We’ve come a long way from the days when moisturisers were the reserve of women. Taking care of your skin isn’t the reserve of the few, and the days of discretely slapping a dollop of oily foot cream your other half left in the back of the cupboard on your face are gone. The range of men’s moisturisers is vast and some sensational new brands have made it to Irish shelves. JOE road tests five of the next generation hydration products.
By Robert Carry
Moosehead Moose-turising Face Hydrator
The claim: ‘It’s loaded with vitamins for healthy skin and A.H.As to help with those nasty fine lines and wrinkles.’
The verdict: Moisturisers of old were often thick, gloopy, oily affairs but hydrators have rendered them largely obsolete.
This particular product, from newly arrived Aussie brand Moosehead, isn’t quite as thin as some other hydrators so it doesn’t dry out as fast –  which can be a problem for people with dry or combination skin. That said, it isn’t in any way oily and is undetectable to the touch after a matter of seconds.
There is a balance to be struck between a moisturiser that is too thick and leaves an oily residue, and one that is too thin and doesn’t properly hydrate your skin. In short, Moosehead is a real winner in this regards – it lands smack bang in the middle of the spectrum.
It has a fresh, citrus smell which isn’t too over-powering and it doesn’t contain anything too harsh so it’s a good bet for people with sensitive skin. It comes in a 100ml bottle with a handy pump that gives you a suitable helping so you not going to blast half the contents onto your palm as you groggily wrestle with the tube first thing in the morning.
Also worth mentioning is its anti-wrinkle aspect. While manufacturers have been making often exaggerated claims on their ability to do away with fine lines and wrinkles for some time, there is documented evidence that A.H.A.s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) can be effective to some degree.
We didn’t detect any major change in the presence or otherwise of wrinkles during our limited usage period, and we probably wouldn’t go out of our way to buy a product that will protect against the onset of fine lines. That said, who would say no to the inclusion of an effective ingredient when there is no shortfall in other areas?
As journalists, we’re naturally over the moon with the fact that they’ve worked a pun into their product title but while we appreciate the art of the pun, we understand that many readers don’t. So we’ll get this out of the way quickly. Moosehead has really upped the antler on the competition to the point where it is a virtual moost have. And its price of €5.68 means it’s not too deer either. Sorry.
The info: Moosehead Moose-turising Face Hydrator comes in a 100ml bottle and is priced at €5.68 – that makes it the cheapest per ml. It is available in McCabes, McCauleys and various independent pharmacies around the country. For more information click here.
The rating: 5/5
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil-Free Moisturiser
The Claim: A complete solution for clearer and healthy looking skin day after day. The lightweight, easily absorbed moisturiser provides all-day hydration and makes skin soft without clogging the pores. The unique formula contains MicroClear, a patented spot clearing technology. With daily use, it helps reduce and prevent sports for clearer and smoother skin. The formula helps fade spot marks for a more even and healthy looking complexion.
The verdict: Neutrogena’s dermatologically tested products enjoy a cracking reputation, particularly among people who suffer from dry skin. That said, many of its products are perfectly usable for individuals with a variety of skin types.
This particular product is on the thicker end of the scale for and although it’s oil-free, it definitely doesn’t dry in as cleanly or as quickly as some of the other products we’ve tried. That said, if your skin is somewhat dry then it could be just the ticket.
It has a very mild and quite pleasant smell, probably due to the fact that this one is a unisex product. We didn’t use it for long enough to be able to speak categorically about its spot-fighting capacity, but it also claims to be able to even skin tone, and we have to say that it does bring about a noticeably more even look to your skin with semi-regular use.
In short, this is a nice product, particularly so for those with dryer skin types. It may be oil-free, but it’s a tad greasy for those without.
The info: This gear isn’t the cheapest – it comes in at €6.99 and that is for a 50ml bottle – a lot less than the Mooseheads and Niveas of this world. It you do take to it though, you won’t have any problem coming across a bottle – it’s available in most decent pharmacies as well supermarkets.
The rating: 3/5
Lotil cream Original Formula for Dry Skin
The claim: Lotil cream has been specifically formulated for all dry skin conditions. It is a rich cream that is easily absorbed. It can be applied to cracked or fissured skin.
The verdict: This Lotil product is very much what it says on the tin, so it’s a little different from the products we’re looking at. That said, coming into the cold weather normal skin can get dry and dry skin dryer.
Squirt this stuff onto your hand and it is notably thick. It’s a bit of a no-no for those with greasy skin types, but will be useful for people on the other end of the scale. One issue is that it has a slightly unusual smell that didn’t particularly appeal.
Once it’s on your face the richness of the product becomes immediately obvious. Unlike the other products, you actually have to work it into your skin. It’s delicate enough to use on people who really suffer with dry skin – which can become cracked and damaged as a result.
This is a very much a case of horses for courses – it’s useless for people with oily skin but could work a treat for people who are on the driest end of the scale.
The info: Lotil is available online and through Blackhall pharmacies. It comes in a 50ml bottle and is priced at just €3.51 – the cheapest individual product of those we looked at. Click here for more information.
The rating: 3/5
Nivea for Men Rehydrating Moisturiser
The claim: Immediately alleviates skin dryness and tightness. Proves long lasting moisture and care for the skin. Helps protect skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays.
The verdict: The Nivea for Men range is known far and wide and is probably only rivalled by Colgate for the number of washbags its found its way into. That said, the firm regularly expands its range and brings updated products onto the market.
There is little dated about the Nivea for Men Rehydrating Moisturiser. Like Moosehead, it lands smack bang in the middle of the too thick vs too thin spectrum making it perfect for people with slightly dry, combination, normal and slightly oily skin.
It smells fantastic and dries quite quickly onto the skin, hydrating thoroughly without leaving a greasy residue. Basically, this is another cracking all-rounder. It is marginally thicker than the Moosehead product, but other than that and a slightly different smell there is little to put between them.
The info: Nivea for Men is available in all major supermarkets and most pharmacies, you won’t have any problems getting a hold of it. It’s at the higher end of the price scale at €8.00 and comes in a 75ml. That’s the only area in which it falls behind Moosehead – other than that it’s just as good. Click here for more information.
The verdict: 4.5/5
L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic with Vitamin C
The claim: ‘Fights the five signs of fatigue – feels dry, feels tight, looks dull, feels less firm, feels rough.’
The verdict: This product is by far the lightest product we used. It’s the quickest to dry in and leaves the least by way of residue. When you squirt it onto your hand, you get the impression the blob would evaporate into nothing if you held it in your palm for five minutes. It’s quick-drying, super-light quality will be a God send for anyone with oily skin, although it will disappear into your face if you have dry skin without always properly hydrating. Again, it’s about your skin type as much as it is about the product – it will be perfect for some and not great for others.
It is also unique by virtue of the protection it provides from the sun and various other environmental factors. This is the type of product that will stand to you in the long-term.
Happily, it comes in a pump similar to the Moosehead offering which prevents you from running through it prematurely. It also smells amazing – better than any of the other products – and has a cooling, soothing effect when you rub it onto your face, especially after shaving. If you’ve got oily skin and only need the barest of hydration, this is could be the product for you.
The info: Again, it’s not the cheapest we’ve looked at – we found a bottle for €9.00 and that’s for a 50ml bottle. It won’t last you all that long. Click here for more information.
The rating: 4/5
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