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If you are in a hurry and just want to find the best face wash for black skin, then we recommend the Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser as the best.
The best men's face wash. Period.
- Great for guys with acne & oily skin.
- Rockstar ingredients that smooth and soften skin.
- Dermatologist-tested for all skin types.
- Over 2,700 5-star reviews on Amazon.
- Amazing "forest-like" sage scent.
- More expensive than others (but so worth it).
Keeping your skin looking fresh and smooth is an essential part of maintaining your appearance. Your face is the first thing people see when they meet you, and it is a representation of you as a person.
Our Picks for the Best Face Wash for Black Men:
- Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser
- Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser
- Brickell Men’s Purifying Charcoal Face Wash For Men
- RUGGED & DAPPER Daily Face Wash And Scrub Cleanser For Men
- Era Organics Beard And Mane Organic Men’s Face And Body Wash
- L’Oreal Paris Skincare Men Expert Hydra Energetic Facial Cleanser
- NIVEA Men DEEP Cleansing Beard & Face Wash
The 7 Best Face Washes for Black Men
As a black man, it is common to have some skin problems other people do not have, so you need to know the best face wash for black men. I tried some of the best options out there so I could give you all the information on what product might work best for you.
1. Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser
The best men's face wash. Period.
- Great for guys with acne & oily skin.
- Rockstar ingredients that smooth and soften skin.
- Dermatologist-tested for all skin types.
- Over 2,700 5-star reviews on Amazon.
- Amazing "forest-like" sage scent.
- More expensive than others (but so worth it).
The Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser is my overall top pick of face washes for black men. Is it more than other products? Yes. But you do want the best, right? And trust us — we think this is the best face wash you can buy.
It contains ingredients that support healthy skin like witch hazel, aloe, chamomile, sage leaf, and rosemary. The formula fights skin problems caused by fungus and bacteria. Plus, this product is a 2-in-1 facial cleanser and toner. So, you can toss your old skin toner in the trash.
It is also great for preparing your skin before you shave so you don’t get ingrown hairs, and it will help if you suffer from folliculitis. I found that this helped my skin clear up when I had acne and that it helped to prevent irritation from shaving.
I also noticed that my skin felt clean after I used it. It removed all of the dirt and oil but did not leave my skin feeling tight or overly dry. It is a product men who shave regularly will appreciate. Plus, it is gentle enough to use every day or even multiple times each day.
Boasting an impressive 4.7-star review with over 2,700 guys rating it 5 stars, we’re not the only ones raving about this face wash. But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what one extremely enthusiastic reviewer had to say:
I have an oily skin condition that leaves me with flaky skin and whelps if it gets bad enough. The flakes would be in my eyebrows and always in my ears. The whelps would happen by both sides of my nose. The dermatologist told me to wash my face with head and shoulders and when the issue would get bad enough I had a prescription cream to use. This has been going on since the mid 90’s.
I started using Jack Blacks Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser and Jack Blacks Clean Break Oil-Free Moisturizer and it all went away. No more flaky ears or eyebrows. No more redness and whelps around my nose. No more worrying about the weather changing and how it will affect my skin. No more oily face during the day and having to rinse it at work.
This is great stuff, please never change it, never stop making it because I will be buying it forever.
Need we say more?
2. Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser
- High-quality ingredients.
- You can use it as a face mask.
- Effectively exfoliates your skin.
- Has a great smell.
- More expensive than others on the list.
First up, we have the Jack Black Deep Dive cleanser. Yes, it’s expensive. But you do want the best, right? After all, you deserve it. And why settle for a facial cleaner chalked full of unnatural ingredients? Don’t worry about that with this cleanser.
It’s perfect for black men with a variety of skin types and skin conditions. I like this one because it has a nice feel while you are washing your face. I also like that you can use this cleanser as a face mask, and it exfoliates, as well.
The ingredients like volcanic ash and kaolin clay are an effective mask that pulls dirt out. I am all for products that are good for multiple uses, and that is one of the reasons that I enjoy using this face wash.
The only thing I can say negative about it is that if you have sensitive skin, it might irritate it when used frequently. It is also not the best product to use multiple times per day. However, if you suffer from ingrown hairs, the exfoliating power is excellent for working the strands out from under the skin.
It also leaves your face feeling soft and clean. Plus, this product is available in three sizes, so if you are on a budget, you can go with the smaller bottle and purchase the larger one later.
3. Brickell Men’s Purifying Charcoal Face Wash for Men
The purifying charcoal face wash by Brickell contains a lot of beneficial ingredients like charcoal, jojoba oil, olive oil, and aloe vera. It is a great face wash for black men with dry skin.
The product is also all-natural and organic, so you know you are not using something with a lot of impurities on your skin. If you have acne or other skin ailments, this product will treat that. Vitamin E oil and antioxidants help to repair damaged skin and prevent future breakouts.
The smell is also pleasant, making this a great face wash to use when you wake up in the morning. Plus, it is gentle enough to use several times a day. The formula effectively removes excess oil without over-drying your skin.
The one thing this wash is lacking is an exfoliant. So, it is not the best for men with ingrown hairs or anyone who needs to remove dead skin cells.
4. RUGGED & DAPPER Daily Face Wash and Scrub Cleanser for Men
RUGGED & DAPPER Daily Face Wash and Scrub Cleanser is an excellent product for most skin types. It has a ton of positive ingredients that naturally treat a variety of skin conditions.
You will notice as soon as you use it that it has a fresh smell thanks to all of the essential oils the company uses in this scrub. The essential oils also give this a refreshing feel on your skin.
Jojoba oil beads are used to give this wash exfoliating capabilities, and while I love this usage, if you have a beard, you might notice they get stuck in your beard.
You can remedy this by rinsing your face a few times, but this can be a pain if you are in a hurry to get out the door in the morning. All in all, this is an excellent product for black men, especially if you are dealing with skin issues or if your skin fluctuates between oily and dry.
5. Era Organics Beard and Mane Organic Men’s Face and Body Wash
- Has ingredients that naturally promote healthy Organic and free of harsh chemicals.
- Smell is pleasant and not too strong.
- Use it as a body wash, too.
- Not great for oily skin.
- Not a great exfoliator.
The organic men’s face and body wash by er-a organics is a great two in one product for men. The formula is full of a variety of beneficial ingredients like avocado oil, rosehips, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter, making it an excellent moisturizer for black men as well.
However, it might not be the best choice for people with overly oily skin because it has few ingredients to help men with this skin type. However, it does have anti-aging properties thanks to all of the great oils.
So, if you need something to fight aging, this product is a great choice. The smell is also really nice, but it is not over-powering. So, it nicely compliments most colognes.
6. L’Oreal Paris Skincare Men Expert Hydra Energetic Facial Cleanser
The L’Oreal Paris charcoal cleanser for men is an effective face wash and a good option if you are on a budget. It is not the best formula because it does contain some ingredients that I would rather not use on my face.
It does contain some beneficial things like charcoal that pulls the oil and dirt out of your skin. Plus, the formula is suitable for everyday use. When you use it, you will notice that it suds well, which helps when you are applying it to your skin.
It also feels nice on your skin because it contains some peppermint oil, which gives it a cooling and revitalizing feeling. However, you want to make sure you do not get this product in your eyes because it will burn.
That is true of most quality facial cleansers, though, especially anything that has essential oils. Overall, if you are looking for a product that you can use frequently and something that leaves your skin feeling clean, this is a pretty good choice. It will also help to clear up mild acne and prevent most future breakouts.
7. NIVEA Men DEEP Cleansing Beard & Face Wash
- Smells great.
- Lathers nicely.
- Leaves the skin feeling clean.
- Suitable for use by men with beards.
- Contains chemicals and is not a natural product.
- If you have sensitive skin, it might irritate you.
- Does not exfoliate.
The DEEP Cleansing Beard & Face Wash by NIVEA is a pleasant product. I enjoyed washing my face with this product because it has great vanilla and bourbon scents. I also like that this face wash has charcoal and that it is suitable for men with beards.
You can use it if you do not have a beard too. However, this face wash goes on smooth and does not leave anything behind to get stuck in your beard. It also washes off quickly. You do not have to rinse your face repeatedly to get all of the product off.
And when you are done lathering and rinsing, your skin feels clean. The only downfall with this cleanser is that it is not all-natural or organic. It is a gel cleanser, though, and it lathers well. Another thing that I do not love is that it does not seem like there is a lot of charcoal in the product.
If you have used charcoal products in the past, you know that they usually have a dark color. This product is a gray gel, but it lacks the dark pigment most products like this have, which leads me to believe the company does not use a lot of this key ingredient.
Other than that, if you want a great smelling product that leaves your skin feeling clean, this product accomplishes that.
Why Black Men Have Different Skin Issues

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Your hair is curly, which means that when you shave, which most black men do at some point, your skin has to combat ingrown hairs. These ingrown hairs can damage your skin and cause unsightly bumps.
The reason for this is that when you shave, you cause your hairs to have sharp edges. Then when they start to grow back, these edges can cut into your skin and get trapped under the skin.
Your skin then has an inflammatory response as it tries to heal. Your hair texture gives you the ability to grow an attractive beard.
But even if you grow a beard, you still have to deal with ingrown hairs, and it is always vital to maintain healthy skin. You might also suffer from folliculitis, which is common for many black men, and it requires special care.
Other Skin Issues
In addition to having to deal with the way your skin reacts to your hair, you also have to deal with the issues that many men have, including pimples, blackheads, dry skin, and oily skin. Plus there are several outside factors that affect your skin like:
- Pollution
- Dirt from touching your face
- A busy lifestyle
- Lack of sleep
- Your diet
All of these things can make it difficult for your body to maintain healthy-looking skin. So, it is essential to use products that boost your skin’s ability to regenerate and repair.
Ingredients to Look for in a Face Wash
You need to choose a face wash that supports your skin with lots of natural ingredients. You also need to take into consideration your specific skin type. If you have dry skin, you need a product that contains a lot of moisturizers.
If you suffer from oily skin, you still need moisturizers because moisturizing your skin can slow down the production of oils, but you do not want something that is going to make your skin overly oily either. Some of the best ingredients for combating oily skin are:
- Salicylic Acid
- Tea Tree Oil
- Glycolic Acid
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Hyaluronic Acid
Each of these ingredients helps to reduce the amount of oil on your skin, and they also help to fight off bacteria that become trapped in oils. If you have oily skin, it is important to use a product that kills bacteria because otherwise, you will suffer from acne. For dry skin, you should look for ingredients like:
- Glycolic Acid
- Lactic Acid
- Tea
- Urea
- Aloe Vera
All of these ingredients help to fight off dry skin without leaving your skin oily. Even if you have dry skin, you do not want to leave an oily product on your skin because it can cause bacteria to build up on your skin.
It can also lead to acne, folliculitis, and even fungal infections, and no one wants that on their face. However, you might also want to invest in an excellent moisturizer for black men to keep your skin soft without unwanted residue.
How Often Should You Use a Face Wash?

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The truth is, there is no definitive answer on how often you should wash your face. However, experts say it is best to wash your face in the morning and at night before you go to bed. During the day you touch your face and you, the air is full of harsh pollutants that attach to your skin.
So it’s imperative to wash your face before you go to bed. Another critical reason to wash your face before you go to sleep is that you do not wash your pillow daily, so the dirt on your skin builds up on your pillowcase. If you have dirt and bacteria on your pillow, it can cause a lot of skin issues, and it can even cause scalp problems.
So, it is imperative to make sure you wash your face each night before you get in bed. It is just as essential to wash your face in the morning, though. As you sleep, your skin produces oil and bacteria can grow at night.
Washing your face in the morning is a great way to ensure you have clean skin, and it is also an excellent way to start your day. If you work out or play sports, you will also want to wash your face after those activities. Your skin produces more oil when you sweat, and leaving your skin unwashed is a recipe for disaster.
If your face feels itchy or greasy throughout the day, you might also want to consider doing a quick wash because you might be having an allergic reaction to pollen in the air, or you might have touched your face with something that could cause you to breakout.
What’s the Best Face Wash for Black Men?
All of these products have qualities that make them great facial cleansers. However, in my opinion, the best face wash for black men is the Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser.
The best men's face wash. Period.
- Great for guys with acne & oily skin.
- Rockstar ingredients that smooth and soften skin.
- Dermatologist-tested for all skin types.
- Over 2,700 5-star reviews on Amazon.
- Amazing "forest-like" sage scent.
- More expensive than others (but so worth it).
It is excellent for frequent use. All men can appreciate that it washes off your skin thoroughly without leaving exfoliating debris behind. Plus, it supports healthy skin without a lot of unnecessary ingredients that can irritate your skin.
I also like that it has a toner and that it leaves your skin shave ready without the need for an additional product. You can use it in the morning and at night, and it does not make your skin feel too oily, and overall, this product does the best job of balancing my skin.
I do use a high-quality moisturizer for black men with it to keep my skin soft, but if you do not mind this extra step, this is an excellent product for you too.