This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Getting a good shave comes down to two important tools: your razor and your shaving cream or soap. There are other factors, such as shaving technique or the texture of your hair, but nothing is more important than the safety razor and shaving cream you use.
Now it’s time to review the best shaving creams available on your favorite online stores right now. A quality cream can make the difference between an excellent close shave and a more than average one. Discover our list of the best creams used by every self-respecting gentleman.
No time to read this entire buying guide? Take a look at our selection of must-have shaving creams and soaps.
1. Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream
No comparison of the best shaving cream for men is complete without Old Bond Street’s Taylor reference in sandalwood. It’s the gold standard among shaving creams, and has been for a long time.
Taylor of Old Bond Street was founded in 1854 and became famous for its botanical extracts. The brand went on to produce many other refined products in the British style of class and understated elegance.
There’s so much to love about this sandalwood shaving cream from Taylor of Old Bond Street. It has an excellent reputation with consumers. We have it on our comparison list for many reasons, including:
- Its consistency is almost lotion-like, but it’s easy to transform into a luxurious lather in its own right. The brand even includes a sandalwood shaving bowl for your convenience and ease of foaming.
- Although this shaving cream could have belonged to your grandfather, it’s a timeless product that’s perfect for all modern bearded and smooth-faced men.
- Its foam provides an ideal cushion for a comfortable shave that leaves skin soft and moisturized. One of the main ingredients in this shaving cream is glycerine, which brings moisture to the skin (while improving the smoothness of the safety razor stroke).
- Although you can use this cream with a classic razor or an electric razor, it’s perfectly suited to double-edged safety razors, trimmers and straight razors. This product certainly ranks at the top when it comes to the best shaving cream to accompany your traditional razor.
- Sandalwood is a masculine scent that combines a variety of tones, from cedar to lighter vanilla notes. However, if sandalwood isn’t your favorite fragrance, Taylor of Old Bond Street also makes a soap with scents of almond, coconut, grapefruit, lavender, lemon and lime, peppermint and rose.
- Although this product is more expensive than many other creams, it lasts longer than most other brands, making it a good long-term investment.
| Pros | Cons |
| Rich, creamy lather | Its price is a bit high |
| Provides superior shaving comfort and unsurpassed skin softness | |
| Superior, timeless craftsmanship |
2. Proraso shaving cream
Proraso is an Italian company that has been around for over 100 years, developing the first pre-shave cream in 1948. Today, they continue to offer innovative products, including their flagship cream while becoming a staple of Italian culture.
For this product test, we’re going to focus on the green version of Proraso Shaving Cream, the eucalyptus oil version which is considered their general-purpose shaving product (the brand also offers references dedicated to sensitive skin, moisturizing and nourishing lotions as well as protective creams).
If you’re not too familiar with the brand, or if you’d like to try your hand at shaving the old-fashioned way, we recommend you buy the Eucalyptus and Menthol Beard Cream (the green version).
There are many fans of this Proraso product, so it’s only natural that it should feature on this year’s list of the best shaving creams.
For a start, you can’t miss the eucalyptus and menthol oil, both in its tones and on its list of ingredients. Both ingredients help to revitalize and refresh your face, while you can’t help but notice the Menthol when you first open the tube of cream. But, while the mint is strong and rises nicely to the nose, its fragrance dissipates fairly quickly.
Proraso manufactures its cream using a hot-soap process that produces an ultra-rich anointing that produces a lather as thick and creamy as you’ll find in any beard and mustache care product.
The foam protects your face while helping you enjoy a comfortable close shave that leaves your skin soft and moisturized. Menthol helps keep your skin super fresh.
Users say Proraso’s shaving cream produces a generous lather with ease, while generating lubrication that glides your razor smoothly over your face. Overall, you’ll love the way your skin is left free from skin irritation and cuts that are mostly due to the aggressiveness of the safety razor.
This product also works with any Double Edge razor. We also appreciate an ingredient list that includes no parabens, silicones or artificial colorants.
| Pros | Cons |
| Made by one of the most popular companies in the men’s grooming industry | Their “perfume” is an artificial addition containing chemicals. |
| Rich, creamy foam | |
| Eucalyptus and menthol keep your skin fresh all day long |
3. The Art Of Shaving cream with sandalwood
How many times will you shave in your lifetime? Most likely a few thousand times. With so many stops in front of the bathroom mirror on the way out of the shower, razor in hand, it’s easy to become a little complacent and take the occasional shave for granted. But, rest assured, The Art Of Shaving brand never wants that to be the case.
That’s part of their reasoning behind their sandalwood shaving cream. The brand believes it will not only help you achieve a superior shave, but also reinvigorate an old-fashioned shaving experience that can have become as dull as a blade on a cheap razor.
For the little guys at The Art Of Shaving, the quest for a perfect shave must always include preparation, building lather, shaving and moisturizing.
And they think they’ve achieved all four with their Sandalwood Shaving Cream. After all, it generates a rich, foamy lather that protects skin from irritation while providing ultra-smooth strokes.
What’s more, this reference nourishes and moisturizes your skin, leaving it fresh long after you’ve been in the bathroom. We love what’s on the cream’s ingredient list, including glycerin, coconut oil and essential oils.
Of course, one of its most important essential oils is sandalwood, which gives the cream its subtle scent that lingers throughout the day without being overpowering.
Sandalwood essential oil also contains a natural antiseptic agent that helps heal scars and skin blemishes, relieves inflammation and contains anti-aging properties.
These are all good things from a fairly new company in the traditional shaving field especially when compared to some of the more venerable manufacturers mentioned throughout this buying guide.
But The Art of Shaving has caught the eye of many a gentleman with superior products that have no reason to be ashamed of the competition.
This shaving cream is quite expensive, but you don’t need to use a lot of it to get the ideal amount of lather for a good shave.
Their classic bowl, found on sale online, will last you several months without problem. This gel works well with any safety razor.
| Pros | Cons |
| Provides excellent cushioning and lubrication for facial skin | More expensive than many creams |
| You’ll love this rich, creamy lather | |
| A pleasant sandalwood fragrance |
4. Billy Jealousy shaving cream
We’ve added the Billy Jealousy brand to this comparison, which features other product reviews, so it’s a well-balanced company.
It’s the ideal option for sophisticated men, but rumor has it that its products are used by the likes of George Clooney and James Franco.
Of course, you gain standing by doing the right job, and the Billy Jealousy reference more than meets this legitimate demand.
Like Black Beard Lube Jack, this hydroplane cream is an all-in-one product that blends pre-shave oil, shaving cream and skin conditioner.
This cream also produces a lather that’s clear, rich and sure to give you an ultra-smooth shave. Why are we so confident in this product? For a start, it offers an impressive list of ingredients that are truly remarkable.
A key ingredient in this cream is dimethicone, which is a water-based silicone oil that provides a super-slippery barrier on the skin that makes a close shave much easier to achieve.
Another important ingredient is silica, a sand-like substance that reduces the risk of razor drag and skin irritation.
And what’s not on the Billy Jalousy cream ingredient list? Fragrance and alcohol, for a start. However, you’ll find natural fruit oils that provide excellent hydration and sweet citrus and mint scents.
Unlike some shaving creams, it doesn’t dry out, and the addition of an occasional drop or two of water makes it super smooth for every stroke.
It may take a period of adjustment to get used to the cream’s light texture (again, it doesn’t foam). However, it does provide the benefit of being able to see your way around your face as you shave.
To apply, simply squeeze out a small amount of cream and rub it over your face in a circular motion. Another advantage of this shaving gel is that it doesn’t clog the razor and rinses off easily with tap water.
| Pros | Cons |
| An all-in-one product | Slightly high selling price compared to some of its competitors |
| Smooth texture eliminates razor drag | |
| No skin-irritating ingredients |
5. Jack Black shaving cream
Are you looking for a men’s grooming product that can handle multiple tasks at once? Then look no further than Jack Black Conditioning Shaving Cream, which is a three-in-one product unlike foams or gels.
The versatility of this product, as well as its quality, is a great reason why we’re including it in our list of the best shaving creams for men.
Jack Black makes a lot of great men’s grooming products, and their product that serves as a pre-shave oil, shaving cream and conditioner is a great insight into their manufacturing quality.
We also like it because, unlike many other traditional foams and gels, this cream doesn’t dry out the skin. It prepares you for your shave by penetrating and softening hair growth, and it’s moist to give you a smooth shave that glides easily over your skin.
Finally, it refreshes the skin to allow razor blades to pass through without irritation. No wonder it’s the best shaving cream for sensitive skin.
The cream is designed with a unique formula that contains phospholipids, a rich source of essential fatty acids that bind moisture to the skin while supporting the foundation. Other ingredients include macadamia nut oil, jojoba oil and glycerine to provide a lubricated, protective cushion for your face while you shave.
Plus, peppermint, eucalyptus and menthol are added to refresh and revitalize the skin. This revitalizing cream contains no chemical fragrances and is alcohol-free, dye-free and made only with natural products and dermatologist-tested.
Another selling point is the cream’s transparent texture. It lets you see the areas of your face where the blade will pass, making shaving cleaner, more efficient and limiting the risk of cuts. It’s ideal for shaving sideburns, mustaches, necks and even heads.
| Pros | Cons |
| 3-in-1 product: pre-shave oil, shaving cream and conditioner all in one | Not really suitable for use with an electric razor |
| Transparent cream for easy shaving | |
| Attractive blend of essential oils |
6. Pacific Shaving Company shaving cream
Many of us understand the importance of a morning dose of caffeine. Sometimes it feels like invigorating nectar, a little gift from the gods. But it makes sense to give another sacred morning routine a boost.
Pacific Shaving Company’s signature shaving cream contains caffeine, although it’s not quite the same thing that ends up in your coffee cup. But it’s still a naturally occurring caffeine that’s great for your skin.
And how is caffeine good for your skin? Well, it’s loaded with antioxidants and reduces puffiness and swelling, which is a good thing if you’re coming off a long night. But caffeine and its skin-boosting benefits aren’t the only reason to love this shaving cream.
It’s also made with aloe, spearmint, sunflower oil and shea butter, which also help protect and nourish your facial skin.
The Pacific Shaving Company is uncompromising when it comes to using natural ingredients, and all its products are vegan, fragrance-free, free from animal testing and cruelty.
| Pros | Cons |
| Natural caffeine soothes your skin | Its smell (you either like it or you don’t) |
| Natural ingredients | |
| Very affordable price |
Premium shaving creams and soaps
In this comprehensive comparison, you’ll find the best shaving creams available today. They are designed to be lathered up with a shaving brush, but can also be used without one: just use a lot more product and work up the lather by hand.
Genuine, traditional shaving creams are light years ahead of lambda products, and also offer an excellent sensory experience. Don’t be put off by the cost of these products.
They are so highly concentrated that a jar of top-quality cream will last for many months without any problems, even with daily use. And here are the luxury shaving cream brands that really stand out from the crowd:
Castle Forbes
Shaving soap available in lime, lavender and cedar/sandalwood. Castle Forbes shaving creams have a reputation for being strongly scented.
I like to say that using their Lime cream is like getting hit in the face with a key lime pie… Definitely a luxury product with exceptional performance (and the price that goes with it).
St. James Of London
Another quality British brand available in France. Their fragrances smell of Mandarin & Patchouli, Cedarwood & Clarysage, Black Pepper & Lime, and Sandalwood & Bergamot. Performance is excellent across their range of premium creams.
Taylor of Old Bond Street
Another English shaving cream brand that’s well worth a visit. Taylor’s products offer a wide variety of classic and modern fragrances: Sandalwood, Jermyn Street (for sensitive skin), Lavender, Mr Taylor’s, Grapefruit, Coconut, Natural (preservative- and fragrance-free), Lemon, Almond, Rose, Avocado, Eton College, St. James, “Platinum,” and Aloe Vera.
The performance of Taylor of Old Bond Street cosmetics is a little inconsistent: some shaving creams, especially the newer ones, are excellent, while others are much less so.
Sandalwood is a cream that is very popular on online stores like Amazon. Products from this British brand also tend to have a slightly more fluid consistency than other premium creams.
Truefitt & Hill
Available in 1805, Almond, Grafton, No. 10, Rose, Sandalwood, Trafalgar, Ultimate Comfort, West Indies Lime and Apsley.
This shaving cream offers a good mix of “natural” and cologne-like fragrances, some of which are popular with younger men (1805, Ultimate Comfort) while others are more classic and all-purpose.
Trafalgar is one of our favorite scents, although some men consider it a more mature fragrance. The N°10 cream is designed to be used without a shaving brush and applied to the face with the hands.
Truefitt and Hill shaving creams may be slightly less cushioning for the safety razor than other creams in this category, but to be honest, the difference with other brands is really subtle. Most users agree that the performance of Truefitt & Hill creams is excellent.
Geo F Trumper
Available in Coco, Sandalwood, Rose, Rose, GFT, Violet, Almond, Limes, Eucris and Spanish Leather (Eucris and Spanish Leather are only available in small containers). Geo F Trumper’s fragrances tend to remain in the classic, conservative realm.
Some scents may seem a little elegant and feminine, but you might be surprised at how well a Rose or Violet fragrance can harmonize with a masculine scent. In any case, almost everyone considers Geo F Trumper shaving creams to be superior in their performance.
Other brands worth mentioning
There are a number of excellent shaving creams on sale that don’t quite meet the criteria set out for this in-depth comparison. However, the following brands deserve a mention in this guide.
Brummell
Scented with a soft note of sandalwood and something else, Brummell shaving cream is an excellent product on a par with top-quality British shaving creams.
This product lathers simply and luxuriously, while its “cushiony” feel is exceptional once applied to the face. The after-shave sensation is quite good. The unique scent and limited availability are the only things keeping this product off the main list.
DR Harris
Available in Almond, Arlington, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Marlborough, Rose and Windsor fragrances. Another old-school English shaving cream with interesting fragrances that perform very well.
Their shaving soaps are even better than their creams, but the latter are still excellent for a daily bathroom routine.
eShave
Available with white tea, orange sandalwood and verbena. eShave seems to have backed off a little, discontinuing some of their olfactory profiles. All the products in their range perform very well.
Lucky Tiger
Lucky Tiger liquid shaving cream is available in a single, slightly lemony fragrance. As its name suggests, it’s less firm than many other creams (I think it has the consistency of an aftershave balm) but its performance, with or without a shaving brush, is just outstanding among its peers.
Speick
Available in one fragrance only, Speick is an excellent German-made shaving cream. Its unique, spicy fragrance is appreciated by most of those who have tried it.
The Art of Shaving
Available for some time in odorless (for sensitive skin), sandalwood, lemon and lavender scents, the brand recently expanded the range to include more interesting scents such as Bergamot & Neroli, Oud, Eucalyptus, Lemon Vetiver, and Coriander & Cardamom.
Some will say this cream deserves to be on the main list, while others will say it shouldn’t be on the list at all. On the other hand, the performance of their shaving cream is not as good as it was before a reformulation a few years ago, and that’s a shame.
Their shaving soaps have also been reformulated, and many men think they’re not as good as today’s creams.
3 criteria to consider before buying a shaving cream
It’s easy to order any shaving cream on the internet. Maybe you check the fragrance, see if it’s suitable for sensitive skin (or whatever your skin type is) and finally, you check the price of the product. In the end, it’s not so easy to find the brand and shaving gel that’s just right for you.
Here are three points to bear in mind before placing your order:
1 – Your type of skin
Base your shaving cream on your skin type. Most men have one of three skin types: sensitive, oily and dry. If you have sensitive skin, avoid shaving creams with astringents of any kind.
But it’s okay to use an astringent cream if you have oily skin, as it reduces the concentration of sebum and prevents pores from clogging.
If you have dry skin, make sure the reference you choose has a glycerine base. Glycerine helps provide a base that allows your blade to glide over your face without causing nicks and cuts.
2 – Ingredients to avoid
What goes into your shaving cream is also an important factor. Here are a few ingredients to avoid:
- Paraben: Let’s cut to the chase. With paraben, you’re in trouble. What else can you say about something that’s linked to a variety of illnesses, including asthma and allergies? They’re used in skin care products to prevent the growth of bacteria, but you can do just fine without them.
- SLS: It sounds like an acronym for a spy agency, but SLS stands for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. While it’s supposed to cleanse your skin when applied directly, it also strips away the natural oils found on your skin tone. SLS is a powerful detergent found in many cosmetics and can remain in your body for up to 5 days.
- SLES: sodium laureth sulfate is used to reduce the side effects of petroleum-based products, but can also cause serious side effects and is highly toxic to the body. These substances are industrial surfactants that dry and irritate skin and scalps.
3 – Ingredients of choice
Shaving creams based on natural ingredients such as oils (jojoba, almond, etc.) are best for the face. They are non-greasy and evaporate quickly from your skin.
Also look for products containing essential oils, such as sandalwood, eucalyptus, lavender, rose, etc… These oils are kind to the skin and leave a pleasant, natural scent.
Now that we’ve covered a few buying tips, it’s time to dig into our complete buying guide to the shaving creams to buy right now, all accompanied by some expert advice on how to use this product properly when shaving.
Master the art of applying shaving cream
So yes, it sounds very pompous, but there are certain methods for applying shaving cream to your face when we’re talking about the classic shave as practiced by the barbers of yesteryear. It all starts with a quality cream like the ones we’ve listed in our comparison above.
But your chances of a close, clean, irritation-free and comfortable shave increase when you take the time to apply your gel correctly.
Here are the two main methods of applying shaving cream:
Using a shaving brush
Most wet shaving experts agree that applying cream with a shaving brush is the best option. But why?
– Using a shaving brush means you mix your cream and lather it up in a bowl. With a high-quality cream, you have better control over moisture and heat, and can produce a much richer cream than you would otherwise.
– A shaving brush, whether natural or synthetic, lifts the hairs in your beard, making it easier to trim without having to press firmly on your safety razor. In return, you’ll experience less irritation and avoid nicks and cuts.
– What’s more, you can spread the shaving cream more evenly over your face.
It’s also worth noting that shaving brushes come in a variety of fibers, including horsehair, boar bristle, badger hair and synthetics. A horsehair shaving brush is considered top-of-the-range, but not available from all manufacturers.
Beginners to traditional shaving may want to start with cheaper, more accessible synthetic shaving brushes. Badger hair models remain the most popular among old-fashioned shaving enthusiasts, and are sold in different grades (e.g. silvertip badger).
With your hands
Place a small amount of cream in the palms of your hands and rub them together in small, tight circles. Add a few drops of water and rub in a little more. Next, apply the product evenly over the shaving area, making sure it doesn’t form clumps or lumps.
Note: we recommend that you apply your cream, shave and blend after a hot shower. The moisture and warmth of your shower will soften your hair follicles and prepare them for shaving.
Shaving cream or shaving soap: what’s the difference?
Shaving cream and shaving soap are designed to do the same thing, but are completely different types of product.
If you’re new to classic shaving, or even if you have a lot of experience, knowing the differences between the two will ensure an optimal shave. Let’s take a closer look.
Shaving soap
Shaving soap is pretty old-school. It’s been around for hundreds of years and represents the traditional method of shaving as it was back in the day.
The most notable difference between shaving soap and cream is that soap comes in the form of a hard disc.
Soap is designed to be used in a shaving bowl or other container, and most need to be squirted before lathering. And the best way to lather this product is to use a shaving brush (which you then use to apply the substance to your face).
Men who are used to shaving the old-fashioned way prefer to use triple-crushed soaps, which are much harder than other types of shaving soap.
This means they take much longer to lather up. But once you’ve taken that extra time, the result is an incredibly rich, creamy lather that feels great on your face.
Another advantage of triple-milled soaps is that they last longer than other soaps (up to four months longer).
While beginners will love the kind of shave they get with shaving soap, there’s a real learning curve with soap because it’s not as commonly used. It’s not trigonometry, but a slightly different grooming process.
Shaving cream
Shaving cream has been around since the 1940s and is the most modern method of lathering up your face for a shave.
You can apply it directly with your fingers or swirl it a little in your shaving bowl to quickly obtain a ready-to-use lather.
Quality shaving creams often come in tubes or jars, and are generally thicker than canned shaving creams.
It takes a little more effort to get the lather you want, but like many traditional shaving creams, natural ingredients such as shea butter and essential ingredients help nourish and protect the skin.
Let’s not forget shaving gel, which also comes in a can but needs to be foamed (which takes a few seconds).
Some experts advise using shaving gel if you have sensitive skin, although there are also plenty of shaving creams available for sensitive male skin.
What are the other characteristics of creams and soaps?
Indeed, it’s not hard to spot the difference between a disc of shaving soap and the creamy stuff of grooming cream and gels. But there are many differences between the two, both subtle and coarser.
The fragrance
First of all, it’s a myth that shaving soap is odorless. You can easily find scented soap available in a variety of fragrances. Similarly, not all shaving creams are impregnated with fragrance.
This is important to know for people with sensitive skin who fear that the ingredients used to create fragrances may cause irritation. You can find both scented and unscented varieties in shaving soap and cream.
Cushioning and lubrication
Back to foam. With shaving cream, it doesn’t take much effort to achieve quality cushioning and lubrication, because the product softens easily.
You’ll achieve the same lubrication of your safety razor blade with shaving soap. Some traditional shaving gurus claim that you’ll get even better lubrication, but you just have to work the product a little harder to get it.
You also need to add water to the shaving soap. It takes a bit of practice to work out exactly how much water you’ll need to get a nice, easy-to-spread lather.
That said, there’s a school of thought among shaving experts that shaving soap provides better overall lubrication and cushion, especially compared to non-traditional shaving creams and gels that don’t contain natural ingredients.
Sales rates
Creams are generally a little more expensive than soaps, but not dramatically so. You can pay close to 30$ for a top-of-the-range shaving cream, but you’ll also find what you need between 10$ and 15$. Shaving soaps can be ordered for between 10$ and 15$.
How we choose the best shaving cream
We don’t take our job of selecting the best shaving creams of the moment lightly. There are many good products on the market, and our comparison could easily be longer. We spend a lot of time researching, reading user reviews and gathering all possible information on a given product.
We also take into account the selling price and try to choose a variety of affordable products for as many men as possible.
Of course, some of the best things in life are only accessible if you pay the price, but that’s not always the case, and the same goes for shaving cream. We also prefer products made with natural ingredients, as they’re much better for your health and your face.
While we don’t have the time to test every product available, we can assure you that our research is thorough and we only choose products that have received high marks from various sources. The result is a list that we think you’ll find useful.
There are some good shaving products on the market, but there are also plenty of shaving creams that don’t stand out from the crowd. So, what rises above the rest?
In this comprehensive buying guide, we’ve put together a set of criteria to help you decide which is the best shaving cream for bearded and mustachioed men (women can use them too, of course, but some scents can be unpleasant):
- Superior performance
- Easy to apply and use in various moisture conditions
- Good after-shave feel on the skin (not too dry)
- Available in a variety of fragrances or no fragrance at all.
- Availability
- Purchase price
Admittedly, these criteria are somewhat arbitrary, but they are a good way of narrowing the field so that you can find the cream that will accompany all your bathroom shaving routines. This comparison is of course updated as products enter and leave the market.
This concludes another review, with more to come. As always, we welcome your comments and feedback. If you’ve used any of the creams listed here, let us know what you think. Or, tell us about your favorite cream that isn’t on this selection.
