Save Your Face

It's a step that most men leave out of their grooming regimens, but if you're not exfoliating your face you're missing out. You could probably do without a sheet mask or an extra-hydrating serum or toner. But if you want good skin without a lot of work, you want an exfoliator in your medicine cabinet. Trust us, a good scrub will work wonders. It rids the face of dead skin by removing pore-clogging dirt and digging deep to uproot ingrown hairs. The end result is a more lively, healthy complexion because it also encourage circulation under the skin's surface.

And while it's not necessary (your body sheds skin cells naturally), exfoliating speeds up the process. Think of it like mopping your floor. You're scrubbing the grit and grime and leaving a clean surface. You'll instantly notice a smoother face and you'll be less likely to itch or break out. Why? Because it's often dead skin cells that end up clinging to your face, clogging up your pores and causing zits to form underneath.

The best time to use a scrub is in the shower. The steam will help open up your pores (and it makes clean up a whole lot easier). It's also the perfect pre-shave treatment, lifting whiskers away from the skin and preventing irritation. You want to massage the product into the skin with small circles, like you're waxing a car. Because that's really what you're doing here—rubbing on a slightly abrasive paste in order to remove dullness and environmental grime and polish the outer layer smooth. What's more, the better scrubs come packed with beneficial ingredients to condition skin while it cleans it. But before you get scrubbing, two notes of caution: Don't do this everyday (once or twice a week should be fine) and don't scrub too hard—let the product do the work.

Your Options

From gritty scrubs to gentler options that help dissolve dead skin with natural acids or enzymes, here are some of our favorites.

Enzyme exfoliant,
$69 by Grown Alchemist

For Sensitive Skin

Not all exfoliators are gritty scrubs. This completely granule-free exfoliant was developed to gently dissolve dead skin cells with natural fruit extracts and enzymes, promoting healthy cell renewal and skin hydration. The result is a more even complexion and a visible reduction in fine lines.

Enzyme exfoliant,
$69 by Grown Alchemist

Tea tree leaf facial exfoliant,
$40 by Aesop

For Acne Prone Skin

This powder is made with ground tea tree leaves (a proven acne fighter) and aloe (which helps speed up the healing of blemishes), along with crushed nut shells and purified clay that buffs skin. To activate it, you mix with a little water or cleaner and massage into skin.

Tea tree leaf facial exfoliant,
$40 by Aesop

Beard exfoliating paste,
$18 by Proraso

For Facial Hair

This scrub's texture comes from finely ground almond and hazelnut shells, which get in between beard hairs to clean and gently exfoliate the skin, while rosemary's antiseptic properties prevent ingrown hairs or other skin afflictions. Of course, this works well on freshly shaved faces too.

Beard exfoliating paste,
$18 by Proraso

Resurfacing glycolic pads,
$52 by Malin + Goetz

For Lazy Groomers

If you don't want to mess with the time and effort of a traditional scrub, try these easy pads. Infused with highly effective glycolic acid, they improve the appearance of pores and texture of skin, without the typical irritation of an aggressive chemical peel at the dermatologist's office.

Resurfacing glycolic pads,
$52 by Malin + Goetz