Guys Need to Wash Their Faces, Too

Hey, fellas, you know how you’re always laughing at your significant other for their face-washing routine? Turns out the joke’s on you. Guys need to wash their faces, too.

I’m going to say it again for the guys in the back. If you’re not washing your face every day, you’re compromising your overall health and wellness.

Amazing Solutions provides all-natural products to our customers because we care about your health. We also offer tips and tricks to help you take care of your body and mind.

Why don’t guys wash their faces?

Did you know that a whopping 63 percent of guys don’t wash their faces? Like, ever. Before any of you guys raise an objection, letting your shampoo lather run down over your face when you rinse your hair doesn’t count. 

Most of the men surveyed said they didn’t regularly wash their faces because they didn’t think it was necessary. Sorry to break it to you, guys, but you’re wrong. Daily face washing is one of the most important things you can do every day to maintain your health.

The guys who admitted to washing their faces said they used bar soap. Others said they preferred body wash for the job. Kudos for making the effort, but neither of these is a wise choice because they can ruin your delicate facial skin. (We’ll talk more about that later.)

Why should guys wash their faces?

The reason why guys should wash their faces is simple. In addition to all the grease and grime that accumulates there, the average human face also carries around 1.5 trillion bacteria. Considering most people touch their faces between 16 and 23 times an hour, it’s not a stretch to figure out why so many gross things congregate there. 

Guys, if you’re not washing your face before bedtime, all that grossness from your face ends up on your pillow. When that bacteria mixes with the grease on your face, it can clog your pores and cause breakouts.

Even grosser is what happens when active guys let too much sweat build up on their faces: it smells. If your face stinks, fellas, your special someone isn’t going to want to cuddle up to you.

Lastly, if you’re getting up there in years, making face washing a part of your daily routine can help your skin look younger, longer.

Should men use soap on their faces?

Heck, no. The only thing worse than not washing your face at all is using soap for the job. Most body soaps contain harsh chemicals and fragrances. They can cause breakouts and irritate your delicate facial skin.

Worse yet, most bar soaps have a pH balance of over 12. In comparison, your facial skin’s ideal pH balance is below 5. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what happens when you use bar soap on your face. Why does this matter, you ask? Well, throwing off the pH balance of your facial skin can make it more susceptible to bacteria and viruses.

Harsh bar soaps also strip your face of its natural moisture. Even if you apply a ton of moisturizer after washing with bar soap, it’s not going to reverse the damage. It’s best to use cleansers specifically formulated for your face.

What are the best face-washing techniques for guys?

If you’ve been neglecting washing your face for some time, you might need some guidance on how to restart this essential task. Here are some of the best face-washing techniques for guys.

• Apply a gentle cleanser. Spread a small amount around your face and massage it in, making small circular motions. Do this for about 30 seconds. Then, rinse with tepid water until the cleanser is all gone.
• Apply a soothing toner. While this step isn’t necessary, it can go a long way toward keeping your pores unclogged. If you suffer from occasional breakouts or blemishes, you’ll want to include this important step. A toner that contains witch hazel is a great choice because it tightens your pores. As a bonus, it also helps with razor bumps.

• Apply an exfoliator. At least once a week, consider using a gentle exfoliator to remove any dead, dry skin. Doing so can help keep your pores clear. Guys, if you spend a lot of time outdoors or in harsh weather conditions, you may need to exfoliate more frequently.
• Apply a moisturizer. Dry skin is painful. Go the extra mile in your face-washing routine by using a product specially formulated for your skin. If you tend to be oily, use a light moisturizer that doesn’t clog the pores. Guys who spend a lot of time outdoors should opt for a moisturizer with sunscreen for added protection. Go for one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.

Want some product purchase suggestions?

Lola Benavidez is a licensed aesthetician in California and an occasional blog contributor to Amazing-Solutions. We asked her to suggest just a few chemical-free, guy-friendly products you might want to consider. If you’d rather do your own research, just surf the internet for natural skincare products for men. Plenty of healthy, affordable options will pop up.

Good Facial Cleansers:

Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash by Kiehl’s ($24)

Cleansing Cream by Dr. Hauschka ($29.00) 

Natural Toners:

Miracle Mist Oxygen + HOCL by Lumion ($28) 

Witch Hazel & Rose Water Toner by Mario Badescu ($14) 

Herbal Exfoliators:

Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub by Botanic Tree ($20) 

Radiance Face Scrub by Typology ($30)

Men’s Facial Moisturizers:

The Daily 3-in-1 Face Lotion by Modern Ritual ($40)

Facial Fuel Men’s SPF 20 Moisturizer by Kiehl’s ($45)

Getting started with your face-washing routine

Getting started with your face-washing routine can be the hardest part of the process. As the ancient Chinese proverb tells us, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

If the process outlined above is too overwhelming, then just start by washing your face once a day with a gentle cleanser. Then, slowly build up to cleansing twice a day. Before you know it, guys, you’ll be doing all three recommended steps and have the most amazing – and healthy – facial skin!

Shari Berg is a researcher, frequent blogger, feature writer, and author of Wars End with Me. 

Sources:

10 Crazy Stats on Men and Skin Care (Jan 2020). practicaldermatology.com. Accessed August 3, 2022.

Evaluation of a topical treatment for the relief of sensitive skin. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed August 3, 2022.

Evaluation of pH of Bathing Soaps and Shampoos for Skin and Hair Care. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed August 3, 2022.

Face touching: a frequent habit that has implications for hand hygiene. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed August 3, 2022.

On and in you: your body full of microbes. micropia.nl. Accessed August 3, 2022.