Do you have greasy skin? Do you want a face wash that can make you feel clean and refreshed? Men produce more sebum than women, leading to shiny or greasy skin. Additionally, oily skin can cause several facial skin issues like acne. If you find yourself frustrated and unable to treat your skin even with constant washing, you could be using the wrong face wash.
Japanese men's face wash for oily skin can help clean your face while also moisturizing your skin to suppress excess sebum production. However, with so many different types of face washes available from brands like Otsuka, Mandom, and Kao, to name a few, all with different pros and cons, it can be really daunting to know where to start looking.
To figure out the best Japanese men's face wash for oily skin, we gathered the 17 best-selling Japanese men's face washes for oily skin from e-commerce sites popular in Japan, such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping, and tested them all.
We tested each product for the following:
We then ranked them based on our test results and put what we learned into a Buying Guide to help you choose the best Japanese men's face washes for oily skin available online.
Quick List - Top Men's Face Washes for Oily Skin
Otsuka Pharmaceutical (Cosmedics)
Balanced Foam Face Wash With Convenient Dispenser
Lee Branding Japan
Rosemary and Bergamot-Scented Cleanser That Helps Maintain Skin's Oil Balance
Kao
Citrus-Scented Soft Foam Cleanser With Strong Cleansing Power but Weaker Moisturizing Ability
Flores Cosmetics
Amino Acid-Based Gel Face Wash That Cleans Effectively and Moisturizes
She's a scholar at an academic institution that researches the creation of new medicines. Besides that, she utilizes her previous work experience as a beauty product researcher and developer to review and analyze products for people with sensitive skin. She holds multiple certifications as a high-grade cosmetics ingredients specialist and concierge. Mizuha has also been using social media to further her reach by providing cosmetic ingredient ratings and surveys.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Every mybest article is crafted with hours of in-depth research and interviews with experts. Each month, we are continually expanding our database of products based on our research. By emphasizing user insight and reliable information, we deliver trustworthy content to readers.
The natural production of sebum causes oily skin. It's essential for skin health, but too much can cause acne, large visible pores, and a greasy-looking face. There are many causes for this, be it stress and hormonal imbalances, or genetics and age. Men also tend to have more sebum than women.
Surprisingly, sebum production can be triggered by dryness of the skin too. Men retain less water in their skin than women, so their skin dries out more quickly, causing it to overcompensate by producing more sebum.
What makes Japanese men's face washes for oily skin a bit more unique than the options in the US is that they tend to cater to many different needs and preferences, be it in cleanser format or the addition of a cooling menthol ingredient. This could be a testament to Japan's general attention to skincare, regardless of gender. Japanese skincare products cover an extensive variety of needs, and men's skincare is no different.
Here are two points to consider when shopping for a men's face wash if you have oily skin.
Men tend to produce more sebum, and excessive sebum production can cause skin problems such as acne and irritation. Men concerned about a shiny or oily face should choose a product with strong cleansing power.
Ingredients generally considered to have strong cleansing power include soap and potash soap. Amino acid-based facial cleansers have gentle cleansing power and may not be enough for those with oily skin. If you're concerned about the oiliness of your face, use a soap-based cleanser with more substantial cleaning power to thoroughly wash away sebum.
Even if there's no sign of "soap" or "potash soap base" in the ingredients list, if K hydroxide or Na hydroxide is found at the top of the ingredients list along with fatty acids such as myristic acid, palmitic acid, and lauric acid, it's safe to assume that soap is the main cleansing ingredient.
When concerned about oily skin, people tend to focus only on washing away sebum, but it's also essential to choose a face wash with a good balance of replenishing moisturizers. Since face washes are meant to be rinsed off, it may seem meaningless to have moisturizers in them, but this isn't necessarily always the case as the moisturizer can act as a kind of cushion to reduce skin tightness.
Men have less moisture in their skin than women, so those concerned about oiliness may also want to focus on moisturizers.
In facial cleansers, choose items that contain Sodium PCA, a natural moisturizer initially present in human skin, as well as moisturizing ingredients such as sodium lactate, amino acids, and ceramide to protect your skin while you wash your face.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Otsuka Pharmaceutical (Cosmedics) UL OS Face Wash For Skincare | ![]() | Balanced Foam Face Wash With Convenient Dispenser | |
2 | Lee Branding Japan Quattro Botanico Oil Control and Face Cleanser | ![]() | Rosemary and Bergamot-Scented Cleanser That Helps Maintain Skin's Oil Balance | |
3 | Kao Mens Biore Foam Face Wash | ![]() | Citrus-Scented Soft Foam Cleanser With Strong Cleansing Power but Weaker Moisturizing Ability | |
4 | Flores Cosmetics Haha No Shizuku For Men Face Wash Gel | ![]() | Amino Acid-Based Gel Face Wash That Cleans Effectively and Moisturizes | |
5 | Mandom Gatsby Perfect Foaming Wash Fresh Type | ![]() | Thick Carbonated Menthol Foam Wash That Strips Excess Sebum | |
6 | Kao Success Pore Oil Clear Facial Wash | ![]() | Charcoal-Based Face Wash With Well-Balanced Cleansing and Moisturizing Abilities | |
7 | HMENZ HMENZ Medicated Face Wash | ![]() | Highly Moisturizing Face Wash With Deodorizing Properties but Low Cleansing Power | |
8 | Orbis Mister Facial Cleanser | ![]() | Face Wash With Refreshing Feel and Good Moisturizing Abilities but Weak Cleansing Power | |
9 | Storia MARO Groovy Face Wash Active Fresh | ![]() | Collagen Foam Provides Great Moisturizing, But Weak on Cleansing | |
10 | Rohto Pharmaceutical Oxy Deep Wash | ![]() | Menthol-Based Charcoal Face Wash That’s Refreshing but Has Low Cleansing Abilities |
Our favorite face wash was the UL OS Face Wash For Skincare by Otsuka. It did an excellent job of cleaning away oil and dirt, and excess sebum was easily removed with a dense foam.
The spray can is a unique and innovative dispenser. The surprisingly fine bubbles come out quickly, making this perfect for people who don't want to spend much time on skincare but also don't want to compromise quality. We also think it's got great cost performance as you don't need a large amount to get great results. If you suffer from shiny or oily skin, this face wash is the best choice for you.
Although the moisturizing abilities of this product were rated low, its cleansing power was given a perfect score because it removed just the right amount of sebum. The product didn't leave the skin feeling tight after cleansing and a small amount was enough to create a thick lathery foam.
The fragrance of bergamot and rosemary was also refreshing and generally liked by all. This facial cleanser is also recommended for those who do not like the chilling sensation of menthol that many other products use.
Men's Biore Foam Face Wash removes sebum effectively and is recommended for oily skin. It produces a citrus-scented soft foam that provides a quick and easy face wash.
However, even though it's labeled as keeping skin hydrated, when we tested the product, its moisturizing ability was rated poorly. For this reason, we suggest using this product in tandem with additional moisturizing lotions.
This gel, when lathered, transforms into a soft foam. It's made with amino acids which are generally gentle on the skin but less effective at cleansing. That being said, this product performed well in our cleansing test, removing excess sebum effectively.
This face wash is made with hydrating ingredients such as collagen, placenta extract, and hyaluronic acid, making it a product that balances cleansing and moisturizing perfectly.
Foam face washes generally provide a moisturizing feel rather than a refreshing feel. However, this product includes menthol, so it will give you both gentle moisture and a cool refreshed feel at once. In our cleansing test, it also performed well, proving that it could cleanly remove sebum.
It's made with ingredients that strip sebum merely by gently rubbing the thick foam onto your skin. However, its moisturizing ability was rated poorly, so we recommend using additional moisturizing agents when using this product.
This face wash is a part of Kao's Success series of face washes for oily skin. Its cleansing power and moisturizing abilities were moderate and well-balanced, giving a refreshed feeling after use. It's made with charcoal powder which absorbs lipids and helps tighten large pores. It also has a pleasant citrusy aroma.
This product's blend of eight moisturizing ingredients allowed for its perfect score in the moisturizing ability test. However, the cleansing power wasn't as good, though it was still able to prevent dry skin due to excess removal of sebum.
It also has deodorant properties to make your skin smell nice. Since it's a pseudo-medicinal product, we didn't give it a score for ingredients. That being said, you should know that it contains Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, an active ingredient for acne prevention.
Labeled with 'Oil Cut', this product will have your face feeling refreshed and squeaky clean after use. However, its cleaning power was on the weaker side and some sebum remained in our tests. Its moisturizing ability was rated highly, such that you won't need to include any additional products in your skincare routine to add moisture to your skin.
The MARO Groovy series is characterized by its collagen-infused foam. Active Fresh is a product made for oily skin, but it was rated higher for its moisturizing, rather than its cleansing power.
The fluffy lather produced by this product gently cleansed the skin and did not cause any discomfort, such as a feeling of tightness, but we hoped to see more cleansing power for a more refreshing wash.
This charcoal-based scrub from Rohto Pharmaceutical markets its strong deep-cleansing abilities, claiming to be able to deep cleanse the pores.
Unfortunately, our testers found that despite its claims, its cleansing abilities were quite weak. That being said, its menthol provides a great cooling effect that's perfect for those looking for a refreshing face wash.
We gathered the 10 best-selling Japanese men's face washes for oily skin from e-commerce sites popular in Japan, such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping, and tested them all.
We tested each product for the following:
First, we will test each product's cleansing power, the most important factor in a good face wash.
To do this, we applied the facial wash on a glass slide coated with an artificial sebum mixture, blended it for 20 seconds, and washed it off with lukewarm water. We then checked and evaluated any changes before and after applying the face wash to see its effect.
Next, we tested the product's ability to moisturize the skin.
Using a Corneometer, a machine that can measure skin moisture content, we measured and evaluated the moisture content of the skin before and after the cleanser was applied.
The final step was to verify the ingredients in the face wash.
We asked Mizuha, a former cosmetics-based R&D researcher with extensive knowledge of cosmetic ingredients, to check each product for the balance between the types of surfactants and moisturizers that worked as cleansing agents. She then evaluated the best overall balance of ingredients.
Just because you have oily skin doesn't mean you can get away with not using moisturizers. Once your face is clean, you need to apply lotion. This is essential to keep your skin balanced and actually prevent oily buildup.
For some other great products to keep you looking great, feel free to check out the articles below.
Translation: Kazuma Fujiwara, Mai T., Mitsuki Nagasawa
No. 1: Otsuka Pharmaceutical (Cosmedics)|UL OS Face Wash For Skincare
No. 2: Lee Branding Japan|Quattro Botanico Oil Control and Face Cleanser
No. 3: Kao|Mens Biore Foam Face Wash
No. 4: Flores Cosmetics|Haha No Shizuku For Men Face Wash Gel
No. 5: Mandom|Gatsby Perfect Foaming Wash Fresh Type
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Health
Beauty
Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Apps
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices