Most men would relate to the misery and discomfort that can sometimes arise with daily/regular shaving. We all want to look well-groomed, but when you shave, your skin might be left irritated with ingrown hair, razor burn, nicks, or cuts. Is it because of your razor? Yes, could be. But a good shaving cream is just as important as a good razor.
The best shaving cream for men helps in softening hard facial hair, making the razor glide with ease. It also helps in soothing the skin and making it feel refreshed post-shaving, thus minimising cuts and bumps. From Cremo Original to Forest Essentials and Billy Jealousy, many brands sell shaving creams with quality ingredients. Listed below are some of the best-recommended ones from the lot.
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Table of Contents
Selecting a good quality shaving cream can make the difference between healthy skin and skin that feels itchy, dry, and dehydrated with nicks and cuts. The right product will add a layer of lubrication to minimise friction between a razor and your skin.
It will also have all the quality ingredients, including glycerin, coconut acid, and potassium hydroxide to provide the best possible protection.
The first and foremost thing to consider is to understand your skin type. Beard hair is tough and wiry, but your facial skin is soft. Good shaving cream will prep, protect, and moisturise your skin. Therefore, it is important to choose a product that complements your skin type.
If your skin feels dull, rough, and flaky with red patches, it is a sign that you have dry skin. So, you need a shaving cream with a moisturising base that will keep your skin hydrated while you shave. Glycerin-based shaving creams are excellent moisturisers that also ensure that the razor glides along your skin without any cuts or nicks.
Shaving cream with added ingredients such as coconut oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E also protect and lubricate the skin, diminishing redness associated with dry skin. However, there's an ingredient that you should avoid, especially if you have dry skin - benzyl alcohol. Though it is used mainly for its antibacterial properties, it robs the skin of its natural sebum.
Large, visible pores and frequent acne blemishes are some signs of oily skin. So, you need a shaving cream with the bare minimum quantity of oils and fats. Eliminating oils and fats from shaving creams is not possible as they both are necessary to carry other ingredients, including glycerin and lather-producing agents.
If you have oily skin, you might want to opt for a shaving cream with an astringent in it, like witch hazel. It is a natural tropical remedy that contains several compounds with anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties that are useful in treating acne and skin sensitivity.
The shaving cream with astringent will help cut through excess oil and refine pores to reduce greasiness. It also cleanses irritants from the skin, thus lowering the risk of breakouts.
Sensitive skin is kind of hard to deal with, but the right set of products/ingredients can control the trigger reactions. When it comes to choosing shaving cream for sensitive skin, look for a gentle formula. You may want to pick hypoallergenic products with ingredients like aloe, green tea and oatmeal.
All these ingredients are meant to soothe irritated skin – redness, bumps, rashes, and burning sensation that you might feel after completing your shave. If you still notice bumps appearing on your skin after each shave, you can switch to a cream that has glycolic acid (it exfoliates dead skin cells and free ingrown hair).
Also, it is advised to read the label carefully; it should say 'hypoallergenic' or 'dermatologically tested'. Another thing to keep in mind is to stay away from scented or artificially fragrant shaving creams, as it's often the perfumes in these products that irritate the skin.
Lather shaving creams are not ready for use right out of the jar. They are used by mixing them with water, lathering them up and applying them with a badger, aka shaving brush. These creams help soften your beard as they allow you to warm up the cream with warm water before the shave.
Using a brush also helps remove dead skin gently, giving you a smoother, softer complexion. Non-lather shaving creams are designed with ease of application in mind. They come out of the tube or jar foamy and ready to spread over your skin with your fingertips.
Non-lather shaving creams save time and are easier to use when travelling. These are designed for guys who have no interest in shaving or don't have time to work up a lather.
Most natural ingredients are biodegradable and work in sync with the body's natural functions and cycles. So, you should look for shaving creams containing natural oils (almond, coconut, avocado, and jojoba) and natural essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus, sandalwood, lemon, lime, peppermint and cedarwood, to name a few).
Despite the name, these ingredients are not oily for the skin. They evaporate almost immediately upon contact with the skin, leaving behind a smooth and soft texture. Ideal shaving cream should be a blend of a few drops of essential oil and an all-natural base. Cremo Original Shave Cream, Forest Essentials' Sandalwood and Orange Peel Shaving Cream are some of the best ones in the market.
Chemical dyes, synthetic perfumes, detergents, petrochemical by-products, and alcohol-derivates are the ingredients to avoid. Certain chemical dyes such as FD&C (Food, Drug and Cosmetic) colours, D&C (Drug and Cosmetics) colours, and HC (Historical Colours) are harsh chemicals that can cause allergic reactions and rashes. Synthetic and artificial fragrances can cause allergies, headache, and dizziness.
To generate foam while shaving, certain brands add detergents, such as TEA, DEA MEA, and sodium lauryl sulphate, which strip off oil and everything from the skin's surface. Petrochemicals are cheap substitutes for natural oils that can clog pores, preventing the skin's natural respiration process.
Some of the common petrochemicals you'll find in the market are paraffin, mineral oil, and petrolatum. Any shaving cream that contains alcohol-derivate should also be avoided as it can lead to extreme dryness, peeling, swelling, and skin eruptions.
A shaving cream's scent can be chosen as per your preference or skin type. We'd suggest you choose as per your skin type as it'll prevent any future allergic reaction. If you have sensitive skin or skin prone to razor burn and soreness, scentless shaving cream, or one with rose and lavender oil will suit your skin.
If your skin is prone to breakouts post-shave, creams containing cedarwood, peppermint and sandalwood will care for your skin. For those whose skin is susceptible to cuts and nicks, a cream containing lemon, lime, or bergamot oil will be helpful.
₹3,499.00
Starting with this long-time favourite, original formula made in the USA - Cremo Original Shave Cream. What sets this formula apart from its counterparts is that you only require one incredibly thin layer to get a smooth shave.
The cream contains macadamia seed oil, lemon, papaya, and olive leaf extract, perfect for sensitive skin. It also contains aloe and calendula extract to ensure that your skin remains smooth post-shave and you don't get any cuts and nicks.
₹695.00
Forest Essential's Sandalwood and Orange Peel shaving cream is a fantastic shaving/skincare combination. Add this product to your everyday skincare regime and see how your skin feels nourished and moisturised post-shave. With an intoxicating scent of sandalwood, the shaving cream is sure to set your mood for the day.
It also harnesses the revitalising powers of citrus extracts and aloe vera juice to soothe and moisturise skin, protecting it from any irritation. The shaving cream generates a rich lather when applied with a brush, giving a classy, clean shave.
₹195.00
This is another most loved shaving cream among Indian men. This moisturising formula not only takes care of facial hair but skin as well. It creates a creamy, rich lather that gently lifts hair right from the base, giving a consistent shave throughout.
Bombay Shaving Company's signature shaving cream is enriched with superfoods, including tea tree, aloe vera, and menthol, to protect and rejuvenate your skin. The tea tree oil works as a fantastic cleansing agent, preventing acne and skin inflammation, whereas menthol and aloe vera sink deep within the skin to hydrate and refresh the face.
₹1,295.00
Body Shop's promise of creating 100% vegetarian and cruelty-free products makes its shaving cream one of the favourites among men. Its non-petrochemical formula is another advantage that lures customers to the product. The shaving cream has been created keeping those with dry skin in mind.
It is enriched with community trade organic aloe vera, imported from Mexico, that leaves skin soft, smooth, and nick-free. And the smoothing maca root leaves the skin feeling hydrated. Reviewers are happy that the shaving cream's quantity is good enough to last for over a year if you're not a daily shaver.
₹6,599.00
Taylor of Old Bond Street has been producing quality male grooming products ever since the mid-19th century. This particular shaving cream features a blend of exotic sweet scented sandalwood and cedar, with lavender, rosemary, geranium, and liquid amber top notes for a subtle floral scent.
The cream also contains unique ingredients that will prepare your hair for a shave and will moisturise your skin with its smooth and creamy lather. Reviewers highly recommend the product as it makes rich lather, makes shaving comfortable, and leaves behind a decent scent.
₹10,820.00
If you're not a fan of thick and creamy lather, the Hydroplane Super Slick Shave Cream by Billy Jealousy is for you. This foamless, water-soluble silicone-based formula builds a protective barrier on the skin, eliminating razor burn, bumps, and ingrown hair.
The shaving cream is enhanced with a whole host of incredible ingredients, including grapefruit, orange, and lime oil, that act as moisturising and conditioning agents for the skin and beard. It also contains peppermint oil that acts as a natural antiseptic and antimicrobial agent to cleanse and cool the skin post-shave.
₹6,999.00
The Art of Shaving produces a range of natural products loaded with the luxury of the present and the aroma of the past. The brand brings art and passion to the daily skincare routine. This particular shaving cream is replete with coconut acid, essential oils, and glycerin to generate a rich lather, giving a comfortable shave.
The rich and foamy lather softens the hair for a close shave, protecting the skin from irritation by improving razor glide and leaving the skin smooth and moisturised. Reviewers have given the product a 5-star rating. They recommend using it with a pre-shave oil and shaving balm for an amazing experience.
₹8,999.00
Beard Lube by Jack Black is an all-in-one formula – pre-shave oil, shave cream, and skin conditioner. It features all organic ingredients and no synthetic fragrance, parabens, or colourants. Also, the pump-style bottle makes it easy to use, though a little difficult to carry while travelling.
The shaving cream is translucent because of the presence of silicone blend in its formula. This also makes it easy to glide the razor around beards, mustaches, and sideburns. It is also a very light shaving cream, making it easier to clean the razor blades.
₹85.00
Gillette is perhaps the world's most well-known brand in the field of shaving. Apart from quality razors, it also produces incredible shaving creams that give a hassle-free shaving experience. Unlike many foaming creams, you need not use a shaving brush to form a lather.
You can just use your palm to massage the gel into your skin to create a rich, creamy lather. The lightly scented formula, enriched with the power of lubricants, makes it easy to glide your razor, giving a smooth shave. The aloe in the cream protects against cuts and burns.
₹240.00
Even though Old Spice is known for its range of aftershaves, it also produces good quality shaving creams. Producing a richer, long-lasting lather, this formula provides the best protection while gliding razor on your skin.
If you shave regularly, this shaving cream will work perfectly for you. It will soften the hard facial hair, thus lubricating the skin and making it easy to shave. Its moisturising action also makes the skin feel much smoother later on.
You don't have to be trained like a professional to shave like one. However, there are a few tips and tricks you can keep in mind to get the perfect shave at home.
If you are ready to update your skincare routine or start afresh, there are few basic products that you might need to get to your A-game. We've linked some of our favourite products down below for you to look at and add to the cart.
Whether you're a daily shaver or someone who shaves once in a while, you do need good quality products, including a shaving cream to get a neat and comfortable shave. We listed all the ingredients to look out for in shaving cream, depending on your skin type. Hope our research has helped you find the perfect one.
Author: Srishti Sikka
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The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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