While a lot of companies try to get the consumer to believe that there are specific shaving creams for men and specific ones for women, the truth of the matter is that a great shaving foam or gel is a unisex product. I’ve seen men shave their beards with products designed for women, and I’ve seen women shave their legs with products designed for men.
With that in mind, we decided to create a list of the top ten shave creams currently available. These are products that do a great job of reducing the friction between a person’s skin and the razor and, as a result, protect the skin while allowing the hair to be cut. Sure, most of them are marketed toward men, and some of them are marketed toward women but just keep one thing in mind. A truly great product doesn’t discriminate against who’s using it.
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks for the Best Shaving Creams
The Art of Shaving Crème à Raser
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There’s a reason why this product is one of the best shave creams available, and that’s because it not only provides a luxurious lather but also allows the user to shave closer than ever before. This product hydrates facial hair, which makes it easier to cut, and also leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. It provides the lubricants that the shaver needs to cut through difficult hair but do it without causing skin irritation. And it’s formulated with both coconut acid and glycerin, which helps to make the shaving experience smoother and more comfortable. Some of the things that are missing from this formulation are the synthetic dyes and alcohol found in most creams, products which can dry out and irritate sensitive skin.
Taylor of Old Bond Street Eton College
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Used by gentlemen all over the world, this shaving cream is considered to be a classic English shave cream. It’s packed in a jar that makes it easy to both store and use and keeps the product fresh between uses. The shave cream that’s in this product provides a very compact lather that does its job very well and not only softens facial hair but also protects the shaver’s skin. This product also has an invigorating fragrance that will linger on the user’s skin all day long. Some of the scents which can be recognized in this product include orange citrus notes that are underlined by notes of lemon and patchouli oil.
Edge Shave Gel for Sensitive Skin
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While many shaving purists wouldn’t give Edge Gel Shaving Gel a second look because it comes in a pressurized can, the fact of the matter is that this product is one of the best gels currently available for sensitive skin. That’s because it contains a variety of lubricants and moisturizers, which prepare the shaver’s facial hair and protect their skin from razor burn. One of the ingredients in this formulation is aloe vera, a product known for reducing razor burns and bumps. And this product is also very easy to use and doesn’t require the user to have anything more than a razor and some water available.
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood
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This product contains a blend of ingredients that not only makes shaving a special experience but also helps to properly prepare facial hair and the user’s skin as he shaves. It’s a formulation that works well, especially in areas with high humidity, and softens facial hair enough to be quickly cut by the razor. This product also moisturizes the skin and is quite easy to use. Another key benefit of this product is that it has a distinctively masculine scent that contains notes of rose and jasmine, rosemary and lavender, and cedar and sandalwood. All of these not only smells masculine but also invigorate the shaver’s senses.
Proraso Sapona Da Barber
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This classic shave cream has been used by barbers since 1948 and contains no silicones, mineral oils, artificial colors, parabens, or ingredients that have an animal origin. This means that this product is about 95% natural and will provide the user with a nice, clean shave. This product can be used for just about any skin and beard type, and its eucalyptus oil helps to purify both skin and facial hair. It also contains menthol, a product that helps not only cool the shaver’s skin but also to revitalize and refresh it as well. Anyone looking for a barber-quality shave may want to investigate what this product has to offer.
Nivea Men’s Sensitive Shaving Foam
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Men with sensitive skin need a product that’s going to not only allow the razor to move efficiently over the surface of the skin but is also specially formulated to reduce skin rash, bumps, and irritation. This product doesn’t contain alcohol in its formulation, an ingredient that can dry out skin, and it’s also free of dyes that can cause irritation. Formulated with Skin Guard Technology, this product softens facial hair and allows the razor to easily cut through it. And since it’s an easy-to-use shaving foam, men can use the product just about anywhere they want to shave—whether that’s at home or at the office.
Cremo Cooling Formulated Cream
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Cremo is a shaving cream that calls itself a barber-quality shaving cream, and it’s easy to see why. This product contains a special formulation that creates a super slick lather that allows just about any blade to glide across the surface of the person’s skin easily and effectively. It doesn’t matter if the shaver is using a disposable razor, a safety razor, or a cut-throat razor; this product can provide the much-needed lubrication to get that ultra-close shave and do it while combating razor burns, bumps, and skin irritation. And since this remarkable cream contains both menthol and peppermint, it cools as it invigorates the shaver’s skin.
C.O. Bigelow Premium Shave Ointment
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Made in Italy from only the finest ingredients and used by barbers all over the world, this shave cream can be used by both men and women. This product isn’t just a unisex formulation, however. It can also be used for just about any skin type imaginable. This means that it doesn’t matter if your skin is dry, oily, or sensitive. You can use this product to achieve a beautifully professional shave. Some of the ingredients which can be found in this product include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, all of which provide much-needed antioxidants to the shaver’s skin. And it also contains eucalyptus oil, an ingredient that prevents razor burn and leaves the skin feeling fresh and cool.
Rocky Mountain Barber Co. Sandalwood
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Designed to be significantly different from cheap men’s shaving creams that have been forced into an aerosol can, this product is designed to give the user an unparalleled shaving experience. It’s made with all-natural ingredients and is designed to be suitable for use with just about any skin type. It contains glycerin and coconut oil, two ingredients that help to moisturize the man’s skin and to keep the skin from becoming irritated. And speaking of irritated skin, this product also contains Sandalwood essential oil, which not only has a nice smell to it but also helps to soothe sensitive skin.
Skintimate Signature Scents Shave Gel
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Although this shaving gel is marketed towards women, it’s a capable enough product to handle just about anyone’s shaving needs. Inside this product are 6-different moisturizers which help to naturally replenish skin’s natural moisture and provide a comfortable shave. This results in skin that’s softer, smoother, and less irritated than it is using other shaving products. It also contains olive butter and Vitamin E, two products that prevent the skin from becoming irritated during the shaving process. And since this product smells like fresh raspberries, it will leave women’s skin smelling fresh and delicious and will give them the confidence to begin their day.
A Complete Guide to Shaving Cream
With the resurgence in the popularity of shave soaps, many consumers are confused about the difference between shaving creams and soaps. While shave purists will rattle off a few points about product quality, scent, and consistency, the real difference between the two products is convenience. Creams are far easier to use than soaps, which is why they’ve become the defunct shaving product of many modern households.
Sure, I’ve heard all of the points about how shaving cream is an inferior product and have even read articles by supposed shave experts that suggested men should toss their creams out of the window and instead embrace the “superior” soap products. And in my mind, those shave experts are simply full of poppycock. While there are low-quality creams on the market, there are just as many which are high-quality. So, let’s settle the debate right here and now. Both creams and soaps are equal in quality, and it’s how you use them that makes the difference.
How to Select the Best Shaving Cream
Now that we’ve dispensed with the who’s better nonsense that’s been circulating the shaving community, let’s get down to the important matter and choose the best product for you. For the purpose of this article, we’ve assumed that you have decided that shaving cream is best for you and so this guide is going to be tailored to that conclusion. Of course, if you’ve decided on shaving soap instead, we’ve written an article on that too. So you can choose which guide is best for you. Okay, let’s get down to business and choose the best shaving cream possible.
The most important selection when choosing a shaving cream is whether it’s designed for your skin type or not. Creams come in a variety of different types, and each of them is suited to the skin type they’re designed to handle the best. Most people’s skin type falls into one of three different categories: sensitive skin, oily skin, and dry skin. Getting the cream that can handle your skin type is key to obtaining a proper shave.
Sensitive Skin – If you have sensitive skin, then you need to take extra precautions when choosing a shaving cream. There are products specifically designed for people with sensitive skin. These products contain extra lubricants and anti-irritation additives that help to protect the skin as the razor glides across it. Most of these products only have a slight amount of fragrance in them, and that keeps the cream from further irritating your skin. However, if you’re skin is especially sensitive, then you may want to find a sensitive shaving cream that has no fragrance at all for the best results.
Oily Skin – The shaving creams which work best for oily skin do two things: they don’t contain oils that may add to the oily skin problem, and they usually contain a mild astringent. Oily skin can pose a particular problem to most razors because the oil can cause the blade to clog more than it already does. And if the blade is clogged more frequently, then that reduces the quality of the shave. Fortunately, most shave creams made for oily skin are pretty good at keeping the skin’s oil at bay long enough for the user to get their shaving done.
Dry Skin – If you have dry skin, then you already know that it presents a unique problem during shaving. That’s because dry skin is actually quite rough and patchy, and it’s these patches that catch the blade during the shaving process. And since dry skin is sensitive by its very nature, this can be quite painful. That’s why if you’re afflicted with this particular problem, then you’re going to want to buy a product specifically made for dry skin. Dry skin shave creams contain a glycerin base which reduces friction between your skin and the blade. They may also contain other products such as aloe or Vitamin E, products which help to soothe the skin as you shave.
Addressing Razor Bumps
Some people have problems with razor rash and/or razor bumps appearing after they shave, so they should choose a product that addresses this problem. Razor rashes are caused when hair follicles become red and inflamed because bacteria has invaded the root of the follicle. Razor bumps are the result of ingrown hairs. Both of these conditions can be treated with a shaving cream that addresses that particular problem.
For instance, if you have razor rashes frequently, then look for products that contain Tea Tree Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Aloe Vera or Honey. These ingredients have antibiotic properties and will help get rid of the bacterial problem in your hair follicles.
If your problem is razor bumps, however, then you are going to want to deal with the problem a different way. You are going to want to buy a shaving cream that contains either salicylic acid or glycolic acid. Both of these ingredients exfoliate the skin as you shave and unplug pores too. This prevents hair from being pushed down into the follicle and creates the ingrown hair problem in the first place.
Getting the Best Results from Shaving Creams
Okay, now that you know which shaving cream products you should keep an eye out for, it’s time to take a few minutes and talk about how to use shaving cream properly. While everyone believes they’re shaving the right way, the fact of the matter is that most people aren’t, so here are a few tips which will improve your shaving experience.
Exfoliate – Most women already exfoliate before they shave, but this is a practice that isn’t adopted by a whole lot of men. Unfortunately, skipping this step will only result in an inferior shave experience. That’s because skin that hasn’t been exfoliated has an excess number of skin cells and these can tend to clog the blade. Therefore, it’s important to exfoliate before shaving.
Shave After a Hot Shower – Everyone knows a hot shower opens up a person’s pores, but few people know that it can also soften hair. During a shower, hair follicles can absorb up to 30% of their weight in water, which makes them easier to cut. After you’ve finished shaving, you can always use cool water to close your pores up again and cool down your face.
Shave According to Hair Growth – Men who are shaving their face and women who are shaving their legs should always shave against their hair growth, which just so happens to be an upward shaving motion. This will allow the razor to remove the hair effectively. However, women who are shaving their armpits may use somewhat of a different technique. They may want to shave up initially and then shave downwards to shave the exposed root.
Bottom Line
Shaving cream can be an essential part of any shaving routine as long as the person takes care to buy the best product available and pays attention to how they use it. If they do this, then this product will probably surprise them with how effective they are to use and how luxurious of a shaving experience they actually provide.