(Grooming Playbook) | 11 best face scrubs for men in 2022

Fun fact: your skin cells regenerate every two to four weeks. But while new cells take over the party, the old, dead ones don’t always give up their spot on your skin so easily. Don’t worry, the men’s skincare industry has come up with just the solution for you.

A face scrub can easily exfoliate and whisk those pore-clogging dead skin cells away. After trying one out, you’ll find that a face scrub may be the best skin care product you didn’t know you needed. With its skin smoothing, youth-enhancing, and pore-unclogging properties, a scrub will take your skincare routine up more than a notch.

To help you along, we’ve put together the following review of the best face scrubs for men this year. One is sure to become your new secret weapon for great skin.

The blue ribbon for best face scrub for men goes to Blu Atlas, a men’s skincare line that is making waves with its natural products.

Inside this beautiful marine blue bottle is a sensational scrub that clears impurities to reveal the best skin you’ve known. The formula includes only natural ingredients, like antioxidant-rich hibiscus, which fights skin-damaging free radicals that visibly age skin.

Vitamin-filled jojoba oil then penetrates deep below the skin’s surface for maximum moisture and nourishment. Bamboo stem extract is another star player here—its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties help decrease acne, dark spots, red spots, and inflamed skin.

Blu Atlas is firmly committed to producing clean, vegan formulas that don’t include harmful additives or preservatives like phthalates, parabens, and artificial fragrances. With a 30-day money-back guarantee on all Blu Atlas products to boot, it’s no surprise as to why Men’s Journal named Blu Atlas the “#1 Best Men’s Skincare Brand” this year.

(Amazon) | Marlowe, No. 122 Facial Scrub for Men

If you love a gritty scrub that really lets you feel like you’re sloughing off all the unwanted gunk from your pores, Marlowe’s top-rated facial scrub is a great choice.

Apricot seed powder helps to remove dead skin cells, while willow bark and deep-sea algae extracts soothe irritated skin and help to reduce inflammation. Green tea extract then steps right in and amps up skin cell repair, while protecting skin from environmental stressors.

The formula is powerful enough that even one use gives a super-deep cleanse. A delicate scent of agarwood followed by a masculine blend of sandalwood and musk leaves you smelling as good as you look, with an aroma that’s fresh and balanced, not overpowering.

We love that this product is paraben- and phthalate-free, never tested on animals, and is made in the USA—so you can scrub away guilt-free.

(Scotch Porter) | Exfoliating Face Scrub

Remember the pomegranate juice trend, where no one could get enough of that healthy tonic? Turns out those antioxidant-powerhouse seeds aren’t just good for your insides, but for your skin, too. Pomegranate seeds are rich in vitamin C, a necessity for treating dull and dry skin. Applied on a regular basis, pomegranate enzymes can also reduce rough patches and even out skin’s texture.

This Scotch Porter exfoliator takes advantage of those juicy ruby-red pomegranate enzymes and includes soothing aloe and youth-enhancing burdock root. The scrub is engineered to remove dead skin cells to reveal a brighter complexion with fewer blemishes.

Made with no sulfates, silicones, petrolatum, parabens, mineral oil, synthetic colors, phthalates, PEGs, or animal ingredients, this scrub is gentle enough for easily irritated skin. It’s also a great option to prep skin before a shave.

Get all your good (pomegranate) juices flowing with this rich and effective scrub. No straw necessary.

(Amazon) | Every Man Jack, Charcoal Face Scrub

Did you ever imagine that the key to a summer barbecue would be the key to your best skin? Turns out that charcoal may be the secret to deeply effective skincare.

It has detoxifying, antibacterial properties that act as a magnet to lift bacteria, dirt, oil, and impurities from your pores. And while we don’t recommend you go collecting chunks of charcoal from your grill and scrubbing them against your skin, we do recommend this charcoal-based scrub by Every Man Jack.

The charcoal in this formula pairs with zit-zapping salicylic acid to prevent acne and clear up your skin. Gently exfoliating jojoba beads provide an extra jolt of moisture while deeply cleansing pores. Arnica extract, white tea extract, chamomile extract, and rosehip oil also soothe and calm the skin after all that deep charcoal-powered cleansing.

Made without any artificial fragrance, this scrub won’t irritate sensitive skin—so get that summer grill joy going all year long with this deep-cleaning charcoal scrub.

(Clinique) | Clinique for Men, Face Scrub

A scrub that paves the way for a closer, smoother shave? Yes, please. Exfoliating before shaving can help to prevent your razor from being clogged up with dead skin cells. But a mild, gentle exfoliant is necessary to avoid irritating the skin pre-shave.

With this in mind, Clinique specifically formulated this men’s face scrub to prep the skin for shaving. Fine scrub grains work to de-flake skin and lift beard hairs, helping to reduce ingrown hairs. Salicylic acid helps to reduce acne and decrease redness and inflammation. It keeps skin irritation-free and fights off pimples before they get to the surface.

Clinique loyalists love that this product leaves skin perfectly primed for shaving, leading to a closer shave. Pair it with their whole line of men’s skincare products for a coordinated approach to great skin, and always the best shave.

(Typology) | Regenerating Face Scrub with Olive Squalane

Made in France, this popular, often sold-out scrub by Typology is unique in that turns into a non-greasy oil once you rub it into your skin. It then transforms into an easy-to-remove milky texture once rinsed with water after scrubbing. And of course, it comes in packaging that is très chic.

The hard-hitting formula includes apricot kernel powder, which gently exfoliates without being harsh or abrasive. For extra moisture, olive-based squalane penetrates the skin’s surface for a boost of long-lasting hydration, giving your skin a soft and supple texture. Geranium rose oil enhances the skin’s protective barrier, helping to regenerate fresh, new skin cells while stimulating collagen and firming the skin.

Because this cold-pressed formula does not undergo any heating process, the nutrients of all of its ingredients remain intact and at their prime effectiveness by the time they reach your pores. Your skin feels nourished—not stripped or dry. And with 100% vegan, naturally derived ingredients, we wouldn’t expect any less.

The French do it best, don’t they say? Your fresh face will be the proof.

(Kiehl's) | Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub

Your busy lifestyle needs the right fuel to keep you going strong all day long. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel enlivens and invigorates your skin with cleansing and smoothing.

Formulated specifically for men’s skin, this scrub works to keep oil production balanced throughout the day with naturally powerful ingredients. Caffeine’s stimulating effects help energize the skin and reduce dullness, apricot kernel gently exfoliates, and menthol instantly refreshes.

Bright citrus extracts refresh and excite your sense of smell, adding a little pep to your step. This is also one of our favorites for a pre-shave scrub. It helps to soften facial hair, prepping it for an easier, smoother shave that’s guaranteed to be free of irritation and ingrown hairs.

This scrub has historically been one of Kiehl’s top-selling products for men, and for good reason. As one reviewer put it, the way you can feel it “whisking away the grime on the face” simply cannot be beat.

For another scrub that will energize your skin and uplift your spirits, check out Anthony’s signature vibrant orange scrub. And trust us, the fresh ingredients on the inside are as good as the tube’s bathroom-brightening exterior.

Bora Bora white sand exfoliates and removes dead skin cells, while aloe, chamomile, and algae soothe and smooth the skin. Vitamin C brightens skin’s surface, leaving it with more even, balanced texture and tone. Together, the constituents combine to create an efficient, powerful exfoliant that removes dirt and grime without irritating skin.

Like all of Anthony’s products, the scrub is completely free of parabens, phthalates, GMOs, DEA, triclosan, and gluten, and is allergy- and dermatologist-tested. Don’t be surprised if the lady in your life steals this product to shave her legs—its soft yet effective exfoliating powers soften and lift hairs, reducing shave stubble and ingrown hairs. For you, it’s perfect as a pre-shave cleanse.

Brighten up your skin and mood with a scrub that will leave you beaming and luminous.

(Sephora) | Ole Henriksen, Pore-Balance Facial Sauna Scrub

Ever step out of a sauna and wish your skin could stay that fresh forever? Ole Henriksen’s products are inspired by the rejuvenating Scandinavian sauna experience of his homeland.

This aptly-named Facial Sauna Scrub lets you experience the restorative wonders of alternating between a hot bath and cold spring, with an innovative warming/cooling action that refines pores. Icelandic volcanic sand, neem seed oil and a Green Fusion Complex™ contribute to a deep cleansing effect that unclogs pores, absorbs oils, and reveals pure, rejuvenated skin. Glycolic and lactic acids, effective and safe chemical exfoliants, lift and loosen dead skin cells that can clog pores and lead to acne and dull skin.

This is the product you want if you’re looking for tighter, more refined pores, or need a little help controlling oily skin. The scrub is completely noncomedogenic, meaning it’s specifically formulated not to block pores.

An invigorating eucalyptus-peppermint refreshes the senses, leaving you feeling like you’ve waltzed out of a Nordic spa.

(Horace) | Exfoliant Visage Face Scrub

When it comes to effective skincare, sometimes simpler is better. French company Horace believes in a no-frills, minimum 95% natural approach to reliable, easy-to-use skincare that works for all skin types.

In a 21-day clinical trial of Horace’s face scrub, all 20 male participants found their skin to be smoother and softer. That’s likely thanks to the formula’s powerful natural ingredients, such as the gently exfoliating murumuru seeds and restorative murumuru butter. Vitamin E helps out by soothing skin and reducing inflammation.

This unscented, paraben-free, mineral-oil-free and silicone-free scrub works for all types of skin, whether oily, dry, combination or sensitive. We recommend it, particularly for sensitive skin that needs a little extra TLC when being exfoliated. The scrub will leave your skin soft and glowing without risk of redness or irritation.

Horace gets bonus points for contributing 1% of their sales to environmental protection charities. Good for both your skin and the planet—now that’s what we like to see.

Get the party started with an all-natural scrub that continues to work its magic even after the lights go out. This face scrub by Disco is formulated by a medical advisor and group of renowned cosmetic chemists in San Francisco.

The team creates science-based products designed to improve men’s skin using only the highest quality natural ingredients. The Disco team is committed to skincare research, and continuously updates and improve its formulas to keep up with the science.

In this scrub, aloe vera reduces skin damage, papaya removes impurities and dead skin cells, and apricot oil replenishes and restores moisture while reducing inflammation. It’s a powerful trio that will make you want to stay out all night just to show off your smooth skin.

Check out the before and after photos on Disco’s website if you need some evidence of how well this product works to smooth and even skin tone. Or try it yourself—and become the life of the party before you know it.

We hope that you learned a lot by reading through our list of the 11 top face scrubs for men on the market. In case you still have questions about scrubbing, read on as we provide answers.

A lot of men think they can get away with just cleansing and moisturizing their skin twice a day. And while this might be “good enough” for decent skin, using a high quality face scrub can level up your routine, significantly improving the health and appearance of your skin.

Face scrubs go beyond surface-level to remove radiance-reducing impurities. A scrub has myriad benefits, including the following:

reducing acne scars and preventing acne;

improving the texture of skin; and

allowing for better absorption of skincare products.

The primary benefit of a facial scrub is its ability to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Remember how your skin cells naturally turn over every two to four weeks? Unfortunately, your skin doesn’t shed the dead skin cells very well on its own. Over time, these dead cells can build up on the surface of skin, causing it to look dull and dry.

On the other end of the spectrum, skin also produces natural oil, called sebum, which keeps the skin moisturized. But skin often produces excessive sebum, which can also build up in pores. Along with dirt and pollution from the air, oil-clogged pores lead to acne-prone skin.

Essentially, a face scrub gets beneath the surface, and lifts away dead and impure skin cells, allowing newer, younger skin cells to surface. This leads the way to a more even, smooth texture that appears more youthful.

Using a scrub can also allow your skin to better absorb moisturizers and serums that you apply afterwards. If your face is packed with dead skin cells, these products have to work even harder to penetrate deep into the skin to do their softening, emollient work. But using a scrub paves the way for moisturizers to get right to work.

A face wash is your daily protection against dirt, pollutants, and bacteria. Now, think of a face scrub as your deep clean. It will slough off the more stubborn skin cells that cling to the top layer of skin, those which can cause dryness, clogged pores, acne, and wrinkles.

Face washes tend to have a more watery, creamy consistency, whereas face scrubs have a grittier texture to get beneath the surface.

Face washes are intended to be used daily to remove the day’s impurities, while face scrubs should be used one to three times a week because of their more abrasive cleansing properties. Keep this in mind when building out your skincare regimen.

The frequency with which you use a face scrub depends on the texture of your skin. If you are prone to oily skin, you can use a face scrub up to three times a week. But if your skin is on the dry side, you should only use a face scrub once or twice a week.

As we mentioned, your scrub is unlike your daily cleanser; you don’t want to use it more than three times a week. Otherwise, you could over-dry and irritate your skin, even damaging its natural barrier.

If you notice your skin getting itchy, dry, or irritated after using a face scrub, try reducing the frequency with which you use it, and make sure you have one that is geared toward your skin type.

Acne is created when pores become excessively clogged with dirt, oil, bacteria, and other toxins. Breakouts are also affected by diet, lifestyle, hormonal changes, and medications.

A face scrub may help rid your skin of pimples when they are caused by bacteria-clogged pores, as it will help deep clean your pores. Scrubs that include salicylic acid and other chemical exfoliants will be particularly beneficial for breakout prone skin.

While using a face scrub can help remove acne-causing bacteria, it is best to avoid using one if you are in the middle of a bad breakout. If skin is already irritated, a scrub’s exfoliating particles will likely irritate it further. If you are prone to chronic acne, consult with a dermatologist to get to the root of what ails your skin.

As we’ve mentioned, there is a right and a wrong time to use a scrub. Remember to be mindful of giving your scrub a break if you’re mid-breakout. Scrubs can help to prevent pimples by removing dead skin cells, but they can irritate skin and cause a burning sensation If you already have acne on your skin. Give the surface of your skin a chance to heal before diving into a scrub.

It’s also important to use a high-quality scrub product that contains fine scrubbing particles. If these grinding particles are too large and sharp, they will be too abrasive and can cause tears in your skin. And while micro-tears facilitate the skin renewal process, too-large tears can be harmful. They will gradually weaken the skin’s natural barrier, leading to redness and dry, flaky patches. When using a scrub, apply only a gentle pressure to avoid damaging skin.

It is possible to use a scrub too often. Stick to three or fewer uses per week to avoid irritating skin.

There are two types of skin exfoliants—physical and chemical. Both can safely exfoliate cleanse, and the type you choose will depend on your personal skin needs.

Physical exfoliants are made of rough particles that may come from apricot pits, pumice, volcanic ash, or sugar crystals. We recommend soft sugar granules, oatmeal, bamboo powder, jojoba beads, and rice flour for most skin types, though sugar scrubs may be too thick and abrasive for very sensitive skin types.

We also love bamboo powder for soothing irritated skin, jojoba beads for preventing irritation from shaving, and rice flour for brightening the skin and evening out skin tone. Steer clear of sharp, rough physical exfoliants. (Remember those ultra-gritty apricot scrubs we all used to love? That’s what you don’t want!) Stick to softer, finer granules that won’t aggravate skin.

On the other hand, chemical exfoliants come in Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta-Hydroxy Acids (BHAs). AHAs are water-soluble, moisturizing, and best for normal to dry skin types. Common AHAs in face scrubs are lactic acid, citric acid, and mandelic acid. Lactic acid is best for dry, sensitive skin. Glycolic acid works well for minimizing the appearance of pores and evening skin tone. Citric acid cleanses environmental toxins from the skin, so it can be great for city dwellers. Mandelic acid has brightening qualities—so it works well for men dealing with hyperpigmentation or dull skin.

BHAs are oil-soluble particles, which means they are able to penetrate the skin’s oil barriers and deeply cleanse the pores. These are best for normal to oily skin types, as they help control sebum production and fend off bacteria that can build up and cause acne.

Common BHAs are salicylic acid and willow bark extract. Salicylic acid is great for acne-prone skin, while willow bark extract helps with inflammation and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Your skin can reap the most benefits from using a face scrub in the morning. Overnight, skin produces oils that build up over time. You can remove more impurities, dead skin, and oils that have accumulated in your slumber by using a scrub upon waking. Scrub your skin after cleansing with a face wash but before shaving. Follow these simple steps to get the most out of your scrub:

Always cleanse your face first, using a face wash formulated for your skin type. This will remove surface-level dirt and pollutants, so your scrub can get beneath the surface for its deepest clean.

Apply a pea-sized dollop of scrub to your hands.

Gently apply the scrub onto your face in large, upward-directed circular motions. Focus on your face’s T-zone (forehead, nose, lips, chin). If you’re going to shave post-exfoliation, also focus on the areas you plan to shave. Spend at least forty seconds massaging your face.

Rinse thoroughly. Make sure all product is removed from your face.

Dry gently, using a soft towel. Always pat, never rub.

If you’re shaving, do it now. Re-moisten skin with a warm, wet towel and apply a shave cream.

Apply a moisturizer to lock in hydration and soften the skin. And while you know you should be using a sunscreen every day, make it a priority after using a face scrub. Exfoliated skin may be more sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, so it’s extra important to lather on that SPF.

Say hello to fresh and healthy skin!

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