Words: Jonathan Wells
When it comes to the best men’s face washes, it’s all about building a solid foundation for your grooming routine. Over the years, Gentleman’s Journal has scrubbed, exfoliated and polished every inch of your bathroom cabinet. We’ve sharpened up your shaving regime, smoothed out your moisturising routine and helped you brush up on your oral hygiene. We’ve even dabbled in make-up for men. But what good are all these salves, sprays and serums if you can’t get the basics right?
Before you buy one more bottle of Micellar Hydro-Boost Cleansing Water or even look at another pack of Bakuchiol Reface Eye Pads, it’s time you pay your face wash some attention. Every day, we uncap these washes and clean our faces; removing dirt, oil and pollutants so our pores don’t clog and our complexions don’t cloud. So it pays to find the perfect product that’ll always keep your skin healthy. And, from charcoal-infused foams to scented scrubs, we’ve found the best money can buy…
A charcoal-infused face wash will attack any toxins
Toothpaste. Face masks. Soap. Mouthwash. We could go on. Because, although charcoal may look like it would just grubby up your complexion, nature’s charred wonder stuff is still enjoying a thoroughly deserved grooming renaissance. And for good reason. Thanks to an uncanny ability to draw toxins away from your skin like a sponge, anything with charcoal on its list of ingredients will effectively rid your skin of bacteria, impurities, chemicals, and micro-particles.
And brands have cottoned on. Bamford Grooming Department has been at the coalface, developing its Edition 1 wash. With ginger, black rice and quartz in the tube, there’s also a healthy dose of charcoal to soak up any impurities. The Grey has taken a similar approach with its deep-cleaning, non-drying, hair-softening formula. Or, if you’re looking for an everyday wash, Clinique’s detoxifying gel wash is a better value option.
An exfoliating face wash will give you a younger, more vibrant complexion
Over the course of any given day, our faces take a bit of a battering. Whether it’s the pervasive pollution of an inner-city commute, or the sweat and grime of a good workout session, our skin needs a good scrubbing to keep it looking fresh. Exfoliating is a way of removing dead or dulling skin cells; with the best face washes forcibly removing the top layer of skin to help our complexions retain a younger, more vibrant appearance.
And there are many exfoliants you can use. Anthony’s rather fun-coloured face wash utilises Boro Boro sand to scour off any impurities, before soothing with a dose of antioxidant-rich Vitamin C. Heath’s excellent face wash will cleanse your complexion using black lava and Brazilian papaya to gently remove dead cells and unclog pores. And, from Lab Series, this Invigorating Face Scrub helps to prevent ingrown hairs and is formulated with cooling menthol to stimulate circulation.
A foaming face wash is the ideal option for oily skin
Foaming face washes aren’t for everyone. Only if your skin is prone to blemishes, or is overly oily, should you go down this route. If you have dry or sensitive skin, an ingredient called sodium lauryl sulfate present in most foaming formulas may cause you irritation. But, if you’re looking for a way to get rid of any excess oils or grease from your face, these may be the face washes for you.
Sisley’s Radiance Foaming Cream, for instance, cleanses the skin without drying it out completely. Instead, with soothing peony, grapefruit and gingko biloba extracts, it will sluice off any oil and leave your skin fresh and radiant. The same can be said for Patricks’ FW1 Anti-Ageing wash, formulated with flavonoids and polyphenols to soothe and protect skin while encouraging cell regeneration. Or, if you’re looking for a face wash so foamy it can double as a shaving foam, look no further than Shisheido’s cleansing foam.
A scented face wash will speed up your grooming routine
Of course, there will be those among you who haven’t dabbled with male make-up, are yet to apply a face mask and who have never even owned a moisturiser. Your idea of a grooming product is a bar of soap. And, while there’s nothing wrong with that, there are products out there that could do the job a whole lot better than Wright’s Coal Tar. And, if you pick the right face wash, some are even infused with aftershave scents that will keep your skin smelling fresh all day long.
Floris, for example, produces a face wash formulated from its iconic No.89 scent — infused with woody accords and an invigorating burst of citrus. Part of Acqua di Parma’s striking Barbiere range, this face scrub is also a winning option; exfoliating and softening skin at once with pomegranate notes and lemon oil. Or, for a burst of crisp cardamom and mint, why not splash on Lancôme‘s Ultimate Cleansing Gel?
You’re armed with a great face wash, but what are we going to do about that beard? Here’s what you’ll find in a gentleman’s shave kit…
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