The 16 Best Men's Moisturisers, According To A Grooming Editor (2025)

Sunscreen is not just for summer: UV exposure is the number-one cause of premature skin ageing all year round, so it pays to wear SPF whether you're in the Seychelles or the brisk north of England.

A moisturiser with SPF is a smart choice as you won't need to layer an additional protector on top. This gentle yet effective option from Parisian favourite Horace will shield you from damaging rays without making your skin feel clammy or clogged up.

We put our skin through a lot — shaving, stress, erratic UK weather, to name a few factors — which is where this cult classic can help.

Boring but brilliant, this ceramide-rich cream won't turn back the hands of time, but it will soften chronically dry skin, be it your face, your hands or your elbows. it's also a great one for using over a prescription acne treatment or retinoid cream.

Burgeoning Swedish skincare brand Fjör is banking on hydrolytic enzymes: molecules that essentially work by controlling the diversity of your microbiome. In short, there are millions of bacteria living on the surface of your skin, and by stopping the trouble-making ones from dominating the party, you can keep 'abnormalities' such as irritation, inflammation and acne nicely at bay.

This clear gel moisturiser is one of just two products in the line (the other is a serum) and works especially well on oil-prone skin, delivering ample moisture without leading to shine.

If you only know Aesop for its style-signalling soap, you're really missing out. The brand's skincare line is brimming with forensically honed formulas based on tried-and-tested ingredients, rather than fleeting industry trends.

One of the best, the Camellia Nut facial cream is a luxuriously rich choice that makes light work of soothing extremely dry skin. With a nutty, sandalwood-steeped scent, it offers instant relief that lasts all day – as well as a little sink-side luxury.

Medik8 is largely known for its industry-leading retinol serums but the brand also makes a solid retinol moisturiser for those who don't want to layer multiple products each evening. This all-in-one treatment for fine lines, pigmentation and texture will set to work over the weeks that follow, leading to remarkable results after around a month of loyal use.

Retinol is effective yet eristic so work this one slowly into your routine (every other evening at first) to reap the rewards without the teething problems: namely ephemeral sensitivity and dryness. Don't use it by day either as the sun renders retinol inactive.

Your skin is teeming with bacteria — which is something you probably don't want to dwell on — but this ecosystem of microorganisms is important for keeping it healthy and functioning.

Many things, from cleansing to shaving, can upset the delicate balance of the biome, opening the door to irritation, sensitivity and dryness.

The Nue Co's lightweight moisturiser is designed to bring an unruly bacterial situation back into line using a three-course menu of pre, pro and postbiotics that feed the good ones, helping them to regain control. It's especially good for the rosacea and eczema-prone skin.

Azelaic acid is widely recommended by dermatologists for skin prone to inflammation and redness, and it's the star ingredient in the latest addition to Skinceuticals' acclaimed Phyto A+ line.

This lightweight hydrator feels more akin to a gel than a cream, and soothes irritated skin both instantly and over time, working to even out blotchiness and brighten tone.

When you're dealing with acne-prone skin, it's not just active breakouts that can cause frustration: lingering post-acne pigmentation and erythema can drag the whole ordeal out for weeks

The latest addition to La Roche-Posay's dermatologist-approved Effaclar line, this multi-benefit moisturiser works to prevent spots by balancing the bacteria that causes them, and fade the marks that bed in after a breakout. With a lightweight gel texture, it'll gently mattify oily skin and stop shine from emerging throughout the day.

There's a lot of puffery in the men's skincare industry, but Augustinus Bader's cult cream is worth the hype. It's based around a patented 'Trigger Factor Complex' of vitamins, amino acids and minerals that feed the skin, encouraging it to repair and fortify itself. The result is a slow-burn (don't expect an overnight transformation) but one worth persevering for: over time, skin appears brighter, firmer and altogether happier.

The original Cream now comes in several iterations to keep all skin types happy, but most will appreciate the cosseting texture of The Rich Cream. Acne-prone? Pivot to The Light Cream.

Eco Marine Cream

It's about all of us (formerly Haeckels) is one of few brands whose sustainability ethos actually stands up to scrutiny.

This richer-than-average cream is formulated with a heavy dose of antioxidant seaweed, which is harvested from the Margate shore, and blended with apricot kernel and raspberry seed oils to lock in hydration. The jar is made from Vivomer, a compostable bio-polymer that'll degrade naturally over time.

If your skin is starting to feel akin to sandpaper, it's time to become acquainted with exfoliating acids. Glycolic acid is the leader of the pack, working to reveal fresher skin by chemically dissolving the dull, dead cells that linger on your skin's surface, revealing the brighter youngsters beneath.

From the unofficial king of resurfacing acids, this moisturiser contains both glycolic and salicylic acids to brighten skin and nix breakouts.