5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (2024)

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

Best for Dry Skin: 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

  • It comes with a complimenting Dry Skin Moisturizer that acts as a great one-two punch to soothe dry skin.

  • There’s minimal sudsing, so it doesn’t strip away your skin’s natural oils as much.

  • The complex sugar chains gently reduce build-up without digging deep into pores.

What I Don’t Like

  • The fragrance is strong, which can irritate guys with very sensitive skin.

What Other Reviewers Say

14 reviewers on Black Wolf’s site spoke specifically about this Dry Skin Face Wash, and they all had only positive things to say.

The power of this face wash is unlocked with Black Wolf’s full skincare system, which is loaded with ingredients that help fight blackheads and give your skin a deep clean.

The Verdict

First, if you’ve got dry skin: I’m with you, brother.

To clear it up, you need to wash and moisturize with products built to restore your skin, and you need to do so consistently. Black Wolf nails it with their Dry Skin Face Wash.

Even if your skin is super dry, you can polish up that mug and knock down any flakiness with a simple wash and moisturizer combo.

Ingredients like coconut, argan, and safflower oil restore the moisture barrier and help protect your skin from the elements.

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (1)

Black Wolf Dry Skin Hydrating Face Wash

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.

Check PriceRead Our Review

Best for Exfoliating: M3 Naturals Charcoal Scrub

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (2)

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

  • Charcoal Scrub has several restorative ingredients in it, which is necessary for your skin after a good exfoliation.

  • Natural sea-salt from the Dead Sea not only sounds cool, but it makes for a gentle scrub.

  • Activated charcoal is an excellent ingredient in picking up excess dirt, oil, and toxins.

What I Don’t Like

  • It’s pricey and not very portable.

  • This exfoliator isn’t a standalone product—still get a face wash to compliment it.

What Other Reviewers Say

The M3 Naturals Charcoal Face Scrub has over 6,500 reviews on Amazon, averaging out to 4.6 out of 5 stars.

Some reviewers were taken off guard by how dry the scrub is. The picture is misleading and makes it seem more pasty than it is. It’s still effective, but it’s important to note that it will be more dry than the picture suggests.

The Verdict

If you’re looking for a deep clean, a heavy-duty exfoliator will help a lot. The M3 Naturals Charcoal Face Scrub is loaded with natural exfoliants and ingredients that help remove dead skin and recover moisture at the same time.

You’ll want to pick up a proper face wash that you can use every day—don’t rely on this face scrub alone. But it makes a fantastic compliment to any skin care routine.

Our Top Exfoliator

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (3)

M3 Naturals Activated Charcoal Scrub

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.

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Best for Acne: Tiege Hanley Face Wash

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (4)

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.

Our Pick for Acne

Tiege Hanley

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.

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Best for Oily Skin: Black Wolf Oily Skin Face Wash

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (6)

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

  • Combining some of the best things from our M3 Naturals and Tiege entries, this face wash has activated charcoal and salicylic acid to help get a gentle deep clean.

  • The charcoal has a massive surface area and soaks up dirt and toxins from your skin.

  • Pairs well with the Black Wolf Moisturizer for oily skin.

What I Don’t Like

  • This cap is prone to breaking/leaking if you drop it.

What Other Reviewers Say

Over 50 reviewers for this face wash rate it a near-perfect 4.9 stars. Most positive comments centered on clearer, more even skin. A few people knocked a star off because they were still struggling with oil production, but even those reviews reported fewer bumps, acne, and discoloration.

The Verdict

If people need to put on shades when the sun reflects off your forehead, it’s time to take action. It turns out, you don’t really need to do much: just pick up the right face wash and moisturizer.

Black Wolf’s Oily Skin Face Wash helps dial the oil back for most guys who’ve given the brand a try. The activated charcoal helps clear out any toxins that get trapped in your pores from a long day out and about, plus the salicylic acid keeps blackheads from forming.

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (7)

Black Wolf Nation Activated Charcoal Face Wash for Oily Skin

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.

Check PriceRead Our Review

Best for On-the-Go: Oars + Alps Face Stick

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (8)

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.

Our On-the-Go Pick

Oars + Alps Face Kit

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.

Check PriceRead Our Review

What’s the Best Way to Use Face Wash?

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (10)

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.

Our Favorite Face Wash

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (11)

Black Wolf Dry Skin Hydrating Face Wash

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.

Check PriceRead Our Review

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.

5 Best Face Washes for Men (2024): Picks for Every Skin Type (2024)

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