11 Best Face Washes for Men in 2023
Using the right face wash gives your skin the greatest chance of looking and feeling its best. Not sure which wash is right for you? Start with this list of the 11 best face washes for men.
What Does Face Wash Do?
Your skin is exposed to so many impurities throughout the day — everything from the sweat that trickles down your face during a workout to environmental pollution, germs, and more. Face wash is designed to cleanse your pores, removing these impurities and restoring balance to your skin. It has other benefits, too.
Face wash treats different skin conditions, such as acne or dryness. It usually contains ingredients to nourish skin and may even rely on anti-aging additives to make your complexion look more youthful. Most face washes also contain hydrating ingredients that reinforce the skin’s natural moisture barrier, ensuring that your skin stays smooth and calm all day long.
Washing your face also primes it for the products you use after, like serums and moisturizers. That way, these products can seep further into your pores, bringing your skin benefits at a deep level.
Do You Really Need a Face Wash Specifically for Men?
Products that are labeled “for men” are not just a marketing tool. Men’s skin has very different needs from women’s skin! Men have naturally thicker skin textures, meaning that it’s more difficult for products to sink in and have their intended effect. Skincare products designed for men take this into account.
Facial hair is another key difference between male and female skin, as it often means that men shave their faces, which poses a whole new set of issues. Men’s skincare products are created to soothe the effects of shaving and keep pores unclogged to avoid issues like razor bumps and burn.
The last reason men need skincare products specifically for them? Extra sebum production that is the result of higher levels of testosterone. More sebum leads to more pore clogging, which leads to acne and blackheads. This excess sebum may also give men’s faces a shiny sheen. Most men’s face washes tackle sebum production and quickly rein it in to combat these issues.
What Makes a Good Face Wash for Men?
We took a lot of factors into consideration when selecting the products for this list. Here’s what we think makes a good face wash for men:
A Clean Formula. Perhaps the most important element of high-quality skincare is clean ingredients. Some brands have relied on chemicals for too long, which can be detrimental to health. Look for formulas labeled as vegan, plant based, or natural, with ingredients that you can pronounce and recognize to avoid pesky skin issues and allergic reactions.
Ingredients for Your Skin Type. Each skin type has different needs, so look for the products that contain ingredients ideal for your skin type. More about that in the next section!
Value for Your Money. When you’re investing in skincare, find the most effective product in your price range. In this list we’ve included face washes for different budgets so you can choose one of the best no matter what you’re willing to spend!
How it Makes You Feel. The most important factor in finding the best face wash is how it makes you feel. Whether that has to do with its effects, how comfortable your skin feels after use, or how it smells, that’s up to you!
Ingredients to Look for in a Face Wash by Skin Type
Once you’ve identified your skin type, look for ingredients that are especially beneficial for you. Here are the ingredients to look for by skin type:
Oily Skin. Having oily skin means being prone to breakouts, so look for acne-busting ingredients. That includes retinol, salicylic acid, and clay, which exfoliate and clean out pores to prevent buildup. You might think of hyaluronic acid (a major moisturizer) as something for those with dry skin only, but it can also help men with oily skin, ensuring that your face is hydrated enough so your skin doesn’t overcompensate and produce even more oil. Lemongrass is another good addition for its detoxifying properties.
Combination Skin. Combination skin faces some of the same issues as both dry and oily skin, so you’ll need ingredients that can multitask, or at least address one side of things—like glycolic or lactic acids for exfoliation and vitamins C and B to soothe, hydrate, and boost healing. Moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides are also important.
Normal Skin. If you’ve been blessed with normal skin, skincare is more about maintaining and nourishing than addressing any major issues. That’s why vitamins are important in skincare products, as well as green tea for antioxidants and niacinamide to get rid of dark spots.
Dry Skin. Of course, those with dry skin are looking for formulas that will deliver thirst-quenching hydration and keep things soft and smooth. Aloe vera is a great ingredient for that, as well as squalane, hyaluronic acid (an all-skin-type-pleaser), glycerin, and natural oils like coconut or avocado.
Sensitive Skin. While sensitive skin technically isn’t a type all its own, it’s so finicky that we’ve included it. To keep sensitive skin from reacting, look for formulas that contain soothing aloe vera and chamomile. Green tea is another great ingredient for sensitive skin, as are hydrators like squalane and hyaluronic acid. Stick to formulas full of naturally derived ingredients if your skin is prone to reactions!
1. Blu Atlas Volcanic Ash Cleanser
This best face wash for men is also the best face wash for all men. It’s suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. With a gel-like consistency, Blu Atlas Volcanic Ash Cleanser goes on silky smooth, removing impurities and delivering important nutrients to transform your skin. We love that this formula is made from 98% naturally derived ingredients, meaning you don’t have to contend with additives like parabens, phthalates, or sulfates and their negative consequences.
Users love how easily this fits into their daily skincare routines, leaving them with baby-soft skin all day long and none of the usual tightness or itching. One of the best parts of this cleanser? It comes in three different scent options: coconut apricot, classic, and scent-free (for those with ultra-sensitive skin). Each one is masculine and luxurious; plus, the product is naturally scented!
Key Ingredients: Bentonite clay leads the way for this formula, sucking deep-down dirt from your pores and getting rid of excess oil. Lactobacillus ferment filtrate is another important addition, as it supports a healthy microbiome to keep your skin balanced. Then pomegranate seed oil comes to the rescue, providing important antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties.
What Sets It Apart: A clean, simple ingredient list with plenty of skin-loving goodness. Plus, the formula is backed by science and approved by a medical advisory board of dermatologists!
Who It’s Best for: Men of all skin types who want a wash that will be kind to their skin and leave it clean, soft, and more youthful.
2. Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser
The ideal skincare routine includes both cleansing and toning before moisturizing, but who has time for that? With this 2-in-1 product, you only need time for one step, as it contains both washing and toning ingredients to get your skin primed for the next step. This is a great product to use right before shaving, too!
Pure Clean is vegan, cruelty free, and free of harmful ingredients like artificial fragrance, colorants, or parabens. Men love the natural scent, creamy texture, and the way this cleanser cleans without drying. The only downside to this cleanser? The brand Jack Black has nothing to do with the actor of the same name . . .
Key Ingredients: Oat and coconut-based surfactants give you that squeaky clean feeling, then chamomile extract prevents redness and irritation. Sage leaf lends its soothing properties, rosemary fights bacteria, witch hazel tones, and aloe vera conditions and puts reactive skin at ease.
What Sets It Apart: Jack Black focuses on quality, organic ingredients at an affordable price.
Who It’s Best for: This is one of those cleansers that is good for all.
3. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser
Kiehl’s is one of the biggest names in skincare, so naturally one of their formulas deserves a spot on this list of the best face washes for men. This Ultra Facial Cleanser was an easy choice. It’s one of the brand’s gentlest face washes, packed with hydrating ingredients to bulk up that moisture barrier. The pH-balanced formula doesn’t contain parabens, synthetic fragrances, dyes, or mineral oils, so you have the all clear to smear it onto sensitive skin.
Users claim both that it helps dry skin feel better and clears up breakouts—the best of both worlds! Upon contact you’ll feel this fading away all the dirt you’ve accumulated throughout the day, and after rinsing it off you’ll feel soft and refreshed.
Key Ingredients: Squalane, derived from olives, plays an important part in this formula, restoring moisture. Since it also mimics sebum, it tricks your skin into slowing down its own sebum production. Avocado oil provides moisture and nutrients, and apricot kernel oil boosts radiance while taking years off your skin’s appearance, too.
What Sets It Apart: This formula is ultra-gentle, providing anti-aging, hydrating, and oil-controlling benefits without any negative side effects.
Who It’s Best for: Men of all ages and walks of life can use this formula, which is especially helpful for those with dry skin.
4. Black Wolf’s Charcoal Powder Face Wash
Annoyed by those pesky breakouts that crop up at the worst times? Feeling like no matter what you do you just can’t get your pores fully clean? Give Black Wolf Charcoal Powder Face Wash a go. This powerful cleanser is a major blemish-buster that also quenches your skin’s thirst.
Users claim that they only feel clean when using this product—that’s how thorough it is. The brand is known for its oily skin solutions, helping men with excess sebum problems get their skin under control. While this face wash is great for men with these goals, if you don’t have oily skin or are prone to reactions, definitely skip this wash and find one that’s a better fit.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid is important to this formula. The acid sloughs off dead skin cells that clog pores, scrubbing your complexion clean. The formula is also powered by charcoal, which cleans away all the buildup that accumulates in your skin over time. To make sure that these two powerful ingredients clean house without overdoing it, there’s cucumber fruit extract, which hydrates and soothes.
What Sets It Apart: A straightforward, simple combination of ingredients that have been shown to power wash skin.
Who It’s Best for: Men with oily and/or acne-prone skin will get the most out of this face wash.
5. The Nue Co Barrier Culture Cleanser
The Nue Co is on a mission to do what’s best for our bodies and the environment, which means they’ve committed to sustainable formulas that work in tandem with nature rather than blatantly against it. This Barrier Culture Cleanser is one such formula, containing clean ingredients that balance both your skin’s pH and its microbiome for better health. The wash is PETA-certified cruelty free and gave 82% of testers in a trial better skin texture, tone, and hydration. Users often call this cleanser a surprise hit, claiming it’s helped them clear up skin issues and feel no less than awesome every day—sign us up!
Key Ingredients: There are almost too many to name! Prebiotics and probiotics contribute to a healthy microbiome, which keeps your skin’s barrier intact and protects it from aggressors of all kinds. Postbiotics soften the skin, apple amino acids get everything in harmony, hyaluronic acid boosts moisture, and chamomile acts as a natural anti-inflammatory.
What Sets It Apart: It’s not only the impressive ingredients list that sets this one apart but also the brand’s interest in doing what’s best for the environment.
Who It’s Best for: Here we have another crowd pleaser wash that works on skin of all ages and types. This is certainly best for eco-conscious men who are willing to shell out a bit for their skincare.
6. Baxter of California Daily Face Wash
Face wash is the skincare product you most rely on, so it better be good. This Daily Face Wash from Baxter of California certainly is, providing a comfortable clean and a satisfying lather. Afterwards, you’ll notice your skin feels neither stripped nor overly oily—just right.
The brand has been around since 1965 and has learned a lot since then about what men’s grooming needs are. Men rave about this product, saying they’ve used it for years. It’s the kind of dependable wash that you might make a staple in your routine. All it takes is a few drops of this formula to get the job done!
Key Ingredients: Castor oil is a major player in this formula, combatting everything from premature signs of aging to acne, swelling, and even nicks and cuts from shaving. Citric acid acts as a gentle exfoliant, allowing allantoin and aloe vera to moisturize and calm irritation. Caffeine then kicks in, protecting skin from the effects of free radicals.
What Sets It Apart: Unlike some of the other formulas on our list, this wash can also be used on the beard to improve the condition of your facial hair.
Who It’s Best for: Men with all skin types, including sensitive skin.
7. Philosophy Purity Made Simple
When a product explodes in popularity, there’s got to be a reason for it. With this wash, it’s probably the product’s eco-conscious flare, since the brand sources ingredients ethically to make for clean, effective cleanser. It’s made without all the bad stuff and effortlessly dissolves all the grime on your skin.
It also manages to tone and hydrate skin—the real deal! 91% of users in a trial claimed that this wash made their skin look and feel refreshed, so you will definitely want to start your day rinsing your face with this! Some reviewers claim that continual use of this product has massively improved their skin tone and texture. Many also mention that the scent is a favorite.
Key Ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil is the main ingredient here, putting in the work to fend off free radical damage and signs of aging. Carrot seed oil goes to work on inflammation, sandalwood tightens sagging skin, and glycerin delivers lasting hydration.
What Sets It Apart: The brand’s ethics make this product a feel-good choice. Its blend of botanicals provides a whole host of benefits.
Who It’s Best for: Men who are concerned about aging and getting fine lines and wrinkles should add this to their routine.
8. Ursa Major’s Fantastic Face Wash
Mild cleansers are great, but sometimes they just don’t cut it when you need a little help in the exfoliating department. While this wash is still gentle, it also offers some scrubbing power and plenty of nourishment for happier skin. Users chime in and agree that this wash makes them feel fresh-faced, and it smells amazing!
The scent includes a little bit of cedar, lime, and spearmint for ultimate freshness. With a cruelty-free, clean formula and a bottle made from PCR plastic, you can feel good about using this product, too. There are no petrochemicals, parabens, SLS, SLES, artificial fragrance or dye, glycols, silicones, or PEGs in this formula. Definitely one of the best face washes for men!
Key Ingredients: Aloe douses your skin in much-needed moisture while calming redness, swelling, and irritation. Sugar maple provides gentle exfoliating power with its alpha-hydroxy acids. Then white tea provides antioxidants to find off free radical damage, rice extract smooths, and lavender flower water heals skin.
What Sets It Apart: A long list of mostly organic botanicals makes this face wash unique, plus it’s amazing, bright scent.
Who It’s Best for: Men with normal, combination, and oily skin will get the most out of this wash. There are more hydrating options out there for men with dry skin.
9. Aesop Fabulous Face Cleanser
From the fantastic to the fabulous, Aesop has created a real winner here, combining a bunch of naturally derived ingredients to give a thorough but gentle clean. This wash has a gel-like texture, allowing for easy application and a satisfying moisturizing sensation.
While reviewers note that this face wash is an investment, most of them say it’s worth the money, making their complexion clearer and smoother. That is Aesop’s goal—the brand is dedicated to creating skincare solutions that adapt to different skin needs and environments, revealing your inner glow. The brand also offers suggestions for products to combine for increased effectiveness, just in case you need a little extra direction.
Key Ingredients: Olive oil esters drive this formula, acting as a gentle cleanser and an emollient, covering your skin in a protective layer that keeps moisture in and environmental toxins out. Sea salt cleans out pores, bergamot rind works wonders on acne, and chamomile calms down reactive skin. Rosemary leaf is another multi-tasking ingredient in this formula, providing anti-inflammatory benefits along with antioxidants while toning.
What Sets It Apart: This is a somewhat luxurious product, treating skin to a few natural wonders and an unforgettable scent.
Who It’s Best for: Men with normal and combination skin should use this product. It’s also good for men with dry skin, although it may not provide enough protection and moisture during the dry winter months.
10. Eadem Dew Dream
This face wash is more like a balm, designed to melt away any grime or sunscreen residue on your face and give your skin an intense, hydrating clean. While it’s marketed as a women’s skincare product, it works just as well for men, and you’d be missing out on a deep clean if you skip over this option.
At first, the product goes on slick, covering your skin. Then, when you rinse it off, you take off all the dirt with it, leaving your skin clean and ready to absorb moisturizer. Users claim that this makes their skin feel “supple” and that you only need a little bit of the product to see major results. The brand Eadem was designed for people of color, taking extra melanin into account in all of its products. All of the brand’s products are made in the US!
Key Ingredients: This formula is full of ingredients you won’t find in other skincare products. Tiger grass is the MVP of this formula, mending damaged skin while conditioning. Kalahari melon is another important ingredient, ridding pores of buildup while encouraging cellular repair and reinforcing the moisture barrier. Allantoin brings its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties. Like all of Eadem’s products, this one also contains some ingredients that specifically target melanin-rich skin. Licorice root fights hyperpigmentation, and borage boosts skin healing.
What Sets It Apart: The fact that this cleanser is more like a balm makes it different from anything else on this list, plus the fact that it was designed with people of color in mind.
Who It’s Best for: Men who wear sunscreen or makeup and those with extra melanin.
11. Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser
Dermalogica has been in business since 1986, and in the last decades has become a trusted brand used by skincare experts around the globe. The brand is dedicated to sustainability and creates formulas free from irritants like gluten, artificial scents and colors, microplastics, and more.
This particular cleanser from the brand is a super hydrator, targeting dirt but then leaving skin silky smooth in its wake. The product has a creamy consistency that helps you feel the moisturizing in action. Users with sensitive and dry skin have shared that this is the best product they’ve used, allowing their skin to recover from years of feeling stripped and disrupted. It’s also a face wash that is often recommended by skincare experts and dermatologists!
Key Ingredients: Glycerin hydrates, and shea butter works deep into your skin to impart some serious moisture and nutrients. Did you know that hops aren’t only important for beer but also for your skin? This formula contains hops extract to provide oil-free conditioning so you can avoid that greasy feeling after use. There are plenty of other natural ingredients in this wash, like citrus oils and sweet almond, that provide skin with all it needs.
What Sets It Apart: This is one of the most moisturizing washes on the market, with almost a lotion-like consistency.
Who It’s Best for: Men with dry skin should certainly consider this wash, as well as those concerned about sustainability in the products they use.
Any one of these face washes is guaranteed to leave your skin better than it found it. So what’s holding you back? Use one of the best face washes for men, and watch your complexion transform.
McClatchy newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
