Most men who try a face cream give up for one of two reasons: it feels greasy, or it does nothing they can notice. The best face cream for men fixes both. It sinks in fast, keeps skin comfortable through heat, gym sessions and air conditioning, and calms the redness and tightness that daily shaving leaves behind.
You don’t need a cream labelled “for men” to get that. You need the right texture for your skin type and a few ingredients that do real work. If you haven’t sorted your cleanser yet, start with our guide to the best face wash for men; a good moisturiser can’t fix a wash that strips your skin.
How men’s skin is different
A study measuring the skin of 300 adults found that men, on average, produce more oil than women and their skin’s surface pH is a little lower. Men’s skin is also thicker. In practice that means:
- More shine and bigger-looking pores, especially on the forehead and nose, and more so in UAE heat.
- Shaving stress: a razor removes a fine layer of skin cells every time, which can leave skin dry, red or bumpy.
- Sweat and sun: outdoor work, sport and long drives in strong sunlight add up.
So many men need a lighter texture than they expect, and almost all of them need daily sun protection. Browse our face serum for men and men’s skincare range to see what fits.
What a good face cream for men should do
- Hydrate without grease: skin should feel soft, not shiny, ten minutes later.
- Calm after shaving: soothing ingredients reduce sting, redness and razor bumps.
- Help with oil: some ingredients, like niacinamide, can make skin look less shiny over time.
- Protect by day: either an SPF in the cream or a sunscreen on top.
That’s it. You don’t need a different product for every one of these; one well-chosen moisturiser plus sunscreen covers most men.
Pick the right texture for your skin
- Oily skin (most common in men): a gel or light gel-cream. It absorbs fast and won’t add shine. See our best moisturizer for oily skin.
- Normal or combination skin: a light lotion; add a little extra on dry patches after shaving.
- Dry skin: the best men’s face moisturizer for dry skin is a richer cream with glycerin, shea butter or ceramides. Air conditioning in offices and cars dries skin fast. More in our dry skin guide.
- Sensitive or razor-prone skin: fragrance-free and alcohol-free, with soothing ingredients.
A quick test: press a small amount onto your jaw in the morning. If your face looks greasy by lunchtime, the texture is too heavy for you.
Ingredients to look for (and skip)
Look for
- Niacinamide: helps with shine, redness and an uneven tone. A strong all-rounder for men. See niacinamide.
- Hyaluronic acid and glycerin: light hydrators that don’t feel heavy.
- Panthenol, allantoin, aloe: soothe skin after shaving.
- Ceramides or shea butter: for dry skin that needs more protection.
- Retinol (from your mid-30s): for fine lines, used at night a few times a week. Our best anti aging cream guide explains how to start.
Skip or be careful with
- Strong fragrance and high-alcohol after-shaves: the burning feeling isn’t “working”, it’s irritation.
- Heavy oils on oily skin: they can clog pores and add shine.
- “Whitening” or “fairness” creams for men: no safe cream changes your natural skin colour. A good cream with niacinamide and daily sunscreen evens out tone and marks. We explain more in skin brightening vs whitening.
Shaving, beards and after-shave care
- Shave after washing, when hair is soft, using a sharp blade and shaving with the grain.
- Rinse with cool water and pat dry.
- Apply your face cream within a minute or two. It replaces moisture the razor removed and calms redness. It works better than an alcohol after-shave.
- Beards: massage a little cream into the skin under the beard, not just the hair. Dry, flaky skin under a beard is very common in air-conditioned rooms.
Day cream, SPF and night cream
The best day cream for men either has SPF 30 or more, or goes on under a separate sunscreen. In the UAE, daily sun protection prevents more dark spots and lines than any cream can fix later. At night, you can use the same moisturiser, or a slightly richer one if your skin is dry. Our best night cream guide covers the differences.
Building a simple men’s skincare set
Looking for the best men’s skincare set? You only need three things:
- Face wash, morning and night.
- Face cream, after washing and after shaving.
- Sunscreen, every morning.
Add a serum (vitamin C or niacinamide) later if you want to work on marks or dullness. Two minutes a day is enough.
Our picks
- Day and Night Cream Set: the day cream has niacinamide, licorice, panthenol and aloe with shea butter and plant oils, and no added fragrance; it suits normal to dry skin best. It has no SPF, so add sunscreen. The night cream is a lighter gel-cream with niacinamide, arbutin, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid; it contains fragrance, so patch-test it first if your skin is sensitive.
- Beauty Face Wash: our deep-cleansing face cleanser for men with oily or normal skin who like a strong, fresh clean. It contains sulphates and fragrance, so it’s not for dry or sensitive skin.
- Turmeric Face Wash: a sulphate-free gel with tea tree and aloe for oily, breakout-prone skin. Patch-test first because of the tea tree oil.
Common questions
Do men really need a face cream?
Most do, especially if they shave or spend time in air conditioning. Even oily skin can be dehydrated; a light gel moisturiser helps it feel comfortable without adding shine.
What is the best moisturiser for men with oily skin?
A light, non-greasy gel or gel-cream, ideally with niacinamide. Apply a small amount and add sunscreen in the morning.
Can men use women’s face cream?
Yes. Skin doesn’t know the label. Choose by skin type and ingredients, not by packaging.
Should I put face cream on before or after shaving?
After. Wash, shave, rinse with cool water, then apply your cream to calm the skin.
How long before I notice a difference?
Comfort and less tightness straight away; less shine, redness and razor irritation within two to four weeks of daily use.
Ready to make it simple? Pick a face cream that suits your skin, use it daily with sunscreen, and you’re done. Free delivery to every emirate and cash on delivery available.
Learn more about our men’s skincare.
Day and night cream
Face cleanser for men
Turmeric face wash
