Must-Have Moisturizers for Glowing Skin This Fall, Tested by Experts (2024)

North Carolina-based dermatologist Dr. Alex Zeitany has been using this fragrance-free, lightweight moisturizer since 2015, and recommends it to their patients for its super-hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

“Hyaluronic acid can hold over 1000 times its weight in water,” which gives this gel a barely-there feeling while still being a potent moisturizer, she says. Our testers have also used Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer during long treks outside with cooler temps, and found that it kept their mugs feeling hydrated and never tight, the way other drugstore moisturizers tend to do.

Out testers with darker skin tones also noted that Neutrogena's Hydro Boost gel hydrated their faces better than any other drugstore moisturizer they've tried. Put simply, this moisturizer received a positive approval rating across the board.

Testing Notes: Like many men, we tend to shy away from moisturizers that leave our skin feeling goopy or greasy, which is why this watery gel rose to the top of the list in our testing process. The consistency is smooth and silky and while not completely transparent, is definitely more of a gel consistency than a cream.

It glides onto skin easily and has a slight cooling sensation but also sinks into your skin quickly without leaving any sort of shine or residue whatsoever. The formula is packed with hyaluronic acid, one of the most important ingredients in a moisturizer because it is a humectant—meaning it draws moisture from the air—and we found that even with a formula as lightweight as this, our skin still felt healthy and hydrated hours later.

It's a common misconception that you don't need to protect your skin against the sun during the cooler months of the year, but it's just as important. Moisturizers with SPF provide sunscreen protection as well as hydration, making them a time-saving skincare product for the fall and winter. Our testers have consistently given EltaMD's face sunscreen top marks for its broad spectrum protection, gentle-yet-ultra-hydrating ingredient and the fact that it absorbs super easily without leaving much of a white cast.

Massachusetts-based dermatologist Dr. Kathleen Joyce has been recommending this to her male patients since 2017. “It contains niacinamide which can help with redness and acne and provides a good sunscreen in a very lightweight base,” she says.

Testing Notes: In our experience, most moisturizers with SPF are heavy on the moisturizer part but light on the sun protection in that many don’t offer the dermatologist-recommended SPF 30. This sunscreen flips the script in that it is designed as a sunscreen first, but contains enough moisturizing and skin-benefiting ingredients that it can easily double as a moisturizer.

We tested it both ways—on top of another moisturizer and by itself—and found that its moisturizing factors absolutely were enough to warrant skipping another moisturizer, provided you don’t have super dry skin. As a time-saving, double-duty product, this is top of the list.

This moisturizer from La Roche-Posay received top marks from our testers with sensitive skin thanks to its soothing, hydrating features and avoidance of irritating ingredients like added fragrance or exfoliating scrubs.

It's also a go-to moisturizer for Dr. Jeremy Brauer, a dermatologist and founder of Spectrum Skin and Laser in New York City. "This product contains a mix of prebiotic thermal water, ceramides, niacinamide and glycerin," says Brauer. "It’s gentle enough for almost all skin types and has a thicker consistency, making it great for men’s skin."

Testing notes: We found that many moisturizers designed for sensitive skin can go a little overboard on this thickness because they’re trying to pack as much moisturization into the formula as possible. Out of all the versions we tested, this is the one we could tolerate wearing both during the day and at night because even though it’s thick, it doesn’t feel heavy on our skin and offers a ton of hydration for how lightweight the formula is.

We also found that the formula really does heal as well as hydrate. Within a few days, we noticed some rough patches on our faces smoothing away. Of course, the fragrance-free factor is perfect for sensitive or easily irritated skin, but also for anyone who just doesn’t like fragrance in their products.

Read more: Best Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin

Testers with oily skin loved Versed's hybrid moisturizer, which has a gel-like consistency that's as hydrating as some of our favorite anti-aging creams we've tried. That makes it ideal for most men, which tend to have thicker, oilier skin than women. Dr. Corey L. Hartman, founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology, has been using this moisturizer for the past three years and recommends it to his male patients.

"It’s easy to incorporate into my routine and the formula feels nice on the skin," says Hartman, who's based in Birmingham, Alabama. "I have oily and acne-prone skin, so I must really watch what I use and stay away from oils and heavy creams."

Our testers who used Dew Point for more than three months reported fewer breakouts and an overall dewier (pun intended) complexion.

Testing Notes: Rich moisturizers are great if you have dry skin, but oily skin is a different story. For oily skin, we found that lightweight, oil-free gels are the way to go and this gel is the best we found at imparting hydration to our skin without weighing it down or adding grease or shine. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid and aloe leaf juice, both of which are ultra-hydrating, and feels cool and light as you rub it into your skin (it disappears within seconds, as well).

Finding the right moisturizer for combination skin can be a bit tricky since combination is complex. To find a product that pleases both the dry and oily parts of your face, we enlisted the help of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Aanand Geria, for his expertise.

Testing Notes: Since combination skin can be both dry and oily (yes, really), the most important thing in a moisturizer for that skin type is that it strikes the right balance between moisturizing and a lightweight, non-greasy formula—this gel-cream moisturizer hit that balance perfectly.

It contains super hydrators hyaluronic acid and glycerin but the oil-free formula never made us feel or look shiny or greasy. We found that, while it’s ideal for combination skin, it’s also a perfect cold-weather moisturizer for pretty much any skin type since it doesn’t weigh heavily on your face, but still gives your skin all the moisture it needs.

Read more: Best Moisturizers for Combination Skin

You can’t go wrong with a classic, which is why we always come back to this standby from Kiehl’s. It’s creamy but not heavy and suitable for all skin types, even oily skin. It hydrates your skin all day, even in cold weather, but still won’t leave your mug feeling gunky.

Deputy Editor Christian Gollayan has been using Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream since 2018, and it has been his go-to moisturizer for traveling. "It moisturizes my skin without breaking out, and it's ultra hydrating without clogging my pores," he says. "That's why it's a great travel moisturizer since it hydrates without irritating in almost any climate I've been in."

Testing notes: In terms of generally all-around perfect everyday moisturizers, this one gets top billing because it just does it all. The cream formula strikes the balance between being lightweight but still super moisturizing and while it looks heavier than many others on this list, we found that it doesn’t feel that way when you’re actually wearing it.

We also found that it’s ideal for colder weather because it’s rich enough to protect your skin from the drying cold air, but not occlusive or greasy like some other heavy moisturizers. And while we feel that it’s suitable for all skin types and for pretty much any climate, if you have especially oily skin, you may want to use only a tiny bit (a little goes a long way with this one).

Moisturizing is still important even if you have oily, acne-prone skin. If your skin is too dry, it could actually produce more oil to overcompensate for the lack of moisture. This lightweight moisturizer is specifically designed for acne-prone skin and even contains salicylic acid to help control and prevent breakouts.

Our younger testers who were more prone to break out preferred Cetaphil's moisturizer to even pricier creams, given its gentle formula that hydrates skin, while still providing acne-fighting ingredients.

Testing Notes: In our testing, we found there are a few things that are important in a moisturizer for acne-prone skin. It should be an oil-free formula that won’t add additional oil to an already oil-prone face; it should be lightweight so the skin can breathe and noncomedogenic so it doesn’t clog pores; it should have proven acne-fighting ingredients to help heal and control breakouts.

This moisturizer checks all those boxes and then some (it also helps exfoliate and soothe skin). In just a few weeks of using it, we saw clearer skin with less frequent breakouts, especially when using it with other acne-fighting products like cleansers and spot treatments.

Not only are there skin-nourishing lipids and antioxidants in this protective formula, but the hero is Avene’s thermal spring water from France which has been shown to soothe and calm even the most sensitive skin. It’s ideal if you have very dry, flaky skin or red, inflamed skin.

Testing Notes: We found that this moisturizer kept dry skin hydrated even during the coldest mornings when those flakes tend to build up. It was super gentle on sensitive skin and left our faces glowing through the wind chill. Not to mention, a little bit of this cream went a long way, helping offset its smallish container.

Whether you're battling the signs of aging or a lack of sleep, a solid eye cream can offer invaluable help—and we found Atwater's Eye Moisturizer to be the best option available. It’s packed with caffeine, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, to help constrict blood vessels and lessen puffiness and dark circles.

The cream also features a slew of peptides and amino acids that work to stimulate collagen production, which can improve skin elasticity to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is on top of a heavy dose of glycerin to further moisturize under the eye.

Testing Notes: Now, over 30 bucks for half an ounce of cream admittedly seems like a lot of money for a little product, but we found this cream to last long enough that it's well worth the investment. One tiny drip of this cream on the index finger is enough to cover the area under your eyes completely.

Plus, this smaller container size is super convenient for travel, easily fitting in any bag or dopp kit, which is especially useful when the fact that you're jet-lagged or run down from a flight starts to materialize under your eyes.

How Often Should Men Use Moisturizers?

Full stop: men should moisturize their skin every day, regardless of skin type. "Even oily and acne-prone skin needs the added benefits of a moisturizing product to help regulate sebum production," says Dr. Hartman. "If you have dry or combination skin, you might find that you should use a moisturizer twice per day–once in your AM routine and once at night."

How to Choose a Daily Face Moisturizer

One of the reasons lots of guys skip the all-important moisturizing step is that they don’t like how they feel. Men, including us, tend to avoid things that leave their skin feeling greasy, oily or filmy—which can make finding a moisturizer tricky. Luckily, moisturizers come in all types, even gel. “Gel moisturizers have a high water content, which is why they can be spread fairly quickly and leave little to no tacky finish,” says New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Estee Williams.

Typically, what kind of moisturizer you choose depends on your skin type (reminder: gels are great for oilier skin, while thicker creams are perfect for dry skin), but the most important thing when choosing a moisturizer is finding one you like using every day. If it just sits in your medicine cabinet, it’s not going to do your face any good.

How to Incorporate a Moisturizer Into Your Skincare Routine

A moisturizer should always be the last or second-to-last step in our routine. They’re designed to not only impart hydration to your skin but also lock in the moisture that it already has, as well as the ingredients in any other products you’ve used.

An easy way to remember it is this: no matter how many products you’re using, you want to layer them from thinnest to thickest textures. After cleansing, apply any serums or other thinner products before sealing them all in with your moisturizer. In the morning, you’ll want to top the moisturizer with sunscreen, but at night you can just end with your moisturizer.

Meet the Experts

• Sarah Stierman, M.D, a board-certified dermatologist based in Perrysburg, Ohio.
• Alex Zeitany, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
• Jeremy Brauer, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Spectrum Skin and Laser in Purchase, New York.
• Kathleen Joyce, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
• Corey L. Hartman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL
• Aanand Geria, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Rutherford, New Jersey.
• Jarrod Paul Frank, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York, New York.
• Joshua Zeichner, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, New York.

Shop More of Our Favorite Moisturizers

Moisturizers for Oily Skin | Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin | Moisturizers With SPF | Moisturizers for Combination Skin | Moisturizers for Dry Skin | Body Lotions | Night Creams | Foot Creams | Eye Creams