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With hundreds of shaving creams on the market, choosing one is not such an easy task.
When deciding which cream to buy, there are a lot of things you should take into consideration like your skin type, how often you are going to use it, and of course the price.
But don’t worry we did the research for you and we have found the best shaving cream on the market.
A Quick Glance At The Top 3 Shaving Creams
The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Shaving Cream
We have chosen the Art of Shaving Sandalwood Cream as the number one because it is made from 100% natural ingredients and is alcohol-free.
Proraso Shaving Cream
Propaso is a really high-quality shaving cream made in Italy. It is suited for all skin types and is really easy to apply, making it ideal for daily shaving.
Cremo Astonishingly Superior Shaving Cream for Men
Cremo is one of the most well-known brands in the shaving space for a reason. This is a highly concentrated premium cream that adds moisture to your skin. It is a bit pricey, but we think it is worth it.
The Importance of a Good Shaving Cream
A shaving cream serves three main purposes: to lubricate the skin, moisturize hair, and protect the skin from irritation.
Razor burn, cuts, dry skin, and irritation are all common problems related to shaving, but a good cream can eliminate these problems.
Most good shaving creams contain high concentrations of natural oils that lubricate the skin.
Proper lubrication ensures that the razor* will glide smoothly across the skin and decrease the risk of nicks and cuts.
Good shaving creams contain a substantial amount of glycerine. Glycerine locks moisture in so your skin will not dry out.
* If you don’t know what kind of razor to use, read our articles on how to choose the best razor, the best safety razor guide, and the best straight razor. They will help you understand a lot of things about razors.
What is the Best Shaving Cream?
1. Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream
Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream hydrates the skin and prepares it for smooth shaving.
It can be used with a brush and help you shave clean, leaving no hair behind. For stubborn hair, you can shave against the grain.
After shaving, it will leave your face moisturized and healthy. Its rich blend of sandalwood, cedar, rosemary, and lavender has a manly scent.
The manufacturer also has a fine set of pre-shave oil and aftershave balms that work well with the cream. This cream comes with a cream bowl to make lathering easy. Make sure to use it with a shaving brush for best results.
Pros
- Made from natural oils, thus suitable for different skin types
- The cream can be used for different parts of the body
- It can be used every day for optimum results
- The cream is thick thus, little is used during shaving, which saves on the bottle
- It can be applied using your hands, so it does not require extra application equipment
Cons
- Quite costly compared to other shaving creams on the market.
2. Cremo Astonishingly Superior Shaving Cream for Men
The Cremo shaving cream contains moisturizers and oils to soften your hair and ready your skin for the razor. The cream is very concentrated, meaning you need very little for every shave.
It contains slick molecules that allow the razor to glide easily on the skin without causing irritation. This reduces the probability of developing nicks, burns, and cuts on your skin.
It is made from natural ingredients like aloe, macadamia seed oil, olive leaf extract, calendula, lemon, and papaya extracts. In addition to protecting your skin, this blend leaves you smelling good.
The natural oils make Cremo suitable for use on various skin types. The Cremo shaving cream comes in three varieties; original, cooling, and sandalwood. The original formulation is packed with oils that protect your skin. The cooling cream contains menthol that leaves your skin feeling cool after every shave. Finally, the sandalwood has a thick manly sandalwood scent. We have a dedicated Cremo shaving cream review article if you want to learn more.
Pros
- It is highly concentrated thus, little is used for every shave saving you money.
- It leaves your skin clean and moisturized.
Cons
- Quite costly compared to other shaving creams in the market.
3. Billy Jealousy Hydroplane Super Slick Shave Cream
Billy Jealousy Hydroplane Super Slick Shave Cream has an ultra lubricating formulation to prepare your skin for smooth shaving.
It contains six natural oils, including grapefruit extracts, lime, and bergamot. With millions of micro-silicon beads, it gets slicker as you add water, giving you a clean, smooth shave. It is foamless when mixed with water to create a protective barrier on your skin, prevent nicks and burns, and take care of ingrown hair.
It can be used for everyday shaving, either in-shower or post-shower. The cream rinses out very easily and does not clog your razor. The Billy Jealous cream is dermatologically tested, and it won the Best Shaving Cream Esquire 2007 grooming awards.
Pros
- The extra-slippery formula for a perfect shaving experience.
- Great for sensitive skin since it has a soft formulation that is easy to clean.
- Alcohol, benzocaine, and colorant free and enriched with natural oils.
- Silicone-based, which is better than foam or gel shaving creams.
Cons
- It is quite expensive but gives you value for money. Since little is used, the bottle lasts longer.
- The very slippery formula might leave hair on the skin after shaving
4. Proraso Shaving Cream
Propaso is made in Italy and can be used for any type of beard or skin. The cream is enriched with natural ingredients like eucalyptus oil, which purifies your skin, and menthol that cools and revitalizes.
It softens your skin and hair for a quick shave and is enriched with moisturizers to keep your skin hydrated after every shave. It lathers easily and is formulated with glycerin to ensure smooth gliding of the blade.
It is 100% natural with no silicone, no parabens, no mineral oils, and artificial colors. It is better suited for normal and oily skin.
Pros
- Perfect for any skin type due to its natural oils ingredients
- Quick and easy to apply
- Need to apply in little amounts
- Ideal for daily shaving, which saves on the bottle.
Cons
- It is not easy to find and can be quite expensive
- Everyday shaving can be quite a hustle due to the lack of ample time for morning shaves.
5. The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Shaving Cream
The Art of Shaving lifts and softens the hair for a comfortable shaving experience while protecting the skin.
It can be lathered with your fingers or a shaving brush. It is rich in essential oils and glycerin, leaving your skin smooth and hydrated, making it suitable for use with different skin types.
It is aromatherapy-based since it is scented with natural oils. To shave, use warm water and shave with the grain to avoid irritation. For a closer shave, shave against the grain lightly.
Pros
- Pleasant Scent
- It is more pilable
- Suitable for beginners
Cons
- Has petroleum jelly
And the Winner is…
Choosing the proper shaving cream is more difficult than it seems. Taylor of Bond, Cremo, Billy Jealousy, Propaso, and The Art of Shaving all make great products, and it was really difficult to choose one.
The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Shaving Cream is the winner.
The essential oils and glycerin are a bonus for anyone that uses this product because it keeps the skin looking healthy.
It is also alcohol-free and dye-free, which makes it a great choice for people who are concerned about allergies.
Shaving Cream FAQ
How to Choose the Best Shaving Cream?
As we mentioned, finding a proper shaving cream depends on multiple factors.
Before making a purchase, you need to consider the ingredients, the scent, your skin type, and any guarantees the product may offer.
The first thing you need to decide before you make a purchase is what your goals are and what you want to accomplish by buying a shaving cream.
For example, a person who frequently develops razor burns should consider buying shaving cream for sensitive skin.
Based on your goals and your skin type, you should look in detail at the composition of the cream.
Does the cream contain the ingredients that will help you achieve your goals?
Do not just read the label; read the whole list of ingredients and decide if these ingredients are good for your skin.
If you don’t know which ingredients are good for you, please be patient. We will talk in a while about the ingredients, which ones you should look for, and which ones you should avoid.
Another buying factor is the scent of the cream.
Shaving creams come in a variety of scents, and some of them are unscented.
Characteristics like the scent should be considered last, as they are completely based on personal preference.
Comparing Shaving Cream to Traditional Soap and Water Shaving
Before shaving cream rose in popularity, it was common to use regular soap and water for shaving.
Today, it is essentially a no-brainer to use shaving cream instead of the latter because of its emolliating properties.
Shaving soap has a much thicker consistency, increasing the chance of hair getting caught between the razor blades. If you prefer the traditional shaving soap, read our best shaving soap article and make sure to choose a good one.
Another benefit of shaving cream is the short amount of time it takes to work up a lather. Soap, on the other hand, requires a person to work with the bar until there is proper lubrication.
Although soap will get the job done, it is way easier to use good shaving cream.
Common Ingredients and Allergens
Shaving creams are primarily composed of water, stearic acid, glycerin, fragrance, and sodium hydroxide.
The risk of having an allergic reaction to shaving cream is quite low; however, it is important to scan a product’s list of ingredients before making a purchase.
Many shaving creams contain varying concentrations of alcohol which is known to irritate the skin. Luckily, there are a plethora of alcohol-free shaving creams that perform just as well. Similar to alcohol content, infused fragrances can result in moderate irritation.
If shaving cream is causing signs of an allergic reaction, it is important to try and identify which ingredients are causing this reaction. Once the ingredient is identified, you should buy a new product without that ingredient.
Parabens
Another really controversial ingredient most creams contain is parabens.
Parabens are used as preservatives to make creams last longer. There is a big discussion around parabens and how harmful they are for the skin but all the studies till today, along with the FDA, state that they are not harmful.
Some parabens you might see in the ingredients lists are:
- Propylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Heptylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Isopropylparaben
- Isobutylparaben
- Benzylparaben
Carrier oils
A lot of the shaving creams out there also have in their ingredients list some kind of carrier oil like castor oil which is really good for your beard.
These oils are really good for your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin because they not only make the razor glide smoothly but also moisturize your skin.
The consistency of these oils is similar to the sebum oil that is produced by your sebaceous glands that keep your skin moisturized.
Fragrance
The fragrance is one of the ingredients that you don’t want to have on your shaving cream.
It is produced from petroleum products, and it contains thousands of chemicals.
Glycerine
We already talked about glycerine, but to recap, glycerine is an ingredient you want to see on the ingredients list cause, like carrier oils, glycerine helps with the shaving experience making the razor slide and moisturizing your skin.
Stearic acid
When you first hear about stearic acid, you might think it is harmful, but this is not true at all.
Stearic acid is a fatty acid; it can be found in plant and animal fat and is one of the main components of shea and cocoa butter.
It is used in shaving creams as a thickener to make a rich lather.
Sodium hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide is used in a lot of cosmetic products and is a PH balancer.
It might cause irritation to people with sensitive skin, but it is used in really small quantities, so in most cases, it won’t cause any problems.
How to Apply Shaving Cream?
Applying shaving cream in a proper manner is essential for getting the closest shave.
- Wash your face
Before applying the cream, you should thoroughly wash your face with warm water to open pores and further expose hair follicles.
- Work a lather
After prepping the face, work the shaving cream into a lather by using your hands, a brush, or whatever method you like.
- Apply the cream to your face
Then apply the cream to your face; the goal is to create a thick layer to protect the face against razor burn and other potential conflicts.
- Shave
Once applied, you should act quickly and start shaving because shaving cream tends to dry on the skin over a short period.
Russell is the founder of themensattitude.com. He is a barber a beard enthusiast and he is obsessed with trying men’s lifestyle products and blog about them. If you have any questions you can hit him up via the contact page.
