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The 11 Best Men’s Moisturizers With SPF in 2023, Tested by Grooming Experts
Protect your face in 15 seconds—or less.
JUST BECAUSE you're not sweating every time you step out of the house doesn't mean you can pack away the sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen everyday is important regardless of the season or temperature, but is especially important come summertime. Sunscreen does more than protect you from getting a sunburn—it can help prevent premature skin aging such as wrinkles and age spots so you can stay looking your best as the years go on.
If you want to save time on your skincare routine while still staying protected from the sun, we recommend investing in the best moisturizers with SPF for your face. These two-in-one moisturizer hybrids do exactly what it says: hydrate your skin while protecting it from aging UV rays. The best moisturizers with SPF should have at least a 30 SPF broad spectrum protection, the standard set by the American Academy of Dermatology. The best moisturizers with SPF must also have hydrating ingredients, like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. To find the absolute greatest spf moisturizers, our intrepid team of Grooming Editors and dermatologists tried over 50 top-reviewed moisturizers, and evaluated how well they absorbed in our skin, if they provided ample sun protection (no sunburns!), and if they left white residue (learn how Men's Health tests grooming products).
What to Look for:
Before you reach for any old moisturizer that says SPF on the label, be warned that not all of them are created equal.
Broad spectrum protection: “As a starting place, look for one labeled broad spectrum protection as this indicates that your skin will be protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays, which contribute to skin cancer and skin aging,” says Noelle S. Sherber, dermatologist and Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at George Washinton University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.
At least SPF 30: Second, there are lots of moisturizers out there that say they contain SPF but it’s low—like 15 or 18. That’s not good. “The American Academy of Dermatology advises using an SPF30 or higher,” says Dr. Sherber. And for men, she says, the third most important thing is texture. If it’s gluey, sticky, filmy, or leaves a white cast, you’re probably not going to use it. “The effectiveness of sunscreen drops significantly if it isn’t applied in a generous quantity,” she says, so the best sunscreen for you is one you will actually wear—and want to wear.
Moisturizing ingredients: When it comes to moisturizers with sunscreen, don’t get bogged down in semantics. It can be hard to find a moisturizer with enough SPF to adequately protect you. In that case, recommends Sacramento, CA-based dermatologist Jacqueline Calkin, M.D., “find a sunscreen that has enough [moisturizing ingredients] for your skin.” It doesn’t matter so much if the product is supposed to be a moisturizer first; as long as it has enough moisturizing ingredients and sun protection, you can use it every day.
So how do you find those products that fit perfectly in the middle of the moisturizing/sun protection Venn diagram? This list of the top recs from dermatologists is the perfect place to start.
Best Facial Sunscreens | Best Body Lotions for Men | Best Anti-Aging Creams for Men | Best Sunscreens for Sensitive Skin
Garrett Munce writes about men's style and grooming. He's written for Esquire, New York Magazine, Spotlyte, and Very Good Light and held staff positions at GQ and W. Follow his skincare obsession on Instagram at @garrettmunce.
As Men's Health's Deputy Editor, Commerce, Christian Gollayan oversees all shopping content on menshealth.com. He relocated back to New York by way of Portland, where he was the Associate Managing Editor at TheManual.com. Christian's work has also been featured in InStyle, Food & Wine, the New York Post, and Tatler Asia.
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