How Do I Choose the Best Face Cream for Men?

When choosing the best face cream for men, it is important to pay close attention to the ingredients in the moisturizer. Even if you do not have oily skin or are not prone to acne, avoiding ingredients that clog pores can help to reduce ingrown hairs when shaving. Moisture-rich ingredients are essential for most men, as the slow loss of testosterone that men experience as they age tends to dry skin out, even if it was oily when you were a teenager. A face cream for men that contains some amount of SPF can help to significantly reduce your risk of skin cancer as you age. It can also be helpful to avoid marketing ploys and not rule out face creams intended for women, as this will open up a large range of options to you.

No matter what your skin type, it is important to avoid any face creams for men that contain pore-clogging ingredients. Moisturizers that contain mineral oils or lanolin are notorious for trapping dirt and other particles in your pores, and using one of these creams directly after shaving can cause short facial hairs to become trapped, resulting in ingrown hairs. These ingredients can also cause breakouts for those with acne-prone skin. When looking for a face cream for men, make sure that the product is specifically labeled as noncomedogenic; this means that the product does not contain these ingredients and will not clog your pores.

While men typically do not experience a rapid drop in testosterone, the slow loss that most experience can cause even the oiliest skin to begin to dry out over time. When looking for a face cream, carefully review the ingredients to ensure that it will be moisturizing enough for you, and that it does not contain anything that will dry out your skin. If your skin is naturally dry, look for thicker creams, and, if it is oily, look for thinner ones or even serum face creams. In general, shea butter, glycerin, and jojoba oil are all moisturizing, and safe for even the oiliest skin. Any type of alcohol should be avoided, as this can dry your skin out too much.

As the majority of men do not typically apply sunscreen, using a face cream for men with SPF can significantly reduce your risks of developing skin cancer. If you spend most of your time in an office, a moisturizer with SPF 15 should suffice. For those who work outdoors, your moisturizer should contain an SPF of 30 or higher.

In general, female skin ages more quickly than its male counterpart, and, therefore, creams meant for women typically contain more anti-aging ingredients. Despite this, a product geared toward women can often make an excellent face cream for men as well. When looking for a face cream, do not limit yourself to only the small section of products marketed for men. If you are concerned about scent, look for items that are meant for sensitive skin or those that do not contain any added fragrance.