The best, if most disappointingly low bar-clearing, skincare advice I’ve ever found myself giving to Style Girlfriend followers is this. If you simply cannot bring yourself to buy two moisturizers for your face—one for daytime, and one for nighttime—then the next best thing is to buy one face lotion with SPF. Apply it in the morning so your skin is hydrated and protected from the sun’s damaging UV rays. And then apply it again at night after you wash your face (you DO wash your face before going to bed, right?).
Is it unnecessary to wear sunscreen to bed? Obviously. Is it bad for you? No, not really.
In a perfect world, of course, every guy would realize that elegantly aging silver foxes like George Clooney didn’t make it to their fifties and beyond with a skincare regimen consisting of bar soap and cold water. But! We’re living in the real world. So, whether you’re searching for your daytime moisturizer, or your all-of-the-time moisturizer, check out Team SG’s picks for face lotion with SPF, below.
Cetaphil Facial Moisturizer - SPF 50, $15
The OG. My brother-in-law, a very low-maintenance guy who once told me rolling your chinos to flash a little ankle “might fly in New York but not in Wisconsin” swears by this drugstore classic. He’s used it for the past fifteen years because it absorbs quickly and as someone who deals with adult acne issues, the non-comedogenic formulation (aka, doesn’t clog pores) keeps his skin in check.
And yes, despite my best efforts and generous free skincare swag gifts, he wears it to bed, too.
Lab Series Day Rescue Defense Lotion SPF 35, $29
This lightweight daily moisturizer with SPF helps defend against heavy-hitting elements of the environment (which is basically everything these days, but specifically think: sun, climate, and pollution) that can lead to your skin skipping over “George Clooney” and jumping right to “Clint Eastwood” levels of aging.
BeautyCounter Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer, $45
While clean beauty brand BeautyCounter did recently launch a men’s collection, it doesn’t (yet?!) include a moisturizer with SPF. But that’s fine, because their tinted moisturizer is ABSOLUTELY fine for guys because it’s 2019 and you are confident and comfortable in your masculinity! Right?!? Right. The formulation feels light on your skin (perfect for sweaty summer days), with just a hint of sheer coverage that’ll camouflage under eye circles and redness. It’s also got SPF 20 protection and vitamin C for some nice l’il skin brightening and smoothing effects.
Arbonne Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 15, $53
I can already see the comments. “$53 for a stupid face lotion? This chick is nuts!” And yes, I realize that’s not an insignificant amount of money. Please know that I don’t toss these higher-end brands out willy-nilly, like a Goop for guys (which P.S., exists now if you, in fact, think $53 is not enough money to spend on face lotion!!)
Just like anything, I suppose, it comes down to where you want to invest your non-essential spending. Some people don’t blink at dropping $40 on a single workout class. Others pony up for healthy food delivery. I stan a good skin cream that’ll keep wrinkles (and duh, skin cancer) at bay.
This moisturizer from Arbonne includes zinc oxide, a pure, physical mineral sunscreen, instead of chemical sunscreens. Meaning? It’s healthier for your skin and comes with less risk of breakout. The formulation is also certified vegan, gluten free, kosher, non GMO, and abides by a super strict ingredient policy. Basically, whatever your “no” thing is, you’re safe.
Port Products Marine Layer Sol Defense SPF 17 Daily Moisturizer, $38
I don’t know how they landed on a sun protection factor of 17 (seems kind of random, right?), but this moisturizer from the guys over at The Motley is a great pick for guys with a city commute. Its sunscreen, like Arbonne’s, is a mineral-based zinc oxide, and the non-greasy formula won’t leave that annoying chalky finish that some sunscreens do.
EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 46, $35
And finally, I asked my pal David Yi, founder and editor-in-chief of men’s grooming site Very Good Light for his pick because he’s a fantastic source of knowledge on all things skincare and also because I was getting hungry and wanted to go grab lunch. He didn’t disappoint, telling me “the formulation [of EltaMD] has all the things that will hydrate your skin, like hyaluronic acid, and is particularly awesome for sensitive skin. Hands down the best I’ve come across.” So there you have it! Now, onto lunch.