The 9 Best Face Washes for Men That You’ll Actually Enjoy Using

Your face wash is the first step in your skincare routine. Besides the obvious — removing the day’s dirt, oil, and other things that can clog your pores — washing your face gives your other skincare items a blank canvas so they can work more effectively. However, a lot of cleansers (especially those marketed towards men) can lean a little too hard into that “squeaky clean” feeling, which can leave your face tight, dry, and uncomfortable.

“The biggest mistake [I see] is treating combination skin like oily skin and over-washing or using strong acne cleansers twice a day. That strips the barrier on the cheeks, which can trigger more irritation and sometimes even more oil production in the T-zone as the skin tries to compensate,” says Shamsa Kanwal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist currently practicing as a consultant dermatologist in the United States. “Scrubbing hard or using hot water is a close second.”

To find the best face washes for men, we tasked our testers to incorporate popular cleansers (over 100, and counting!) into their daily routines. Our testers have a range of skin types, which helped us more accurately judge how each cleanser performed across different skin concerns. This included everything from oily, acne-prone skin to skin with conditions like rosacea and eczema. We also spoke with dermatologists to better understand what ingredients and formulas actually support healthy skin. So without further ado, here’s a list of face washes for men that clean effectively without overdoing it.

• Best Everyday Face Wash: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser
• Best Budget Face Wash: Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
• Best Charcoal Cleanser for Oily Skin: Lumin Charcoal Face Wash Daily Detox
• Best Deep Pore Cleanser: Cardon Purifying Clay Cleanser
• Best Exfoliating Cleanser: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser
• Best Gentle Face Wash: Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
• Best Face Wash for Redness: Cetaphil Redness Relieving Foaming Face Wash
• Best Powder Face Wash: Jaxon Lane Shake And Wake Exfoliating Enzyme Powder Cleanser
• Best Natural Bar Face Wash: Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Facial Cleanser: This gel cleanser has a simple, fragrance-free formula and is a good option for normal to oily skin. However, our tester found it a bit too drying for regular use.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: With its soft, gel-like texture and soothing ingredients, this formula worked very well for light cleansing. It’s just not quite as effective as our top choices.

Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser: This face wash is loaded with antioxidants, and our tester found it refreshing, if a little harsh for daily use, especially for those with sensitive or dry skin.

We asked our testers to incorporate over 100 face washes into their daily routines. We tasked them with using each for at least two weeks and observing how well they removed things like oil, sweat, and sunscreen. We also asked them to pay attention to how their faces felt afterward: squeaky-clean? Tight and dry? Fresh and moisturized? If our testers had particular skin concerns, we had them note how each face wash interacted with their skin.

Finally, I interviewed two dermatologists to better understand what men in particular should look for in a face wash, and what active ingredients would benefit various skin types. These experts include:

Brendan Camp, MD: Double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist at Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery Center in New York City, with expertise in treating acne, rosacea, eczema, and other skin conditions.

Shamsa Kanwal, MD: Board-certified dermatologist with over a decade of clinical experience, currently practicing as a consultant dermatologist in the United States.

Everyone’s skin is different, so what works for one person may not work for another. But here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a face wash:

• Know Your Skin Type: You won’t get very far if you don’t know what your skin may need. People with oily or acne-prone skin often benefit from ingredients that help remove excess oil or gently exfoliate. If your skin tends to feel dry or tight after washing, look for formulas with hydrating ingredients that clean without stripping your skin of much-needed moisture. For sensitive skin, dermatologists typically recommend fragrance-free formulas with a short ingredient list to minimize the risk of irritation.
• Ingredient List: The main or active ingredients in a face wash are usually a good indicator of how it will behave on your skin. Salicylic acid can unclog pores, which can be helpful for acne-prone or oily skin, while ingredients like ceramides and glycerin help support your skin barrier and maintain hydration. Some formulas also include calming ingredients, like niacinamide, cica, or allantoin, that may help reduce redness or irritation.
• Formula Type: Face washes come in lots of different formats, but what you choose really comes down to personal preference. Gel cleansers typically feel more lightweight and often contain stronger cleansing ingredients, which can be helpful if you have oily skin. Crave a little more moisture? Then a cream cleanser will be your best bet (they tend to be more hydrating). Powder cleansers can be convenient to travel with and often contain exfoliating ingredients, while bar soaps and clay cleansers tend to be for those who crave a deep clean.
• Fragrance: Many cleansers marketed toward men contain strong fragrance or menthol for a cooling sensation. Plenty of people tolerate these ingredients just fine, but if you have sensitive or easily irritated skin, fragrance can just make things worse. If you’re prone to redness, dryness, or post-shave irritation, a fragrance-free formula is usually your best bet.

Frequency matters, too. “Most men with combination or sensitive skin do best with once daily cleansing at night. Twice daily can be fine if you are very oily or sweat a lot, but it should still be with a gentle cleanser and short contact time,” says Dr. Kanwal. “If sensitivity or dryness is an issue, scale back and let moisturizer do more of the work.”

Another consideration: facial hair. Beards and stubble can trap oil and sweat against your skin, making thorough (but still gentle!) cleaning especially important, for cleansing and for shaving. “A cleanser that removes debris, oil, dead skin cells, and product residue without drying skin can potentially improve shave quality and reduce the likelihood of skin irritation,” says Camp.

You’ll want to pay extra attention to ingredients that can work against your skin type. For dry or sensitive skin, that often means avoiding harsh sulfates, drying alcohols, and added fragrance, which can strip moisture and irritate the skin. For acne-prone skin, overly heavy or occlusive ingredients may increase the likelihood of clogged pores. A well-formulated cleanser should clean your skin without disrupting its balance, according to Camp.

Just as important is avoiding ingredients that can cause irritation. “High-foam cleansers with strong surfactants, frequent exfoliating acids, and harsh acne washes can be too drying when used daily,” says Kanwal. Fragrance, menthol, and essential oils can also irritate sensitive skin.