The Best
Facial Moisturizers
at Any Price

The Best Facial Moisturizers at Any Price

For all skin types in cold weather conditions (and beyond)

Best men's facial moisturizers in 2024

This time of year can be tough on your skin. Between the frigid air outside and the dry heat pumping indoors, quality hydration is necessary to keep your skin healthy. I don't know if you all are like me, but I already fight dryness during the rest of the year, so during winter, it's like an avalanche of flakiness if I don't exfoliate and moisturize like it's my job. Keeping your skin hydrated should always be a nonnegotiable in your grooming routine, but it's something you want to really focus on when it's cold out and even as we transition into the unpredictable weather of spring. A good moisturizer will prevent skin from getting dull and dry and keep it looking vibrant and bright. Your razor can also cause irritation, so it's especially important to condition your skin after shaving.

Keep in mind, to properly hydrate, you need to understand your skin type—otherwise, it's difficult to keep it smooth, soft and happy. We slathered on our fair share of lotions, spoke to some dermatological experts and then pulled together a few tried-and-true products to suit a range of skin types and budgets that should keep your skin hydrated.

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The Best Men’s
Facial Moisturizers
in 2024

Valet. editor's pick
Valet. editor's pick

The Editor’s Pick

This one does it all: hydrates and balances skin, while protecting it from sun damage, without feeling sticky or oily. If you hate the thought of slathering on a thick lotion in the morning, this is for you. We discovered this gel moisturizer on a trip to Tokyo, where it's an extremely popular drugstore staple. The "watery essence" works like a toner first and truly disappears into skin as soon as you smooth it on. It has a light citrus scent and maintains moisture without feeling greasy. Over the past few years, Aqua Rich has developed a cult following stateside, so you can now easily find tubes available to buy online.

UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50, $9.99 by Bioré

Combination/Regular
Skin

This natural retinol-alternative face moisturizer is formulated with bakuchiol, vegan squalane and jojoba oil to hydrate skin while working to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. All these ingredients, also including vitamin E, lock in moisture without leaving skin looking too shiny—it's also unscented and fragrance-free, so if your skin gets irritated from scents no need to worry about this one. Apply one to two pumps to your face and neck daily after cleansing, and feel free to layer over a serum for added hydration.

Nourishing cream,
$39.99 by Alder New York

Dry/Sensitive
Skin

This Japanese moisturizer uses antioxidant-rich shiso leaves and a gentle rice-based alpha-hydroxy acid to create skin like its namesake mochi—smooth and plump, with a matte satiny finish. The cream is immediately absorbed in the skin with no greasy finish, and the vegan formula nourishes and supports. If you have dry skin, this is the moisturizer for you—it penetrates deep beyond the surface, eliminating dryness and dehydration. It's not too heavy on the face, easy to spread and (bonus, because this isn't cheap) a little goes a long way—apply just a pea-sized amount and rub it in from your face down to your neck.

Mochi Mochi luminous cream,
$48 by DAMDAM

SPF Skin

CeraVe is a trusted name in the skincare game and their SPF lotion is an oil-free hydrator that combines UV protection with proven ingredients to help restore and protect your skin's barrier. It's truly a hydrating facial balm that spreads generously, absorbs quickly and leaves a non-greasy finish. It's non-comedogenic, so it won't clog pores, and it's recommended by dermatologists for all skin types. This moisturizer features three necessary ceramides—hydrating hyaluronic acid, soothing niacinamide and a patented MVE Delivery Technology to provide all-day moisture. Use this sunscreen daily as the last step in your skincare regime. It works perfectly with an eye cream or facial serum—just make sure to apply this only after your other products have fully absorbed into your skin.

AM facial moisturizing lotion
with sunscreen,
$14.99 by CeraVe

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Oily Skin

This citrus-fragranced hydrating formula not only feels bright and sunny on dark winter mornings, but it melts into skin and almost instantly you can feel skin soften. The lightweight formula works to not only hydrate but balance the skin, so it's particularly good for those with oily complexions. The ingredients contain a blend of purifying botanical oils—mandarin, lemon and carrot—while the witch hazel base works like a built-in toner to absorb grease and allow for longer-lasting hydration. Use this in the morning or at night and enjoy the cooling sensation that accompanies each application.

Mandarin facial
hydrating cream,
$53 by Aesop

Acne Prone Skin

If you have breakouts, then you want a moisturizer that hydrates and balances oil while also calming irritation and fighting the bacteria that's likely causing the zits. Carbon Theory's calming lotion is both effective at nourishing skin and affordable for daily use. Vitamin E revitalizes your skin barrier while cranberry extract soothes redness and tea tree oil clears skin with its natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Vitamin E & Tea Tree
facial moisturizer,
$12.50 by Carbon Theory

Overnight Skin

This rich and fast-absorbing face cream provides deep hydration and nourishment to soothe and replenish skin, especially overnight. The blend of sweet neroli, sour rose and spicy sandalwood is a great aroma to help you sleep peacefully. Some key ingredients include sea buckthorn (which helps strengthens skin's moisture barrier), calendula (known to soothe and condition skin), black currant (high in essential fatty acids and vitamins that improve the appearance of skin's firmness and elasticity) and rose, (shown to help reduce redness and irritation). Use this at night to help your skin repair and replenish itself and still feel nice and hydrated in the morning.

Golden hour recovery cream,
$52 by Ursa Major

Why do men
have tougher skin?

According to Dermalogica, testosterone stimulation causes an increase in skin thickness, which accounts for why a man’s skin is about 25% thicker than a woman’s. In addition to being thicker, a man’s skin texture is often tougher, too.

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