It takes the right facial cleanser and minutes of your time to help keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Surely, facial cleansers are another skincare staple one should not miss keeping the skin at its best. However, how do we really know the right one for you?
The answer depends on the type of your skin, its needs, and other concerns, if any. Once you have identified these, it is no longer daunting to select the best facial cleanser for men that will work wonders for your skin—one that helps effectively eliminate dirt, sweat, and oil without leaving the skin feeling stripped.
Let’s talk about face cleansers for men and what you should look for according to your skin type.
What do cleansers actually do?
To an extent, soap and water do the job. However, a face cleanser does the job right, catering to your specific skin care needs.
Take for example, cleansers that are blended with natural papaya enzymes. If you want to brighten, exfoliate, and nourish your dull and sensitive skin better, this is the way to go. This facial cleanser also contains Vitamins A and C and helps reduce signs of aging. If you want to improve your skin health, this cleanser also facilitates skin repair and healing of wounds such as razor cuts or acne scars.
As we know, a face cleanser or face wash is a product used to get rid of makeup, oil, dirt, dead skin cells, and other pollutants from your skin. It helps keep your pores clear and helps you avoid skin concerns like acne breakouts.
With a ton of options around, it is difficult to choose the right one for your skin type and the right kind. To help you make a wise choice, below are the types of cleansers:
- Cream cleansers. Typically thicker and moisturizing, they cleanse your face without stripping your skin’s natural oils. This is ideal for dry and sensitive skin.
- Gel cleansers. These cleansers are clear with a gel-like consistency. These are recommended for oily and acne-prone skin as most of them have deep-cleaning and exfoliating properties
- Foam cleansers. These are known as lightweight solutions that create a foamy lather when dispensed from a pump container. These are best for combination skin types.
What makes a good facial cleanser for men?
Dry or sensitive skin
Information and indicator: Dry and sensitive skin happens when your skin loses much oil or water, indicating imbalance, and your sensitive skin reacts to external irritants. You will notice your skin is often flaky, itchy, and generally tight.
What to look for: The best cleanser for this skin type should have a mind and gentle formula that clears away gunk and grime while retaining your skin’s natural oils.
You can look for a hydrating face wash, ideally those with glycerin or essential oils. Some ingredients to also look for include ceramides for effective cleansing that does not compromise your skin barrier, hyaluronic acid for better hydration, and niacinamide to ease redness or inflammation.
Oily skin
Information and indicator: Oily skin stems from hormones, genetics, humidity, or even stress. Some indicators include large, noticeable pores and a greasy sheen immediately after you’ve cleansed.
What to look for: The ideal facial cleanser for men who have oily skin is a gel-based product, one with oil cleansing features and foaming properties that are mild and gentle on the skin. Look for an oil-control face wash that digs deep to purify your pores. Examples include products with charcoal as their active ingredient. Choose also those that help regulate your skin oil’s production without drying your face. More importantly, choose a pH-balanced formula to keep your skin refreshed and protected.
Some good ingredients to look for in a face wash for oily skin are niacinamide for calming properties, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and salicylic acid for soft exfoliation.
Combination skin
Information and Indicators: You have a combination skin type if some of your face’s areas are dry to normal while others, like your T-zone (nose, chin, and forehead), are oily. This type of skin often has enlarged pores, blackheads, and face parts that shine due to oiliness.
What to look for: Like a dry skin cleanser, your cleanser should clear away oil and dirt without stripping moisture from your face. Look for a formula that can thoroughly clean while providing a healthy dose of hydration. Ideally, one that protects your skin’s lipid barrier and locks in natural moisture, and cleanses unwanted surface oil.
Ingredient-wise, look for a formula that is ceramide-infused. One that eliminates excess oil from the T-zone. This way, you can balance your skin’s appearance and keep it healthy.
Acne-prone skin
Information and Indicators: You will know you have zit-prone skin when acne breakouts commonly happen on your skin. This is not just a regular pimple outbreak, which happens to many of us. Instead, this is an occurrence that leaves your skin with many pimples, oftentimes even making your skin inflamed.
What to look for: Choosing the proper cleanser is the best way to level up your anti-acne skincare regimen. This is because a good facial cleanser for men makes sure to keep your skin clean, moisturized, and healthier, especially before you do your other skincare steps.
The ideal face wash should be gentle and effective. To help reduce acne and improve skin appearance, look for acne-fighting product ingredients like Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, adapalene, alpha hydroxy acid, Vitamin C, and tea tree oil. You can also keep blemishes at bay while unclogging your pores by using aloe vera.
To minimize the appearance of redness and keep your skin feeling soothed and cool minus the harmful chemicals (parabens, sulfates, and phthalates), try the Aloe E™ Hawaiian Face Cleanser. Made with a unique combination of Hawaiian botanicals, this gentle gel aloe face cleanser is a great addition to your skincare routine. It calms and cools your skin, helps soothe and moisturize, reduce razor burn, and minimize redness. It also detoxifies and rehydrates after your workouts and other strenuous activities.
The bottom line
Make sure to employ the best skincare practices like rinsing your face with lukewarm water, avoiding skin scrubbing, using non-abrasive and natural products, and washing once or twice only per day. Identifying and doing the best skincare routine for yourself will allow you to be assured that you’re keeping your skin nourished and at its best.
Before saying “yes” to a cleanser, ensure that you’ve also considered your skin type and have identified the ingredients you need. This way, you know that your skin will be well taken care of and that its needs will be met. You can also opt to consult your dermatologist to find the right facial cleanser for men like you.
