Think moisturizing is only for women? No way. It’s the easiest thing you can do to look younger. Here are my favorite face moisturizers for men.
Let me start off by saying that, yes, we live in a gendered world. It’s just a fact.
We live in a world where a lot of things have been colored into a particular blue and pink dichotomy. If you are the type of guy that completely locks up when he walks next to the self-care aisle, then I’m here to jolt you out of your stupor.
I know it can be hard to go against the mental conditioning that we have been subjected to from society since we were young lads. I’ve been through this process myself.
In fact, it was only on the insistence of my girlfriend and now wife that I was able to get over my own prejudices and misconceptions about moisturizing.
Self-care through lotions, face washes, skin creams, grooming, hair care, and more are not just for women anymore. The new experiences that a little bit of anti-aging self-care can bring into your life are eye-opening.
If you’re not sure where to start, moisturizing is your best bet. I’ve been moisturizing my skin since I was 20 and the long-term effects are incredible.
I’m going to take time to convince you why you should include this easy and rewarding habit in your daily routine.
Why Should Men Moisturize?
We are made up of 70% water. Moisturizing helps you retain water. That’s all it is. Who doesn’t want to look younger?
Men’s skin tends to be either normal or oily. This leads to a greasy or almost grimy appearance on the outside. Oily skin, if not cared for, starts to look rough and uneven. The oil in the pores can also lead to blockages that create blackheads or pimples.Â
This uneven surface, rough appearance, an oily sheen on the face are signs of unhealthy skin. This is a major turn-off for women.
As most scientists will tell you, craters only look good on the moon. Not to mention as you get older, your skin gets wrinkly and dehydrated, making you look much older than you are.Â
If you have an outdoor job or work in front of a computer all the time, then the effects are multiplied due to the constant onslaught of UV rays from the sun and screen.
Weather also a major factor. Cold weather tends to be worse as it will dry out the skin. Though genetics and hormonal imbalances are also a big factor in how your skin looks and feels, there is still a lot you can do to maintain your skin’s health. You can keep it looking young and fresh.
What to Consider When Buying a Moisturizer?
When it comes to moisturizers, you have to buy something that works for your skin type. No, you should not use women’s moisturizer directly off the shelf.
First of all, the scent is not going to work. But also, the composition is going to be different because women have different skin problems than men.
If your skin is oily, a water-based, oil-free moisturizer works best. It cleans out the pores for any secreted oil from the glands and takes the gunk along with it. It resets the skin’s moisture balance.
The skin becomes fuller and firmer because the oil and dirt are replaced with water molecules which take their place. This process of nourishing the skin also increases the skin’s overall resilience.
If you are going to be out in the sun, then IÂ recommend finding a formula that includes sunscreen. It should protect you from the UV rays along with keeping the skin soft and supple.
Top 3 Face Moisturizers for Men
Throughout my life, I’ve used half a dozen different moisturizers. Here are my all-time favorites.
Desert Essence Daily Face Moisturizer
This is probably my favorite face cream of all-time.
If you don’t know already what the big deal is with aloe vera, use this product to get started. You may have heard its name being mentioned when it comes to talking about skincare. This is for good reason.
It has been used as a wonder plant for centuries, with the earliest references going back as far as the Egyptians.
The plant itself is also in food as a flavoring, cosmetics, food supplements, and herbal remedies. With such a long list of credentials, it was bound to show up again on this blog.
Desert Essence’s formula contains the wholesomeness of both aloe vera and jojoba oil. Both of these plants grow in harsh, dry desert conditions (in case you were wondering where the name Desert Essence came from). It is this resilience that has evolved them to produce the nutrients for fighting dryness.
The moisturizer is excellent at infusing your skin with hydration. It nourishes your skin and restores its pH balance. The moisturizer has a natural fragrance created with the natural oil geranium that shouldn’t be too strong.Â
Putting it on feels like an absolute dream. It’s soft, creamy texture is just perfect. There are never any solidified bits, no oily residue, and it blends in nicely with your damp face – especially right after a shower.
The company behind these has been making personal care products since 1978. They make everything from shampoo to toothpaste and all products are made with the goodness of plants that can survive the harsh desert heat.
There are absolutely no parabens, artificial ingredients or dyes used in the manufacture of this product. The product has not been tested on animals. This moisturizing cream is completely vegan and gluten-free. It comes in a 4 fluid ounce pack that usually lasts me 6 weeks.
Note: Some people complain that since the product uses sodium hydroxide, it causes an allergic reaction. Keep this in mind in case you have an allergy.
Sukin Super Greens, Nutrient Rich Facial Moisturiser
Sukin is a very popular skincare brand here in Australia. And ever since moving here I’ve fallen in love with this particular lotion.
This moisturizer has a very eclectic ingredient list. It picks flora from the entire spectrum of the plant kingdom to get its fully natural formula. It is enriched with greens such as kale, spirulina, and chlorella.
You might have heard of kale as a superfood and a hearty spinach alternative. Spirulina is a type of cyanobacteria while chlorella is a type of algae.
They both grow in water bodies and are being researched for their nutritional properties. They have been consumed for centuries by tribes who were privy to their secret of hearty protein and plenty of vitamins. There is also an inclusion of good ol’ aloe vera and even rosehip oil.
To supplement these main ingredients plenty of antioxidants are included like acai berry extracts, goji berry extracts, and carrot seed oil. They combat free radicals in the skin. They are claimed to reduce the fine lines that appear on the skin as people age.
The result is a cranberry scented moisturizer that is a bit thicker than Desert Essence, but very effective throughout the day.
It smells natural too, and maintains a natural profile by completely avoiding the use of any SLS, SLES, synthetic fragrances, animal derivates, harsh detergents, propylene glycol, artificial colors, triethanolamine, and parabens.
Like most Australian companies, all of Sukin’s products are produced completely cruelty-free.
JACK BLACK, Double-Duty Face Moisturizer
I’ve been a big fan of Jack Black’s hair-thickening shampoo for years. Despite my initial skepticism, it really does seem to make your hair thicker and fuller after a few weeks. So I figured I’d give the 2-in-1 face moisturizer/sunscreen a shot.
But before I even begin to talk about this one I would like to talk about the packaging. It has a classic simple look in a cool blue color.
There is a label on the front with the most basic information laid out in a matter-of-fact format. It reminds me of those old school shaving cream boxes. Before I read the ingredients, I knew that this was a moisturizer aimed squarely at males.
The product is named Double Duty because it pulls a secondary shift at its job as a sunscreen. This makes it perfect if you are an outdoorsy type of person. The protection level is SPF 20 which should be enough for most skin types.
To give a background about this product line, this one is from what is called the PureScience collection, which includes lip balm, eye rescue, and skin serum.
This line of products that uses all organic ingredients, vitamins, and antioxidants. All of the products have no strong fragrance, they are paraben-free, colorant-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.
The SPF 20 is truly a nice touch. But like all sunscreens, it leaves your face a bit more oily than I’d prefer. Those with naturally dry skin might not mind so much. But if you have oily skin, forget it. Your face will feel like the bottom of a pan after cooking eggs.
Apart from the sunscreen part, the rest is made from all-natural ingredients like blue algae extract, sea parsley, and phospholipids.
The algae extract and sea parsley are the sources of A, C, and E vitamins. They have both moisturizing and anti-inflammation properties. There is also the inclusion of rosemary extract which fights bacteria and promotes healing.
Comparison Table
| Â | Desert Essence | Sukin Super Greens | JACK BLACK |
| Paraben-free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vegan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gluten-Free | ✓ |  |  |
| Cruelty-Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fragrance-Free |  |  | ✓ |
| Sunscreen |  |  | ✓ |
Summary
I hope you enjoyed this list of favorite moisturizers. Overall I’d recommend the Desert Essence. It has a combination of texture, smell, blendability, effectiveness, and longevity that is pretty unbeatable in my book.
But the most important thing is that, no matter what product you use, you moisturize every day, period. Experiment on your own and discover what feels right for you. This is just the beginning of the journey.
Once you feel the benefits of having a light and airy feeling skin you’ll never be able to go back. I’m the best example of that. I’ve been moisturizing twice daily for the past 18 years, and will certainly continue for the next 18!