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10 Best Face Washes for Men
Who said men can’t care about skincare too? Nobody, not even men, wants dirty, dull, or dry skin. A consistent, high-quality skincare routine is essential for preventing skin concerns such as acne, fine lines and wrinkles, and irritation.
Day to day you might not notice them beginning to appear, but fast forward to 10 years later and you’ll kick yourself for not doing something about it when you had the chance.
The first step to every good skincare routine is finding a face wash suited to your skin type. Their main goal is to remove dirt, oil, and grime build-up. Without one, you’re basically walking talking bacteria. Gross.
Some of them can act as exfoliants, removing dead skin cells and leaving dull skin looking bright and revitalized. While others can act as a double agent, cleansing and moisturizing at the same time.
Every face is different and every person has different skincare goals. Finding the perfect face wash for your skin type that smashes your skincare goals will take some trial and error. But we all need to start somewhere.
Help your tomorrow self out and let it be today. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best face washes to get you started on your journey or improve the destination you’re heading to.
Best Buy
1. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash
Are you a groggy, grumpy mess first thing in the morning? We’re pretty sure the answer is yes if you’re human. Kiehl’s Facial Energizing Face Wash has everything you could ever need in a morning face wash that leaves you feeling ready to tackle whatever your day throws at you. For that jolt of energy, you’ve got caffeine in your coffee.
Now you’ve got it in your face wash. When used on your skin it brightens your complexion for a youthful glow. Then you’ve got menthol, an invigorating ingredient that will leave you feeling fresh-faced and wide awake. For moisture, you’ve got vitamin E, a great source of antioxidants and moisture for your skin.
2. Baxter of California Daily Face Wash
Baxter of California Daily Face Wash is fragrance-free and paraben-free, making it suitable for even our most sensitive-skinned gentlemen (this doesn’t make you any less of a man, don’t worry).
Using mainly coconut-derived ingredients, this face wash is able to fight through bacteria without drying out your skin. Hydrating aloe vera teams up with allantoin, a low-key must-have ingredient for skin that needs extra TLC that’s known for its healing properties. Not all men like to be subtle, but when it comes to your skincare not shouting it from the rooftops might work in your favor.
3. Clinique For Men Face Wash
Now, if you’ve been searching everywhere and anywhere for an effective and affordable face wash, this does the job and doesn’t burn a hole into your wallet. It’s gentle on your skin with an intense clean that isn’t too harsh. It’ll leave your skin with a squeaky-clean feeling, without feeling as dry as the Sahara Desert.
Bonus: it also preps your skin for a comfortable shave. With tons of reviews raving about what a God-send this face wash is and at a price point that won’t break the bank, it’s hard to know why this isn’t on every man’s bathroom shelf.
4. Rugged & Dapper Daily Power Scrub Face Wash
Are you looking for an all-in-one product that can deep clean, exfoliate, and tone while still maintaining that ever-important moisture? Look no further than Rugged & Dapper Power Scrub Face Wash. It touches all bases.
This skin savior includes aloe vera; a healing, and moisturizing ingredient, and vitamin C; an antioxidant-rich, brightening ingredient that helps fight against aging. And stealing the show is willow bark.
It can help to give pores a deep cleanse, reverse the signs of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce irritation and redness, and removes dead skin cells. This face wash can vastly reduce the steps of your skincare routine, so run, don’t walk, and grab it for yourself.
5. Brickell Purifying Charcoal Face Wash
If you haven’t got charcoal somewhere in your skincare routine, shame on you. It effortlessly brightens, exfoliates, and regulates the skin’s production of oil, detoxes the skin of nasty impurities, and reduces the appearance of acne scars.
Brickell Purifying Charcoal Face Wash is an all-natural face wash perfect for dry, sensitive, and of course normal skin. While the charcoal gives you a deep clean, the olive oil, jojoba oil, and aloe vera leave your skin feeling moisturized, refreshed, and hydrated – exactly what you want in a face wash.
See more about - The 10 Best Face Moisturizers for Men in 2021
6. Nivea Moisturizing Face Wash
Do you find that most face washes strip you of all of your moisture, leaving you with dry, cracked skin? Many face washes can strip the skin of its natural oils that are necessary for keeping it from feeling tight and dehydrated. Aloe vera and provitamin B5 are cracked skin’s worst nightmare. It’ll never survive as long as you have the dynamic duo on your side.
It also doesn’t hurt that this is one of the most budget-friendly options out there for those men who might want to spend their hard-earned cash on things other than skincare (we know there’s a crate of beer out there calling your name).
7. Kyoku Exfoliating Facial Scrub
Are you a bit more “lazy” with your skincare routine? We just call it efficient. Work smarter not harder, right? What you need is an all-in-one product that will leave you clean, exfoliated, toned, and moisturized. If you’re searching for a skincare routine that needs no more than one product, look no farther than the Kyoku Exfoliating Facial Scrub.
Volcanic ash rids the skin of excess oils and toxins while Japanese adzuki bean powder gently exfoliates, clearing your face of dead skin cells and inconvenient ingrown hairs. Rice bran is a traditional Japanese ingredient that acts as the toning agent in this scrub, preventing wrinkles, healing blemishes, absorbing dirt and oil from pores, balancing the skin’s natural oils, and leaving the skin nice and moisturized.
Vitamins A and E promote elasticity and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Who says you have to look your age anyway? Not Kyoku that’s for sure.
8. Bulldog Original Face Wash
Some face washes can sit on the skin as they struggle to get absorbed leaving a layer of product that looks oily. And when it’s warm out? Think of a layer twice as thick as it clogs your pores. You’ll be more mess than hot. Bulldog Original Face Wash is a moisturizing and cleansing face wash without the dreaded grease.
This natural, creamy skincare formula is a good option to use on the daily for those searching for a substantial face wash that smells divine and is suitable for all skin types. This face wash’s powerhouse ingredient is green tea leaf extract, which will provide your skin with antioxidants for a healthy, happier appearance. Bulldog is a well-known and trusted brand in the men’s skincare community for good reason, giving you the confidence to invest and find out what all the fuss is about.
9. Huron Face Wash
It can be hard to find a face wash that works for your skin and matches your holistic lifestyle. So many products on the market have unnecessary chemicals, dyes, and other nasty ingredients that we’ve never even heard of. The general rule of thumb is to stay away from anything that sounds like something you’d use in a chemistry class experiment.
Huron Face Wash is vegan and cruelty-free as well as free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, silicones, and aluminum – basically anything you don’t want touching your skin. It has only five key ingredients proving less is more.
The first is bamboo powder, which gently exfoliates the skin, leaving it brighter and cleansed of all impurities. Fruit Enzyme Complex helps with cellular turnover, revealing skin that is smooth and refreshed. And last but not least, aloe, aqua-cacteen, and glycerin, which are all moisturizing ingredients that’ll leave your skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated.
10. Lab Series Multi-Action Face Wash
Some of us would rather be doing literally anything else but working on our skincare routine. You’d rather clean your entire apartment than wash your face twice a day. One just seems so much more beneficial (we bet it’s the apartment cleaning you’re thinking of). But while washing your face might not immediately make a difference, over time your skin will feel and look as dirty as that pile of laundry that hasn’t been moved all month if you don’t invest in a good face wash.
With Lab Series Multi-Action Face Wash, you’ve got no excuse not to do both. Washing and exfoliating your face are usually two separate steps, but with this face wash that’s no longer the case.
Dead skin cells leaving your skin looking dull and feeling clogged? This face wash contains gentle exfoliants that will remove dead skin cells, leaving you looking bright and refreshed, without that tight, dry feeling. It’s recommended we exfoliate 2-3 times a week, but this face wash is gentle enough to use every day even with exfoliating properties.
It also has a calming foaming texture that feels amazing against the skin that you’ll want to do it more than twice a day. But don’t. It’ll majorly backfire.
Face Wash FAQs
Put simply, they clean your face. Throughout the day and as we sleep our skin collects dirt, bacteria, and pollution on its surface. Without using a face wash, they’ll remain on the skin leading to a nasty build-up of pimples and a grey tone complexion.
Always twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening. No more no less (over-washing can have the opposite effect). While you might think that pollution can’t get to you inside while you sleep, dirt and bacteria can.
Washing your face first thing in the morning will get rid of any impurities that have gathered during the night so you have a clean slate when you head outside. If you don’t, you’ll have twice the amount to wash off in the evening which not every face wash is cut out to do. You’re almost guaranteed to miss some.
Like every skincare product out there, there are also face washes suited to different skin types. If you have sensitive skin, stick to natural ingredients and a foam face wash. Not only do they feel good on the skin but they’re also better for it.
Is dry skin getting you down? Stock up on aloe vera. Face washes can be stripping but ones loaded with aloe vera will give you a hit of hydration. For oily skin, choose one that reduces the production of excess oil. But always remember to wash it off properly so it doesn’t get mistaken for oily skin.
They set out to do the exact same thing but a face wash achieves a deeper clean. Cleansers tend to be on the thinner side with a gel-like or even watery texture, whereas a face wash is typically thicker and lathers.
If you don’t regularly use a face wash, your skin will become dull and lifeless – a sure recipe for advanced aging. Washing your face twice a day every day will ensure your skin stays radiant and youthful as you allow newer and healthier cells to come to the surface.
