The exfoliator is the powerhouse of your skin-care routine. If you’re looking for results, this is the step that delivers.
Exfoliation is a skin-care technique that removes dead skin and other unhelpful elements from the top layer of your skin. Exfoliation helps even texture, brighten the complexion, and helps skin-care products penetrate deeper into the skin so they can be more effective.
There are two types of exfoliation: chemical and physical. Face scrubs use granules to physically scrape away the old but sometimes also feature chemical exfoliators like glycolic acid to help get the job done. When it comes to physical exfoliation in particular, it’s best to keep it to a few times a week, about three is enough. However, if you’re a newbie or have sensitive skin, you might want to keep it to under two.
Exfoliating too often will lead to stinging, redness, skin breakouts or even a burning sensation. Don’t let that fact turn you away though! A gentle touch and a proper schedule will help you reap the rewards and avoid those concerns.
Here are our top picks for Best Face Scrubs for Men
Jack Black Face Buff Energizing Scrub
This scrub and cleanser does it all without unnecessary additives and animal cruelty.
Jack Black’s Face Buff works as both a cleanser and a facial scrub, combining cleaning and exfoliation in one step and getting rid of oil, dirt, and dead skin cells in one fell swoop. Skin is then left incredibly clean and primed for an irritation-free shave.
Key ingredients of this scrub include a cooling peppermint, soothing licorice extract, allantoin, and vitamin C. The icing on the cake is the their bamboo powder ingredient, which gives this wash the granules it needs to buff away what sits on the skin’s surface, while still being mineral-rich and environmentally safe.
La Roche Posay Ultra-Fine Scrub
Recommended by dermatologists worldwide and formulated with sensitive skin in mind, La Roche Posay is a standout brand when it comes to pampering.
La Roche Posay’s Ultra Fine Scrub is for users with all types of sensitive skin. It gently purifies and smoothes skin using top-notch ingredients, including La Roche Posay’s world renowned thermal spring water.
This product is suitable for sensitive skin, and it’s dermatologically tested. It is also free of soap, parabens, alcohol, colorants, non-comedogenic and is 100% hypoallergenic. That means there is no need to worry about harsh ingredients causing allergic reactions, clogged pores or breakouts.
by using perlite instead of plastic microbeads, this ocean-friendly scrub will leave your skin clean and moisturized.
Khiel’s Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub
Khiel’s Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub gets you going by sloughing away surface waste while delivering an invigorating blend of caffeine, menthol, vitamin D3, and citrus extracts.
While this sounds like a recipe for the worst cup of morning coffee, it is an energizing godsend for your face skin. Apricot kernels are the scrubby little stars of this treatment. Not only will you be left with soft and beaming skin, but rough facial hair will also be tamed. That lays the foundation for a comfortable and close shave.
Burt’s Bees Cooling Face Scrub
A drugstore dynamo, Burt’s Bees is all about affordable, nature-derived ingredients. And this scrub is no exception!
Hemp and aloe heal and nurture your skin in this pore-refining scrub. It gently exfoliates the skin and gives you calm, blemish-free smooth looking skin. Burt’s Bees Cooling Face Scrub’s nutrient-rich botanical blend is of 99% natural origin, and its ingredients are responsibly sourced.
This men’s face wash is also dermatologically tested and formulated without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, or SLS.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Dermalogica presents a daily exfoliating rice-based enzyme powder that activates with water. It helps even and smooth skin tone, clear pores, and brightens the complexion.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant promotes natural skin turnover and reduces the appearance of fine lines and hyperpigmentation. It contains a soothing blend of green tea, ginkgo (like the tree) and oatmeal, which help calm inflammation. Meanwhile, mild salicylic acid (a chemical exfoliator!) and tea tree oil help clean clogged pores.
In this formula, Dermalogica cuts out all the bad by being free of sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens and formaldehyde, while keeping all the good by being gluten-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.
LAB SERIES Invigorating Face Scrub
LAB SERIES has a scrub that lives up to its name. Relying on technologically-advanced formulas born from scientific research, Lab Series’ Invigorating Face Scrub is formulated to bring balance for people with normal to oily skin.
Stimulating menthol boosts energy while it cleans and refines the skin, knocking out acne, blackheads, and oils without leaving your skin dry. Lab Series’ men’s face scrub will also help your shave go down smoother than a peppermint patty – and helps you smell like one too.
100% Pure Acai Pulp Facial Scrub
100% Pure’s intensive facial scrub uses pulp from the celebrated super-fruit acai. It delivers the complexion-saving vitamins A and C as well as nourishing minerals, fatty acids, and other antioxidants.
The concentrated formula does more than just smooth away dead skin cells. It can also be used as a stellar cleansing scrub or, if left on for twenty minutes before rinsing, as a mask to allow the skin to soak in it’s softening smoothie formula.
The brand 100% Pure is environmentally sustainable, avoids animal testing and animal-sourced ingredients. It also follows strict purity standards.
Ethique Gingersnap
Gingersnap by Ethique is a unique product and an excellent option for the particularly eco-conscious individual.
Gingersnap comes in a solid bar that contains brown sugar, ginger, and a dash of cinnamon, designed to buff away dead skin cells gently. It is also plastic-free, uses less water than traditional face scrubs, cruelty-free, palm oil-free and vegan. The company Ethique is carbon neutral as well amd dedicated to fair trade with local communities.