A few years ago I went in search of the best men’s face lotion and moisturizer. Many guys aren’t into extended grooming and care for themselves, myself included. I happen to be fair skinned and get sunburned pretty easily. So, if I could find one product to put on in the morning after shaving and get some sun protection throughout the day, that would be a winner to me.
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How Do You Define Best Men’s Face Lotion?
My criteria were pretty simple.
- I wanted a product that was easy to use and easy on the wallet.
- I wanted it to have a sunscreen or, SPF ingredient in it.
A bonus: I didn’t want it to feel heavy, greasy or, look shiny.
The second part of this “best” criteria would prove to be a somewhat difficult part of my search for the best men’s face lotion and the reason for this post.
My goal became finding a product to use post shave, that dealt with any razor irritation and offered some protection of my skin from the sun.
They say you have to separate the chaff to get to the wheat. And while the below products are fine face lotions and moisturizers they missed being added to my “best” list by not including any SPF. To me, this is a great opportunity for these companies and products.
Products That Did NOT Make the Best Men’s Face Lotion Cut
Vaseline Men’s Lotion
Vaseline Men’s lotion comes in a few varieties and is sold at mass merchandisers around the country.
I do actually have some of this and use it in the Winter for dry & itchy skin that seems to come with the cold & freezing temperatures. But, I don’t use it on my skin that gets exposed to the sun.
Lubriderm Men’s 3-in-1 Fragrance-Free Lotion
Lubriderm Men’s 3-in-1 Fragrance-Free Lotion is another skin moisturizer sold nationwide at chain drug store and at other retailers. The lack of any SPF, keeps it off my “best” list.
Lubriderm Men’s 3-in-1 Lotion with Light Fragrance
Lubriderm Men’s 3-in-1 Lotion with Light Fragrance is another men’s lotion variation from Lubriderm. It’s sold nationwide at chain drug store and at other mass retailers. The lack of an SPF ingredient keeps it off my “best” list.
Top Products That Made The Best Men’s Lotion List
The products that I list below meet minimum criteria at the beginning of my post. They are moisturizing and have SPF. Of the ones I have tried on this list, they were all lightweight and not greasy feeling. Any of these would be a great aftershave moisturizing lotion and sun protectant with SPF of at least 15.
An additional tip: Although these are all marketed as a face lotion, there is nothing stopping you from putting this on your ears and neck, too. This helps me avoid sunburn in those areas, too.
Dove Men+ Care Hydration Face Lotion
Dove Men Care’s Hydration Face Lotion include a sunscreen component with SPF 15 that works well with its moisturizer. I have used and would recommend the Dove Men Care’s Hydration Face Lotion . It goes on well and doesn’t leave you greasy feeling.
Dove Men+Care Sensitive+ Face Lotion
The sensitive skin version of Dove Men+Care’s face moisturizer. If your skin breaks out easily. This one is for you. A solid moisturizer combined with SPF 15. Buy it online
Neutrogena Men Triple Protect Face Lotion
With SPF 20, this men’s moisturizer deserves a place on the top list. It’s the only one to break the standard SPF 15 of the group. This is the first of the bunch that I ever tried and I like it’s lightweight and protection. Buy it online.
L’Oreal Paris Men Expert Hydra Energetic After Shave Balm SPF 15 3.3 fl oz
L’Oreal’s entry on the top list is another worthy of your consideration. This is another of the products I have used in the past and been happy with its combination of SPF 15 and grease free moisturizers. Buy it online.
Loreal Paris Men Expert Vita Lift Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer
If you want to add an anti-wrinkle and firming ingredient to the mix, then this Loreal Paris Men Expert Vita Lift Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer might the one for you. It also has SPF 15 and moisturizers like it’s cousin L’Oreal Paris Men Expert Hydra Energetic After Shave above. Buy it online.
The Importance of Additional Sunscreen/SPF in Your Face Maintenace Regimen
The SPF offered in the above skin care products is a good start. But, as David Stanley, melanoma survivor and author of Melanoma, It Started with a Freckle says:
“SPF is an odd system. You’d think since SPF15 blocks 94% of the sun’s UV, then SPF30 would block twice as much, but you’d be wrong. SPF30 blocks about 97%, SPF45 blocks around 98%, and after that, you’re just wasting your money.
The other consideration is what sort of UV blocker you should choose – physical or chemical. Physical blockers (sometimes called minerals) like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide put up a physical barrier to UV radiation. Chemical blockers use the double bonds within their compounds to absorb radiation.
The pros and cons? The mineral screens often have a bad look on the skin. There are also concerns about the absorption of micro-sized particles through the skin. But they work instantly and often come in fun colors.
The chemical blockers need about 20 minutes after application to become effective and many are formulated to be highly water-resistant. Some years back, there were concerns raised about the effects of the chemical blockers on hormone levels. Since then, there have been many double-blind, independently funded studies that show those worries, in humans, are unfounded.
My takeaway? Both work so buy SPF45, whether mineral or chemical and use it whenever you might go in the sun. I’m a cyclist and leave a tube in my helmet. If I’d done that when I was 25, I wouldn’t have been a melanoma survivor at 50.”
Guys, what face lotion/moisturizer do you use? Let me know in the comments below.