20 Best Face Moisturizers for Men in 2024

Lots of guys suffer from dry skin, whether they work outdoors or just have naturally dry skin that feels itchy and flaky by evening no matter what they do. For these guys, facial moisturizers are the solution.

However, some face moisturizing creams are better than others. If you’re not sure where to find the best face moisturizers for men, read on. We break down 20 top options, each of which will help your skin look and feel soft and moisturized throughout the day.

1. Blu Atlas Face Moisturizer

The best face moisturizers should do more than just provide your skin with a little extra hydration. That’s why Face Moisturizer from Blue Atlas is ultra-hydrating and anti-aging. It combines key ingredients like vitamin C, seaweed extract, and mango seed butter to ensure that it’s suitable for all skin types and maximally effective at all times.

This face moisturizer for men is also cost-effective. You only need a small amount to achieve maximum results. Even better, it’s available in three scents: classic, coconut apricot, and no fragrance at all. As a result, you don’t have to worry about your face smelling strange or like something you don't prefer when you use this facial moisturizer. All in all, it's the best face moisturizer for men, bar none, whether you're on a budget or looking for top-quality hydrating results.

2. Marlowe No. 123 Men’s Facial Moisturizer

Marlowe’s facial moisturizer for men comes in a small bottle, but each drop packs a lot of proverbial punch. It contains a variety of natural and effective ingredients, including aloe vera, willow bark extract, and Camellia oleifera leaf extract. All of these ingredients are combined with citrus and fresh fragrances to make a highly moisturizing facial product that feels lightweight and smooth to the touch.

That's a good thing, too, since some moisturizers for men can feel a little too thick or oily for comfort. This moisturizer is great for guys with combination or slightly dry skin as it helps them maintain moisture throughout the day and avoid losing essential facial oils even in dry, outdoor environments.

3. Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion for Face

Cetaphil offers a gentle and long-lasting face moisturizer for both men and women. This unisex product can be used every day and provides good hydration results for 24 hours. It’s a little generalized, so it’s not ideal if you have an exaggerated skin type (i.e., only choose this if you have average, combination skin).

On the plus side, this face moisturizer is completely non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your facial pores. It also doesn’t come with any added fragrances. As a result, it’s a good choice for last-minute hydration or moisturizing in the middle of the day, potentially after you’ve already applied deodorant, cologne, or other scented products to your body. It’s fast absorbing and doesn’t feel greasy to the touch, so it rubs in quickly as well.

4. Menvils Men’s Face Moisturizer Cream

Menvils Men’s Face Moisturizer Cream is a comprehensive, anti-aging solution packed with ingredients like retinol, collagen, jojoba oil, and vitamin E, all of which do a lot to improve skin moisturization and reduce skin wrinkles (which can be caused by cellular degradation).

Not only is this a good choice for keeping your skin moisturized overall, but it can also be specifically applied to the skin around your eyes, which is some of the first to drag or show signs of aging. It’s a good eye wrinkle cream, therefore, and suitable for application in the morning, evening, or both depending on your preference. The cream is made in the USA with organic and natural ingredients, rather than harsh and artificial chemicals, so you can use it without concern.

5. Ancient Greek Remedy Nature’s Moisturizer

The Ancient Greeks held a lot of wisdom, so it’s no surprise this brand’s natural moisturizer is also worth trying out. This body and facial oil is a blended product that’s suitable for any sensitive skin anywhere on your body, including your face. It effectively moisturizes with ingredients like cold-pressed olive oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, and vitamin E.

On the downside, this face moisturizer is only available in 4-ounce bottles, so you have to buy the product again and again if you like it. That said, few facial moisturizers are as versatile as this offering, which can be used to moisturize the skin around your face, the skin on your hands, and even your hair. Its natural ingredients are great at retaining and capturing moisture anywhere, not just in one place. Consider trying it if you want a catchall product that hydrates everywhere very well.

6. Mighty Patch Hero Clear Collective Clarifying Moisturizer

Mighty Patch’s face moisturizer is meant to be used every day, so it can effectively cleanse and hydrate your facial pores at the same time. It uses prebiotic ingredients, such as sage extract, to cleanse your skin and remove excess bacteria and dead skin cells.

At the same time, it keeps your skin properly moisturized and hydrated. It's charged with nutritious and natural ingredients that prevent your skin from losing vital facial oil and moisture throughout the day. Plus, it's gentle enough that you can use it multiple times without feeling oily or greasy, making it a great last-minute moisturizer before heading out. Or it could be a good secondary product to use if you notice your skin losing moisture by the afternoon.

7. Clinique for Men Anti-Age Moisturizer

Clinique offers a dedicated anti-aging moisturizer for men. It's pretty pricey, and only available in a 3.4-ounce container. However, its primary active ingredient—glycolic acid—can do wonders for reducing the incidence of aging lines and wrinkles all around your face.

It’s a gentle yet effective hydrating agent that helps your skin retain moisture, even in dry environments. In doing so, it reduces the severity of current wrinkle lines and may help to reduce the likelihood of future wrinkles showing up in the first place. However, you have to use this moisturizer regularly to see major results. Furthermore, you'll want to complement it with a dedicated eye cream to target wrinkles around that area specifically.

8. Amazon Aware Hydrating Face Moisturizer

Amazon’s Aware brand has one of the best face moisturizers for men thanks in large part to its unique ingredient mix. In this facial moisturizer, you’ll notice avocado and sunflower seed oils, cocoa butter, and squalene. Each of these natural ingredients can balance, hydrate, and brighten your skin without causing irritation.

On top of that, lots of men find this facial moisturizer to be effective because it doesn’t come with a fragrance (which can clash with your chosen cologne or deodorant fragrances). It’s a good choice for moisturizing in the morning or evening and is specifically formulated for dry or normal skin. Thus, you should stay away from it if you have naturally oily skin as this moisturizer could exacerbate oil issues or acne outbreaks.

9. Viking Revolution Rejuvenating Face Moisturizer

Viking Revolution's male-oriented face moisturizer is decidedly rejuvenating, but it's also anti-aging and meant to reduce the severity of current wrinkles and aging spots. It can be applied daily as it's a nongreasy formula and mixed with natural ingredients that can moisturize and heal the skin without leading to acne outbreaks.

Ingredients like hyaluronic acid trap moisture in the skin, preventing it from evaporating throughout the day. It's also a great facial moisturizer since it doesn't include any harsh chemicals, meaning men with sensitive skin should be able to use it without worry. Viking Revolution is so confident in this product that they offer a free refund if you're unsatisfied at any point.

10. Hims Everyday Moisturizer for Men

Hims Everyday Moisturizer for Men is a stellar option for guys looking to lock in hydration over the long term and energize their skin simultaneously. It includes lots of great ingredients like hyaluronic acid and shea butter to not just moisturize your skin cells, but also help them look and feel their best.

It’s a versatile facial moisturizer that can be used on any skin type to promote a natural skin glow over time. It does come with an oceanic fragrance, but it’s simply noticeable rather than overwhelming. It’s also completely free of harsh or artificial ingredients like parabens and sulfates. All in all, this nongreasy formula rubs into the skin comfortingly and ensures that your face feels fresh and hydrated all day long.

11. Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer

Jack Black’s Double-Duty Face Moisturizer fills two roles. It’s a face moisturizing product and a high-SPF sunscreen, making it the perfect choice for a day at the beach or for guys who have pale skin. This sunscreen moisturizer combination product uses vitamin E to promote skin moisturization and sun protection, offering a total SPF rating of 20.

While that’s not as intense as the dedicated SPF you would get from an exclusive sunscreen product, it’s still valuable since you can guard against sun damage while protecting your skin from drying out. Note that the product does have a strong peppermint fragrance, so keep that in mind if you decide to try this in combination with other fragrances you apply to your face and body.

12. Lumin Men’s Moisturizing Balm

Lumin’s dedicated moisturizing balm is another top men’s face moisturizer. In a nutshell, this moisturizing balm is best applied to a freshly clean face in order to replenish and hydrate dry and dehydrated skin. It does a lot of great work, including hydrating and repairing the damage that accrues overnight as well as protecting your skin from drying out throughout the day.

It’s partially thanks to a variety of effective ingredients, like apple extract, ginger, and meadowfoam seed oil. All of these ingredients work well together and don’t agitate or inflame skin, making this product a superior pick for guys who have overly sensitive skin by default. It can even be used after shaving to reduce the redness and inflammation that are common after that activity.

13. Dove Men + Care Face Lotion Hydrate +

Dove makes a lot of great skincare products for men, and this facial lotion is no different. Hydrate + comes in a small bottle, but it’s packed with phenomenal ingredients and components, like glycerin, stearic acid, and cetyl alcohol. You’ll notice that many of these ingredients are synthetic rather than 100% natural, so it’s not the best choice for guys who have very sensitive skin.

It's very effective because of those ingredients, however. These ingredients can scrape out dead skin cells and dirt from your pores and sweep away excess oil like nothing else. Therefore, if you want to reduce acne flare-ups or if you have naturally oily skin, consider trying this moisturizing face lotion to see if it works for you.

14. Blackstone Moisturizer Refresh

Blackstone Moisturizer Refresh is formulated with peppermint, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid, all of which do a great job of trapping moisture in the skin and preventing it from evaporating over the day. Menthol is the active ingredient, resulting in a strong peppermint fragrance that's very noticeable and very refreshing to the skin. As with other fragrant products we’ve mentioned, be careful when combining this with colognes and other fragrances.

That said, this moisturizer is also great because it’s very refreshing and lightweight. Since it’s non-greasy, it rubs easily into the skin and won’t leave you feeling dirty or sweaty after application. It’s made in the USA and is totally free of parabens, plus it’s made with no cruel practices toward animals, making it a stellar choice for guys who are conscious about the face moisturizers they purchase.

15. Le’phoqua Face Moisturizer For Men

Le’phoqua may not be the most well-known brand on this list, but it’s a moisturizing and anti-aging cream that’s well worth a look. This anti-aging moisturizer is specifically formulated for the thick, coarse skin that men are more likely to have compared to women. It's also made in small batches using organic and natural ingredients, like witch hazel extract, hyaluronic acid, and more.

Not only can you use this moisturizing cream for your face, but you can also effectively use it for the skin on the rest of your body, like your hands and feet. It should be used night and day for the best results, and it’s unlikely to make your skin feel oily after application. All in all, it’s a solid, versatile face moisturizer for guys of all stripes.

16. Bulldog Original Moisturizer

Bulldog’s Original Moisturizer is packed with tons of quality, natural ingredients that bolster skin health and give your skin cells what they need to thrive. These ingredients include vitamin E, green algae, green tea, and eight natural oils, all of which help your skin retain moisture even in dry environments.

On top of that, this moisturizer is fairly affordable, and you get 6.6 fluid ounces for each purchase. Since this product is free of parabens and artificial colors, as well as synthetic fragrances, it could be a good choice if your skin reacts poorly to moisturizing products that include these potentially harmful components.

17. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men

Kiehl’s Facial Fuel is a somewhat pricey facial moisturizer for men, but it’s worth the price. It’s completely unscented and it has vitamin E as an active ingredient. It also includes vitamin C, soy, and chestnut extract. The result? A non-oily and vitamin-rich moisturizing cream that men can use to refuel and refresh their skin day or night.

In addition to moisturizing your skin, you’ll find that this product helps revitalize any dull or fatigued skin that may appear on your face, which is more common with aging or after a long day outdoors. Consider applying this at night to ensure you awaken with a bright, radiant face ready for the next day.

18. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Face Cream

Aveeno’s gender-neutral daily moisturizing cream is fragrance-free and packed with probiotics. Thus, it's healthy not just for your skin but also for your skin's microbiota, which play a key role in whether your skin will dry out.

It's formulated with prebiotic oat, which is great for softening your skin and ensuring that it looks youthful and healthy for a long time to come. It's also among the best face moisturizers for men who want long-term hydration; it's formulated to last up to 24 hours while feeling lightweight all the while. Naturally, it doesn't include any parabens, dyes, or fragrances to worry about.

19. Michael Strahan Face and Neck Moisturizer

Michael Strahan offers a quality 3.4-ounce face and neck moisturizer formulated for male skin. It comes with great ingredients like vitamin E, activated silk, avocado oil, and neroli oil. Even better, it's specifically formulated to be used as part of a five-step skin routine, which is great for guys looking to reduce the onset of aging signs or just take care of their skin as best as possible.

It’s a soothing, lightweight formula that nourishes and refreshes the skin while trapping moisture for long-term hydration. It’s also highly effective for men with sensitive skin as the formula is hypoallergenic and free of any harsh preservatives, silicones, or petrochemicals.

20. Wilder’s Moisturizing Anti-Aging Cream

Wilder’s moisturizing facial cream is specifically designed to be anti-aging. As a result, it comes with vitamins E and A alongside hyaluronic acid. Not only do these effective ingredients prevent moisture from evaporating from your skin cells, but they also help induce cellular regeneration and reduce the onset of age-related wrinkles.

This specially designed formula is made for men in particular, and it's always made in small batches in the USA. The brand focuses on product quality above all else, so you shouldn't have any issues regarding irritation or inflammation if you decide to try this facial cream.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a face moisturizer?

A face moisturizer is an essential skin care product designed to moisturize the thin skin of your face. In a nutshell, your skin has a natural amount of moisture and lubrication because of sebum, a special skin oil that prevents your skin cells from drying out over time.

However, your sebum can be worn down through everyday activities, dry air, and more. You can use a face moisturizer to restore hydration to your skin, which prevents healthy skin cells from falling off and prevents your skin from looking cracked, aged, and dry.

Does every guy need to use a moisturizer?

No, but most men should. Some men have naturally oily skin, in which case using a moisturizer may not be ideal unless they use a heavy exfoliant or cleanser. In that case, men with oily skin strip away the excess oil from their faces, which dries out their skin, so they should use a moisturizer afterward to rebalance their skin’s moisture levels.

Every other guy should use a moisturizer at least from time to time. A good moisturizer helps your skin:

• Look and feel younger and softer
• Have less frequent acne breakouts
• Make shaving less of an irritation and reduce razor burn

In short, there’s no downside to using a moisturizer every day!

How can I incorporate a face moisturizer into my skincare routine?

You can incorporate a face moisturizer into any skincare routine pretty easily. Here’s a breakdown:

• Start with a face wash or cleanser product. The face wash product removes dirt, debris, excess skin oil, and dead skin cells. This can also dry out your skin temporarily, but that’s where moisturizer comes in.
• Then, depending on your skincare routine, you can use a toner or some other product. The toner penetrates even more deeply into your pores and cleans up extra gunk and debris, minimizing the likelihood of an acne outbreak.
• Next, use your dedicated face moisturizer to both provide your skin with a little extra moisture right off the bat and to apply components that trap water in the skin cells for hours later. That’s why many of the best face moisturizers for men say “good for 24 hours” or something similar.

Your moisturizer should come after washing your face. That’s because any face cleansing or washing products strip away the moisturizer you apply. Your moisturizer should be the last thing you apply in your facial skincare routine, with the potential exception of a facial serum.

If you choose to apply a facial serum, which is a skincare product packed with extra vitamins and nutrients for your skin cells, you can safely apply that after your moisturizer. But it’s still better to do so before applying your moisturizer so those vitamins reach the deepest levels of your pores.

What are the most important ingredients to look for in a face moisturizer for men?

By far, the most important ingredient to look for in any male face moisturizer is hyaluronic acid. This natural acid traps moisture in your skin cells, which prevents water from evaporating as often during the day. With hyaluronic acid, your skin will be less likely to dry out, even if you work outside or if ambient humidity levels are low.

Other good ingredients to look for in a face moisturizer include:

• Aloe vera, a natural hydrating agent and soothing compound that helps your skin feel better
• Vitamin E, a key antioxidant that can reduce skin irritation and inflammation
• Shea butter, another natural lubricant and hydrating agent
• Cocoa butter, which does the same thing as shea butter
• Vitamin A, also sometimes known as retinol or "retinoids," which are variations of vitamin A. Vitamin A is a key anti-aging ingredient since it prevents your skin cells from degrading when they replicate. You'll often find vitamin A included in face moisturizers that are advertised as "anti-aging" to some extent

Can you use a body moisturizer instead of a face moisturizer?

While you can use a body moisturizer instead of a face moisturizer, it’s not recommended. Body moisturizing products often use slightly harsher ingredients compared to face moisturizers; that’s because the skin around the rest of your body is a little tougher and thicker than the skin on your face, which is thin and sensitive.

If you try to use a body moisturizer or something else, like a hand lotion, you might find that the skin on your face becomes irritated, inflamed, and even dry. Face moisturizers are formulated specifically for the skin on your face, so opt for those when possible.

What if your face moisturizer causes an acne outbreak?

Sometimes, if you have naturally oily skin, your face moisturizer could cause an acne outbreak by adding to the oil or moisture levels already present in those skin cells.

Most acne outbreaks happen when your skin’s pores become packed with dirt or dead skin cells. This leads gunk and pus to build up beneath the surface, leading to zits and cysts. So, if you notice that you have more frequent acne outbreaks after using a specific moisturizer, try a different product instead.

Alternatively, combine your moisturizer with other products to strip away excess oil, like a good face wash or face exfoliating product.

How often should you use a face moisturizer?

You should use a face moisturizer at least once per day. Many of the best face moisturizers for men can be used twice per day depending on your skin type (e.g., dry vs. oily—if you have the latter skin type, using a face moisturizer once per day is probably ideal).

However, you can also use your favorite face moisturizer whenever you feel that the skin on your face is dry or itchy. Just be sure to only apply a little bit of moisturizing cream or lotion. Most moisturizers don’t require you to use a lot to see the full benefits.