Is Aveeno the GOAT of Drugstore Skin Care?

Before we dive into the best Aveeno products, let’s get one thing straight—just because skin care is affordable, doesn’t mean it’s not top quality. In fact, when it comes to my Mt. Rushmore of drugstore skin care brands, four labels are forever carved in stone: Cetaphil, Dove, La Roche-Posay, and—you guessed it—Aveeno. Out of the bunch, Aveeno has been the one that continuously soothes my sensitive skin. From gentle body washes to eczema-friendly formulas that calm redness and irritation, they’ve literally had my back (and my arms, legs, and occasionally that itchy patch behind my knee) for years.

The Best Aveeno Products, According to GQ:

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The OG Face Moisturizer

Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Facial Moisturizer

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The Post-Shower Serum

Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Hydrating Face Serum

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The Rejuvinating Cleanser

Aveeno Calm and Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser

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Long before I ever dove headfirst into the grooming game, Aveeno was always the brand doctors pushed my way (eczema has been my annoying sidekick since childhood). Back then, I only knew to look for the little NEA (National Eczema Association) stamp of approval. What I didn’t know was why Aveeno kept topping the charts. Turns out, their secret sauce isn’t some exotic plant or mysterious elixir—it’s colloidal oatmeal. And no, it’s not the overnight oats sitting in a Mason jar in your fridge, or the steaming bowl you top with brown sugar. This is finely ground oatmeal, processed in a way that helps it blend into creams, lotions, and bath products. It calms itching and redness, reduces stressed-out skin, and leaves behind that thin, protective film that locks in moisture. (As someone who hates feeling even remotely dry, that film is my security blanket.)

What makes Aveeno stand out is how it bridges two worlds—drugstore accessibility and dermatologist credibility—and that sweet spot is what’s made it a household name. Aveeno is always there when I need it: Anytime I travel, I pack their sensitive skin body wash in a travel size, and if I’m running low on their lotion, I know I can find it at a store within a three-mile radius. These days, my medicine cabinet now looks like an Aveeno showroom, stacked with half a dozen products I swear by. They’re gentle, effective, and idiot-proof—the trifecta. Below, my top picks for anyone looking for the best products from the GOAT of affordable skin care.

Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer

Finding a reliable face moisturizer is a tall order, but Aveeno’s Oat Gel is the sensitive-skin whisperer—and perfect for anyone who wants hydration without a whiff of fragrance. The texture is featherlight, yet you can still feel it doing its thing—absorbing fast and instantly soothing skin. Inside the jar: prebiotic oat to calm irritation and strengthen your skin’s barrier, feverfew extract to ease redness and inflammation, and glycerin to keep your face plump and happy. I go with two dime-sized dollops. It leaves my skin hydrated without that bathed-in-Vaseline look.

Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum

One thing men often forget between cleansing and moisturizing is the middle child of skin care: the serum. Aveeno’s lightweight option steps in immediately to soothe and strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier—especially handy for people like me whose skin is irritated, dry, and sensitive. The star here is Aveeno’s signature Triple Oat Complex, a calming trio of oat flour, oat extract, and oat oil. Alongside that, you’ll find the usual helpers like glycerin and feverfew. But this serum goes a step further with emollients like dimethicone and dimethiconol, which absorb quickly and leave your skin smooth.

Application’s simple: 3-4 drops, massage over your face and neck (yes, even the back of your neck). The only hiccup is the dropper. It looks more innovative than your standard serum bottle, but in practice, it’s kind of like that fancy pen you bought that doesn’t actually write very well. You’ll probably need a couple of dips to get enough product. Still, it’s a trusty in-between step that keeps your skin happy—and in skin care, that’s the real win.

Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser

Removing grime from your face is a skin care necessity. The problem? Some cleansers go way too hard, stripping your skin’s barrier. I wash my face twice a day—once in the shower, and again before bed—so I need something that’s gentle but still effective. That’s where Aveeno’s oat cleanser comes in. Made with Avena Sativa kernel flour (yep, the oats—and fun fact, that’s where the brand gets its name), it soothes my skin while keeping hydration locked in, even mid-cleanse. The texture leans more milky than foamy, which makes it perfect for anyone with sensitive, dry, or eczema-prone skin.

Body Lotion for Sensitive Skin

Not exactly a state secret, but when it comes to body lotion, fellas, always go unscented, IMO. One, it won’t mess with your skin, especially if you’re already showering with a scented body wash. Two, it won’t start a war with your cologne. Honestly, nothing kills the vibe faster than walking into a room smelling like you’ve layered three different fragrances.

I’ve been living by this rule for years, and Aveeno’s body lotion has been my go-to. It’s loaded with oat, aloe vera extract, vitamin B5, glycerin, and dimethicone—a hydration all-star team working to keep your skin smooth and moisturized all day. What I really love? It’s thick, and a little goes a long way. I like to feel hydrated, not shrink-wrapped—and this lotion nails it.

Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream

I’ve been dealing with some eczema flare-ups lately, thanks to this relentless heat, and my watch band has decided to moonlight as a sweat trap on my left wrist. Each night before bed, I’ve been slathering on this Aveeno cream, and slowly but surely it’s been calming the redness, soothing the irritation, and making my eczema patch feel less like sandpaper and more like, well, skin.