Best Face Wash for Men, by Skin Type

The right face wash depends on how your skin feels afterward. If washing leaves you tight, choose a creamy wash like CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser. If you’re shiny by lunch, a foaming gel like CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is a better fit. Acid washes are for specific jobs: breakouts or ingrown hairs.

A lot of men use whatever is in the shower. The AAD recommends a gentle facial cleanser and lukewarm water, twice a day and after sweating.

How do you know which face wash you need?

Wash, pat dry, and wait 20 minutes without putting anything on.

• Tight, flaky or itchy: your wash is too stripping. Go creamier.
• Comfortable: you’ve found it.
• Greasy again already: a foaming gel will feel cleaner.

Two extras show up on men’s labels. Salicylic acid is an exfoliant that works inside pores, useful for breakouts. Glycolic acid loosens dead skin on the surface, and Jack Black says it helps prevent ingrown hairs. Both can sting freshly shaved skin.

Skin Realist check: That squeaky-clean feeling is your skin asking for its oil back.

For normal to dry skin

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a creamy wash for normal to dry skin with CeraVe’s three ceramides and hyaluronic acid. CeraVe says it removes dirt and oil without leaving skin tight. It’s free of added fragrance and carries the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

Massage it in gentle circles on a wet face, rinse and follow with moisturizer. It won’t foam much, which takes getting used to if you’re coming from a gel.

→ Check price on Amazon

For normal to oily skin

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is a gel that foams, made for normal to oily skin, with ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. CeraVe claims 12-hour oil control, though its page doesn’t explain how that was measured. No fragrance appears on the recorded list, but it does list methylparaben and propylparaben.

→ See the foaming cleanser on Amazon

Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser

Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser is a foaming gel the brand positions as a 2-in-1 cleanser and toner, with sage leaf, chamomile, aloe and witch hazel. Jack Black says it leaves skin ready for shaving. It also lists lavender flower extract and rosemary leaf oil, and the brand doesn’t call it fragrance free.

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Brickell Purifying Charcoal Face Wash for Men

Brickell Purifying Charcoal Face Wash for Men is Brickell’s signature wash, with activated charcoal, aloe, olive oil, jojoba and tea extracts. Brickell lists it for dry to sensitive skin and says it suits oily skin too. It’s sold scented (with eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass oils) and unscented as separate listings, so pick the unscented one if you avoid scent.

→ See the Brickell wash on Amazon

For specific problems

Breakouts: Lab Series Clear LS Deep Pore Purifying Gel Face Wash

Lab Series Clear LS Deep Pore Purifying Gel Face Wash is a 4.2 fl oz gel for oily, sensitive and acne-prone skin with salicylic acid. Lab Series doesn’t state the percentage. In its testing after one use, visible pores were 14% less noticeable (18 men) and skin was 11% smoother (31 men). It lists fragrance and colorants.

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Ingrown hairs and rough texture: Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser

Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser combines glycolic acid with kaolin clay and volcanic ash, a fine physical exfoliant. It’s for normal, combination and oily skin, and doubles as a five-minute mask on a dry face. Skip it on raw, just-shaved skin, and don’t pair it with another acid or retinoid. The FDA notes that AHAs can increase sun sensitivity, so wear sunscreen.

→ See Deep Dive on Amazon

Quick comparison

Product	Best for	Format	Notable on the label
CeraVe Hydrating	Normal to dry	Cream	Free of added fragrance
CeraVe Foaming	Normal to oily	Foaming gel	Parabens; no fragrance recorded
Jack Black Pure Clean	Oily, before shaving	Foaming gel	Rosemary oil, lavender extract
Lab Series Clear LS	Breakouts	Gel	Salicylic acid; fragrance
Jack Black Deep Dive	Ingrown hairs, texture	Cream and mask	Glycolic acid, clay

How to wash your face

1. Use lukewarm water, not hot.
2. Massage a small amount in with your fingertips for about 30 seconds.
3. Rinse well and pat dry with a clean towel.
4. Moisturize while your skin is still slightly damp.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using body wash or bar soap on your face.
• Scrubbing hard or using a washcloth every time.
• Using an acid wash right before or after shaving.
• Washing more than twice a day unless you’ve been sweating.

Skin Realist check: Your face doesn’t need to feel like it’s been power-washed. Clean and comfortable is the goal.

The bottom line

If you only buy one, make it CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser for dry or normal skin, or CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for oily skin. Add an acid wash only for a specific problem. Browse every option in facial cleansers, and see our men’s skincare basics for what comes next.