Bro, wash that mug of yours.
I don’t mean that rudely—it’s a pleasant face and all. But you need to take good care of it.
One of the easiest ways to look better instantly is to implement a simple skin care routine (by instantly, I mean two to four weeks).
It doesn’t take much: a good face wash and a nice moisturizer.
Sure, you can get fancy with eye creams and serums and all that. But if you’re looking to get the fundamentals right before you dive into anything else, we’ve got you covered.
These are the five best face washes for men, depending on your skin type and lifestyle. Let’s get cleaning.
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The Best Face Wash for Men in 2021: Our Top 5 Picks
1. Black Wolf Dry Skin Face Wash
Black Wolf is all about simplicity. The brand makes two different face washes: one for dudes with dry skin, and one for guys with oily skin.
And it makes sense, right? Every guy’s face is different, so why would we all use products with the same ingredients?
Black Wolf’s Dry Skin Face Wash helps restore your skin’s natural moisture barrier with a complex chain of sugars and cooling cucumber extract.
What I Like
What I Don’t Like
The Verdict
Picking up good hydrations? With Black Wolf's tailored dry-skin face wash, you are. Made with complex sugar chains that clean and hydrate at the same time, this face wash will help alleviate flaky skin around the nose and under the eyes.
2. M3 Naturals Charcoal Scrub
M3 Naturals is all about unlocking the power of specific ingredients. This Charcoal Scrub uses activated charcoal to pick up dead skin, dirt, and oil from deep in your pores.
It’s worth mentioning that this isn’t the only product on our list that contains activated charcoal (Black Wolf Oily Skin Face Wash and Oars + Alps do, too), but this is a great go-to exfoliator.
With added collagen and fruit-derived stem cells, this sea-salt based scrub is a heavy-duty cleaner.
One word of caution here: this shouldn’t be your everyday face wash. We recommend this two to three times a week. Over-exfoliating your face can make it sensitive and cause more discoloration and dryness/oiliness than you had in the first place.
What I Like
What I Don’t Like
The Verdict
If you haven't spent a single moment thinking about your skin care, you may be in need of a deep clean. This is the stuff to do it. Just pick up a moisturizer while you're at it because this can dry your skin out if you're not prepared.
3. Tiege Hanley Face Wash
Two-time Shark Tank contender and YouTube all-star Aaron Marino (a.k.a AlphaM) is the face of Tiege Hanley, a comprehensive men’s skin care line built on a subscription model.
Their acne treatment helps guys with breakouts. Use the face wash in tandem with their overnight Acne Cream and let the salicylic acid work its magic.
This is an excellent product for guys with mild acne. If you’ve got heavy acne, see a dermatologist and peek at what your options are for prescriptions.
What I Like
Tiege Hanley packaging makes use easier—the moisturizer uses one-pump only, rather than saying the typical “dime-sized” deal.
The brand’s subscription system makes it easy to get a comprehensive skin care plan.
The Acne cream helps with mild acne.
What I Don’t Like
The Face Wash stings a good deal when it gets in your eyes.
What Other Reviewers Say
Over 750 reviews on the Tiege Hanley site give this Acne system a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Most reviewers said their skin started clearing up in just a week, and it felt softer than ever.
A few reviewers report they had bigger breakouts after using Tiege, which is a common occurrence whenever you switch to a new product. If you’re still noticing heavy breakouts after six weeks of use, it’s possible Tiege just isn’t for you. Luckily, this looks like a fairly uncommon occurrence.
The Verdict
If you want a confidence boost and need to beat the breakouts back, check out Tiege Hanley’s Acne system.
You can pick up this face wash one-off, but it’s much better as a comprehensive routine, so if you’re ready to dive in and start giving your skin the attention it deserves, Tiege is a solid choice.
Often hawked by YouTube superstar Aaron Marino, Tiege Hanley offers varying levels of skin care systems based on how much care and attention you're willing to give your face. Despite the hype, the brand lives up to their word with an uncomplicated skin care system that offers surprising value.
4. Black Wolf Oily Skin Face Wash
You know when you take a photo and your forehead is shining like a freshly polished bowling ball?
Yeah, I bet you can live without that.
And the best way of keeping the oil at bay is through getting the right face wash (and moisturizer). Black Wolf made our list for their Dry Skin Face Wash, but their Oily Skin Face Wash is just as potent for guys who struggle to keep their natural shine from burning too brightly.
What I Like
What I Don’t Like
The Verdict
Activated charcoal and salicylic acid are a one-two punch that help eliminate black heads and eases you into a skin care system that doesn't dry your face out and create more oil.
5. Oars + Alps Face Stick
Oars + Alps is straight-forward with their name on this face wash: Face Stick.
They’re not wrong. Made with activated charcoal (at this point, you can guess what our favorite face wash ingredient is), this solid stick cleans on two levels. First, you get all the dirt-attracting power of activated charcoal.
Second, the Face Stick also has physical exfoliants to help clear away dead skin and get deep into your pores. The exfoliation isn’t as extreme as the M3 Naturals scrub above, so you’re safe to use this one on the daily.
What I Like
This has the easiest, most compact design of any face wash I’ve used.
While it’s not my personal everyday face wash, I keep it in my travel Dopp and gym bag.
Natural exfoliants and face wash together make this more of a standalone product.
What I Don’t Like
The Face Stick takes a while to wash off—you need to be very thorough in rinsing your face after using.
What Other Reviewers Say
Over 250 reviewers give the Oars + Alps Face Stick high praise. There aren’t many negative comments to be found. For a lot of guys, this is their first foray into the world of skin care, and when you’re just starting, most products make an enormous difference.
The Verdict
If you’re an active guy and want a face wash that’s super easy to travel with, whether that’s to the gym or across the country, Oars + Alps Face Stick is the best face wash for you.
It also helps that the Face Stick combines the raw power of activated charcoal with physical exfoliants so you can get a deep clean on the go.
Take care of that mug of yours. The Face Kit includes solid charcoal exfoliating wash, moisturizer, and the popular Wake Up Eye Stick. If you've been neglecting your face, I'd slap it but it's already been through enough. Treat it to some Oars + Alps.
What’s the Best Way to Use Face Wash?
In an ideal world, guys should use face wash every morning and evening. Follow up with a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and protected.
Face wash is still effective even if you only use it once a day. I’m not perfect with my skin care, and I’d say that most days I only wash my face once. It’ll still make a big difference in smoothing and evening out your skin.
For any liquid face wash, don’t over-do it. A nickel-sized amount should work with most products. Wet your face with warm water (even easier in the shower) and massage the wash into your skin. Cover your neck, under your eyes, and spend a little extra time on your forehead.
I like to use a brush for my face wash—I find it helps suds better and adds a gentle exfoliation factor, which I like for dry skin.
If you’ve got it, a face scrub two or three times a week is an excellent compliment as it’ll help slough off dead skin.
Always moisturize after washing your face. Most of the products above come with complimentary moisturizers, so be sure to check those out.
Your Path to Better Skin
I bet you didn’t know there were so many options, right?
Whether you have dry skin, oily skin, sensitive, combo—you name it, there’s a product on the market that’s perfect for your skin type and lifestyle.
If your skin tends toward dry or oily, pick up a system from Black Wolf. With any skin care regimen, give it four to six weeks and note what changes you’re seeing.
Picking up good hydrations? With Black Wolf's tailored dry-skin face wash, you are. Made with complex sugar chains that clean and hydrate at the same time, this face wash will help alleviate flaky skin around the nose and under the eyes.
Maybe you’re always on the move and need something that’s super easy to pack in a Dopp and throw in your gym bag. If so, reach for the Oars + Alps. Do you struggle with acne? Check out Tiege Hanley.
Don’t worry, we’ve done all the trial and error for you. If you’re ready to jump into a better skin care routine, use one of these five excellent face washes as your foundation.
FAQs
Should men use face cleanser?
All men should use a face cleanser or face wash. It will help with wrinkles and unclogging pores.
What facial products should men use?
At the very minimum, men should use a face wash and a moisturizer when they shower. If you struggle with problem areas like baggy eyes or a wrinkly forehead, look into hydrating serums and eye creams.
When is the best time to use face wash?
The best time to use face wash is once in the morning and once before bed. Always moisturize your face after washing so you don’t dry your skin out.
Do I wash my face before using cleanser?
There’s no need to wash your face before using a cleanser. It may help to splash warm water on your face before massaging in cleanser.
