Moisturiser is one of those products where the "men's" version is almost always just a regular moisturiser with different branding — and usually a higher price. The ingredients that work on skin don't care about gender. What does matter is your skin type, your climate, and whether you want one product or several.
This guide skips the marketing and focuses on what's actually in the bottle — and which formulas genuinely work for men's most common skin concerns: oiliness, post-shave irritation, dry patches, and aging.
Why Men's Skin Is Actually Different (And Where It Isn't)
Men's skin does have some structural differences worth knowing:
Thicker dermis. Men's skin is approximately 25% thicker than women's due to higher androgen levels. This means more natural structural collagen, but it also means oil glands are larger and more active — contributing to more pronounced oiliness and larger pores.
Higher sebum production. Men produce significantly more sebum throughout life. This is good for natural moisturisation but bad for congestion and shine. It means many men do better with lighter, gel-based formulas rather than heavy creams.
Shaving trauma. Regular shaving creates micro-abrasions, strips the skin barrier, and causes localised inflammation. A moisturiser that supports barrier repair — ceramides, niacinamide, centella asiatica — is more valuable for men who shave daily than for those who don't.
Later onset of visible aging. Men tend to show visible aging later but then age faster when they do. The reason: less lifetime sun protection on average. The countermeasure is obvious — SPF every day.
Where it doesn't differ: the same ingredients that work for everyone work equally well for men. Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin, niacinamide, retinol. No need for "men's formulas."
What to Look For
For oily or acne-prone skin: A lightweight, non-comedogenic gel or gel-cream. Look for niacinamide (sebum control, pore minimising), hyaluronic acid (hydration without occlusion), and avoid heavy emollients like shea butter or coconut oil.
For dry skin: A cream or lotion with ceramides, glycerin, and a moderate occlusive like petrolatum or dimethicone to lock moisture in. Oat extract and shea butter are helpful additions.
For post-shave irritation: Centella asiatica (cica), aloe vera, and allantoin all calm inflammation and support barrier repair. Avoid fragrance — it's one of the most common causes of post-shave stinging.
For anti-aging: Niacinamide (collagen-supporting, brightening), peptides (signal skin to produce more collagen), and SPF in the morning formula. Retinol belongs in the evening routine — not in a moisturiser, but as a separate step.
Fragrance-free is almost always better. Fragrance is added for consumer appeal, not skin function, and is the most common cause of sensitisation over time. Men's skincare tends to over-fragrance. If your moisturiser smells strongly of anything, check the ingredients list.
The Best Face Moisturisers for Men
Best Overall: CeraVe Moisturising Cream
The most widely recommended moisturiser by dermatologists regardless of gender. Contains three essential ceramides (ceramide 1, 3, 6-II), hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide in a fragrance-free formula that works for most skin types. The texture is a medium-weight cream — not too heavy for normal skin, substantial enough for dry skin. It doesn't pill under sunscreen or cause breakouts.
It's boring in the best possible way: no gimmicks, just effective barrier repair at an accessible price point.
[AFFILIATE LINK: Amazon – CeraVe Moisturising Cream]
Best for Oily Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream
A water-gel formula that delivers hyaluronic acid hydration without the heaviness of a traditional cream. Absorbs almost immediately, leaves no greasy residue, and works as a primer under SPF. This is one of the most popular choices for men with oily or combination skin because it genuinely disappears on the skin.
If your main complaint is that moisturisers make you look shiny, this is the format you want.
[AFFILIATE LINK: Amazon – Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream]
Best for Sensitive or Post-Shave Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturiser
Formulated specifically for compromised skin barriers. Contains ceramides, niacinamide, and La Roche-Posay's thermal spring water, which has documented anti-irritant properties. No fragrance, no preservatives beyond what's necessary. This is the formula dermatologists recommend for rosacea, eczema, and chronic irritation — it's equally effective for post-shave inflammation.
If your skin consistently reacts to products, this is the lowest-risk option in the category.
[AFFILIATE LINK: Amazon – La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer]
Best with SPF: EltaMD UV Daily Tinted SPF 40
A moisturiser-sunscreen hybrid that covers both steps in one. The tint neutralises redness without looking like foundation, the texture is lightweight enough for oily skin, and the SPF is EltaMD — which is as good as it gets for daily facial sunscreen. This isn't a compromise product; it's a genuinely well-formulated moisturiser that happens to have excellent sun protection built in.
For men who resist the idea of two separate products (moisturiser + SPF), this solves the problem. [AFFILIATE LINK: Amazon – EltaMD UV Daily Tinted SPF 40]
Best Budget: Vanicream Moisturising Skin Cream
Under $15, fragrance-free, dye-free, paraben-free. Passes the National Eczema Association seal of acceptance. The formula contains no common allergens — it's the product dermatologists give patients who have reacted to everything else. For most men, it works extremely well as a daily moisturiser and costs less than a fancy coffee.
[AFFILIATE LINK: Amazon – Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream]
Best for Anti-Aging: Paula's Choice RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturiser
Contains a meaningful concentration of niacinamide, ceramides, antioxidants (vitamin E, green tea extract), and peptides. Formulated for skin that's starting to show texture changes and early signs of aging. The texture works for normal to dry skin; if you run oily, the Neutrogena gel formula is the better choice with a retinol serum added at night.
[AFFILIATE LINK: Amazon – Paula's Choice RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer]
Best Splurge: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
A clinically studied formula delivering ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol in a ratio that mimics the skin's natural barrier lipid composition. Genuinely impressive data on improving skin texture, density, and hydration over time. This is not a "feels good" luxury moisturiser — it's a functional, research-backed treatment formula that happens to cost more than most men want to spend on skincare.
If you're at the stage where you want results rather than just maintenance, this is one of the better-evidenced options on the market. [AFFILIATE LINK: CJ – SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2]
Moisturiser After Shaving: What's Different
Post-shave skin is temporarily compromised — the stratum corneum (outermost barrier layer) has been partially removed and there's localised inflammation. The ideal post-shave moisturiser has:
Calming ingredients: Centella asiatica, aloe vera, allantoin, bisabolol. These reduce the inflammatory response and support faster barrier recovery.
No alcohol: Despite being the default in "aftershave" products for a century, alcohol stings sensitised skin and strips residual moisture. It serves no skincare function and does real harm when used regularly.
No fragrance: Fragrance is the most common cause of post-shave stinging and sensitisation. The "aftershave" smell is entirely for appeal — it contributes nothing to skin recovery.
CeraVe or La Roche-Posay Toleriane applied immediately after shaving cover all of these bases without requiring a separate "aftershave" product. If you want the ritual of an aftershave, use one of the above as your primary product and skip the alcohol-based version.
Morning vs. Night Moisturiser
You don't need two different products, but there are reasons to use them differently:
Morning: Lighter formula (gel or lotion), followed by SPF. If you use a moisturiser-SPF combo, SPF goes on last. The goal is protection and a base that works under whatever comes next (SPF, maybe sunscreen alone).
Evening: You can go richer. This is when ceramide-heavy creams, barrier repair formulas, and heavier emollients are most appropriate — you're not layering SPF on top, and your skin does most of its repair work overnight.
If you're keeping it simple, one moisturiser twice a day is fine. The more nuanced approach pays off if you're actively treating a concern.
How to Apply Moisturiser Correctly
Apply to slightly damp skin — immediately after washing or after patting your face with a towel while still slightly moist. Damp skin holds moisture better and the moisturiser seals it in more effectively.
Use about a pea-to-dime-sized amount. More product doesn't give more benefit with most formulas — you're just applying excess that sits on the surface. For a cream formula: warm it between your fingertips first, then press (don't drag) into the skin.
If you're applying SPF on top, give the moisturiser a minute to absorb before layering. Two-finger rule for SPF: that's the correct amount for face and neck coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do men actually need moisturiser? Yes — if your skin is not producing enough moisture to stay comfortable and healthy, you need it. Men's higher sebum production means some men genuinely don't need a heavy cream, but most benefit from a lightweight formula, especially after cleansing or shaving which strip the barrier.
Can I use the same moisturiser morning and night? Yes. A single good moisturiser used morning and night is fine. Some people prefer a lighter product in the morning and a richer one at night, but it's not required.
Do I need a separate moisturiser if my SPF already has moisturising ingredients? Depends on the formula. A dedicated moisturiser-SPF hybrid like CeraVe AM or EltaMD UV Daily can genuinely cover both. A standard SPF with some glycerin added is not a substitute for a proper moisturiser if your skin is dry or compromised.
Should I use eye cream or can I use my regular moisturiser around the eyes? Regular moisturisers can be used around the orbital bone. The eye area is more sensitive and has thinner skin, so a dedicated eye cream with specific actives (caffeine for puffiness, peptides for fine lines) is more effective if those are concerns — but applying regular moisturiser is better than nothing.
My moisturiser pills when I apply SPF. Why? Pilling happens when two products don't layer well — usually too much product, applied too quickly, or formulas with incompatible textures. Let the moisturiser absorb for 60 seconds before applying SPF. Try a thinner moisturiser layer. If it persists, try a different SPF formula.