Face Wash

If you placed Harry's Face Wash and Harry's Exfoliating Face Wash side by side, blindfolded a dermatologist, and asked them to identify which was which based on the ingredient lists alone, they would struggle. Both contain perlite volcanic rock. Both are built on the same fatty acid surfactant system. Both deploy peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, menthol, and menthyl lactate in the same cooling-sensation package. Both include willow bark, licorice root, panthenol, and shea butter esters. The fundamental architecture is identical.

This is not necessarily a failure of formulation — it may be a success of marketing. Harry's understands that some men will gravitate toward the word 'exfoliating' and others will find it intimidating. Offering both products gives the brand shelf space for two facings and lets every customer self-select into their comfort zone. The actual skin-level experience is remarkably similar.

Where the Face Wash diverges is in its secondary ingredients. It includes lactic acid, a gentle AHA that provides mild chemical exfoliation — ironically making the 'non-exfoliating' option a dual-exfoliation product (physical perlite plus chemical lactic acid). It also uses aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder instead of the liquid aloe juice in the Exfoliating variant, and adds sodium phytate, a chelating agent that can help stabilize the formula and provide mild antioxidant activity. The Exfoliating version, meanwhile, trades these for rice bran extract, sunflower extract, rosemary extract, and a radish root ferment filtrate preservative.

On the face, the experience is what you would expect if you have used any Harry's cleanser. The tube dispenses a thick white cream that lathers into a rich, slightly gritty foam. The peppermint delivers its cooling signature within seconds. The perlite particles create a gentle scrubbing texture that smooths skin without the aggression of crushed walnut scrubs. It rinses cleanly, leaving skin feeling refreshed and matte without severe tightness.

The cleansing performance is solid for its intended audience. Fatty acid-based cleansers (myristic, palmitic, lauric acid saponified with potassium hydroxide) are effective at removing daily oil, grime, and sunscreen. Cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium methyl cocoyl taurate soften the cleansing action. The formula removes a day's worth of buildup without multiple passes, though it would struggle with heavy or waterproof sunscreen as a sole cleanser.

The conditioning ingredients — glycerin, panthenol, shea butter esters, rice oil esters — prevent the post-wash desert-face that cheaper men's cleansers deliver. Skin feels clean but not stripped. Over time, the light exfoliation from both perlite and lactic acid helps smooth rough texture and can reduce the frequency of ingrown hairs for men who shave regularly.

The irritation concerns mirror the rest of the Harry's lineup. Peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, menthol, menthyl lactate, and limonene collectively represent five distinct potential irritants in a single cleanser. For oily, normal, and resilient combination skin, this is unlikely to cause problems — the contact time is brief and the concentration of any individual irritant is low. For dry, sensitive, rosacea-prone, or eczema-prone skin, this is not a gentle daily option. The word 'daily' in the product positioning is aspirational for these skin types, not advisable.

At eight dollars for 5.1 ounces, the value proposition is straightforward and fair. A small amount generates ample lather, so the tube lasts three to four months of daily use. There are no gimmicks, no premium packaging, no fragrance story — just a functional face wash at a drugstore price. For men who enjoy the peppermint experience and want a clean, effective daily wash without overthinking their skincare, this delivers exactly what it promises.

The real question is whether you need both this and the Exfoliating Face Wash. The answer, for most people, is no. Pick whichever name appeals to you. The experience in the shower will be nearly identical.

Formula

The Science

This cleanser combines two exfoliation mechanisms: mechanical (perlite) and chemical (lactic acid). Perlite is an expanded volcanic glass with a relatively uniform particle morphology compared to botanical exfoliants. In a rinse-off formulation with brief contact time, the mechanical exfoliation is superficial — removing the outermost corneocytes without penetrating into deeper epidermal layers.

Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid with a molecular weight of 90.08 g/mol. While lactic acid is effective at clinical concentrations (5-12%) and appropriate pH (3.0-4.0) as a chemical exfoliant, its role in this rinse-off cleanser is likely limited to pH adjustment and very mild surface exfoliation. The brief skin contact time of a face wash (30-60 seconds) significantly reduces the exfoliating efficacy compared to leave-on formulations.

The cooling sensation is mediated by TRPM8 ion channel activation. Menthol and menthyl lactate are among the most potent TRPM8 agonists, triggering the sensation of cold without actual temperature change. While pleasant for many users, this activation can also trigger irritant pathways in individuals with compromised skin barriers or underlying inflammatory conditions. Research in the British Journal of Dermatology has documented that essential oils, including peppermint and eucalyptus, are among the more common causes of cosmetic contact dermatitis.

Dermatologist Perspective

Board-certified dermatologists would note that this product provides adequate daily cleansing for resilient skin types but would question whether the multiple essential oils add meaningful benefit to a rinse-off product. Dermatologists generally recommend that daily cleansers be as simple and non-irritating as possible, reserving exfoliation for targeted treatments. The combination of physical and chemical exfoliation in a 'daily' cleanser exceeds what most dermatologists would recommend for every-day use, particularly for patients also using retinoids or other active treatments. For men seeking a straightforward daily cleanser, dermatologists would more commonly recommend a fragrance-free, non-exfoliating option.

Guidance

Harry's Face Wash was one of the brand's earliest skincare products, launching alongside the Exfoliating variant as the everyday option in a simple two-cleanser lineup. The intention was to offer a gentler daily cleanse for men who found exfoliating scrubs too abrasive for every-day use. The formulation, however, still contains perlite and the full peppermint-eucalyptus sensory package that defines Harry's skincare identity.

About Harry's Established Brand (5–20 years)

Harry's launched in 2013 as a direct-to-consumer men's shaving brand, founded by Andy Katz-Mayfield and Jeff Raider. The company expanded into skincare and now operates under parent company Mammoth Brands. While Harry's has strong DTC credentials and mass-market distribution, its skincare line is relatively newer and lacks the clinical backing of dermatologist-developed brands.

Brand founded: 2013 · Product launched: 2016

Myth vs. Reality

Myth

Men need different cleansers for daily use versus exfoliating

Reality

In Harry's case, the daily Face Wash and Exfoliating Face Wash share the same perlite exfoliant and most key ingredients. The difference is in botanical emphasis and secondary ingredients rather than a fundamentally different cleansing approach. You could use either daily — or neither, if you prefer a truly non-exfoliating wash.

Myth

Cooling tingle means the product is working

Reality

The menthol and peppermint oil activate cold receptors, creating a sensation that feels invigorating but has no bearing on cleansing efficacy. The actual cleaning comes from the fatty acid surfactants and cocamidopropyl betaine.

FAQ

Common Praise

"Refreshing peppermint scent wakes you up in the morning"

"A small amount creates plenty of lather"

"Leaves skin feeling clean without extreme dryness"

"Affordable and easy to find in stores"

"Good everyday face wash for men's routines"

Common Complaints

"Very similar to the Exfoliating variant — unclear differentiation"

"Peppermint and menthol can sting sensitive or freshly shaved skin"

"Contains perlite exfoliant despite not being marketed as exfoliating"

"Essential oils are unnecessary irritants for a daily cleanser"

Notable Endorsements

Widely available at major US retailersPopular in men's grooming as an everyday cleanser

Appears In

best drugstore face wash for men best cleanser for oiliness best affordable face wash

Related Conditions

oiliness texture blackheads dullness

Related Ingredients

lactic acid panthenol licorice root aloe vera