The decision to shave is a personal one. Choosing what, when, and how often should depend on your personal preferences and comfort. If you decide to shave as part of your wellness routine, you’ll need specialized skincare, whatever area sees the edge of a blade, whether it be your face, chest, or bikini line.

No matter the body part, shaving is an interaction between skin, hair, and blade, and each has specialized needs. Shaving cream or foam is only one piece of the puzzle in developing your shaving routine, but it’s an essential step. The best shaving cream will soften your hair or stubble while smoothing your skin and lubricating its surface to reduce razor drag. Whether you’re looking for the best shaving cream for women or men, the result is a closer shave, smoother skin, fewer nicks, cuts, ingrown hairs, or dreaded razor burn.

Let’s look at the best shaving cream for men and women and shave some discomfort from your hair removal routine.

1. Gillette Shave Gel 7oz

Gillette Series Sensitive Shave Gel hydrates, protects and refreshes the skin while you shave. Formulated with aloe to help guard against the common signs of shaving irritation: nicks and cuts, tightness, redness, burning, and stinging. You won’t believe how soft and smooth your skin will feel after a single shave.

$4.59

2. Flamingo Women's Foaming Shave Gel with Aloe Vera 6.7oz

Flamingo’s award-winning foaming shaving gel for women is an ingredient-rich cloud that’ll leave your skin feeling silky smooth, without any after-shave “tightness.” It’s thick enough to cushion hair and skin and easily rinses from your razor. With notes of Sicilian lemon combined with iris and finished with a touch of suede, the scent is warm, floral, and clean.

$4.99

3. Barbasol Shaving Cream

Barbasol Original Shaving Cream has been an American shaving tradition for over 100 years. Its premium Close Shave formula combines quality ingredients into a rich, thick lather to deliver an exceptional razor glide while conditioning your skin. Barbasol Shaving Cream gives you the confidence that comes from a close, smooth shave.

$4.19

4. Harry's Shave Gel with Aloe 6.7oz

This gel’s rich lather protects your face and keeps you in control of your shave. This gel soothes and refreshes your skin with an aloe-enriched formula and gentle and honest ingredients. It contains hyaluronic acid, which gently restores your face post-shave — when you need it the most. Harry’s is paraben, sulfate, and cruelty-free.

$5.99

5. Jack Black Beard Lube Conditioning Shave 6oz

This transparent formula functions as a pre-shave oil, shave cream, and an after-shave conditioner to soften facial hair for a smooth, pain-free shave. Its super-light formula won't clog your blade, rinses easily, and allows you to glide smoothly over your face. Enjoy an effortless, clean shave with Jack’s soothing, hydrating formula, rich in nourishing fatty acids and phospholipids.

$16.99

6. Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree Organic Shaving Soap 7oz

Get a close, comfortable shave with organic ingredients that nourish and cleanse the skin. The formula includes organic shikakai powder from India and fair trade, organic sugar from Paraguay with a base of olive-hemp-coconut oil castile soap for a sweet-smelling, moisturizing and soothing shave cream. A little goes a long way to reducing razor bumps and keeping your skin smooth and hair-free.

$8.49

7. Venus Shaving Cream Pure Honey & Vanilla 6oz

Presenting PURE by Gillette Venus, a shaving cream formulated without dyes, parabens, or sodium lauryl sulfate. PURE contains shea butter and manuka honey in a unique formula that helps your razor glide smoothly over your skin and protects against irritation while you shave. Experience dramatically softer and smoother skin with every shave.

$6.49

FAQ

Which shaving cream is best?

Unless you’re planning on going to the barbershop daily for an old-school shaving experience or regular spa appointments, you’ll need to visit the drugstore to purchase some shaving products. You'll need some shaving cream along with a safety razor, shaving brush for facial hair, skin prep, and an after-shave balm. 

The kind of skincare products you buy depends on your skin type and the part of your body that you’re shaving. The best shaving cream for your bikini area won’t necessarily be the best shaving cream for your head. Settling on the best shaving cream to meet your specific needs may take some trial and error, but here are a few suggestions to help narrow the field.

The best shaving cream for sensitive skin uses natural ingredients instead of harsh chemicals and will include elements to calm your skin, like chamomile and witch hazel. Both these ingredients work to decrease inflammation and reduce redness. 

If you need extra relief from irritation, menthol is a helpful addition. Menthol is found in eucalyptus and peppermint oils and acts as a cooling agent and mild anesthetic to help ease razor burn. 

Another thing to consider is the scent. If your skin is easily irritated, you’ll also want to use a product containing essential oils instead of chemical fragrances. You can also consider going fragrance-free.

If you tend to have dry skin, you’re going to want a look for a shaving cream that includes moisturizing agents like vitamin E, glycerin, or jojoba oil. These products not only smooth and moisturize but also add a layer of lubrication that helps your razor glide over your skin, reducing drag and decreasing the chance of nicks.

If your skin type falls within the normal range, you’re pretty much free to experiment.

The best men’s shaving cream for our money is Harry's Shave Gel with Aloe. It’s a natural shaving cream perfect for any skin type, thanks to aloe that cools and soothes any irritation. It also smells great, so you can forgo the cologne and go au naturel.

On the other side of the coin, ladies, we think that Flamingo Women's Foaming Shave Gel with Aloe Vera is the best women’s shaving cream. It’s packed with emollients to keep your skin soft plus soothing aloe, making it perfect for your delicate areas. Flamingo also lathers up thick and foamy, so it stays put until you rinse it away. 

What’s the difference between shaving foam, cream, and gel?

Shaving foam, cream, and gel are often used interchangeably, but they are very different. Let’s take a look.

SHAVING FOAM: Shaving foams instantly lather into foam when dispensed, giving them a light and airy feeling on your skin. That fluffy texture comes at a cost. These products don’t contain a lot of moisturizers or lubricants, meaning they don’t do a great job protecting your skin from irritation and razor burn.

SHAVING GEL: These products have a denser consistency than foams and create a thicker barrier between your skin and razor. This barrier offers better lubrication and protection. They also have a latherless application, so the gel stays where you put it until removed.

SHAVING CREAM: Creams are the densest shaving product you can use. They create a thick lather that delivers significant amounts of lubrication and hydration to your skin. They also contain ingredients that penetrate and soften the hair shaft, making them easier to shave.

Which is better, shaving foam, cream, or gel?

That entirely depends on your needs as a shaver. Each product has its uses. 

SHAVING FOAM: Because it doesn’t contain a lot of lubricants or moisturizers, foam is best used on thicker skin, like your legs, chest, or back. 

SHAVING GEL: Shaving gels use no drying alcohols and contain more moisturizers than foams, so they’re better at protecting skin from irritation, making gels an excellent choice for grooming your face or legs.

SHAVING CREAM:  Because creams are so thick, they provide an added layer of protection from irritation and are the perfect choice for sensitive areas like the bikini line. 

No matter what product you choose, if you experience a burning sensation or develop a rash, please consult with a dermatologist for care.