Moisturizer for oily skin: men and the best natural ingredient options

When seWhen searching for the right moisturizer for oily skin, men have been showing a growing interest for specific skin care treatments. 

Male demand for effective skin care products has been growing non-stop for years now, while also showing signs of an increasingly mature market where more complex, comprehensive formulations are welcomed. For instance, over 40% of male consumers reported using day, night or anytime cream, moisturizer or lotion more than any other product in 2023, according to figures by Euromonitor.

Brands, on the other hand, have been responding to this increase in demand: as per Mintel’s GNPD data, skincare product launches targeting men grew by 14.7% between 2020 and 2023.

Figures show a great opportunity for beauty brands to address the specific concerns of their male consumers. They also demonstrate this demographic is ready to go beyond products such as deodorants or aftershave creams, joining a wider holistic wellness and eco-friendly trend that guides their purchase decisions. As such, they’re aligning with female consumers in their escalating preferences for natural ingredients that are good for their skin and the planet, which, according to a Clean Hub survey, is a priority for 63% of respondents.

In this context, brands should respond by developing new versatile products, and the right formulation for a moisturizer for oily skin for men represents a key effort in responding to aligning with these market shifts.

Routines for oily skin for men: the need for a specific moisturizer

Oily skin is caused by excessive sebum production from sebaceous glands. This can translate into several problems, from acne to open pores and pimples and generally makes skin look unpleasantly greasy and shiny. Additionally, it can have an impact on self-esteem, as  oily facial skin is often associated with feelings of unattractiveness, embarrassment, and even frustration (Arbuckle et al., 2008).

The need to find the right moisturizer for oily skin for men becomes even more urgent knowing male skin tends to be 20% thicker and oilier than women’s, presenting more open pores. 

This sebum imbalance requires men with oily skin to follow specific cosmetic routines and products in order to improve their skin’s health and appearance. As a rule, these three routines are typically advised to men with oily skin:

• Washing skin more frequently than those with dry or mixed skin. There are a number of specific face wash products for oily skin to be used, normally containing salicylic acid or its natural alternatives in order to tackle the particular problems caused by oily skin. This process eliminates impurities and dirt and excessive oil that accumulate inside skin pores. 
• Exfoliating two or three times per week will prevent pimples and acne and keep up cell turnover.
• Hydration. This is a particularly important process for men with oily skin, as the previous two routines can put the skin’s hydration at risk. However, it’s essential to find a moisturizer for oily skin for men, as the right formulation will regulate oil skin production and won’t promote it. 

The natural ingredient to formulate the best moisturizer for oily skin for men

Developing the right moisturizer for oily skin for men starts at understanding hydration at its core. Hydrated skin is the key to a young, glowing and radiant appearance. When it comes to moisture, human skin has developed a series of inner mechanisms that help to prevent dehydration: the natural moisturizing factor (NMF) as well as the skin’s natural barrier action.

The right moisturizer for oily skin will ideally stimulate the skin’s hydration mechanisms for a long-lasting moisturizing effect. This can be done through:

• Providing humectants that are able to act as a protective barrier as well as locking skin’s moisture.
• Adding antioxidants, which help support the skin’s bounce-back ability.

Besides, in the specific case of seeking a moisturizer for oily skin for men, oil-free products should be favored, in order not to further contribute to the problem, while also using smooth exfoliating products to prevent pore obstruction, excess sebum and promote cell regeneration. 

Research has proven Provital’s Aquaxtrem™ to provide all these benefits, becoming one of the most efficient moisturizers for oily skin for men. This active fraction promotes the synthesis of filaggrin, involucrin, and lipids (such as ceramides), the natural moisturizing factor that acts as an intercellular waterproofing seal in the skin barrier. 

A moisturizing in vivo evaluation proved that long-lasting moisturizing for skin treated with Aquaxtrem™  increased by 11.6% the day after, while presenting a 9.6% increase on the third day after the treatment. The result is an effective moisturizing treatment that also improves the skin’s natural barrier function: both in vitro and in vivo tests proved that the use of Aquaxtrem™ means less water is lost and the optimization of water balance.

In fact, a corneometer measuring the hydration levels for the most superficial layers of skin (stratum corneum) and their cohesion found a 30% improvement in skin dryness, generating a well hydrated, regular and smooth skin without flaking.

Aquaxtrem™ is obtained from rhubarb, a plant native to China and Tibet and used in traditional medicine for centuries. As such, it is ideal to respond to growing consumer demands for natural and sustainable ingredients in beauty products.