ALL GOOD skincare routines start with a face cleanser—and for some guys, a face cleanser is also where it ends. No judgement, here. Whether you have a lengthy skincare routine or you're more of a one-and-done kind of guy, most guys likely have and use a face wash. It gets rid of all the dirt and grime that's accumulated on your face throughout the day and helps prevent clogged pores, which can cause acne. It's especially important for guys who lead an active lifestyle. While a cardio workout boosts your skin's blood circulation and can promote collagen production, all that sweat can leave your face prone to breakouts and irritation.
"You need to use a face wash morning and night and anytime after a heavy workout to avoid bacteria and sebum from accumulating," Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, tells Men's Health.
Best Overall
Paula's Choice Calm Ultra-Gentle Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
It's easy to think that all cleansers are the same, but that's certainly not the case. The best face washes for men do more than just clean: they can also hydrate, treat zits, and remove excess oil. With so many products out there, finding the right one for your skin type and preferences can feel impossible. That's why we spent the past year combing through hundreds of cleansers to find the 17 best face washes for virtually any skin type and price point.
After reviewing over 50 cleansers, our gave Paula's Choice's new face wash a 2023 Grooming Award. Unlike traditional cleansers, this one removes dirt but doesn’t disrupt your skin’s barrier. “My skin feels incredible after every use,” raved one tester.
You can't go wrong with a classic. Formulated for “combination to oily, sensitive skin,” Cetaphil's tried-and-true cleanser blends B vitamins with glycerin, a mixture that neutralizes grime and excess oil without stripping out natural moisture. No wonder it won our 2022 Grooming Awards.
Gently exfoliates for a softer, smoother skin appearance
Improves skin texture
Cons
Expensive
This 2-in-1 cleanser and exfoliator uses naturally derived alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), beta-hydroxy acids (BHA), and jojoba spheres to gently sand down a rough skin texture. The exfoliation effect is gentle enough that you can use it morning and night without any redness or irritation.
The breakout-busting salicylic acid in this face wash is paired with vitamin B5 to soften and protect dry skin, without causing your skin to feel tight. It’s a thin line between cleansing excess oil and completely stripping away the skin barrier and this cleanser walks that line well.
This ultra gentle soap has the consistency of (you guessed it) jelly, and wipes off dirt and grime with ease. We love its fragrance free formula, and that you only need a small amount for a deep cleanse.
Ingredients
Glycerin, Mild Surfactant Blend, Cantaloupe Fruit Extract
We can't get enough of Sunday Riley's Ceramic Slip Cleanser, which has a silky, creamy finish (aka: a fancy spa treatment in a bottle). Beyond its texture, it offers plenty of substance. The face wash features natural ingredients like green clay that can wipe away grime with ease, plus rice oil, which helps keep skin hydrated.
Winner of our 2022 CBD Awards, Perrione MD's cleanser is hypoallergenic and free from irritating ingredients like parabens and sulfates. Plus, CBD and glycerin work together for a moisturizing, calming wash.
pH-balanced to maintain skin’s natural protection barrier
Cons
Scent isn't pleasant for some guys
For active guys who want a no-nonsense soap that also feels luxurious, look no further than Kiehl's bestselling cleanser. Made with hydrating glycerin and squalene, and without parabens or fragrances, this face wash thoroughly cleanses your skin without drying it.
We can't stop praising this 2021 Grooming Awards winner, and for good reason. Its soothing combo of cucumber and seaweed extracts will leave your skin feeling like it's on a tropical vacation. Plus, Method Men's relatively affordable price point means you'll want to stock up on this all year round.
Removes oil without disrupting the protective skin barrier
Cons
May not be great for dry skin
Long before Cerave shot to TikTok stardom, the drugstore brand has been a favorite among grooming experts for offering high-quality ingredients at affordable price points. Case in point: this budget-friendly soap that's loaded with moisturizing agents like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
Shaped like a deodorant stick, but for your face, this solid soap from Oars and Alps is made with charcoal, a buzzy exfoliant that can gently scrub your face without irritation. Plus, we love that even a 1.4 oz container can last you for months.
Think of this as a healthy, nutrient-rich smoothie for your skin. The star ingredient in Youth To The People's marquee cleanser is kale, which is loaded with vitamins C, E, and K that can nourish and clear skin.
Good light won us over with its mission: to create products for all skin types and backgrounds. Their gel-to-foam cleanser is one of our favorites because it cleanses and hydrates, and left our skin feeling fresh and supple.
Truth be told, you don't need to spend a fortune for a quality cleanser. Take this liquid soap from Neutrogena, which features glycerin to clean your skin without drying it out.
Finding a TSA-friendly cleanser that doesn't spill is hard to find. That's where Jaxon Lane's Insta-famous Shake and Wake comes in. It's a powder-to-cream product that gently exfoliates skin, and cleans just as well as some of our liquid-based soaps. In other words, it's a dopp kit must-have.
For those of us with sensitive skin, Dr. Rossi advises to stay away from face washes containing alcohol or exfoliants that can irritate your face (especially after shaving). That's why we recommend this ultra-gentle cleanser from Aesop, which features sandalwood, a natural ingredient that improves skin elasticity.
If you're looking for a gentle face wash that can easily remove dirt and grime (and even your tinted moisturizer), look no further than this drugstore brand favorite. Squalane is the main ingredient here, a moisturizing agent, so your skin won't dry after washing.
A face wash is arguably the most important step in a skincare routine because without it, the rest of the products are utterly useless. When looking for a face wash, you want something that's gentle yet effective. Especially if your skincare routine only consists of washing your face, you don't want a cleanser that strips your skin of all its beneficial natural oils. If you have acne-prone skin, look for a face wash with acids, like salicylic, AHA, or BHA. These ingredients help slough away dead skin cells that can cause breakouts. If you have dry skin, look for a hydrating face wash with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and moisturizing plant-based oils.
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How We Selected
For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Grooming editors and writers on the top face washes for men. Experts including our Grooming Editor, Garrett Munce, and our Deputy Editor of Commerce, Christian Gollayan, tried over 100 face cleansers and evaluated their ingredients, feel, consistency, and effectiveness. We also considered top-reviewed face cleansers that had at least 100 five-star customer ratings on e-commerce websites that we trust.
As Men's Health's Deputy Editor, Commerce, Christian Gollayan oversees all shopping content on menshealth.com. He relocated back to New York by way of Portland, where he was the Associate Managing Editor at TheManual.com. Christian's work has also been featured in InStyle, Food & Wine, the New York Post, and Tatler Asia.