The 20 Best Face Moisturizers for Men in 2024, Tested by Dermatologists and Grooming Experts

Moisturizers with SPF provide sunscreen protection as well as hydration, making them a time-saving skincare product for summer. Our sunscreen as well as moisturizer testers have consistently given EltaMD’s face sunscreen top marks for its broad spectrum protection, gentle-yet-ultra-hydrating ingredient, and the fact that it absorbs super easily without leaving much of a white cast.

Massachusetts-based dermatologist Kathleen Joyce, M.D. has been recommending this to her male patients since 2017. “It contains niacinamide which can help with redness and acne and provides a good sunscreen in a very lightweight base,” she says.

Testing Notes: In our experience, most moisturizers with SPF are heavy on the moisturizer part but light on the sun protection in that many don’t offer the dermatologist-recommended SPF 30. This sunscreen flips the script in that it is designed as a sunscreen first, but contains enough moisturizing and skin-benefiting ingredients that it can easily double as a moisturizer. We tested it both ways—on top of another moisturizer and by itself—and found that its moisturizing factors absolutely were enough to warrant skipping another moisturizer, provided you don’t have super dry skin. As a time-saving, double-duty product, this is top of the list.

North Carolina-based dermatologist Alex Zeitany, M.D. has been using this fragrance-free, lightweight moisturizer since 2015, and recommends it to their patients for its super-hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. “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. Our testers have also used Neugtrogena’s Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer during long runs outside in spring and summer, and found that it kept their mugs hydrated without feeling clogged up, the way other drugstore moisturizers tend to do.

Out testers with darker skin tones also noted that Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost gel hydrated their faces better than any other drugstore moisturizer they’ve tried.

Testing Notes: Like many men, we tend to shy away from moisturizers that leave our skin feeling goopy or greasy, which is why this watery gel rose to the top of the list in our testing process. The consistency is smooth and silky and while not completely transparent, is definitely more of a gel consistency than a cream. It glides onto skin easily and has a slight cooling sensation but also sinks into your skin quickly without leaving any sort of shine or residue whatsoever. The formula is packed with hyaluronic acid, one of the most important ingredients in a moisturizer because it is a humectant—meaning it draws moisture from the air—and we found that even with a formula as lightweight as this, our skin still felt healthy and hydrated hours later.

For our testers with sensitive skin, they tried moisturizers with irritating ingredients like added fragrance or exfoliating scrubs. This one from La Roche-Posay received top marks for its soothing, hydrating features.

“The benefits of this oil-free moisturizer are two-fold: it repairs your skin barrier after one hour while also providing all-day hydration without the shine,” says our Grooming Contributor Cristina Montemayor, who has been using this moisturizer since 2020. “The ingredients are wonderfully simple, which makes it great for sensitive skin.”

This is also a go-to moisturizer for Dr. Jeremy Brauer, a dermatologist and founder of Spectrum Skin and Laser in New York City. “This product contains a mix of prebiotic thermal water, ceramides, niacinamide and glycerin,” says Brauer. “It’s gentle enough for almost all skin types and has a thicker consistency, making it great for men’s skin.”

Testing notes: We found that many moisturizers designed for sensitive skin can go a little overboard on this thickness because they’re trying to pack as much moisturization into the formula as possible. Out of all the versions we tested, this is the one we could tolerate wearing both during the day and at night because even though it’s thick, it doesn’t feel heavy on our skin and offers a ton of hydration for how lightweight the formula is. We also found that the formula really does heal as well as hydrate. Within a few days, we noticed some rough patches on our faces smoothing away. Of course, the fragrance-free factor is perfect for sensitive or easily-irritated skin, but also for anyone who just doesn’t like fragrance in their products.

Read more: Best Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin

Testers with oily skin loved Versed’s hybrid moisturizer, which has gel-like consistency that’s as hydrating as some of our favorite anti-aging creams we’ve tried. That makes it ideal for most men, which tend to have thicker, oilier skin than women. Dr. Corey L. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology, has been using this moisturizer for the past three years, and recommends it to his male patients.

“It’s easy to incorporate into my routine and the formula feels nice on the skin,” says Hartman, who’s based in Birmingham, AL. “I have oily and acne-prone skin, so I must really watch what I use and stay away from oils and heavy creams.”

Our testers who used Dew Point for more than three months reported less breakouts, and a overall dewier (pun intended) complexion.

Testing Notes: Rich moisturizers are great if you have dry skin, but oily skin is a different story. For oily skin, we found that lightweight, oil-free gels are the way to go and this gel is the best we found at imparting hydration to our skin without weighing it down or adding grease or shine. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid and aloe leaf juice, both of which are ultra-hydrating, and feels cool and light as you rub it into your skin (it disappears within seconds, as well).

Finding an ultra-hydrating moisturizer for dry skin that won’t clog your skin during hot summer days is a tough find, but after testing dozens of rich creams and gels, our editors landed on Ghost Democracy’s tried-and-true moisturizer. A team of ceramides, panthenol, and seed extracts absorb and retain moisture. It’s oil free, which means it’s much lighter than most of the other dry-skin targeted moisturizers we’ve tried, making it perfect to use year round.

Dermatologist Zeichner has been using this moisturizer since 2020, and recommends it to his patients to “maintain a healthy skin barrier.” He also says, “It’s not greasy, and has oat seed which also protects and hydrates the skin.”

Testing Notes: Even if you have dry skin, you don’t want to end up looking like a grease ball after applying your moisturizer—or is that just us? In our testing process, we found that this richer moisturizer, which is packed with ingredients like ceramides and pantheon to help rebuild the skin barrier and retain moisture, is still surprisingly lightweight on our skin. It’s also oil-free, so that shine that can pop up a few hours after applying never shows up with this moisturizer.

Read more: Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin

Our testers had a hard time finding the right moisturizer for combination skin, since combination is complex. Editors tried to find a product that pleases both the dry and oily parts of your face. We enlisted the help of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Aanand Geria, for his expertise.

“Choose a moisturizer that includes glycerin and hyaluronic acid,” he says. “These two ingredients will hydrate your skin while minimizing oil production and shine.”

Dr. Geria recommends Clinique’s gel-based formula, and tried-and-true product that’s oil-free but hydrating, and is super lightweight, making it ideal for humid and hot weather. Plus it’s long lasting. Our editors loved that it delivers eight hours of hydration that kept their mugs happy all day and night.

“This option is a lightweight gel- lotion being perfect for combination skin,” says Dr. Geria, who has been using this moisturizer since 2021, and recommends it to his male patients. “It contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which pulls moisturizer out of the air, pushing it into the skin.”

Testing Notes: Since combination skin can be both dry and oily (yes, really), the most important thing in a moisturizer for that skin type is that it strikes the right balance between moisturizing and a lightweight, non-greasy formula. Out of all we tried in our testing process, this gel-cream moisturizer hit that balance perfectly. It contains super hydrators hyaluronic acid and glycerin but the oil-free formula never made us feel or look shiny or greasy. We found that, while it’s ideal for combination skin, it’s also a perfect warm weather moisturizer for pretty much any skin type since it doesn’t weigh heavily on your face, but still gives your skin all the moisture it needs.

Read more: Best Moisturizers for Combination Skin

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.

Deputy Editor Christian Gollayan has been using Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream since 2018, and has been his go-to moisturizer for traveling. “It moisturizes my skin without breaking out, and it’s ultra hydrating without clogging my pores,” he says. “That’s why it’s a great travel moisturizer, since it hydrates without irritating in almost any climate I’ve been in.” No wonder it’s the moisturizer that’s supplied at Equinox gyms.

Testing notes: In terms of generally all-around perfect moisturizers, this one gets top billing because it just does it all. The cream formula strikes the balance between being lightweight but still super moisturizing and while it looks heavier than many others on this list, we found that it doesn’t feel that way when you’re actually wearing it. We also found that it’s ideal for colder weather, since it’s rich enough to protect your skin from the drying cold air, but not occlusive or greasy like some other heavy moisturizers. And while we feel that it’s suitable for all skin types and for pretty much any climate, if you have especially oily skin, you may want to use only a tiny bit (a little goes a long way with this one).

Read more: Best Kiehl’s Products

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. Stierman has been using SkinMedica’s Total Defense cream since 2021, and always recommends it to her male patients.

Our older testers loved this combo moisturizer, since it’s much lighter than most of the anti-aging creams they’ve tried. Plus its SPF 34 formula adds an extra layer of skin protection, making this ideal for summer. After a year of testing, one editor says his skin looked firmer and has less dark spots. Yes, it’s expensive, but our editors say that its antioxidant-rich, non-irritating formula is worth the sticker shock.

Testing Notes: Like some of the other sunscreen/moisturizer combos on this list, this one has enough sun protection to adequately protect your skin from UV rays, but is also just as moisturizing as other moisturizer-only products. The addition of antioxidants is also very welcome in this formula, since we found it reduces the need to add an additional antioxidant product to your routine (like a Vitamin C serum). It not only helps protect your skin from photo damage that can lead to signs of aging, but some testers really did say they could see a difference in the firmness of their skin after a few weeks of using it.

Read more: Best Anti-Aging Creams

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.

Our younger testers who were more prone to break out preferred Cetaphil’s moisturizer to even pricier creams, given its gentle formula that hydrates skin, while still providing acne-fighting ingredients.

Testing Notes: In our testing, we found there are a few things that are important in a moisturizer for acne-prone skin. It should be an oil-free formula that won’t add additional oil to an already oil-prone face; it should be lightweight so the skin can breathe and noncomedogenic so it doesn’t clog pores; it should have proven acne fighting ingredients to help heal and control breakouts. This moisturizer checks all those boxes and then some (it also helps exfoliate and soothe skin). In just a few weeks of using it, we saw clearer skin with less frequent breakouts, especially when using it with other acne fighting products like cleansers and spot treatments.

Read more: Best Pimple Creams

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

After testing The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid for over one year, our editors found it’s best to use as a serum in winter, under a thicker moisturizer. Come summer time, use it as an everyday moisturizer. One tester found that his skin looked smoother and had less visible wrinkles after using this consistency for six months. Dr. Saini has been using this formula for two years, and recommends to to their patients.

Testing Notes: The beauty of this hyaluronic acid serum is in its simplicity. It can be used by itself in place of a moisturizer, especially if you don’t have very dry skin or just can’t tolerate heavier textures, but it can also be used in addition to other creams if you need extra help keeping your skin hydrated. You can also switch it up based on what your skin needs or what the weather outside calls for. We found that using it in cold weather under another moisturizer is especially ideal for keeping our skin healthy and moisturized in the face of potential drying factors like wind and cold.

Read more: Best Serums for Men

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.

Testing notes: While this is one of the most expensive formulas on our list, we think it’s worth the price point. Dermatologist Dr. Maya Thosani, MD, also recommends Zo’s moisturizer for people with oily skin, given its thin-yet-silky consistency that will less likely clog your pores. Testers who’ve used this for more than a month report a softer and less-ashy looking mug.

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.

Testing notes: It’s hard to beat Cerave’s nigh cream in terms of value. You get the same hydrating ingredients you’d fine in formulas twice its price, and it has a lightweight consistency that didn’t break out our testers with sensitive skin. In short, it’s an affordable moisturizer that’s purpose built with fortifying agents to keep your face hydrated.

Read more: Best Night Creams

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.

Testing notes: This thick formula comes especially in clutch for winters, when we our faces need the most hydration. We like that this didn’t have a strong fragrance, which is great for sensitive skin, and because of its rich texture, a little bit goes a long way. One reviewer noted that one tube lasted him the entire winter.

Read more: Best Face Washes

Most face moisturizers for daytime use will have some sort of SPF protection. But for nighttime use, SPF is not needed. To optimize your entire hydration routine, Geologie makes a solid duo set that’s easy to use. Before the sun, apply a nickel size of the SPF and reapply every 2-3 hours. After the sun, wash your face then apply a nickel size of the Essential Moisturizer. And wallah, 24/7 hydration!

Testing notes: We found that this set made for a great gift for men, given how it contains to skincare essentials: sunscreen and a moisturizer. Plus, the Essential Moisturizer’s formula was unscented, and worked for most of our testers with different skin types. While the sunscreen left a bit of a streak, it’s hardly noticeable.

Read more: Geologie Skincare Review

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