Here’s what’s happening when your skin gets dry — and how to treat it with the right moisturizer

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Some men are still skipping an important step in their skincare routine: hydration. And it shows. Besides looking flakey and prematurely wrinkled, dry skin can feel downright uncomfortable — be it from itchiness or from that overly tight feeling. The best men’s moisturizers for dry skin are here to help with formulas to relieve tightness, cracks, flakes and premature signs of age.

Dry skin has myriad causes from genetics to environmental factors like hot showers, fall weather and urban pollution. But, whatever the cause, the issue behind dry skin is usually a compromised skin barrier. The best moisturizers for dry skin repair that barrier so that the body can resume normal hydration and renewal processes. Besides looking younger, you’ll feel better, too.

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When we say that the best moisturizers will heal dry skin, we really do mean the best. Plenty of sub-par moisturizers only offer temporary hydration, and some can even dry out skin over time, which means its important to shop around for worthwhile products.

To find the right dry skin moisturizer, look for ingredients like ceramides to help revive the skin barrier and hyaluronic acid to aid moisture absorption. Niacinamide and fatty acids, which also nourish the skin barrier and improve texture, are some other good ingredients to look for. If you’re suffering from irritation and inflammation, soothing ingredients like chamomile or oatmeal can also be helpful.

As far as usage directions for these moisturizers, we suggest twice a day — once in the morning and once before bed — for best effects. Just be sure to wash your face with a cleanser before moisturizing.

One of the worst side effects of dry skin is hyper-sensitivity. This lightweight Toleriane moisturizer from La Roche Posay (a favorite in French pharmacies) helps to gently heal dry skin while soothing in the process. The moisturizer’s formula brings some heavy-hitting ingredients like ceramide-3 for repairing, La Roche-Posay’s Prebiotic Thermal Water and niacinamide to nourish the skin barrier. Combined, these ingredients yield up to 48 hours of rejuvenating hydration.

Buy: La Roche Posay Toleriane Double Repair… at $19.99

If you’re especially grossed out by thick creams (which is totally understandable), check out this Neutrogena Hydro Boost moisturizer. The oil-free product is extremely lightweight yet powerful when it comes to nourishing and moisturizing your skin. It does this with a formula led by hyaluronic acid to improve natural moisture absorption, and the cream absorbs very quickly (meaning no greasy film after application).

Buy: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer… at $17.12

Australian brand Aesop is well-known for premium, natural skincare products — most of which feature attractive unisex scents. This Primrose Facial Hydrating Cream is the brand’s answer to dry skin, delivering a hefty dose of fatty acids to rejuvenate your skin. It also includes glycerin to lock in moisture and features a subtle floral scent that everyone will genuinely enjoy (we do).

Buy: Aesop Primrose Facial Hydrating Cream at $50

The heavy-duty formula in this Kiehl’s Ultra cream is especially effective with serious cases of dry skin, although it works well on milder dryness too. Using glacial glycoprotein and olive-derived squalane, the cream helps provide immediate relief. Despite its power, the cream isn’t greasy and leaves behind a soft texture.

Buy: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream at $22

For this moisturizer, Malin+Goetz makes efficient use of vitamins E and b5 to balance and protect the skin. It also includes hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and fatty acids for quick absorption. A substantial dose of chamomile, meantime, helps soothe any irritation for relief you can feel right away.

Buy: Malin+Goetz Vitamin E Moisturiser at $50

Shiseido, a Japanese brand founded in 1872, went above and beyond with this cream. It’s formulated with carnosine DPTM — a potent amino molecule known to quickly heal skin. The cream also boasts vitamin E derivative for even more repairing powers, as well as beech bud extract which functions as an antiseptic. In short, this cream will almost certainly leave you looking more handsome and (literally) feeling better in your own skin.

Buy: Shiseido Men Skin Empowering Cream at $86.42

At the ultra-high-end of men’s skincare is Sisley. The French brand’s products, such as this Sisleÿum gel, deliver some of the rarest ingredients in careful formulas. The Sisleÿum gel is specifically designed to treat dry skin — either as a moisturizer or aftershave — and fend off signs of age. Sisley uses an impressive concoction of 18 natural active ingredients, which mostly include plant extracts and essential oils. The result? A light gel that leaves skin feeling revived and looking younger.

Buy: Sisley Sisleÿum For Men Revitalizer… at $295

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