I hear you, dudes – shaving can be a bit of a chore, especially when you just want to clean up and get on with your day. Still, it takes a proper shaving kit if you want to look your best, and the best shaving creams for men are an important part.
It’s easy to forget that men’s shaving cream actually does a lot for your face. From keeping your skin smooth to giving your razor that much-needed glide, there are plenty of good reasons to use it.
But which cream should you go for? There are loads of amazing options out there, but we want our readers to get the very best. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of our six favorite options, and we’re confident that your dream product is on it.
With all that said, let’s move on to the best shaving creams for men.
Key Takeaways
There’s no shortage of shave cream on the market. Lucky for you, I’ve done the work. I’ve read more reviews than I can count, and the verdict is in. For me, Taylor of Old Bond Street is the best shaving cream for men. It boasts an incredible smell, impressive moisturization, and is safe to use on all skin types.
On a similar note, there’s also The Art of Shaving. Alongside its pleasant sandalwood scent, it does wonders for softening and smoothing out a frizzy beard.
Our Top Picks
Why it’s great: For being some of the best shaving creams for men, this stuff doesn’t get nearly enough attention. Its beautiful peppermint scent hits the perfect sweet spot, being subtle yet just noticeable enough. With the right brush, it takes very little cream to get a good lather, so it’ll last you a good while.
Who is this for? If your face tends to be dry, then this product will perk you right up. In that sense, I like to think of it as a skincare product, too. Also, unlike many other minty products, it doesn’t cause that nasty burning sensation to your face when applying it. Guys with sensitive faces look no further.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: None, really. I guess I do wish it came with a brush, especially when you consider it isn’t the cheapest option. That said, the quality is unmatched, hence the rabid cult following this brand has developed.
Skin type: All | Benefit: Moisturizing | Form: Cream
Why it’s great: Once you put a good kit together, shaving really does become an art. Enter The Art of Shaving, a premium product that works wonders on sensitive skin. Besides having some of the sleekest packaging I’ve seen, it has an unmistakable sandalwood smell that’s bound to impress.
Who is this for? With this product, coarse and frizzy facial hair becomes a thing of the past. This cream is even free of alcohol, which tends to be a pretty common irritant in these kinds of products. I’d recommend trying this stuff out if other shaving creams leave your face red and irritated.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The only real catch here is that you can find loads of cheaper options. On the other hand, there’s the quality and safety factor The Art of Shaving offers. You can even use it to shave your head without messing up your scalp.
Skin type: Sensitive | Benefit: Alcohol-free | Form: Cream
Why it’s great: The name is a bit of a mouthful, but this beauty sure lives up to the “Supreme” part. This is a no-frills, unscented product that works wonders for shaving and makes your face soft in the process, making this one of the best shaving creams for men
Who is this for? If you have a lot of allergies, then you won’t have to worry when using this stuff. Macadamia nut oil and soy are about as safe as it gets for skincare routine, and it won’t burn a hole in your pocket, either.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: I definitely wouldn’t have complained if there were a bit more than 2.6 ounces. At the same time, all it takes is a tiny squirt of cream and a quick wash with cold water afterward.
Skin type: Sensitive | Benefit: Paraben-free, fragrance-free | Form: Cream
Why it’s great: It’s very rare that a product surprises me this much, but C.O. Bigelow genuinely caught me off-guard the first time I tried it. I’m a sucker for that eucalyptus and coconut oil mix, especially when the scent is gentle and subdued. On top of all that, it’s extremely creamy, making the lathering and shaving process quite smooth.
Who is this for? Compact and portable, this is the ideal product for guys on the move who like to patch up their facial hair once per week or so. It also doesn’t irritate, making it a suitable pick for all skin types. Whenever I’m on the road (which happens a lot), this is one of my must-brings every time.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The one issue here is that the packaging is relatively small. Because of that, if you don’t need it for travel, it probably works best for first-time shavers who aren’t working with a lot of hair. As far as gateway products go, though, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Skin type: All | Benefit: Anti-irritant | Form: Cream
Why it’s great: No list of the best shaving creams for men would be complete without Cremo. This all-time classic comes in a variety of scents, each one more alluring than the last. Throw a bit of lukewarm water into the mix, and you have yourself some of the smoothest lather in the world of grooming.
Who is this for? Six ounces is a pretty respectable quantity for shave cream, especially since you need very little Cremo for a full shave. This might be the ultimate pick for guys who want to buy cream and not worry about running out for a few months.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Because of the consistency, you’ll want to use your hands instead of a brush for this one. Not necessarily a deal breaker, just something you might not be used to.
Skin type: All | Benefit: Paraben-free | Form: Cream
Why it’s great: How could we possibly forget about Nivea? Not in a million years, especially with one of the best three-for-one deals in the world of grooming. Thanks to the chamomile and witch hazel extracts, your skin will be well-moisturized for days after your shave. The scent is barely discernible, too, which is just how I like it.
Who is this for? Instead of pesky alcohol, this product is rich in Vitamin E. This is the best nourishment you could possibly want for your face, and the post-shave softness really proves that.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: This is one of the best shaving creams for men. If you’re more used to lathering cream, though, keep in mind that this stuff falls under the gel category. It’s not for everyone, but it gets the job done like few other products.
Skin type: Sensitive | Benefit: Alcohol-free, anti-irritant, moisturizing | Form: Gel
Buying Considerations for the Best Shaving Creams for Men
Ingredients
When it comes to men’s shaving cream, there are certain ingredients you may want to avoid if your skin is sensitive. Alcohol, parabens, and synthetic colors are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to shaving rashes. Conversely, essential oils or vitamin-enhanced creams can soften your face and give you a younger, healthier look.
Consistency
After lathering, you’ll want your cream to feel… well, creamy. If it’s too dry, then your face will get flaky, and you likely won’t get the softening effects that many creams offer. On the other hand, an overly wet lather will run down your face. This makes the spread uneven, and it makes it that much harder to work the razor.
Skin Type
As mentioned above, some ingredients do not mix well with sensitive skin. It’s always worth looking at the packaging to make sure that the cream is suitable for your skin type. For example, dry-skinned men should go for extra-moisturizing creams and sensitive-skinned guys may want to stay away from parabens.
How We Chose
Here at FashionBeans, we take the list-making process very seriously. Companies like to tell tall tales about their products, and that comes at the expense of the average buyer. To make sure that you’re getting the best shaving creams for men, we looked into everything from company reputation to user satisfaction when making our list.
Company reputation: Is the company known for putting out quality products on a consistent basis? The more of them they have, the more likely we are to recommend them.
Price: Does it make sense to pay what the company is charging? We want our readers to get the best deal possible, whenever possible.
User reviews: What do buyers have to say about the product? After all, who better to evaluate a product than someone who owns it?
Why Trust Us?
Andrej Paskalov has a lot of know-how when it comes to grooming. Whether it’s mustache wax or that always-handy hair conditioner, there’s very little he hasn’t tried or researched before putting together these articles. At the end of the day, he’s a shaver, too, so he’s devoted himself to bringing you the best products on the market.
In crafting this guide on the best shaving creams for men, Andrej meticulously evaluated each product’s performance, ingredients, and user feedback to ensure that you receive reliable and unbiased recommendations.
Final Verdict
And that’s that for our list of the best shaving creams for men. Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream is our top pick, thanks to the generous package size, pleasant scent, and overall safe formula.
FAQ
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This mostly comes down to personal preference, but generally, shaving creams offer better hydration, meaning it can double as a skin moisturization product. On the other hand, gels are easier to wash off and track with a razor.
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A lot of people like to give their facial hair a quick cut without cream, but this comes with drawbacks. Sure, you can clean up your face with a dry razor, but cream helps stave off cuts and skin irritation.
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Yes, shaving cream is absolutely worth using. As important as having a presentable beard is, it’s every bit as important to maintain the skin underneath. With that in mind, you’d do well to get your hands on one of our top picks!
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