A decent face wash should be the central component of any men's skincare routine, but it’s also the least interesting. Moisturisers, serums, night creams and face scrubs can promise the world, but a basic cleanser doesn’t have so much to boast about.
But face wash matters, probably more than anything else in your skincare regime. It’s not just about cleaning your face, but also balancing oil, removing all those free radicals that have set up camp in your pores, and eliminating bacteria that can lead to breakouts and blackheads. What's more, using the best face wash for your skin type will set you up for all the products that follow, ensuring optimum conditions for them to work as they should. In short, get your cleanser right and reap the rewards.
From lightweight face washes for oily skin to calming creams that will soothe sensitive souls, there’s a men’s face wash out there that is truly meant for you. Read on to discover your perfect match, according to our grooming expert.
Face Wash for Men: The Best of 2023
Kiehl's makes several decent face washes for men, and this one is the crowd-pleaser. Formulated with all skin types in mind, it's simply a great cleanser that lathers well, sweeps away oil and grime, and leaves skin feeling hydrated – not tight.
For a more intensive pore cleanse, try the oil-absorbing Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleanser, or call on the salicylic acid-based Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser for quick clarifying.
Boasting quality that belies the price tag, Horace's gel face cleanser contains Japanese activated charcoal (fancy!) to draw excess oil out from the skin. Zinc stops spots, while aloe vera calms and cools. It's fragrance free and sure to impress the fussiest of complexions.
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Proof that you don’t need to put in Patrick Bateman levels of effort to get great skin, Anthony's resurfacing cleanser contains glycolic acid: an alpha-hydroxy-acid that breaks down dead cells and trapped oil in the time it takes for you to wash your face. Consider it a face wash and an exfoliator in one.
You need to treat sensitive skin nicely, or it'll only get redder and angrier in retaliation. Ditch the hardcore skin-strippers in favour of this ultra-gentle gel cleanser, which will keep the skin barrier clean and resilient, allowing it to heal itself.
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What this one lacks in shelf appeal, it makes up for with sheer utilitarian performance. The workhorse of your skin routine, it delivers a satisfying lather and contains a heavy dose of ceramides, which work to reinforce your skin barrier to keep things calm and smooth. There's a reason all the dermatologists bang on about it.
The occasional breakout is inevitable, and the best line of attack is almost always salicylic acid. This gel-textured cleanser contains an effective dose, alongside AHAs to work on brightening tone and smoothing texture.
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It's a fine line, finding a face wash for oily skin that deep-cleanses without feeling as harsh as paint stripper.
Elemis's mens cleanser strikes the perfect balance: containing refreshing mint extracts, it'll clean grime and sebum from your pores without leaving skin feeling dry or tight.
8
Best exfoliating face wash
Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser
Now 19% Off
Part cleanser, part face scrub, this hardworking formula will wake you up in the morning – thanks to the orange-spiked scent – and help remove old, dead skin cells.
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9
Best face wash for enlarged pores
Pai Phaze Clarifying Foam Cleanser
Now 42% Off
If your pores are looking larger than you'd ideally like, it's probably because oil has become trapped inside them, stretching the cellular walls. Sounds terrifying, but it's really just a case of employing something pore-purging to dissolve that unwanted sebum and restore order.
Pai's new foaming face wash uses poly-hydroxy-acids, a gentle yet effective resurfacing ingredient ,to dissolve the gunk lingering within pores without upsetting sensitive skin.
Part of the new school of affordable yet science-based skincare brands, Byoma creates fuss-free products that'll keep sensitive skin happy and resilient.
The brand's signature cleanser has a jelly-like texture that sweeps away oil without over-drying the skin's barrier. A great all-rounder for pretty much everyone.
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Proving sustainable skincare can be seriously effective, The Nue Co's jelly cleanser really stacks up scientifically. It's made with pre, pro and postbiotics to feed the skin barrier with the bacteria it needs to thrive. Gentle enough for those with rosacea, psoriasis and eczema, it's a genius formulation that everyone should try.
Hydrating cream cleansers are often missing that satisfying lather, but Soho Skin's cleverly combines moisture-boosting ingredients with a gentle foaming agent, meaning you get the best of both worlds. Squalane works to quench dry skin, while oat extract soothes irritation from shaving.
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If you prefer a concise routine, this potent cleanser does the job of several skincare steps in one. It cleanses thoroughly enough to sweep away free radicals, shrinks enlarged pores, and gradually unifies uneven skin tone thanks to the stable vitamin C inside. Combine it with a good moisturiser for a low-effort routine that packs a punch.
