Choosing a men’s face wash is a lot like picking out a new shirt. You want something that looks good, feels good, and doesn't disappoint you after a week. But unlike your favorite tee, you can't just toss a face wash in the laundry if it doesn't work out.

Your face, unfortunately, is a bit more high-maintenance than that. In a world where grooming has been hijacked by influencers hawking $100 serums and 20-step skincare routines, finding a simple, effective face wash feels like navigating a minefield.

So, let's cut through the BS. You don’t need a dermatology degree or a second mortgage to track down the best face cleanser. You just need to know what to look for. Here are the six most important factors to consider when you're staring down the aisle of cleansers, wondering what the hell glycolic acid is.

1. Your Skin Type

First things first, you need to figure out what kind of skin you’re dealing with. Is it oily enough to fry an egg on by noon? Dry and flaky like a croissant? Or maybe you’ve got combination skin, where your face can’t decide if it’s a desert or a slip 'n slide.

Knowing your skin type is like knowing whether you’re buying beer or wine—you’ve got to get the basics right. For most of you, a gentle, fragrance-free gel cleanser will do the trick. It's the Switzerland of face washes: neutral, non-combative, and friendly to all.

2. Ingredients

Reading the ingredients list on a face wash bottle is like deciphering a foreign language. But here’s a cheat sheet: look for niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids. These are the good guys—think of them as the holy trinity of face-friendly ingredients.

• Niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and keep sebum production under control
• Hyaluronic acid hydrates your skin from the inside out and enhances your lipid barrier
• Amino acids lock in moisture and soothe your skin

Of course, avoiding bad ingredients is as important as using good ones. Steer clear of anything that sounds like it belongs in a chemistry experiment, especially parabens and sulfates. They're the bad guys, ready to mess up your face like a villain in a bad action movie.

3. Skin Concerns

Got acne? Eczema? Dry patches? No worries, we all have our issues. Luckily, the right face wash can help keep these little nuisances in check. If you’re battling acne breakouts, you’ll want something that doesn’t strip your skin but keeps it clean—cue our hero, the gentle gel cleanser.

For aging concerns, those same magical ingredients (niacinamide and hyaluronic acid) will keep your skin plump and hydrated, making you look less like a dried apricot and more like a well-preserved adult.

When in doubt, defer to your dermatologist for face wash recommendations. They might be able to prescribe something special that Dr. Google can’t.

4. Gel vs. Foam

Choosing between a gel and a foam cleanser is like picking between a smooth jazz playlist and death metal. Foam cleansers are often packed with harsh ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which nukes your natural oils and leaves your face tighter than a drum.

Gel cleansers, on the other hand, are more like a mellow jam session. They clean without making your face feel like it’s been through a car wash. For example, Fresh Start is made with milder cleansing agents than SLS so you can suds up while still being gentle to your skin.

5. Fragrance

A blast of fragrance is nice for cologne and candles. But not so much in face wash. That "fresh scent" might smell good, but it’s often code for "extra chemicals your skin doesn’t need."

Many dermatologists recommend that men stick to fragrance-free face cleansers to avoid unnecessary irritation. Your skin will thank you, and you won’t smell like you just fell into a vat of perfume. Keep it simple and straightforward—just like your taste in face wash should be.

6. Price vs. Quality

Despite what your Instagram feed says, you don’t need to blow your entire paycheck to get a decent face wash. There’s a sweet spot where quality meets affordability—and it’s not in the $5 bargain bin or at the $200 luxury counter.

As guys who actually give a sh*t about our skin, we’ve seen the worst of both worlds. That’s why we made Fresh Start: our men’s face wash that cleanses, hydrates, soothes, and exfoliates for the price of a few beers.

See Why Guys Say Fresh Start Is the Best Face Wash for Men

Dudes are finally realizing that blasting their faces with neon-colored 3-in-1 soap isn’t ideal for their appearance. But a Google search for “men’s face wash” will give you literally millions of results.

You’ve got better things to do than compare ingredient lists and sift through a bunch of fake reviews. So we did the hard work for you and made Fresh Start. This is a 2-in-1 cleanser that gently removes grime from your face while gently exfoliating your skin. And only takes one pump to get the job done…

Fresh Start is safe for virtually any skin type and we even earned the Seal Of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association. This seal is only awarded to products deemed suitable for people with eczema or sensitive skin based on sensitivity, safety, toxicity, and ingredient testing data.

We could keep rambling, but we’ll let this random reviewer on our site do the talking:

“I've used Cerave every morning for years and my face would become oily by early afternoon. I saw and felt a noticeable difference the first day using Fresh Start. My skin remains soft and clean without the excess oil pushing my glasses down my face throughout the day. After 2 weeks, it's safe to say I found my new face cleanser!”