Best Men’s Face Washes for Oily Skin and Acne

There are certain things in life that look better with a nice shine:

Cars

Watches

Gold

Silver

But when it comes to our face, for some reason a nice high-gloss shine just doesn’t have the same aesthetic appeal. I know, bullshit right? Sorry, but I don’t make the rules buddy.

The fact is, if you suffer from oily skin you probably struggle daily with keeping the shine at bay and you’re also at a greater risk for acne and blackheads.

The technical term for the oil on our skin is sebum. And although sebum can be a major pain in the ass, it actually offers some serious benefits for our skin including keeping it moisturized, soft, and supple.

But just like most things in life, having too much of a good thing can have negative consequences.

If you’re one of the many men – like me – who’s skin produces too much sebum, using the right face wash can make a dramatic impact on the look and feel of your skin and can also significantly reduce that unappealing high-gloss shine.

Skip ahead to the list of best men’s face washes for oily skin and acne.

Choosing the Right Face Wash for Oily Skin and Acne

Although it may be tempting to send sebum packing with reckless abandon, it’s important to choose a face wash that doesn’t completely strip the skin of moisture.

Our skin does this annoying little thing where it will actually produce more oil if it detects dry skin, so finding a face wash that removes excess oil without stripping the skin of moisture is the ultimate goal here.

But finding a face wash that removes excess oil and maintains our skin’s natural moisture balance can be somewhat of a tall order.

Most store bought face washes tend to dehydrate the skin, which actually makes matters worse in the long run. That’s why it can be so hard to find a good face wash for oily skin that’s actually worth a damn; most simply exasperate the problem.

To simplify matters, I compiled a list of the best men’s face washes for oily skin and acne. Each one is designed to eliminate oily skin and fight acne, all while maintaining a healthy moisture balance. Enjoy.

The Lineup:

• Jack Black – Deep Dive
• Thrive Daily Face Wash
• Baxter of California Daily Face Wash
• Bulldog Oil Control Starter Kit for Men
• Brickell Clarifying Gel Face Wash
• Rugged and Dapper Daily Power Scrub
• Chamuel Men Deep Cleansing Face Wash
• Beau Brummell Charcoal Face Wash
• L’Oreal Men Expert Charcoal Face Wash
• Jack Black Pure Clean
• Neutrogena Men Oil-Free Face Wash
• Lather & Wood Charcoal Face Wash
• Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser

Best Men’s Face Washes for Oily Skin and Acne Reviewed

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Jack Black – Deep Dive

When it comes to the best face wash for oily skin and acne, Jack Black Deep Dive is the Rolls Royce of face washes for men. At least in my opinion. This one-of-a-kind facial cleanser is packed with unique ingredients that are chosen for their ability to eliminate oil, unclog pores, fight acne, and gently exfoliate dead skin. It also contains a bunch of all-natural and organic ingredients that are designed to soften and moisturize without exacerbating oily skin or acne. Here’s a look at some of the key ingredients: Glycolic acid, volcanic ash, kaolin clay, oat kernel, wolfsbane flower extract, rosemary leaf extract, green tea, olive leaf extract, aloe vera, chamomile extract, sunflower seed extract, marigold flower extract.

What I like about Jack Black Deep Dive:

• More than just a face wash

Jack Black formulated this facial cleanser to do more. It’s also designed to be a purifying face mask when left to dry on the skin. When used as a mask, this facial cleanser penetrates deep down into the pores to rid the skin of dirt, oil, and acne causing bacteria, while it firms and tightens the skin. I highly recommend using it as a mask once every few weeks.

• Gentle exfoliation

Deep Dive contains volcanic ash and kaolin clay which provide gentle exfoliation to eliminate oil, dry skin, and acne causing bacteria. Skin is left feeling noticeably softer, smoother, and best of all oil and acne free.

• Glycolic acid

One of my favorite things about Jack Black Deep Dive is that it contains glycolic acid. Derived from sugar cane, glycolic acid serves a ton of benefits for the skin that are ideal for men with oily skin and acne. It works as a gentle exfoliator that smoothes and softens the skin, it unclogs pores, and it’s highly effective at fighting acne. It also helps reduce ingrown hairs caused by shaving.

What I don’t like:

It’s a little pricey.

Benefits:

• Excellent for oily skin and acne
• Exfoliates dry skin
• Doubles as a purifying face mask
• Effective at preventing ingrown hairs
• Doesn’t dry out the skin

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Thrive Daily Face Wash

Beat oily skin into submission the natural way with Thrive Daily Face Wash for men. This all-natural face wash is formulated with 100% plant based ingredients that are strong enough to make oil, dirt, and grime its bitch, while leaving skin feeling clean, smooth, and hydrated. Powered by two unique Costa Rican plants, Fierrillo vine and Juanilama herb, Thrive Daily Face Wash doesn’t just cleanse the skin and eliminate oil, it also helps eliminate acne, soothe, and even helps prevent ingrown hairs from occurring. If you’re tired of dealing with oily skin, Thrive Daily Face Wash is definitely worth checking out.

What I like about Thrive Daily Face Wash:

• All-natural

When it comes to my grooming and skincare needs, I’m no fan of putting synthetic chemicals and ingredients on my skin, and I would bet most of you guys don’t either. The thing I like most about Thrive Daily Face Wash is the fact that it’s formulated from safe, all-natural ingredients that come straight from the earth. No synthetic chemicals. No Harsh ingredients.

• Sensitive skin safe

You know what’s great about safe, all-natural plant based ingredients? They are perfect for guys with sensitive skin. Since they put nothing but plant based ingredients in their Daily Face Wash, Thrive ensures us that it’s completely safe for guys with even the most sensitive skin types.

• A little goes a long way

You really don’t need to use a lot of this stuff to get the job done. I find that a nickel sized dollop is more than enough to work into a rich lather, that thoroughly cleanses oil, dirt, and grime from my face and beard with ease. So unless you have an abnormally large face, try not to overdue how much you squeeze from the tube. A measured approach will save you money in the long run.

• Rich lather

Lather is definitely one of the things I look for in a face wash, and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from the all-natural ingredients found in Thrive Daily Face Wash. I was wrong. Thrive works into a thick, rich lather that quickly breaks down dirt, oil, and grime. It also does an awesome job of cleansing my facial hair without leaving it stripped of moisture.

• Fresh scent

While the smell of face wash isn’t the biggest deal in the world, I couldn’t help but notice that Thrive has a nice pleasant scent that provides a nice little pick me up during those early morning showers. I would describe the scent as warm, earthy, and citrusy, with hints of lemon, clove and vetiver.

What I don’t like:

Nothing. It’s an awesome all-natural face wash for oily skin, a little goes a long way, and it’s reasonably priced.

Benefits:

• Eliminates oil without drying out the skin
• Moisturizes
• Made with 100% natural ingredients
• Sensitive skin safe
• Smells great
• Vegan

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Baxter of California Daily Face Wash

Give your face the VIP treatment it deserves and tell oily skin to take a hike with this Daily Face Wash from Baxter of California. Formulated specifically for men, Baxter of California products have been around since 1965 and are known to be super premium and highly effective. Their Daily Face Wash for men is designed to eliminate oil, dirt, dead skin, acne, and blackheads all without over-drying the skin. It simply leaves your face feeling clean, smooth, hydrated, and of course oil and shine free all day. Perfect.

What I like about Baxter of California Daily Face Wash:

• Doesn’t over-dry the skin

One of the reasons most face washes don’t eliminate oily skin is because they are overly drying. Contrary to what most people think, stripping your face of moisture doesn’t actually improve oily skin, it makes it worse. Our pores actually produce more sebum (oil) when they detect dry or dehydrated skin, so stripping your face of moisture will actually produce the opposite effect of what you’re trying to achieve.

Baxter of California is designed to eliminate excess oil without stripping the skin of essential moisture and nutrients. It also helps nourish and hydrate the skin with the help of aloe vera and allantoin.

• A little goes a long way

While the cost of this Daily Face Wash is a bit of a surprise, I was happy to see that not much is needed to get the job done. A dime size amount of this stuff works into a thick, rich lather that leaves the skin feeling fresh, clean, and oil free.

• Safe for sensitive skin

It says all skin types on the bottle and they mean it. Formulated without parabens or fragrances, this face wash is a safe choice for guys with sensitive skin.

• Safe for facial hair

Whether you’re rocking a full beard, mustache, or just a little stubble, this face wash is not only safe for your facial hair, but it’s actually great for cleansing, softening, and hydrating it.

What I don’t like:

I’d like to see Baxter of California make it more affordable.

Benefits:

• Removes oil without over-drying
• Hydrates skin
• Caffeine provides an energized skin feeling
• Great for sensitive skin
• Fights acne and blackheads

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Bulldog Oil Control Starter Kit for Men

Bulldog is one of the fastest growing skincare lines designed for men due to their effectiveness and affordability. Based out of the U.K. Bulldog offers everything from bar soap, face washes, facial scrubs, moisturizer, shampoo, body wash and even shaving products. One of their best selling products is their unique line of facial care kits formulated to handle various men’s skin types including oily skin, sensitive skin, and normal skin. Their Oil Control Starter Kit contains a 5 oz bottle of face wash and a 3.3 oz bottle of facial moisturizer that is designed to gently control and eliminate excess oil without drying out the skin.

What I like about the Bulldog Oil Control Starter Kit:

• Face wash and moisturizer

One of the things that I really like about the Bulldog Oil Control Kit is that it contains 2 products that help get oily skin and acne under control. Many people believe that applying moisturizer to the face will make oily skin and acne worse but it’s important to know that that is not true as long as you use an oil-free facial moisturizer.

• Safe ingredients

Bulldog uses a combination of natural and manmade ingredients that are safe and gentle on the skin, yet still highly effective. While their products aren’t 100% all-natural, the trade off is that their products are very affordable while still delivering great results.

• Doesn’t dry out the skin

While many oily skin face washes tend to dry out the skin, Bulldog Oil Control face wash is different. Not only does it eliminate and help keep oily skin under control, but it leaves the skin feeling soft and hydrated.

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Brickell Clarifying Gel Face Wash For Men

Brickell’s products are designed exclusively for men and you can clearly tell when you open the bottle and are greeted with a fresh masculine scent. Aside from its great fragrance, this natural and organic face wash is designed to eliminate oil and shine without over-drying the skin. Coconut based cleansers wash away oil, while the powerful antiseptic geranium washes away impurities, and aloe vera is added to renew, rehydrate, and fight acne. In regards to value for your money, a little goes a long way with this face wash and only a small amount is needed to work into a thick, rich lather.

What I like about Brickell Clarifying Gel Face Wash:

• Natural & Organic

You don’t have to be a health nut to appreciate natural and organic skincare products; I’m certainly not. One of the biggest selling points of Brickell products (at least for me) is the fact that they formulate all of their products with natural and organic ingredients. No mystery ingredients and no damaging chemicals. Just safe, natural skincare that actually does what it’s supposed to.

• Masculine fragrance

Brickell specializes in male specific grooming products so it’s no surprise that this clarifying gel face wash has rugged, masculine scent. It smells fresh, citrusy, and provides a nice little invigorating kick during those early morning showers.

• A little goes a long way

While this face wash loses points for being kind of pricey, I’m glad to report that a little bit of this stuff goes a long way. Just a small dab works into a thick lather that breaks down dirt, grime, and oily skin. So while it’s not the cheapest face wash in the world, a bottle of it is going to last you.

What I don’t like:

It’s a bit pricey.

Benefits:

• Great masculine scent
• Eliminates oil without over-drying
• Long lasting oil control
• Fights acne
• Natural & organic
• Won’t clog pores
• Available in travel size

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Rugged & Dapper Face Wash For Men

This multi-purpose face wash from Rugged & Dapper covers all the bases in terms of functionality – it’s an energizing face wash, toner, and exfoliator in one, and leaves skin feeling clean, smooth, and rejuvenated. Formulated specifically for men, Rugged & Dapper Face Wash is designed to eliminate excess oil, grime, dirt and helps fight acne all without stripping the skin of moisture. Gentle exfoliating particles blast dead skin and imperfections into oblivion while the built in toner helps kick oily skin’s ass, and reduce the appearance of pores. Made of all natural and organic ingredients, this facial cleanser contains vitamins and minerals such as: aloe vera, vitamin C, and willow bark that help moisturize, heal, and protect.

What I like about Rugged & Dapper Face Wash:

• It’s a toner

While most of you guys probably don’t use a facial toner on a regular basis (or ever), toners are highly effective at eliminating oily skin, acne, and reducing pore size. The fact that this Rugged & Dapper face wash has a toner built right in makes this one of the most effective and convenient face washes for oily skin you’re likely to come across.

• Exfoliator

Eliminating oily skin isn’t the only thing this Rugged & Dapper face wash is great at. It’s also formulated with safe, natural exfoliating particles that eliminate dead and dry skin, leaving skin feeling clean, smooth, and refreshed.

• Natural and organic

Formulated with all-natural and organic ingredients, this Rugged & Dapper face wash is a great option for men who prefer to avoid using harsh chemicals and ingredients on their skin. What’s inside:

• Aloe vera – A natural anti-inflammatory that contains antioxidants, enzymes, and vitamins A and C. Known for it’s ability to moisturize, treat acne, and alleviate dry skin.
• Vitamin C – A potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals and heal damaged skin.
• Willow bark – Provides gentle exfoliation and helps eliminate oil and acne, and can even help reduce the appearance of pores.
• Burdock root – Contains anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help fight acne and blackheads, and helps to eliminate oily skin.

What I don’t like:

I’d like to see Rugged & Dapper make this more affordable by lowering the price a bit. I’d also like it if they offered it in other sizes like a travel size bottle.

Benefits:

• Multi-purpose face wash
• Eliminates oil without stripping the skin
• Long lasting oil control
• Natural and organic
• Won’t clog pores
• Packed with vitamins
• Exfoliates
• Toner
• Masculine scent

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Chamuel Men Daily Facial Cleanser

This deep cleansing facial wash from Chamuel Men is formulated to target acne and wrinkles while eliminating excess oil, blackheads and impurities. Infused with glycolic acid and rose hip oil, this natural acne face wash gently exfoliates the skin for a softer, smoother, more evenly balanced texture while the anti-aging formula treats sun damage, fades age spots, and increases collagen production. A touch of orange oil is added for a light, fresh, man-friendly scent.

What I like about Chamuel Men Deep Cleansing Face Wash:

• Glycolic acid

One of my favorite things about Chamuel Men Deep Cleansing Face Wash is that it contains glycolic acid. Typically derived from sugar cane, glycolic acid is highly effective at fighting oily skin and also offers a bunch of other skin benefits as well, including: exfoliation, fights acne, unclogs pores, brightens skin, evens skin tone, smoothes wrinkles, and even helps prevent ingrown hairs.

• Fresh scent

While eliminating oily skin is the pièce de résistance of this face wash, I couldn’t help but notice its pleasant citrusy aroma thanks to the addition of sweet orange oil. Not only does it provide a subtle masculine scent, but orange oil also helps stimulate cell turnover, and even nourishes and detoxifies the skin.

• Anti-aging ingredients

Not only is this one of the best men’s face washes for oily skin, it also helps reduce the signs of aging. What’s inside:

• Moon orchid extract – Originating from New Guinea, moon orchid extract penetrates deep into the skin to restore moisture, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and even block damaging free radicals. Powerful stuff.
• Aloe vera extract – This powerful moisturizer restores elasticity to the skin and also contains antimicrobial properties that helps fight acne and blackheads.
• Rose hip oil – Full of vitamins and nutrients, rose hip oil helps lock in moisture and gives skin a softer, smoother, more supple texture.

What I don’t like:

Nothing. Reasonable price. Great for oily skin.

Benefits:

• Anti-aging formula
• Eliminates excess oil
• Fights acne & blackheads
• Smooths skin
• Natural ingredients
• Subtle citrus scent
• Reasonably priced

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Beau Brummell Charcoal Face Wash

This deep cleansing face wash from Beau Brummell is designed to reduce excess oil and eliminate shine, all without drying the skin. It contains natural activated charcoal which helps detoxify and purify the skin deep within the pores. Not only does the charcoal add a cool black color to the face wash, but more importantly it absorbs and traps toxins and impurities, allowing them to be easily washed from the skin. Although this Charcoal Face Wash isn’t cheap, a little goes a long way and only a single pump from the bottle is needed to build up a nice lather. Although the face wash exits the bottle as a smooth black liquid, it somehow turns into a foamy white lather once you begin to work it between your hands. Kind of cool. And like all Beau Brummell men’s products, this deep cleansing face wash features a fresh, masculine scent.

What I like about Beau Brummell Charcoal Face Wash:

• Activated charcoal

I’m a big fan of activated charcoal based skincare products due to all of the benefits that charcoal offers the skin. With its naturally absorbent characteristics, activated charcoal pulls oil, dirt, bacteria, toxins, and chemicals from the skin, providing a smoother, healthier appearance, all while fighting acne and eliminating shine.

• Fights acne

Not only is this face wash highly effective at eliminating oily skin, it also does a kick-ass job of eliminating acne too. Activated charcoal has long been one of my go-to secrets when dealing with face or body acne, and I’m glad to report that it’s inclusion in this men’s face wash makes it a highly effective solution for men who still deal with the occasional breakout.

What I don’t like:

Although the pump bottle is a nice size, I wouldn’t mind seeing Beau Brummell lower the price on this one a bit.

Benefits:

• Detoxes and purifies
• Safe for sensitive skin
• Fights acne
• Eliminates excess oil
• Long lasting oil control
• Long lasting bottle/ a little goes a long way

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L’Oreal Men Expert Charcoal Facial Cleanser

This charcoal infused face wash for men by L’Oreal was designed to fight these 5 common problems: oily skin, shine, dirt, stickiness, dullness and clogged pores. The activated charcoal does its job by trapping toxins and impurities found in your skin and pores, and also does a great job of absorbing and eliminating excess oil. Featuring a fresh, masculine scent, this activated charcoal face wash squeezes out of the bottle as a black liquid, but works into a rich white lather. If you’re looking for a good men’s face wash for oily skin but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, this Charcoal Face Wash from L’Oreal is a great option.

What I like about L’Oreal charcoal face wash:

• It’s affordable and it works

Often times when us guys buy skincare products, we have to make a choice between cost and effectiveness. While great skincare products aren’t cheap, cheap skincare products typically don’t work. What I like about this L’Oreal charcoal face wash is the fact that it’s very reasonably priced, but it still does what it’s intended to do.

Pros:

• Does a good job of removing excess oil
• Long lasting oil control
• Detoxes and purifies
• Safe for sensitive skin
• Fights acne
• Unclogs pores
• Long lasting
• Cheap

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Jack Black 2-in-1 Facial Cleanser & Toner

For some serious oil control power, consider this 2-in-1 face wash from Jack Black. Formulated to be a cleanser and toner in one, this face wash is designed to remove excess oil and dirt, tighten pores, fight acne, and eliminate blackheads without stripping the skin of moisture. Featuring certified organic ingredients, including aloe, sage leaf, chamomile, and rosemary, this face wash soothes and hydrates irritated skin, and even helps prep the skin for shaving. Although Jack Black products tend to carry a premium price tag, a little goes a long way with this one so you really don’t need to use much to get the job done. And like most Jack Black products, this facial cleanser carries a subtle masculine scent that smells fresh and clean.

What I like about Jack Black facial cleanser:

• Cleanser and toner

Even though I highly recommend that guys who suffer from oily skin use a daily facial toner, I know most of you probably won’t. I understand that most men aren’t interested in time consuming daily skincare regimens (myself included), which is why I think this 2-in-1 face wash from Jack Black is so great. The combined cleanser and toner in one helps streamline your morning routine, while still providing your skin the necessary oil and shine control that it needs. Convenient.

What I don’t like:

Although this Jack Black face wash for oily skin performs really well, I’m not too crazy about its high price tag.

Benefits:

• Cleanser and toner in one
• Removes excess oil without stripping the skin
• Long lasting oil control
• Light masculine scent/not overpowering
• Fights acne
• Available in travel size

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Neutrogena Men Invigorating Oil-Free Face Wash

If you haven’t heard of Neutrogena before, I can safely assume you’ve been living under a rock. While they are one of the most popular skincare brands in the world, they didn’t always offer a line of products designed specifically for us guys. Well, now they do. This Neutrogena Men Face Wash is formulated to clean deep down in the pores to help obliterate oil, dirt, and bacteria without stripping the skin of moisture. Perfect for oily guys like us, this face wash is formulated to be oil-free so it won’t clog pores, and won’t make our shiny face situation worse. A dime sized amount is really all you need to work this face wash into a unique cooling lather that feels pretty refreshing on the skin.

What I like about Neutrogena Men Invigorating Face Wash:

• It’s invigorating, obviously

While this face wash isn’t going to have you doing backflips on your way to work, I find that the refreshingly cool menthol tingle not only feels pretty great on my face, but it provides a much needed pick me up during those early morning showers. Win-win I suppose.

• Doesn’t dry out the skin

The problem with many face washes for oily skin is that they completely strip the skin of moisture. Not only does this have negative consequences for the skin, but it can actually make oily skin worse. One of the things that really impressed me about this Neutrogena Men face wash is it’s ability to tackle excess oil, without drying out the skin. It simply leaves the face feeling smooth, soft, and hydrated,

What I don’t like:

Nothing. For the price, this is a great men’s face wash for oily skin.

Benefits:

• Removes oil without drying out the skin
• Oil-free formulation
• Cooling effect on the skin
• Fights acne
• Light masculine scent
• Very affordable

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Lather & Wood Charcoal Face Wash

Designed exclusively for gentleman such as us, this activated charcoal face wash from Lather & Wood is specifically formulated to pull excess oil, dirt, toxins, and chemicals from the skin while organic aloe vera helps restore moisture and lost hydration. Perfect for oily skin sufferers like us, the activated charcoal based formula digs deep within the pores to pull out oil, which leads to less shine, and longer lasting oil free skin throughout the day. And like all Lather & Wood skincare products, it features a refreshingly manly scent that isn’t too strong or overbearing. Thumbs up.

What I like about Lather & Wood Charcoal Face Wash:

• Activated charcoal

If you know anything about this site, then you’ve probably noticed how much I like activated charcoal based grooming products. From face wash to toothpaste and everything in-between, activated charcoal is popping up everywhere due to it’s ability to get shit done. Aside from being an awesome ingredient to help eliminate oily skin, activated charcoal also pulls toxins, dirt, chemicals, and other micro-particles from the skin thanks to its highly porous nature.

• Smells great

Lather & Wood formulated this activated charcoal face wash for men, so it only makes sense that it has a great masculine scent.

• Nice lather

This Lather & Wood face wash works into a nice, thick lather that really goes a long way. Just a small dime sized amount is enough to tackle oil, dirt, grime, and bacteria.

What I don’t like:

Some users complain that the charcoal leaves stains on light colored washcloths.

Benefits:

• Removes excess oil without over-drying
• Fights acne
• Detoxes and purifies with activated charcoal
• Lathers well
• A little goes a long way
• It tingles
• Convenient pump bottle
• Masculine scent

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Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser

This face wash from Anthony uses the power of 4.9% glycolic acid to cleanse and remove surface impurities from the skin. Glycolic acid is an exfoliator, and is very effective at removing the outermost layers of dead skin from the face, helping to reveal fresher and brighter skin. Glycolic acid is also excellent at reducing excessive oil, and also prevents the clogging of pores that lead to acne. While this is more of a lotion type cleanser and does not foam, it still offers a deep cleanse that eliminates oil without stripping the skin of moisture. In regards to effective face washes for oily skin, Anthony Glycolic Facial cleanser is a winner in my book.

What I like about Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser:

• Restores healthy skin

Over time our skin naturally begins to look tired and worn out. Its part of life. What I really like about this face wash from Anthony is the 4.9% glycolic acid’s ability to gently exfoliate the outermost layer of skin on the face, which results in a fresher, healthier, more vibrant appearance. Just because we’re men, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care about the health and appearance of our skin.

• Citrus scent

Like most of Anthony’s products, this Glycolic Facial Cleanser has a fresh masculine fragrance that smells great on the skin.

• Smooths and softens

Not only is this an awesome men’s face wash for oily skin, but it also does a great job of leaving skin feeling noticeably softer and smoother.

What I don’t like:

It’s a bit pricey and it doesn’t lather.

Benefits:

• Excellent exfoliator
• Excellent for oily skin
• Fights acne
• Unclogs pores
• Available in travel size
• Citrusy scent

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What Causes Oily Skin?

Having oily skin kinda sucks. But the fact is everyone has oily skin to one degree or another.

The technical term for the oil our bodies produce is sebum, and it’s responsible for keeping our skin hydrated, soft, and supple. While sebum plays an important role in the health of our skin, it can be a real pain in the ass when our bodies make too much of it.

Sebum is produced in our sebaceous glands which are located under each one of the pores on our skin. And since we have thousands of pores on our face, we also have thousands of sebaceous glands working non-stop to potentially make us oily skin sufferers lives a living hell.

Aside from the unattractive shiny face that oily skin causes, there are plenty of additional negative side effects as a result of over-enthusiastic sebaceous glands, including:

• Acne
• Blackheads
• Enlarged pores

While there are many factors that can contribute to oily skin, the true underlying causes are genetics and age. And while I hate to be the bearer of bad news, the fact is we can’t completely eliminate oily skin that is a result of our genetic makeup, but we can take steps to control it and help reduce the negative effects it has on our skin.

How to Reduce Oily Skin and Acne

Step 1: Wash your face

This one is pretty obvious. If you suffer from overactive sebaceous glands, washing your face daily with a good face wash is the crucial first step to combating oily skin and acne.

If you’re unsure about choosing a good face wash for oily skin, try scrolling back up to the top of this page and consider one of the men’s face washes I have listed. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.

Step 2: Use a toner

While most men prefer to avoid high maintenance skincare routines —myself included — using a toner once per day can have a huge impact on the look and feel of your skin, and most importantly it will help keep your skin oil free throughout the day.

Aside from eliminating oily skin, toners help fight acne, reduce pore size, moisturize, refresh, and even protect. For a great toner designed specifically for men, I recommend Baxter of California Herbal Mint Toner (available on Amazon) or check out my list of best men’s toners for oily skin.

Step 3: Moisturize

Lots of oily skin sufferers tend to avoid moisturizers like the plague. The belief is that moisturizer will make skin look and feel even greasier. But the trick is to use the right type of moisturizer. For guys with really oily skin, an oil-free moisturizer will help keep the skin hydrated without the greasy feeling and shine.

Our sebaceous glands’ job is to make sure our skin is kept moisturized and hydrated. When they detect dry skin, they jump into action and start producing sebum to help nourish. By using a good oil-free moisturizer and keeping your skin hydrated, you can help reduce the amount of sebum that your sebaceous glands produce. My recommendation for a great oil-free moisturizer for men is Jack Black Clean Break.

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Thanks for checking out my list of best men’s face washes for oily skin and acne. If you found this article helpful, check out my list of best men’s facial toners for oily skin. As always, If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to drop me a line in the comment section below.