isn’t occlusive—as in, it won’t totally seal off the skin.
Read More: 8 Habits to Prevent Acne
If your skin is oily in some parts (like the T zone), and dry in others (often the cheeks), then you could be classified as having combination skin. For this, Dr. Malik says you want to choose products similar to oily skin (as outlined above)—“but consider balanced formulas with a blend of hydrating and oil-controlling ingredients,” he says.
If you can’t log any complaints about being overly oily or overly dry, then lucky you. For this kind of “normalcy” (which isn’t so normal as it is rare), Dr. Malik says to prioritize lightweight formulas with hydrating ingredients (think hyaluronic acid, squalene, and glycerin).
For skin that has lost buoyancy, softness, and resilience over time, you want to prioritize hydrating ingredients to help with dryness, notes Dr. Malik. He advises using anti-aging ingredients such as retinols, peptides, vitamin C, and niacinamide. “Some [optimal] moisturizers may include exfoliating actives such as alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic and lactic acids), too,” he says. Lastly, be sure your daytime moisturizer includes SPF.
Moisturizers FAQ
What ingredients should you look for in a moisturizer?
“Look for ingredients that hydrate and lock in moisture,” advises Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah. “Natural options like olive fruit, avocado (emollients), and aloe leaf (a humectant) are excellent choices” So are hydrating powerhouses such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to help maintain your skin’s moisture barrier for long-lasting benefits. Some brands combine adaptogens and scientific compounds for the best of both worlds.
While our skin isn’t drastically different, people with facial hair face unique challenges. “Shaving removes the top layer of skin and causes micro-abrasions, leading to irritation and ingrown hairs,” says Dr. Ayensu-Danquah. Hydrating moisturizers help soothe these issues while promoting skin repair, and agents like aloe vera and squalene are helpful here.
What ingredients should you avoid in a moisturizer?
What you might avoid might vary based on your skin type, but as a rule of thumb, steer clear of “ingredients that can irritate skin or disrupt its natural balance.” In general, try to avoid parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, triclosan, sodium laureth sulfate, dyes, and high alcohol concentrations—all of which are ingredients that can irritate the skin or disrupt its natural balance.
Why do moisturizers come in different consistencies (gel, lotion, balm, etc.)?
The consistency of a moisturizer depends on its water-to-oil ratio. “A higher water content creates a lighter, fast-absorbing formula, while more oil results in a thicker, richer product,” explains Dr. Ayensu-Danquah. Advances in skin care technology also mean lightweight formulas can now deliver deep hydration, catering to different skin types and preferences.
How often should you use a moisturizer with SPF?
“Daily SPF is essential for protecting your skin from sun damage and environmental stressors, helping maintain your skin’s health and longevity,” says Dr. Ayensu-Danquah. That said, if you are applying a separate SPF, a moisturizer with an SPF is not essential.
How often should you apply moisturizer?
Twice a day is optimal, and overall, think of the morning as a hydrating shield for the day and nighttime as more of a recovery and nourishing cream. Dr. Ayensu-Danquah adds that “a moisturizer should be applied daily to keep your skin’s barrier strong and promote repair. For those needing an extra hydration boost, layering a serum underneath your Moisturizer can enhance the results.”
Do you need a different moisturizer for day and night?
Not necessarily, although heavier creams and thicker textures tend to be best for overnight repair, while lighter formulations in gels and lotions are more geared toward AM usage. “If your moisturizer is formulated with appropriate ingredients (like hyaluronic acid or glycerin as humectants, ceramides, and shea butter as emollients), it can work both day and night,” Dr. Ayensu-Danquah says. For an added benefit in the evening, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah recommends also using a mask twice a week.
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