Now’s the Time to Supercharge Your Skincare

Best men's concentrated moisturizers for fall and winter

Now’s the Time
to Supercharge Your Skincare

These moisturizers will hydrate and protect your face all fall and winter

Words by

Cory Ohlendorf

Photography by

Courtesy

Published

November 5, 2024

Note

Items featured in this story are independently selected by the editorial team. Purchasing via our links may earn Valet. a portion of the sale, which helps fund our editorial mission.

Feel that chill in the air? Well, it's not going anywhere, anytime soon. The clocks have been turned back, the days are getting shorter and the air is starting to suck the moisture from your skin like an omnipresent, invisible vampire. That's the bad news. But the good news is that the solution is as simple as an upgraded daily moisturizer.

And just like breaking your favorite outerwear out of storage for the season, think of this skincare switch as a welcome change. A chance to really start indulging your skin with rich creams that come in a jar. These are heavy-duty products packed with substantial and effective ingredients that deliver noticeable results. Plus, the thicker formulas adhere to skin to lock in the moisture and protect that mug of yours like a shield.

These creams do more than just hydrate, they condition skin while soothing irritation and fortifying your skin's protective barrier. And you want to do it before it's too late. Which means now is the perfect time to transition away from your summer skincare routine and into one more autumn-appropriate. Supercharge your daily routine with one of these jars. That way, when the hardcore winter weather arrives, you'll already be prepared.

The Best Concentrated
Moisturizers in 2024

Grown Alchemist Hydra-Repair intensive day cream

The Editor’s Pick

This one really seems to do it all: hydrates and balances skin, leaving you looking and feeling great, without ever feeling sticky or oily. You'll notice that the cream has an extra rich consistency, but it doesn't feel greasy. Instead, it seems to melt and absorb into the skin for intensive relief and hydration. It's formulated with natural glycerin, Vitamin E and rosehip oil to achieve maximum moisture levels without leaving any residual shine on the skin. Instead, skin just looks healthy, bright and clear all day and night.

Hydra-Repair intensive day cream,
$74 by Grown Alchemist

For Dry Skin

For really dry skin, this is an ultra-hydrating, rich cream that's been designed to target dryness and dullness. The texture is noticeably thicker than most moisturizers. Take time to work it into freshly-washed skin and you'll feel like you've applied a protective shield to your face. The intensely-hydrating formula has mango seed butter and Vitamin C to brighten and tone skin, while seaweed extract and ascorbic acid help to repair and protect the skin barrier.

Hydrating face moisturizer,
~~$35~~ / $28 (w/code NOVEMBER) by Blu Atlas

For Fine Lines
and Dullness

If you've been noticing more lines on your face or a lack of brightness in your overall complexion, this hydrating and nourishing formula uses a nutrient-rich lipid complex to restore moisture, while acmella flower and evodia fruit tone the skin, as colder, dry air can trigger redness. An effective mix of Vitamin E, squalene and jojoba oil ensures lasting hydration and softening of lines—whether you apply in the morning or at night.

Advanced renewal cream,
$94 by MALIN+GOETZ

For Acne-Prone Skin

This gentle yet potent “regenerating cream” helps turn around problem skin. It's specially formulated to deeply nourish and protect the skin from external aggressors that cause irritation and breakouts. Sea aster oil soothes redness while reducing blemishes. Over time, it improves skin tone evenness while providing deep hydration via plant-based hyaluronic acid and natural cocoa butter. There's also a powerful antioxidant shield, thanks to wild bilberry harvested in Sweden—a natural source of tocopherols and tocotrienols (Vitamin E).

282 Regenerating cream,
$71 by L:A Bruket

Youth to the People Polypeptide-121 future cream

For Stronger,
Firmer Skin

A multitasking cream packed with plant collagen and proteins, along with hard-working ceramides to hydrate. Various peptides have been formulated to help visibly firm and improve skin elasticity while reducing the look of fine lines and strengthening skin's barrier. The fragrance-free cream has a light and cushiony gel-like consistency that helps it absorb fast leaving the skin with a noticeably firmer appearance.

Polypeptide-121 future cream,
$68 by Youth to the People

For 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 hydrate and 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,
$55 by Aesop

For Smoother,
Clearer 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 into 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.

Luminous plumping moisturizer,
$48 by DamDam

For Redness
and Irritation

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).

Golden hour recovery cream,
$54 by Ursa Major

Kiehl's Midnight recovery cream illustration

Overnight Cream

Apply this deeply moisturizing face cream before bed and let it work like a mask to reform skin while you sleep. Formulated with Omega fatty acids and a blend of rejuvenating botanicals, it visibly renews the appearance and plumpness of skin, delivering results you can see by morning.

Midnight recovery cream,
$62 by Kiehl's

The Smart Way
to Start Your Day

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Now’s the Time to Supercharge Your Skincare

Now’s the Time to Supercharge Your Skincare

Words by

Photography by

Published

Note

The Best Concentrated Moisturizers in 2024

The Editor’s Pick

For Dry Skin

For Fine Lines and Dullness

For Acne-Prone Skin

For Stronger, Firmer Skin

For Oily Skin

For Smoother, Clearer Skin

For Redness and Irritation

Overnight Cream

The Smart Way to Start Your Day

More on Skincare

Do Those Red Light Products Really Work?

The Best Salicylic Acid Products for Men

Time to Reconsider Toner

The Best Ways to Exfoliate

Now’s the Time
to Supercharge Your Skincare

The Best Concentrated
Moisturizers in 2024

For Fine Lines
and Dullness

For Stronger,
Firmer Skin

For Smoother,
Clearer Skin

For Redness
and Irritation

The Smart Way
to Start Your Day

More on
Skincare

Do Those Red Light
Products Really Work?

The Best Salicylic
Acid Products for Men

Time to
Reconsider Toner

The Best Ways
to Exfoliate