The 13 Best Face Scrubs for Men in 2024, Tested by Grooming Experts
Plus why and how you should be exfoliating.
Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?
DID YOU know that right now, as you read this, there are dead skin cells just hanging out on your face? It sounds gross (because it kind of is), but it’s also a fact of life. Your skin regenerates every 28 days, so its cells are constantly dying off and getting pushed to the surface. The bad news is that even though they’re supposed to fall off naturally, they can often stick around, which leads to dull, flaky skin, clogged pores, blackheads and more. The good news is that you can help this process along with an exfoliator.
Exfoliating removes the dead skin cells that get caught on the surface of your skin. The result is a clearer, smoother, and brighter complexion. And you don’t even have to do it every day! Most men only need to exfoliate about twice a week. There are a few different kinds of exfoliators, but the easiest to use is a scrub, which offers mechanical exfoliation by way of beads or granules to physically remove the dead cells from your skin’s surface. Use one of these 13 best face scrubs for men and you’re on your way to a smoother, clearer face.
Best Exfoliating Face Scrubs | Best Face Washes | Best Grooming Products for Men | Best Acne Face Washes |
Naturopathica Oat Cleansing Facial Polish
Naturopathica Oat Cleansing Facial Polish
Pros
- Gentle enough for daily use
- Hydrates incredibly well
- Made from natural ingredients
Cons
- Best for dry skin
Yes, you can exfoliate every day if your skin can take it and you use a gentler scrub that’s specifically designed for daily use. This cleanser/scrub in one contains soothing oat, which helps calm the skin along with exfoliating jojoba beads that gently smooth away dead skin without irritation.
Read more: Best Face Wash
| Size | 5 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Oat beta glucan, oat protein, jojoba wax beads, aloe vera |
| Skin types | All, but especially dry |
ATWATER Skin Armor Face Scrub
ATWATER Skin Armor Face Scrub
Pros
- Uses both physical and chemical exfoliation
- Contains ingredients to help soothe irritation
- Suitable for all skin types
Cons
- Cannot be used every day
In addition to the jojoba beads that gently smooth away dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, this scrub also contains salicylic acid to help declog inside your pores for an even fresher complexion.
| Size | 3.4 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Jojoba beads, salicylic acid, chlorophyllin copper complex |
| Skin types | All |
Dr. Brandt Skincare Microdermabrasion Renewing Age-Defying Face Exfoliator
Dr. Brandt Skincare Microdermabrasion Renewing Age-Defying Face Exfoliator
Pros
- Super small granules
- Powerful yet gentle on the skin
- Helps target signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles
Cons
- Expensive
- May not be suitable for sensitive skin
This scrub mimics the professional microdermabrasion you’d get in a dermatologist’s office by using ultra-fine granules that feel like sand on your skin. They gently smooth your skin with the aid exfoliating lactic and glycolic acids for an especially bright complexion.
| Size | 2.1 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Biocellulose microgranules, lactic acid, glycolic acid, vegetable wax |
| Skin types | All except sensitive |
Goldfaden MD Doctor's Scrub
Goldfaden MD Doctor's Scrub
Pros
- Contains moisturizing ingredients
- Gentle enough to use every day
- No added fragrance
Cons
- Expensive
The teeny tiny ruby crystals in this super moisturizing formula are so fine you can barely feel them—and that’s the point. Combined with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil, the crystals smooth away dead skin cells so gently you can use it every day if you want.
| Size | 1.7 oz, 3.5 oz, 6.7 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Ruby crystals, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, seaweed extract |
| Skin types | All |
Scotch Porter Exfoliating Face Scrub
Scotch Porter Exfoliating Face Scrub
Pros
- Efficiently unclogs pores
- Rich woodsy scent
- Designed specifically for men of color
Cons
- May be too harsh for sensitive skin
- Contains added fragrance
This pomegranate enzyme-powered scrub is powerful and especially good if you have oily or combination skin. Use it in place of you cleanser on days you exfoliate to help unclog pores and reduce blackheads without leaving your skin feeling tight and dry.
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| Key Ingredients | Pomegranate enzymes, aloe, burdock root |
|---|---|
| Skin types | Oily |
| Size | 4 oz |
Harry's Face Cleanser (Pack of 3)
Pros
- Wallet-friendly
- Pleasant Scent
- Granules are made from natural volcanic rock
Cons
- Cannot be used every day
- May be too harsh for especially sensitive skin
Harry's exfoliating face wash is excellent at removing dead cells and keeping your skin feeling hydrated. It's also got a fresh scent and (best of all) it's super affordable. We're talking three washes for under $22 here people.
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| Size | 5.1 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Eucalyptus oil, volcanic rock granules, willow bark extract, licorice root extract |
| Skin types | All |
Cetaphil Exfoliating Face Wash
Cetaphil Exfoliating Face Wash
Pros
- Gentle on sensitive and dry skin
- Affordable
- Includes vitamins that hydrate the skin
Cons
- Contains fragrance
- May not be strong enough for especially dry or dull skin
If you have sensitive skin, the thought of using a scrub could be scary. The wrong scrub could leave sensitive skin irritated and inflamed. This ultra-gentle one, however, is perfect for sensitive faces. It’s gentle enough to use every day and contains a special vitamin complex to help keep skin soothed and hydrated.
Read More: Best Face Washes for Men
| Size | 6 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Glycerin, Vitamin B5, Vitamin E |
| Skin types | Sensitive |
Patricks Anti-Aging Face Scrub
Pros
- Strong exfoliation
- Rich scent
- Great at reducing ingrown hairs
Cons
- Expensive
Made with volcanic sand and crushed diamonds (yes, really), Patrick's face scrub is a strong exfoliator that's gentle on the skin. It works exceptionally well at reducing ingrown hairs and eliminating dead skin cells. We also love the fact the particles stay full when applied to water, instead of disintegrating into a soapy mess.
| Size | 75 ml |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Crushed diamond, panthenol, omega 3 + 6, jojoba |
| Skin types | All |
Kiehl's Facial Fuel Face Scrub
Kiehl's Facial Fuel Face Scrub
Pros
- Has a pleasant cooling feeling
- Doubles as a cleanser
- Great as a pre-shave
Cons
- Contains added fragrance
- May not be suitable for sensitive skin
Like your daily morning coffee, give dull skin a pick-me-up with this caffeine-infused face scrub. Citrus extracts and menthol revitalize and energize your skin, even on those off days.
| Size | 3.4 oz, 5 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Caffeine, menthol, apricot kernel oil |
| Skin types | All except sensitive |
Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant
Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant
Pros
- Can be used every day
- Contains physical and chemical exfoliants
- Helps fight environmental pollution
Cons
- Best suited for combination or oily skin
- Powder formula can take some getting used to
The best thing about this scrub is that it’s gentle enough to use every day (if you want), but still super powerful thanks to the potent combination of charcoal particles, exfoliating enzymes, and alpha-hydroxy acids. It comes out of the tube as a powder and with a little water added, turns into a grainy paste that gently removes dead skin with ease.
| Size | 0.45 oz, 2 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Charcoal, niacinamide, red algae, lactic acid |
| Skin types | Normal, combination, oily |
Bioré Charcoal Pore Penetrating Bar
Bioré Charcoal Pore Penetrating Bar
Pros
- Bar form is easy to use
- Can be used daily
- Less packaging than other scrubs
Cons
- Best for oily skin
- Hard to travel with
Free your pores from the dirt and gunk of the day with this peppermint and charcoal-infused bar of black soap from Biore. Even better, it's suitable for scrubbing both the face and body, so it doesn't have to be an extra step or process.
Read More: How to Get Rid of Blackheads
| Size | 3.77 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Charcoal, jojoba beads, peppermint oil |
| Skin types | Oily |
Jack Black Face Buff Energizing Scrub
Jack Black Face Buff Energizing Scrub
Pros
- Feels invigorating
- Can be used instead of cleanser
- Helps get a closer shave
Cons
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
- Contains added fragrance
The vitamin C and mint in this facial scrub from Jack Black will help wake you up while also clearing away any old, dead skin cells and making way for clearer, brighter skin.
| Size | 6 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Bamboo powder, peppermint, licorice extract, allantoin, Vitamin C |
| Skin types | All except sensitive |
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Treatment
Pros
- Highly effective for very dull skin
- Contains both physical and chemical exfoliants
- Immediate results
Cons
- Expensive
What polishing and waxing does for your car, this does for your face. It's an intense smoothing and polishing treatment that changes the surface of your skin so that it appears poreless.
| Size | 0.5 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz |
|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Lactic acid, salicylic acid, silica, fruit enzymes, aloe vera, Vitamin E |
| Skin types | All |
How Often Should I Use a Face Scrub?
How often you use a scrub depends on your skin type and how intense the scrub is. Most scrubs are designed to be used once or twice a week, but some contain a lower amount of granules as well moisturizing ingredients so they’re gentle enough to use every day (make sure to read to directions on the bottle). But even if they scrub can be used every day, doesn’t mean it should. If you have oily skin or are prone to dullness, you can use a scrub more frequently. Sensitive skin, however, may not be able to tolerate a scrub more than once a week. Try it once or twice a week for a while and gauge how your skin reacts and how it looks between scrubs to see if you can up the frequency.
Is There any Risk to Using a Face Scrub?
Face scrubs are pretty user friendly but do come with some caveats. Don’t rub or scrub too hard as too much pressure could damage your skin. If you see redness, irritation, or scratches after you exfoliate, that’s a sign you were too aggressive. And always follow your scrub with a moisturizer to help replenish moisture that may have been lost in the process and build your skin barrier back up.
How We Selected
For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Grooming editors and writers on the top grooming products for men. Experts, including our Grooming Editor Garrett Munce, put a number of face scrubs to the test and evaluated their effectiveness, scent, and value. We also considered top-reviewed face scrubs and exfoliators that had high customer ratings on e-commerce websites we trust.
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