Best Everyday Gentle Exfoliant: Jaxon Lane Shake And Wake
This cleanser from Jaxon Lane is an all-rounder, perfect for those seeking a little bit of exfoliation on the daily for its brightening and reviving effects. It begins as a powder, which transforms into a silky foam in the hands with water. Gently worked onto the face, naturally-derived Fruit Enzymes - from pineapple and papaya – exfoliate without scrubbing, removing dead skin cells.
Jaxon Lane doesn’t stop there, and has loaded this cleanser with Vitamins B3, B5, C, and E - a complete complex of ingredients that strengthens the skin barrier, boosts hydration, while reducing inflammation and redness. Working synergistically with these exfoliating enzymes, the visible appearance of the skin is clarified, smoothened, and soothed.
It’s appropriate for most skin types, offering the benefits of exfoliation in a gentle manner. For those with acne-prone skin, Shake and Wake offers a deep and irritation-free cleanse. Even more, its powder-based formula makes it easy to travel with.
Best Face Scrub for Pre-Shave: Clinique For Men Face Scrub
To get the smoothest and closest shave possible, prepping the skin with a face scrub is the best first step. A physical scrub lifts the hairs on the skin, allowing you to shave closer to the skin without irritation. The Clinique For Men Face Scrub effectively exfoliates the skin with a minimal, no-fuss ingredients list.
This product uses Silica as its scrubbing agent. Silica is derived from sandstone, clay and granite, frequently used as a physical exfoliant due to its fine texture. When applied to the skin, it feels non-abrasive - almost like rubbing small grains of soft sand onto the face. It also includes Menthol, so you'll feel a pleasant cooling sensation on the skin too. Despite its gentleness, the micro size of the Silica ensures the face scrub gets into every nook and cranny for a thorough cleanse, de-flaking it while lifting beard hairs and whiskers ready to be shaved off.
With the addition of Salicylic Acid, this face scrub reduces the probability of getting ingrown hairs after you shave. An oil-soluble beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), this ingredient deeply penetrates pores to remove any dirt stuck inside that can clog pores and create ingrown hairs.
To top it off, this product is allergy tested and fragrance-free. It’s certainly a popular choice in the grooming space, earning itself a Prix de Marie Claire Beauty Award for Best Men's Grooming Product.
Best Multi-Tasking Face Scrub (Scrub and Mask) - Triumph & Disaster Rock & Roll Face Scrub
For a lot of men, the idea of using many products in one routine is enough to put them off grooming forever. This is where multi-tasking products come in handy. Triumph & Disaster's Rock & Roll Face Scrub is a great choice if you’re seeking a face scrub that doubles as a face mask. Compared to other scrubs on the market, this one is grittier and granular than most. This certainly isn’t a bad thing, as this level of grit will work great for men with thick, resilient and normal skin.
With a 2-in-1 formulation, it’s up to you with the way you want to use it. We recommend using it as a scrub first, then leaving it on for a few minutes more so it can harden into a clay mask. Volcanic Ash is the main exfoliating agent in this product, while Green Clay is what creates the absorbency when used as a face mask. What both of these ingredients have in common is their detoxifying qualities, removing unwanted dirt and debris while absorbing excess oil and blackhead build-up.
The fragrance of this face scrub can be likened to a ‘smoke and wood’ aroma with a blend of Cedarwood, Patchouli, Pepper, and Bergamot. Meanwhile, Salicylic Acid is employed to dig deep into pores and clean out any dirt that’s contributing to the growth of dead skin. For a bit of moisture to balance out the detoxifying properties, Glycerine is included. As a humectant, it absorbs moisture and keeps it in.
Best Natural Face Scrub - Urth Face Scrub
Using a trio of naturally derived micro exfoliators - that is, Walnut Shell Powder, Wheat Germ, and Rice Granules - this combination effectively removes dead surface cells and clears out blackheads. Texture-wise, it’s a soft clay scrub and with inclusions of hydrating ingredients like Glyceride and Algae Extract, this product is a good choice for those with dry skin. When left on the skin after scrubbing, it can work its magic and absorb excess oil and pollutants, leaving the skin clear and quenched.
Meanwhile, Green Tea is a proven antioxidant that helps reverse damage caused by air pollutants, reviving dull skin. At the same time, Ginseng improves the complexion of the skin, giving it a brighter and healthier look. Paraben, alcohol and fragrance-free, this face scrub features a fresh aroma (Bergamot Oil, Lavender Oil, Rosemary Oil) that provides you with a pleasant and energising feel when applied.
Best Face Scrub for Anti-Aging - Patrick's FS1
The reality is that skin ages over time, regardless.
However, the right product respectfully functions to ease the visible signs of ageing. Patrick’s FS1 Face Scrub is recommended for men concerned with ageing, as its ingredients list features an array of anti-ageing peptides, multivitamins and anti-irritants.
Dual-action, it exfoliates with Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) in the form of Lactic Acid, while physically exfoliating with Volcanic Sand and Crushed Diamond. This means you’ll get a deep clean with a small amount of product. The physical exfoliating agents are a blend of microparticles in three different sizes. The various sizes enhance its exfoliating abilities, with the bigger particles able to tackle more stubborn dead skin on the surface while the smaller ones can get deeper into the pores.
As for its anti-ageing properties, Retinyl Palmitate, a vitamin A derivative works at minimising, and sometimes even reversing, the signs of ageing by accelerating the cell renewal process. This results in skin that looks and feels healthier and younger.