Best Oil-Free Moisturizers For Men

Look guys:

Maintaining oily skin can sometimes feel like war with your own body.

Having oily skin can lead to acne breakouts, blackheads, and just generally a really shiny T-Zone.

Not only is oily skin an issue when you’re young, but it can also continue right into adulthood for as long as it goes untreated.  Sure, you can cycle through endless moisturizers and other face products, but if you don’t select the right one for naturally oily (or combination) skin, you just simply won’t get the results you are looking for.

To make things a bit easier for you, we rounded up the best in class oil-free moisturizers from Jack Black, Anthony, Lab Series, and more that have been specifically designed for a man’s naturally rugged and oily skin.

Not only will an oil-free moisturizer help to mattify an oily skin surface, but it will also melt years off of your appearance.

Here are our reviews of the best oil-free moisturizers for men:

Oil-Free Moisturizers Compared

RankingOil-Free Face LotionSize (ounces)Travel FriendlyPricePrice per OunceScentContainer TypeAll NaturalAwardRating
1Anthony Oil Free Facial Lotion3.0Yes29$9.67CitrusPour OutYesBest Overall96
2Baxter of California Oil Free Moisturizer3.4Yes31$9.12UnscentedPour OutYesGreat Value95
3Clinique For Men Oil Control3.4Yes45$13.24UnscentedPour OutYesMattifying92
4Jack Black ‘Clean Break’ Oil-Free Moisturizer3.3Yes30$9.09UnscentedPumpYesUpgrade Pick90
5Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion4.0No51$12.75UnscentedPour OutNoNon-Greasy89
6Lab Series Pro LS All-in-One Hydrating Gel0.7Yes18$25.71UnscentedPour OutFast Absorbing85
7Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture Facial Moisturizer4.0No12$3.00UnscentedPumpNoWidely Available83
8Tom Ford Beauty Oil-Free Daily Moisturizer4.0No115$28.75Light WoodyPumpYesLuxury Pick82

The 9 Best Oil-Free Moisturizers For Men Reviewed

Anthony Oil Free Facial Lotion

Best Overall

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What We Think:

The Anthony Oil Free Facial Lotion is perfect for men with oily skin. It’s light, non-greasy, and oil-free, so it won’t clog your pores. The glycerin base helps to soothe and re-moisturize your skin, while the aloe and chamomile help to retain smoothness and prevent breakouts.

Pros

Glycerin base is non-greasy, oil-free, and soothing

Great for all skin types

Aloe and chamomile help retain smoothness and prevent breakouts

Cons

None, truly a best-seller for a reason

Glycerin is a popular choice among moisturizers because it’s non-greasy, oil-free, and soothes the skin on contact (plus it’s usually derived from plants making it great for the naturalists out there).

Anthony’s facial lotion contains glycerin to re-moisturize your skin to give it a soft and supple feeling, without aggravating your problem areas, such as around the nose and forehead (i.e. the T-zone).

This product also has aloe and chamomile to help retain smoothness without causing breakouts. Aloe is also great for soothing burns, rashes, and cuts from shaving.

You will appreciate the feeling of this lotion; it’s not too thick, but it’s not too thin, either. The product goes on smooth and feels cool and refreshing. Perfect for people with exceptionally oily skin, though men with normal, dry, and combination skin can also benefit from this product.

Customers say it helps to prevent breakouts and leaves their skin feeling fantastically refreshed all throughout the day.

Baxter of California Oil Free Moisturizer

Great Value

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What We Think:

If you are beginning to show the signs of aging or your skin is on the oilier side, Baxter of California’s Oil Free Face Moisturizer with SPF15 is perfect for you. With a fast absorption rate, this product will leave your skin feeling hydrated and elastic all day.

Pros

Fast absorption rate

No oils

Vitamins and minerals

Cons

Younger men may not see as many benefits

Quite possibly one of the cheaper options on this list, but no less effective than Clinique or Kiehl’s.

This product features a fast absorption rate, and no oils, which leaves your visage fresh and moisturizes without the added glare. It includes the necessary vitamins and minerals that your skin craves so that you can be completely hydrated without also being shiny.

Again, another perfect moisturizer for men who have skin that skews a bit more oily.

Like Jack Black’s “Clean Break”, it features tea and chamomile as two of the key ingredients in the mix, though Baxter of California uses green tea instead of white.

This product also uses aloe vera as a soothing agent; making it dual-use for things such as sunburn, razor burn, ingrown hairs, and more.

Like an anti-aging eye cream for men, this product is advertised to reduce the signs of premature aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes.

Other men say that it moisturizes the skin nicely, leaving it moist and elastic all throughout the day.

Perfect for oily or combination skin, though all skin types can use it.

Clinique For Men Oil Control

Mattifying

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What We Think:

Want a mattifying moisturizer that will take your face from shiny to matte in seconds? Clinique for Men has got you covered. This product is ideal for those with oily skin, as it eliminates shine without drying out your skin.

Pros

Lightweight and non-greasy

Eliminates shine without drying out skin

Gentle enough to use every day

Cons

Can leave skin feeling a little tight

Eliminates shine without drying out skin

What if you could have a moisturizer that brightens your face while also removing shine from oils?

Clinique for Men’s mattifying moisturizer does just that; softens and moisturizes the skin on your face without clogging your pores, leaving you with smooth skin that doesn’t feel oily or greasy.

This product does not contain oils like grapeseed or jojoba which are common in some moisturizers to add that soft feel to your face.

As for price, it is about on par with products like Jack Black’s and Anthony’s moisturizers, at around $30 per bottle. It may be a little expensive, but for the option to leave your face matte while also deeply moisturizing, the price is worth it.

Jack Black ‘Clean Break’ Oil-Free Moisturizer

Upgrade Pick

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What We Think:

If you have the extra funds available, Jack Black’s “Clean Break” oil-free moisturizer is an excellent product to help improve your skin health and appearance, without adding extra oils or greasiness.

Pros

Oil free

Contains organic ingredients

Non-greasy

Cons

Expensive

The best oil free moisturizers don’t leave your face feeling tight, and they definitely don’t dry out your face.

Using the best moisture-enhancing ingredients, you can experience soft and smooth skin without worrying about extra oils greasing up your skin.

Jack Black’s “Clean Break” moisturizer is certified organic and contains ingredients such as white tea, basil, and sea kelp to put nutrients, vitamins, and moisture back into your skin.

Like Anthony’s Oil-Free lotion, this moisturizer is specifically targeted towards men’s unique skincare needs.

Oily, greasy skin as a result of excess sebum is no match for this incredible product; men say that it has dramatically improved their skin, and they do not experience breakouts as frequently.

Because of the organic ingredients in the moisturizer, all skin types (and yes, even oily) can benefit from this product.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion

Non-Greasy

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What We Think:

With rich blend of vitamin E, this oil-free lotion is a great choice for men with normal to oily skin. It leaves the skin feeling hydrated without being greasy. Expect to see results within a few days of using this product.

Pros

A little goes a long way

Non-greasy

Gets the job done

Cons

Smell could be better

Slightly pricier than some other brands

Moisturizers are an essential part of any skin-care routine; after you are done scrubbing, toning, or applying a facial mask, it is good practice to finish with a moisturizer to retain your skin’s natural elasticity and to prevent your cells from drying out.

This oil-free moisturizer is ideal for men with an oily T-zone and contains the ever-important Vitamin E to maintain your skin’s elasticity.

Some moisturizers use oils like coconut and grapeseed to return moisture to the face, but if you have exceptionally oily skin, this just puts you back at square one.

Instead, this product uses desert plant extract and antarcticine, an organic compound found in Antarctica that is primarily used to hydrate and protect the face.

Lab Series Pro LS All-in-One Hydrating Gel

Fast Absorbing

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What We Think:

This quick absorbing gel is one of the best products on the market for those looking to moisturize deep under the skin. It uses ingredients such as cucumber to provide a smooth, cooling sensation, and a small amount of alcohol to help with absorption.

Pros

Gel absorbs quickly into the skin

Moisturizes deep under the dermal layer

Uses ingredients such as cucumber to provide a smooth, cooling sensation

Cons

Some users may find the gel to be a little runny

Moisturizers usually come in a lotion form, but this product is more of a gel.

If you have been reading our site lately, you will find that there really isn’t much difference between lotions, serums, and gels, and it’s more about semantics than anything else.

How this Lab Series moisturizer differs from other products like Anthony’s or Clinique is that the gel does tend to absorb into the skin a little faster, hydrating the cells and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, especially around the eyes and forehead.

This is a non-greasy formula that penetrates the outer layer of skin to moisturize deep underneath the dermal layer, providing long-lasting moisture all day long.

It uses ingredients such as cucumber to provide a smooth, cooling sensation on the skin, and a small amount of alcohol to help the gel to absorb. It is also one of the only few to have this ingredient.

Coupled with other synthetic and organic ingredients, this product works like a charm, and results can be seen in as little as a few weeks.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture Facial Moisturizer

Widely Available

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What We Think:

This moisturizer pulls double-duty by including SPF 15 sunscreen and a non-greasy, oil-free formula that leaves the skin feeling smooth.

Pros

SPF 15 protects the skin from harmful UV rays

Non-greasy, non-oily formula

Leaves skin feeling smooth

Cons

May not be suitable for very dry skin

This lotion by Neutrogena contains an SPF 15 sunscreen additive that makes it exceptionally good for wearing during the day, to and from the office, or just at home.

It features a non-greasy, non-oily formula that absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving your face and neck incredibly smooth while also minimizing the appearance of pores, lines, and wrinkles on the face.

Simply put, it will help to mattify an oily T-zone.

Neutrogena products have worked for numerous people, and men all over enjoy the effectiveness of the product, and how it feels even after soaking into the skin. It doesn’t feel waxy or oily, and it helps to prevent oils and grease from building up on the face.

Tom Ford Beauty Oil-Free Daily Moisturizer

Luxury Pick
tom ford oil free

What We Think:

Do you love living like a king? If so, then this is the face lotion for you. It’s expensive, but it promises to make your skin look great. We think it’s worth the price tag – that is, if you don’t think twice about dropping $100 on a single product.

Pros

Lightweight

Buttery texture

Reduces redness

Cons

Only for men with ample disposable income

Tom Ford is well known for making exceptional skincare products, but they are also extraordinarily expensive.

The reason for this is the quality of ingredients used; Tom Ford’s moisturizing lotion utilizes luxurious butter to soften, smooth, and hydrate the skin right down past the surface layer of the skin.

It’s lightweight, soaks into the face quickly, and does not clog pores. This lotion also relieves redness as a result of shaving or prolonged sun exposure.

Reviewers say that this lotion is incredibly effective and that it reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles quickly.

Your skin will feel soft, supple, but not wet or greasy. This moisturizer helps reduce the oil on your face, especially around the forehead and nose where a considerable amount of oil is created.

Adam Williams

As the lead editor of Tools of Men, Adam loves men's grooming products. Particularly of interest is managing facial hair and perfecting the art of the modern man's skincare routine. His work has been featured or quoted in several publications, including New York Magazine, Vice, Sharpologist, MIC, Elite Daily, and more. When Adam isn't working, he enjoys spending time with his two little kids who keep him both on his toes and young at heart.

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