The 6 Best Shaving Creams for Men

Ingredients: Coconut oil, lactic acid, glycerin, menthol | Scent: Menthol Texture: Cream

This Proraso formula has been recommended to me more times than I can count. It’s creamy, ever-so-lightly scented, and glycerin packed. Russell Manley, owner of New York’s Ludlow Blunt, says the Italian brand’s history appeals to him (the company began as a barber shop in 1908 and began to produce products in 1948), but he adds that the formulation is impeccable. There are several Proraso lines, each color-coded. Green is for toning the skin (“refreshing”), white is for sensitive skin, red is for coarse hair, and blue is for protecting the skin.

Barbers love the green line because it not only moisturizes but gently exfoliates the skin over time thanks to the inclusion of lactic acid. Exfoliation is the key to keeping ingrown hairs to a minimum. “Glycerin — a key ingredient since the turn of the century in all shave creams — lactic acid, and menthol work in combination to open up the pores and raise the beard hair,” says Manley. “This helps to ensure a close shave with lower likelihood of ingrown hairs.” And while the cream is scented, Joey Furlan — who owns Hair by Joey in Arizona — tells me the scent is light and refreshing, making it suitable for any type of shaver. For its affordable price point, hard-working ingredients, and overall shave experience, I’m awarding Proraso the top spot of best shaving cream for men overall.

Ingredients: Coconut, Macadamia oil | Scent: Subtle citrus | Texture: Cream

Cheaper still is this drugstore option from Cremo. It’s a similar price to the Proraso, but in a bigger bottle. In fact, writer and trusted New York Magazine contributor David Walters once wrote about how his bottle lasted him almost a year and a half. Walters has sensitive skin yet said “shaving with Cremo is surprisingly close and comfortable — no nicks, no irritation, no accidental shearing of the epidermis like thin-sliced deli turkey.” This is due to the cream’s ingredients, which include hydrating fruit and nut oils. The product’s longevity is down to its texture: The cream is water activated, meaning it only lathers up when wet, so you can mix a teeny portion with water for each use. Those with really sensitive skin types can give the mentholated cooling version a go, too.

Ingredients: Vitamin E, Soy, and Aloe | Scented: Mild | Texture: Gel 

I awarded this the top spot in my overall guide to shaving creams, so it’s only right that it gets an honorable mention here. As someone with dry, eczema-prone skin, I always return to Aveeno for its gentle, hydrating formulations. The price point is pleasing, too (for its quality, I feel it could easily charge double). “For those who prefer a gel, this contains a combination of soy, aloe, and vitamin E to soothe the skin,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at Cornell, who gives the subtle scent of this gel the all-clear for those with sensitive skin. Two dermatologists I spoke to gave this gel the okay for facial use, as it’s emollient rich and hydrating, but it’s actually designed for use all over the body. That’s where the Prorano just has the edge: It’s made specifically for use on the face.

Ingredients: Glycerin and coconut | Scented: Unscented | Texture: Cream 

I’m championing glycerin again as it’s such a powerhouse product in shaving creams. As Peter Solomon, owner of Tweed Barbers of Boston, explains: “The beauty of glycerin is that it really gets the cream to foam up nicely. It creates a rich, foolproof lather.” Solomon put me on to the formulas from the Art of Shaving — the brand has dozens of options including lavender and sandalwood, but I’m drawn to the unscented version. Arthur Iskhakov, owner of New York’s Barber’s Blueprint, says that while it’s expensive, “it’s very thick, so you only need a dime-sized amount. You can just wet your hands and work up a lather right on the skin. It gives a great lather.” Like me, groomer and makeup artist Robert Reyes loves the Art of Shaving too, but he’s partial to its unscented cream, which is hypoallergenic and good for sensitive skin. He says you can use it with or without a brush — but it can be fun to use one for the “total experience.” “I actually use a makeup brush,” he says.

Ingredients: Mineral oil and lanolin | Scented: Almond | Texture: Bar

Leavitt & Peirce in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a unique store — part tobacconist, part old-school men’s-grooming specialist — and it carries a lot of hard-to-find shaving products from around the world. Owner Paul Macdonald’s favorite shaving cream is actually a “shaving soap” that you use the old-fashioned way: by placing it in a mug and lathering it up with a wet brush. It’s made by the Italian company Vitos and comes in a 1.5-pound semi-hard brick. “So what I have to do is cut a thick slice from the brick and shove it into my shaving mug,” Macdonald says. “It has the easy lathering of a shave cream without the mess. And I love the faint almond smell. Economical, too!”