Choosing a Men’s Moisturiser
Skin Type
Everyone’s skin cells are unique and so there is no product out there which is likely to accommodate your exact skin type. However, cosmetic companies are able to come close by designing their moisturisers to a few certain categories. Determining which one you are will help you get the best out your moisturiser, as the ingredients within will be more curtailed to solving your issues.
Normal
A normal skin type is what we all dream of and so if this is you, congratulations, you’ve officially hit the derma jackpot. Essentially, your face never gets particularly dry or oily and so moisturising is merely a way of caring for your skin and keeping it in good condition as opposed to solving an issue. Normal skin type moisturisers therefore often feature the largest assortment of ingredients, fragrances and alcohols, as your skin is unlikely to react badly to them.
Dry
If you suffer from flaky, scaly dry skin, moisturiser is, of course, an absolute must. Formulas for dry skin, in general, tend to contain no alcohols or perfumes, as these can irritate and dry the skin out further. They’ll also contain all sorts of lipids, vitamins and other ingredients to help maintain your skin’s barrier and retain moisture.
Oily
For those with overzealous pores and overactive sebum, moisturiser can often seem counterproductive. However, moisturiser targeted at oily skin can help regulate your sebum production, so that your skin feels replenished and does not feel the need to produce more sebum as the day goes on. Oily skin moisturisers, therefore, offer plenty of hydration and skin barrier protection but will also often contain mattifying and drying ingredients designed to stop shine and greasiness. These include things like witch hazel and oil-free moisturisers.
Combination
If you have a mixture of dry and oily skin, you’re in a tough situation as you need a moisturiser that can do it all. Non-greasy and oil-free formulas can help you better control that shine, but they’ll also have to provide plenty of moisturisers and vitamins to help solve your dry patches and irritations. Again, avoid alcohols and perfumes too.
Sensitive
If you have sensitive skin which comes up in rashes with certain shower gels and soaps, you need to be extra careful when choosing products to your face, as this will provoke more extreme and unsightly reactions if you use something your derma doesn’t agree with! Pay close attention to the ingredients list and make sure it has very few ingredients. It’s often best to avoid alcohols, perfumes, parabens, colourants (tints) or anything else that sounds unsavoury!
Your Routine
Most moisturisers will say on the label their directions for use, and so you need to consider whether they fit with your routine. Some will be for once a day use, others for morning and night and some may even just be for after shaving.
Make sure the one you choose fits well with how often you plan to use it.
Features & Ingredients To Watch Out For
SPF
If you live in a sunny environment or are just in the middle of a heatwave, SPF moisturisers are a lighter, less heavy way to get UVA and UVB protection for your skin without slathering on extra sun cream. However, in most SPF moisturisers the factor is 30 or lower, so make sure for longer periods in the sun and days with greater exposure you are using actual sun cream!
Anti-ageing
If you’re getting on a bit, products with anti-ageing properties that reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines can be incredibly helpful! Retinol is often the key ingredient in anti-ageing creams.
Non-Greasy/Fast Absorbing
Moisturiser is meant to help you feel fresh and ready for the day, not like you’ve just dunked your face into a bucket of slime. Fast absorbing products which leave no residue are a must to keep you looking and feeling your best.
Tinted
Tinted moisturisers are good for men who are embarrassed about blemished or minimal acne scarring and their small amount of colourant can help cover up any noticeable redness or irritation.
Hydration Time
Moisturisers are meant to be remedying issues your skin goes through during a long hard day and so if their effect only lasts a few hours, you’re going to end up crusting up or going into sebum overdrive before lunchtime. Aim to purchase a product which promises 24-hour protection and moisture at the very least.
Vitamins
We’re told to eat them all the time and vitamins can also do you good when applied directly to the skin! Moisturisers with vitamins help rejuvenate and repair your cells, helping to give you that healthy glow you’re looking for. If your product contains them, it’s clear that the brand is attempting to promote natural ingredients over nasty ones.
Free From Harsh Ingredients
A lot of the time, men’s skincare products don’t work for you because they’ll be packed with smell perfumes and alcohols that provide a ‘cooling’ or ‘burning’ feeling. While this might feel like it’s refreshing your skin, it’s nothing more than smoke and mirrors, as these alcohols and perfumes are more likely to just upset your skin’s balance and cause dryness and irritation.