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There are many tasks that comprise a modern man's grooming routine. But, fellas, a proper shave is more than just a chore — it's a ritual. It's a time-honored tradition, honed across centuries, immortalized in literature like it was an art form.
Selecting the proper shaving cream, creating a strong lather, and applying it liberally across a stubbled face can turn the act of running razor blades down your cheek into something not just nearly painless but even soothing. Shaving cream moisturizes your face, which helps two-fold: The lubrication it provides allows for the razor to move more smoothly along your face and offers extra protection for your skin while helping to soften the hairs, making them easier to cut. Plus, particularly for those with fairer hair, having a face full of foam your razor wicks away helps ensure you know where you've shaved and where you still need to go so you don't miss a single spot.
The Best Shaving Creams for Men
What to Consider
The biggest factor to consider when selecting a shaving cream is time. How much time are you looking to put into your morning shave? Obviously, it’s easy to just spray foam or gel from an aerosol can, slap it on, and shave away. But along with the environmental concerns that come with aerosols in general, there’s also the matter of that likely resulting in a less comfortable, less satisfying shave.
Shaving creams that come in a tube or tub can sometimes require a brush and proper lather, while others are notably “brushless” and can be applied purely by hand, which depending on your morning schedule, can be more involved but also often offer a bit more benefit to the skin and smoother overall shave. Other key factors, like scent or feeling on the skin, can be much more personal and only truly be determined in a matter of trial and error.
Especially when paired with a quality aftershave, a good shaving cream can make even the manual-razor-resistant find serenity in the act of facial sheering and put that bulky electric shaver away for good. So whether you prefer an age-honored cream or a cutting edge gel, its time to find the one that's right for you, and take your shave game to the next level.
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1
Best Overall
Ultimate Brushless White Eagle Shave Cream
Key ingredients: Camphor, menthol, sesame seed oil
The Ultimate Brushless shaving cream for men is a winner for its thick, effective, no-foam cream with camphor. Derived from trees in Asia, camphor is an ingredient with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities that help fight excess oil.
Men’s skin is thicker and produces more oil than women’s, so a shaving cream with camphor is best, and paired with menthol and sesame seed oil, this cream is tailored to deliver a cleansing, refreshing shave.
Those quality ingredients are also blended brilliantly to create a brushless cream that means it can go right from the tube to your fingertips, then evenly applied to your face for a quick, efficient shave. Best of all, that convenience and quality comes at a reasonable price point, making it our obvious Best Overall pick.
Read More: The 7 Best Electric Shavers For Every Man's Face
2
Best for a Buzz
Caffeinated Shaving Cream
Key ingredients: Caffeine, shea butter, sesame seed oil
Most guys need a kick of coffee to get them out of bed in the morning, so it should be no shock that your skin could use a jolt of energy, too. This shaving cream from Pacific Shaving Co. has the same great ingredients as most shaving creams, but it has an extra dose of caffeine to tighten and smooth your skin.
Just like chugging that morning cup of joe on the go, this cream comes in a travel-sized tube to take your caffeinated cream on the road whenever your facial hair needs that perfect shave.
3
Best Cooling Shave Cream
Cooling Shave Cream
Key ingredients: Peppermint oil, coconut oil, menthol
Cool off with Lab Series' shaving cream for a close cut with a refreshing tingle. This cream is best for a cool down after your morning gym session and during those warm weather months. Peppermint oil gives your skin a cooling sensation, while shea butter and coconut oil moisturize to leave you feeling silky-smooth.
4
Best “Old School” Shave Cream
Creme Pogonotomienne Shaving Cream
Key ingredients: Hinoki wood, sweet almond oil
You know you can trust a shaving cream that's worked for dapper gents for hundreds of years. This shaving cream from Buly 1803 uses old-school ingredients in ways that have stood the test of time, like using Hinoki wood for a smokey scent that works as an antibacterial agent. Plus, the cool packaging stands out in your grooming kit of modern essentials.
5
Best Budget-Friendly Option
Sensitive Skin Shave Gel (Pack of 3)
Key ingredients: sunflower seed oil, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, sorbitol
Plenty of men have that “high-end” shaving cream they splurge on and save for special occasions, then have their more budget-friendly lather they rely on for the average morning, the drug-store solution that’s just there to get the job done.
But just because it's budget-friendly doesn't mean you have to settle for sub-par. Edge's sensitive skin shave gel is an affordable option, available almost anywhere that delivers a smooth, comfortable shave comparable to creams more than double its price.
6
Best Triple Threat
Supreme Cream Triple Cushion
Key ingredients: Macadamia nut oil, soybean oil, jojoba oil
This triple-threat shaving cream softens, moisturizes, and soothes your skin for a fresh shave. Jack Black's shave lather is great for sensitive skin with its licorice root extract, which helps prevent irritation and gives your skin a healthy glow.
It's no shock this shaving cream for men has reigned supreme with a loyal fan following with men and women alike, with well over 1,600 five-star reviews on Amazon.
7
Best Scent
Bourbon Shaving Cream
Key ingredients: Sweet almond oil, glycerin, linalool
The Art of Shaving introduced their line of bourbon-scented shave products back in 2017, intended to be a limited-edition tie-in with the film Kingsman: The Golden Circle. But the response to this refreshing and subtle scented cream was positive enough to keep it a staple of their shaving catalog.
And we're glad they did. Though it contains no actual bourbon, the linalool and sweet almond oil give your face that faint barrel-aged scent through your shave without lingering so strongly afterward that your boss gives you the side-eye at the office.
8
Most Sustainable
Planet Kind Protective Shave Cream
Key ingredients: Peppermint oil, cucumber fruit water
This cucumber and Vitamin E-infused shaving cream for men from Gillette's Planet Kind label would have been worth highlighting just for its scent and smooth texture alone.
But it deserves extra recognition for its planet-friendly focus. Made with no parabens, alcohols, or dyes, this cream's container is made from 100% infinitely recyclable metal.
Adam Mansuroglu
Senior Style and Gear Editor
Adam is the Senior Style and Gear Editor, overseeing grooming, gear, and fashion content on menshealth.com.
Michael Natale
Commerce Editor
Michael Natale is the commerce editor for Best Products, covering a wide range of topics like gift guides, kitchen appliances, lifestyle products, and more.
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