Facial Scrubs and Liquid Exfoliants for Men

Apart from facial scrubs, there are liquid exfoliants. Learn when and how to use each, and what they can do for your specific skin issue.

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead cells from the skin’s surface. Because it exposes new cells, the face appears brighter and fresher.

It also keeps the skin clear of blackheads; prevents ingrown hairs of the face and head if you shave; and benefits beards and mustaches by stimulating circulation and clearing follicles.

Facial scrubs first gained popularity during the 1970s, but most men have always exfoliated, even before the term was commonplace. Shaving brushes, razor blades, and washcloths are incidental, daily exfoliants.

But some men need more.

Why Should Men Use a Dedicated Exfoliant?

Incidental exfoliants remove loose surface cells, but dedicated or corrective products work more deeply. They remove cells that aren’t yet loose, clear debris around pores, and are much better at smoothing skin texture and preventing ingrown hairs. Some can even dissolve excess sebum to reduce shine.

Facial Scrubs

What Are Facial Scrubs?

Scrubs are also referred to as mechanical or physical exfoliation. Unlike the coarse ingredients of body scrubs, they use tiny particles to smooth the less robust facial surface.

Microbeads

Most contain jojoba beads, cellulose beads, or silica microspheres. Being round and smooth, they’re suitable for daily use on all skin types apart from the sensitive—in this case, use no more than four times a week.

Powders

Powder scrubs can also be used daily, but are more skin-type oriented. Here are some examples:

Colloidal oatmeal soothes inflamed or acne-prone skin while absorbing dirt and excess sebum. Instead of buying, you can easily mix your own version. Just blitz rolled oats in a blender and mix with face wash.
Because it’s ultra-soft, finely milled rice bran powder is ideal for sensitive and dry skin—the bran’s natural oils help keep dry skin hydrated. These are usually found in Korean and Japanese products.
For a very mild polishing effect, try bamboo powder.
Clay powders made from kaolin and bentonite are included in some scrubs to cleanse and pull away excess oil for a more matte skin texture.

Grittier Products

Older scrubs contained harsher abrasives like crushed walnut shells and apricot kernels, which can lead to micro-tears and may exacerbate broken capillaries.

For men who still prefer a scrub they can feel, pumice is a popular modern ingredient.

Alternatively, try mixing baking soda with face wash if you have normal, combination, or acne-prone skin. Apart from smoothing and polishing, it absorbs excess sebum and can temporarily shrink blemishes due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Because baking soda is alkaline, avoid it if your skin is dry or easily irritated.

Use grittier scrubs no more than three times a week and be very gentle.

When to Use a Facial Scrub

It’s often said that men should use a scrub before every shave. This isn’t necessary: it doesn’t aid the shaving process in any meaningful way for most of us, and the act of shaving in itself is a form of exfoliation.

To lift whiskers and remove skin flakes that can interfere with glide, a shaving brush is more practical and sustainable.

For best results, shave in the morning and exfoliate at night. This allows the skin to better absorb skincare products while you sleep, which is a time of renewal and rejuvenation.

Otherwise, exfoliate before shaving.

How to Use a Facial Scrub

Using a facial scrub is not much different from using a face wash.

Wet your face.
Apply the scrub to your fingertips.
Spread it over your face (and scalp if you’re bald). Apply only microbeads or powder products to the throat, which is more prone to irritation due to thinner skin.
Working from forehead to chin, massage with light pressure in circular motions. Avoid the eye area.
Rinse thoroughly, at best in the shower.
Pat dry and moisturize.

For facial hair, you could push the scrub under your beard or mustache, but it’s less beneficial than daily use of a sisal or boar-bristle brush.

To boost the effects of colloidal oats, rice bran powder, and clay, leave the scrub to sit for a few minutes before rinsing. Or, if you have time to spare, try a liquid exfoliant.

The Ordinary's AHA and BHA Peeling Solution, which may help to stop pimples. — The Ordinary’s *AHA and BHA Peeling Solution*.

Liquid Exfoliants

Marketers assume men prefer scrubs because they feel more like tools and less like skincare. But overall, liquid (or chemical) products are better.

Instead of sloughing the skin with particles, acids and fruit enzymes dissolve the “glue” (proteins and lipids) that prevents dead cells from dislodging. They also clean pore deep, while scrubs clear only surface-level dirt and sebum.

Because liquid exfoliants require no rubbing, they’re safer for sensitive skin and give more even results; liquids spread evenly, whereas you can miss spots with a scrub.

Liquids are also best for men prone to ingrown hairs or flaky skin—but you don’t need to apply them directly before shaving. If you shave in the morning, applying in the evening two or three times a week is enough.

Types of Liquid Exfoliants

Acid Exfoliants

Acid exfoliants use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), and poly hydroxy acids (PHAs).

AHAs are water-soluble acids that treat dullness, uneven texture, and fine lines. The smaller the molecular size, the deeper the penetration. For normal skin, choose glycolic or lactic acid. Mandelic acid, which has a larger molecule, is best for sensitive and acne-prone skin.
BHAs are oil-soluble. In skincare, the term refers to salicylic acid. Use it for oily and acne-prone skin, and to reduce redness. It also helps against blackheads, a persistent issue for men of all ages due to higher sebum production.
PHAs are very gentle acids not generally suited to men’s thicker, sebum-rich skin. They work slowly without penetrating the pores, making them an option only if you have extremely sensitive skin and can’t tolerate AHAs or BHAs.

Some manufacturers mix acids strategically. The Ordinary’s AHA and BHA Peeling Solution, for example, seems made for men’s skin.

Enzyme Exfoliants

Enzymes are the perfect choice for sensitive and dry skin. They digest only dead cells and proteins, and have no effect on oil and sebum.

Typical ingredients include papain, bromelain, and pumpkin enzymes. Powdered forms of these are sometimes found in facial scrubs.

Papain is from papaya and is best for smoothing rough skin. This is often caused by age when cell turnover slows, leading to a buildup of dead cells. Or it may be through dryness and harsh weather.
Bromelain is derived from pineapple. It helps calm redness and irritation, which is ideal for sensitive and rosacea-prone skin.
Pumpkin enzymes can help brighten dark spots, which bald men often develop on the scalp through sun damage.

How to Use Liquid Exfoliants

Liquid exfoliants come as gels, in sachets, and in bottles with a dropper, depending on consistency.

Cleanse your face. Use micellar water if you intend to shower afterward.
Spread the product from forehead to chin, avoiding the eye area. If it’s very liquid, instead of using the dropper directly on your face, apply it to your palm first and pick it up with your fingertips. This prevents it from dripping into your eyes or onto your clothes. Liquids are easier to rub into facial hair than scrubs and may help against beardruff.
Allow the product to sit as instructed on the packaging. It could be anywhere between five and 15 minutes.
Rinse off with warm water, at best in the shower.
Pat dry and moisturize.

We’re constantly told that exfoliation is a good idea, yet the details are rarely made clear. So most of us grab a scrub and hope for the best. But when you match the product to the problem—dullness, oiliness, blackheads, ingrown hairs, or roughness—making the right choice is straightforward and the results far more effective.