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Best moisturisers for men: 10 products to use after a training session
Because the perfect run starts with hydrated skin.
It might be tempting to steal whatever your other half is using when it comes to skincare, but a moisturiser catered to your skin’s needs should be a staple in your kit (and it keeps you out of the bad books).
Even your daily run can take its toll on skin. From UV rays to pollution, having that first barrier of defence is vital if you don’t want those fine lines appearing earlier than usual, and ‘brotox’ won’t quite make the cut.
We’ve done the legwork and tested a range of moisturisers that promise to boost hydration and soothe any irritation. These are the best of the bunch:
- Best moisturiser for men: La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ Moisturiser
- Best vegan moisturiser for men: Elemis Superfood Day Cream
- Best for normal skin: L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Moisturiser
- Best for hydration: Charles + Lee Moisturiser
- Best moisturiser with SPF: Monroe Skincare Monroe Moisturiser SPF20
- Best for sensitive skin: CeraVe Moisturising Cream
- Best for oily skin: Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream
- Best for blue light protection: Heath Moisturiser
- Best for reducing shine: American Crew Acumen Multi-Defense Moisturising Lotion
- Best value for money: Bulldog Sensitive Moisturiser
Do men really need to moisturise?
This isn’t quite a 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash situation, your skin goes through a lot so it needs a targeted product for that extra bit of support.
Shaving on parched skin is a bit like nails on a chalkboard - pretty unpleasant if you ask us. If you’ve noticed skin is looking a bit rough around the edges, this is down to men, on average, having thicker skin than women. This makes adding moisture essential, otherwise skin can end up looking inflamed and feeling bumpy.
However, men are also more likely to be on the oilier side - especially if you’re an avid exerciser - so are more prone to congestion, blackheads and breakouts. Sweating while exercising can cause ‘sweat pimples’, which is when the combination of sweat and friction can clog pores and cause bacteria to stick around on your face for longer. Sweating is inevitable, but you can get a cream that solves these issues - so you can go for a run without worrying that it might cause a breakout.
Top tip: avoid any super-thick lotions as this will only clog up pores. Instead, opt for an oil-free gel or lightweight cream to find the perfect balance.
How we test
We asked 212 men to try 19 different moisturiser brands over a four-week period. They reported back on how hydrating they were and if they had any effects on the skin, as well as how easy they were to apply.
In the Runner’s World Lab, we used a multi-skin test centre to measure how hydrated the skin was immediately after applying each cream versus after a six-hour period, to test their long-term effect.
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ Moisturiser
Excessive sweating or touching your face at the gym before washing your hands almost guarantees a few spots popping up. This gel moisturiser is designed to tackle the problem, while claiming to control shine and reduce blackheads.
We found skin felt immediately hydrated and it helped with post-shave tightness and irritation too. Overall, redness and inflammation was soothed, making it a must-have in our opinion.
Key specs
Volume: 40ml
Contains SPF: No
Packed with almost more vitamins and nutrients than your breakfast smoothie, this moisturiser aims to balance skin using omega-rich ingredients such as broccoli and ginger, to leave your face looking fresh.
We found the moisture boost it gave to our skin lasted throughout the day, and it absorbed quickly too, removing the tell-tale (red face) signs of you just having gone for a run.
Key specs
Volume: 50ml
Contains SPF: No
L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Moisturiser
Found your skin is looking a bit tired and dull lately? This vitamin C-packed formula will give it a wake-up call. We appreciated the texture that soaked into skin quickly, leaving a great smell behind. We’ll be adding this to our morning routine, pronto.
Key specs
Volume: 50ml
Contains SPF: No
If you’ve found wrinkles creeping into the forehead area, this blend of collagen and elastin claims to fight these early signs of ageing. The moisturiser leaves you with hydrated, less irritated skin, without any leftover residue, and its lightweight texture left our skin feeling softer, without causing any oiliness.
Key specs
Volume: 100ml
Contains SPF: No
Monroe Skincare Monroe Moisturiser SPF20
While going for your daily park jog is great for your health, those UV rays are doing some serious damage to your skin. This one features SPF20 to help protect against environmental aggressors. We found it didn’t leave any stickiness behind - unlike some SPFs - and it improved skin texture.
Key specs
Volume: 50ml
Contains SPF: Yes, SPF20
CeraVe Moisturising Cream
Whether it be razor burn or dry patches, skin feeling irritated and tight is uncomfortable. This came to our rescue, leaving skin feeling softer without causing any irritation.
It aced our lab tests too, scoring 7/10 when it came to hydration. Being so nourishing, the texture is on the thicker side, so might not be the best for oily skin types.
Key specs
Volume: 340g
Contains SPF: No
Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream
No one wants to look like a greaseball before you’ve even started your day. This moisturiser was a hit with us for how quickly it absorbed, while still scoring 6/10 in our hydration lab test. The lightweight texture left skin feeling fresh and free from oiliness, too.
Key specs
Volume: 120ml
Contains SPF: No
Heath Moisturiser
Working from our laptops and scrolling through our phones all day can speed up the signs of ageing. This is down to the effects of blue light, which this cream claims to protect us against, all while plumping skin. We found skin felt quenched and smooth after use, without causing any sensitivity.
Key specs
Volume: 100ml
Contains SPF: No
American Crew Acumen Multi-Defense Moisturising Lotion
This lightweight lotion claims to seamlessly soak into skin, while defending it against pollution and UV rays. We found the product dispensed quickly and easily, with the moisturiser itself being the perfect antidote to any post-shave dryness.
It also hydrated skin, yet eradicated any shine at the same time, earning it a big thumbs up from us.
Key specs
Volume: 50ml
Contains SPF: Yes, SPF35
Bulldog Sensitive Moisturiser
You don’t have to spend a fortune to have silky-smooth skin. Case and point, this Bulldog moisturiser - which we loved for how quickly skin drank it up - left our skin feeling instantly smoother.
It wasn’t the most moisturising, but it still scored a decent 5/10 in our lab test.
Key specs
Volume: 100ml
Contains SPF: No
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