The 10 Best Shaving Creams
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in March of 2018. To get the closest shave possible, you will, of course, need a good, sharp razor, but a quality shaving cream is just as important. It can protect against nicks, cuts, irritation, and ingrown hairs, and some may even moisturize and improve your complexion. Our selections include both foaming and non-foaming formulas, as well as a few options for those with sensitive skin. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood
2. Aveeno Therapeutic
3. Coochy Frosted Cake
Editor's Notes
June 09, 2020:
While some people swear by shaving soaps for their hair removal needs, the lubrication provided by a gel or cream is hard to beat. And because they can be drying, many companies have formulated their offerings to be free of alcohol, like Nivea Sensitive, or else filled with ingredients that are meant to be hydrating, such as coconut oil and shea butter.
For today's update, we said goodbye to Neutrogena Skin Clearing in favor of Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood, a cream well-loved by traditionalists and shaving enthusiasts. It comes in a bowl that makes lathering with a brush easy, and only a small dab is needed, so it can last someone who shaves every other day for months on end. We also brought on Coochy Frosted Cake, which despite what the name implies, is suitable for the entire body. But because it's formulated to be extremely gentle, it's ideal for areas that often see irritation and razor burn, like the underarms, bikini line, and pubic area.
If you're worried about harmful ingredients, then Kiss My Face Pomegranate Grapefruit and Pacific Shaving Company Caffeinated are both solid choices, as they champion all-natural, cruelty-free components, essential oils, and vitamins. They're also devoid of foaming agents that are notoriously drying and toxic.
For budget-friendly, tried-and-tested options, Gillette Satin Care and Edge for Men are both smart selections, while Nivea Sensitive and Aveeno Therapeutic should be kind to those prone to irritation.
Special Honors
Fur Shave Cream Made for intimate areas, sensitive spots like the underarms and face, and anywhere on your body prone to irritation, Fur shave cream is dermatologically and gynaecologically tested to be gentle on skin. It's free of phthalates, parabens, silicones, and artificial colors or fragrance, and is gluten-free and vegan. Its key ingredients include olive oil, aloe, and marshmallow root extract. furyou.com
Oui The People Sugarcoat If you're looking to cut down on time spent in the shower, Oui The People Sugarcoat is a handy option. Its gel formulation emulsifies into a milky texture when massaged into wet skin, and does double duty a moisturizer so you can skip that step. It features argan, grapeseed, marula, and sunflower oils while a subtle touch of jasmine and neroli oil provides light fragrance. It's packaged in a refillable airless bottle. ouithepeople.com
Bleu De Chanel This lightweight shaving cream from Chanel softens facial hair for a close, comfortable shave and leaves skin subtly scented with an intensely masculine fragrance. Its clear gel texture offers visibility of the beard line for precise results and lathers into a soft lotion once wet. It can be applied to dry or damp skin. chanel.com
4. Edge for Men
5. Kiss My Face Pomegranate Grapefruit
6. Barbasol Original
7. Pacific Shaving Company Caffeinated
8. Eos Ultra
9. Gillette Satin Care
10. Nivea Sensitive
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.