Face improved with hard rub (5)
I believe the answer is:
chafe
'rub' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'face improved with hard' is the wordplay.
'improved with' indicates an anagram.
'hard' becomes 'h'.
'face' mixed up with 'h' makes 'CHAFE'.
(Other definitions for chafe that I've seen before include "Irritate by rubbing" , "Rub, irritate" , "Fume" , "Rub; become sore" , "Fret" .)