Face Moisturizers for Men
Sure women love a manly man, but come on. There comes a point when you have to tame that skin! Don't be afraid to try it -- no one will think you're girly. Showing that you can take care of yourself is a good thing, plus there are plenty of creams,  lotions, and serums dedicated to a male audience, so you don't have use feminine products.
Choosing the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin
Your Skin Type
The most important step in choosing a moisturizer is getting something that will suit your skin type, whether it's oily, dry, sensitive, normal, combination, or acne-prone. Not sure about your skin type? Here's how you figure it out.
Test - Wash your face and dry it completely (patting not rubbing).
- Take a piece of tissue and press different parts of your face with it one at a time.
- Each time you press, take note of whether or not the paper sticks, comes off oily, or leaves the paper translucent.
Diagnose - If the paper turns translucent from your entire face then you have oily skin.
- If only your nose or forehead turn the papertranslucent, then you have an oily T-zone, also known as combination skin.
- If the paper does not turn translucent at all then you have dry skin. Dry skin is typically tight after washing and may even have flakes or scaliness.
- If you are ever red or rashy after washing your face then you probably have sensitive skin.
Treatment
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- Oily Skin -- Look for lotions, not creams, with labels that say "oil-free" and "non-comodegenic". Gel-based sunscreens or moisturizers will help make your skin more matte and reduce shine. When possible, get a moisturizer that contains an SPF in it to reduce the amount of product that you apply to your face.
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- Dry Skin -- Antioxidant cream moisturizers and exfoliating moisturizers are best. Look for those that contain low doses of AHAs or BHAs, also known as alpha hydroxies.
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- Sensitive Skin -- Organic products are great for sensitive skin as they usually are devoid of harsh chemicals. Light, but soothing moisturizers with aloe vera or jojoba oil are also good choices. When shopping look specifically for sensitive skin moisturizers as these types of creams and lotions usually lack fragrance, which can cause irritation.
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- Aging Skin -- Maturing skin needs special ingredients to help keep it tight and radiant. Exfoliating AHAs and BHAs, a.k.a. retinoic or glycolic acid, help lift off dead skin cells to reduce fine lines. Antioxidants are also important. Another thing to remember is sunscreen (SPF 30 or more) -- every day.
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- Acne-Prone Skin -- Always look for non-comodegenic products, such as oil-free lotions. Avoid any lotions with petroleum derivatives as they will clog pores and promote breakouts. Special moisturizers with salicylic acid in them might help combat acne during the day. AHAs (and other chemical exfoliators) can be helpful too. For night, make sure to use a good spot treatment. See the guide to Acne Treatments for more information.
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Good Moisturizer Ingredients - Glycerin is found in almost all moisturizers and it keeps your skin balanced.
- Silicone is a slip agent found in low quantities in most moisturizers. It can make your skin look more oily if the product you use has too much in it.
- Shea or cocoa butter, sunflower seed, almond, or jojoba oil are all moisturizing agents.
- Mineral oils are not good ingredients. Avoid these products as they can clog your pores and cause breakouts or blackheads.
- Grape seed extract and green tea are said to help reduce signs of aging but proof of this is limited.
- Omegas are good for moisturizing and for reducing signs of aging along with other antioxidants such as vitamin E, C, and beta-carotene.
- Non-comodegenic means not pore-clogging, which is a good thing to look for especially if you are prone to acne.
- Fragrances are nice smelling, but often they will cause irritation. Avoid them if you can.
- Steer clear of preservatives such as propylene glycol, parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, and sodium benzoate.
Don't Forget- Avoid the hype if you can. Media and commercials might make you tempted to buy a particular product simply because of its looks, but nothing is a true test of compatibility like trying it out for yourself.
- Cost is not always relative to quality.
- Claims to erase wrinkles are aspirations at best.
- Try to avoid things that just look good or things that friends recommend (unless you share the same skin type).
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