What is the best moisturiser for men?If finances aren’t such a concern, Seed to Skin’s the cure, is a revelation in innovative, natural and ethical skincare that genuinely pushes the boundaries. For those looking for a heavy-duty moisturiser, especially suited to those working outdoors, the Aesop facial barrier cream is a seriously useful product that will feel like a solid investment. The best all-rounder though, is Dr Loretta’s barrier repair gel cream, which offers great value, is lightweight, and ideal for typical male skin.How I testedWe have this thing called a skincell cycle, which you can think of sort of like a coin pusher. New cells form in the bottom layer of our skin and gradually they get pushed to the top layer before eventually shedding. This takes at least 28 days for most adults. Consequently, the best approach to testing a skincare product is to allow 28 days, or one full skincell cycle, for it to do its thing as effectively as it can. I always make sure to allow this much time before deciding on whether a product is doing what I want it to or not, and have done so here, patch testing each of these products. I have combination skin, which is handy, as I have been able to try the more rich products where I have dry skin and the lighter-weight ones where I am typically oily. The higher-end options I have focused where they would be most notably effective, typically within the T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin area shaped like a “T”) as this area is more exposed, meaning it can benefit from more treatment.I also have enlarged pores, which is especially common in men, and so certain products which cater to that are being used there, too. Enlarged pores aren’t a major issue, but they can in time create uneven skin texture, increase oil build up (and as a result spots), and blackheads. As I have oily skin in some areas, I have to stay on top of enlarged pores. Finally, personally, I get a bit conscious about redness in my skin, so in some instances I have tested the effectiveness of products claiming to help with this. Here’s the full list of my testing criteria:Ingredient quality: From specific results through to absorption and texture on the skin, the primary measure of a good product is: does it work well and does it feel good to use. Ingredient sensitivity: Across all skin types, you’ll want to find products that are fragrence-free – as very often artificial scents are what cause irritation and inflammation on sensitive, or acne-prone a skin (naturally scented ingredients are okay, that’s an added bonus). Ideally, a good moisturiser is going to promote hydration without clogging pores. Specific concern suitability: As well as skin type, lifestyle can influence how we need to treat our skin. People working in warm sweaty environments might need a very different sort of product to those working in an office, and those working in the cold. The ease of a product and how it makes us feel is also an important consideration when choosing a moisturiser. Due to this, I have included a broad range of options in terms of oils, light-weight creams, and richer formulations.Design: Design is also important. The best product in the worst vessel is just a massive shame. Certain types of vessel also are much more wasteful than others (pots are always best, as you can get every last drop out without having to dissect the tube). Also, if you’re going to use something twice a day, it might as well feel like a little spa moment. There’s no harm in romanticising life a little. So that’s a factor too. Value for money: Of course, value for money comes at a variety of prices. It means bang for buck, not how affordable a product is. This has been factored into these ratings. Is skin type important for moisturisers? It is useful to know whether or not your skin is oily, dry, combination, normal, or sensitive when choosing the right product, as moisturisers formulated specifically for these concerns will provide the best results for you. Inês Abdalla, of InêSKN Skincare Consultancy says: “In basic terms if your skin shows visible shine or your pores appear enlarged, you have an oily skin type; dry skin lacks essential lipids and moisture and will feel tight, potentially show signs of taking; combination which is the more common type for men will have an oily t-zone but normal or dry cheeks.” What active ingredients should I look for in my moisturiser? Abdalla adds that the ingredients which do well, particularly for men, include: “Humectants” like glycerin and niacinamide (a water-soluble form of vitamin B3) – generally derived from plant oils. “Emollients” such as squalene, and “Occlusives” such as shea butter which are protective of the skin barrier, Inês notes. Combined, these ingredients mimic sebum, the natural oil within our skin as closely as possible, allowing moisture from the air to attach to the skin and hydrate it. Should I buy a moisturiser designed for men? The right formulations might be more easily found in “for men” product, but Inês says “skincare has no gender” even though “male skin does have specific physiological traits: it is typically 20 per cent thicker and has higher sebum (oil) production due to testosterone.” And this should inform the product you buy more so than the gender it is marketed toward. If I have oily skin do I need a moisturiser? It can seem counter-intuitive, but even excessively oily skin benefits from moisturisers. Oily sikn is typically caused by sebaceous glands working overtime. A moisturiser can help the sebaceus glands to regulate how much sebum they need to produce. For combination skin, you’d want to prioritise product that will rebalance your t-zone. What other ingredients are good to have in a moisturiser? Additionally, useful compounds include vitamin B5, which is great for anti-inflammatory and soothing the skin, fatty acids like omega 3. There are more technical ingredients that have specific functions too, depending on your skin concerns. These are typically derived from botanicals, but can be lab-made too. Increasingly, high-end products are incorporating probiotics, anti-oxidants, and peptides into their forumlations to combat fine lines, pollutants, and to help repair the skin barrier. These can often elevate the price point, but also the potency of the product. That being said, a price is not always an indication of a better moisturiser. Why you can trust IndyBest reviewsAs someone who’s worked in the beauty – and more specifically, skincare – industry for more than six years – and been actively interested in skincare for 18 years, Rhys Thomas has kept a close and discerning eye on skincare’s evolution from niche to mainstream. In this time science and general consensus has often changed on which products and which ingredients are best to prioritise for skin health and has come to his own consensus from years of study. As such, he’s covered a swathe of different formulas for IndyBest, considering a range of concerns specifically common for men and their skin.Want more recommendations? We’ve rounded up the best anti-ageing creams for men