Men’s Moisturizers

When I was growing up in the frozen tundra of Chicago, winters were a double-edged sword. On the one hand, snowball fights, sledding and hot chocolate made sub-zero temperatures bearable. On the other (much drier) hand, my thirsty, cracked skin was no fun whatsoever. In those pre-Green Guy days, my idea of moisturizer was to use petroleum jelly to soothe my parched skin. Not very green now, is it?

Years later, I’ve become a much better citizen of the world (in some respects…), but I still encounter those dry spells on a regular basis, even though I’m comfortably ensconced in the perma-summer of Southern California. It’s easy to forget how dehydrating the sun can be, as we ride our bikes to the beach or hike through the woods, but moisturizing in the summer is just as important as it is during the harsher winter months. I’ve never had a go-to moisturizer, though, so I set out to find my new hydrating best friend and the results were surprising. Instead of one moisturizing BFF, I found four.

The biggest takeaway from my sampling was that no single product covers everything I need. Some were better for my face, others were better for my hands. Some worked as everyday options, others were more suited for on-the-go. It all depends on what you’re looking for and which problems you’re hoping to solve.

For a nice and easy workhorse option, I like Everyone Lotion for Every Man 3-in-1 Cedar + Citrus. It’s plant-based, non-GMO and scented with essential oils. From a cost perspective, it’s a great choice because a giant 32-ounce bottle retails for $11. It may not be super fancy, but it gets the job done and it’s perfect for keeping on your desk or bedside table. The 3-in-1 means you can use it on your face, hands, and body, and the fact that it’s a lotion means it’s lighter than most of the creams out there and perfect for summer without leaving you feeling like you just added an extra layer of gunk to your body. eoproducts.com

When I’m on the road, I don’t want to carry a giant bottle of lotion with me, so I opt for the Fortifying Face Balm from Ursa Major instead. It’s exceptionally light on your skin and equally light in your dopp kit. They sell a full-size version, but I prefer the half-ounce travel size instead. At 82 percent organic and 100 percent natural, you can definitely feel good about making this balm your summertime traveling companion. ursamajorvt.com

There are times when I need more than just a general purpose moisturizer, and that’s when I turn to more targeted products. Yum Skincare’s Calendula Creme is made with a variety of ingredients like echinacea extract, tea tree oil and arnica extract, and they all help to soothe angry skin and deal with ingrown hairs, blemishes and discoloration. yumskincare.com

Moisture Cream from The Organic Pharmacy serves a similar purpose, with aloe, shea butter, jojoba, tamanu and green tea to perk up tired skin. It’s certainly not cheap at $65 for 2- 1/2   ounces, but it’s definitely effective. theorganicpharmacy.com

Now that I’ve found my moisturizing posse, I’ll never have to worry about dry, cracked skin again. Even visits home to my family during Chicago winters won’t scare me anymore–from a moisturizing standpoint, at least…

Jason Kessler is a lifestyle writer/columnist for Bon Appetit, Food Republic and a slew of other publications. Follow him on Twitter @FlyDine.