The Best Shaving Cream for Men Might Not Be a Cream at All

While there is certainly an ideal shaving regimen for every guy, there really is no such thing as the single best shaving cream for men. Yes, you’ve got a lot of “best men’s shaving creams” to consider, but they’re not all creams. That’s because what’s great on your skin—even if it's an actual shaving cream—might not be best on your friend’s skin. (Perhaps he’s better suited for a shave gel, or a shaving oil.)

Sure, you should have a fresh, sharp razor that you replace regularly. And that aforementioned shave regimen hinges on a slow, steady technique to avoid things like razor burn and shave bumps. But right there, squarely in the middle of it all, is the shaving cream. Or rather, the shaving gel, or soap, or oil, and so on.

Which is the best shaving “cream” for you? Read on to learn how each of these different types of shaving agents stacks up (for specific skin and stubble types), as well as our tried-and-tested picks for the best men’s shaving cream (and best shave gel, best shave oil, and so forth).

The Best Men’s Shaving Cream, According to GQ

• Best Shaving Cream Overall: Uppercut Deluxe Shave Cream, $20
• Best Shaving Gel: Bevel Clear Shave Gel, $12
• Best Shaving Foam: Harry's Foaming Shave Gel (3-pack), $17
• Best Shaving Oil: Clubman Pinaud Shave Oil, $9
• Best Shaving Soap: Claus Porto Musgo Real Shaving Soap Classic Scent, $22
• Best Shaving Butter: Dollar Shave Club Shave Butter (2-Pack), $13
• Best Shaving Cream for Ingrown-Prone Skin: Crown Shaving Co. Shave Cream, $32
• Best Shaving Cream for Sensitive Skin: Jackfir Classic Shave Cream, $36
• Best Shaving Cream for Acne-Prone Skin: Bevel Shave Cream, $10
• Best Shaving Cream for Coarse Stubble: Proraso Nourishing Shaving Cream, $10

Jump To: How to choose the right cream, gel, or oil | How we tested | Shaving cream FAQs | About our experts

Best Shaving Cream for Men Overall: Uppercut Deluxe Shave Cream

Why we love it: Maybe it’s because I love anything with a marshmallowy texture, but isn’t that what we all want in a shave cream? This stuff feels sumptuous, smells invigorating, and you can practically feel its defense layer over top of the skin—I have to give it a more thorough cleansing after the shave, to get all of the shave cream off (compared to other lightweight products, that is). I say so positively, too, because I want that assurance from a shave cream—that it’s going to create a buffer between skin and blade without hindering the actual shave experience itself. (No razor dragging, nothing like that.) Aside from the soothing nature of Uppercut’s shave cream, this dense and soothing formula goes the extra mile to keep skin satisfied.

Best Shaving Gel for Men Overall: Bevel Clear Shave Gel

Why we love it: You’ll see Bevel in two spots on my list, for a pair of products targeting two different stages of sensitive skin shaving. This gel is a superstar for people who need visibility on their skin as they shave—it’s not foaming, but entirely translucent—which is perfect whether you have blemishes that can’t endure a razor passing, or if you want to draw clean lines with the razor. But moreover, its calming formula is fantastic for the most sensitive types, as well as infrequent shavers who need to rebound quickly from the blade. Ditto for daily shavers whose skin might be more resilient to the razor, but who still need constant calming from a shave agent: Bevel is it. (Check below for another top-notch shave agent from the stellar brand.)

Best Shaving Foam for Men Overall: Harry's Foaming Shave Gel

Why we love it: Harry’s foaming gel is one of the shave creams I find myself recommending most often to readers and friends, especially those who are budget conscious. You get the aerosol-powered foaming action of classic shave creams, but its gel base provides a visible-enough base on the skin itself, so that you aren’t lost in mounds of fluff as you shave. A little goes a long way, and it’s among the easiest to whip into a luscious lather with your shave brush (should you prefer to work with one).

Best Shaving Oil for Men Overall: Clubman Pinaud Shave Oil

Why we love it: The best shave oils aren’t pure oils, as evidenced by this super slick oil-silicone blend from legacy label Clubman Pinaud. It gives you a glossy, friction-resistant layer over top the skin, which allows your razor to pass through the coarsest stubble with aplomb. That’s doubly perfect if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, since you can navigate around blemishes as well as prevent razor drag and blade buildup. You could even use this one as a pre-shave oil beneath your favorite shave cream, if you find that you need a bit of extra glide. It may not soften strands the same way that traditional pre-shave oils do, but it will cool and calm with its anti-inflammatory ingredients, which is itself another defense against post-shave agony.

Best Shaving Soap for Men Overall: Claus Porto Musgo Real Shaving Soap Classic Scent

Why we love it: Traditional shave soaps are due for a comeuppance, especially among safety razor shavers who love to honor a barbershop-esque routine. And look to Claus Porto as the framework for a perfect puck: A swish of your wet shave brush builds a nice sud-like lather that provides skin with a navigable, defensive barrier. (If it’s your first time, you might consider buying the accompanying shave bowl, too—which includes a shave puck with purchase.) A little goes a long way here, so be careful not to overdo it on the soap brushing, or you might buff it down faster than necessary. (One thing about these is their enduring power, though. I’m not the most frequent shaver, but can make one soap last many dozens of shaves.)

And after a decade in the biz, I can’t think of many scents that “take me to my happy place” quite like the brand’s Musgo Real Classic scent, which adds to the entire mind-clearing ritual. I also can’t mention Claus Porto without pointing out the sheer giftability of all their products; if you want to gift anyone the perfect self-care gift, look no further than their shave products, soaps, lotions, fragrances, candles, and beyond.

Best Shaving Butter for Men Overall: Dollar Shave Club Shave Butter

Why we love it: While there are certainly more buttery shave products out there—usually stored in jars vs. squeeze tubes like this—I love that DSC’s packaging helps me manage the amount of product I use. (That’s usually my gripe with shave butters, is that I scoop out triple or quadruple the necessary amount.) On top of that, this skin-toning and soothing formula goes on relatively mess free compared to other butters, plus it provides perfect translucent for a shave. On top of all that, its extremely low cost must be mentioned, too, plus it doubles as a skin and stubble softener, so you save coin on a pre-shave oil.

Best Shaving Cream for Ingrown-Prone Skin: Crown Shaving Co. Shave Cream

Why we love it: I threw this one to Matty Conrad GQ’s resident barbering expert, who swears by Crown Shaving’s signature shave agent—and speaks on behalf of a bunch of barbering mates who rely on the same product. And while this slick-and-soothing shave cream may be his secret sauce, there’s another essential step for ingrown-prone guys: “Typically for guys with ingrown issues, I recommend using a cream with a brush instead of a can of foam,” he says. “The action of the brush can be very beneficial for reducing ingrowns as it provides a bit of exfoliation, plus it lifts the hairs off the face slightly before shaving, making for an easier razor pass.”

Best Shaving Cream for Sensitive Skin: Jackfir Classic Shave Cream

Why we love it: If you have sensitive skin, then you should get familiar with Jackfir’s entire assortment—all built on the premise of transparency, verified-clean ingredients, all tailored to irritation-prone folks. It’s no accident that their excellent shave cream offers the densest roster of soothing, nourishing and anti-inflammatory active ingredients, like panthenol, cucumber extract, and bisabolol. (Eat your heart out, brands who rely solely on aloe, which Jackfir also deploys.) But perhaps moreover, they also use naturally sourced fragrance oils, as opposed to artificial parfum notes, which are notoriously high risk for sensitive skin types. A lot of brands talk the talk, but Jackfir can back up all of its claims—as if its gentle and effective product performance doesn’t already speak for itself.

Best Shaving Cream for Acne-Prone Skin: Bevel Shave Cream

Why we love it: Yes, it’s my second Bevel mention on the list. Compare this shave cream to the aforementioned gel, and you’ll see familiar hero ingredients to nourish, hydrate, and soothe the skin. And while I think the gel has more universality—its translucence perfect for anyone with active acne blemishes—I personally prefer a cream base, and will deploy this when I don’t have any breakouts to navigate, thus I can cover larger swatches of skin (shoulders, upper back, and neck included). But moreover, guys with acne and ingrown-prone skin will appreciate the stubble-softening nature of this cream, which keeps hairs elevated and thus prevents trickle-down problems from ill-cut stubble or poorly cushioned skin. Honestly, I say buy both Bevel shave agents (given their accessible cost), and alternate as needed, based on how quickly you want to shave, or how much visibility you need on a given shave.

Best Shaving Cream for Coarse Stubble: Proraso Nourishing Shaving Cream

Why we love it: Honestly, I could have listed Proraso five different times on this list for their quartet of classic shave creams targeting everything from sensitivity to coarse stubble, and even shave creams specific to safety razor shaving. But I reserved them for this “coarse stubble” spot after GQ’s barber correspondent Matty Conrad called it out: “Thick beards need a softening ingredient to help reduce irritation and to make the hair easier for the razor to slice through. Proraso’s red label blend contains shea butter which is an excellent softener and helps protect the skin from irritation. For guys whose faces are 95% follicles I recommend a pre-shave above all, which makes a world of difference for efficient shaves.” [Proraso offers one in this same red-label thick-stubble-targeting collection, as well as a shave soap and post-shave lotion and post-shave balm].

First things first: The best shaving cream for you might not actually be a cream, but could instead be a shave oil, shave gel, shave soap, shave foam… and oftentimes, your skin and facial hair’s specific needs will determine which of these is best for you. (Though, at the end of the day, the formula will play a big role.)

Still, it all begs the question: what do each of these different shaving agents offer the shaver? Which type of shave “cream” is best for you? For some professional insight on the matter, I spoke with barber Meelo Cervantes, who cuts hair at Church Barber in San Francisco. Here is how Cervantes differentiates each of those core shave agents, based on who they most benefit.

It’s obvious why “shaving cream” is the catch-all term for the entire category of shaving products: It has the most broad appeal, and is suitable for most skin types and facial hair, says Cervantes. “It's also hydrating, so I'd recommend it to people with normal to dry skin. It's great for a smooth and comfortable shave.”

Gel is often soothing and cooling, hence why it’s optimal for sensitive or acne-prone skin. “Shave gel creates a protective barrier between the razor and the skin, which will reduce the chance of irritation,” Cervantes adds. “Gel also offers precision because of its transparent texture.”

Yes, this is the most fun (and visually recognizable) shave cream. It typically comes in an aerosol canister, and many of them have a gel base these days. “Shave foams are generally suitable for most skin types, but especially for normal skin types and minimal facial hair,” explains Cervantes.

Turns out you can shave with as little as a layer of oil—and many “pre-shave” oils also double as a sufficient lubricating shave agent. But it’s still wise to upgrade to a properly designated shave oil, for denser and slicker carrier oils that offer you the glide you need. (Many will also be more of an oil-silicone hybrid for some super slick shaving, while opting for the oil moniker.) “Shave oils are ideal for anyone with sensitive or inflammatory-prone skin,” Cervantes says. “The oil helps the razor glide smoothly, reducing friction and minimizing irritation. It’s especially beneficial for precision shaving and controlling the blade.”

Shaving soaps aren’t cleansing soaps per se, but tend to start as a soap-like puck that builds a lather with a nice shave brush. “When lathered with a brush, shave soap provides a rich, creamy texture,” says Cervantes. “It's good for all skin types, but it also takes longer to prep and use. So it’s best for those who want a traditional shave, since it adds a luxurious feel to the shaving experience.”

The dense, whip-like nature of shave butter is perfect for anyone with dry or sensitive skin, Cervantes explains. “The buttery texture provides lots of moisture, making each stroke much smoother. If you're looking for a super hydrating option, shaving butter is a good option.”

While it’s technically ok to “dry shave”, it’s not something we recommend, since your skin is going to react much more favorably to a steady shave regimen and a fresh, sharp razor. Consider a shave oil if you want a single product that expedites the routine but offers thorough lubrication and skin support.

Instead of shaving cream, consider shaving gel, shave soap, shave oil, and even shaving butter. Each one offers different benefits based on your skin’s sensitivities and your facial hair type.

The best shave cream for men is Uppercut Deluxe Shave Cream, for its pillowy, whip-like texture that builds into a lovely, delicious lather.

This test has been active for over a decade, as I’ve been on the grooming beat since 2013 and have been trying the latest and greatest products every step of the way. But for this article, I also wanted some input from the barbers we trust at GQ, hence why they’ve influenced a few of the picks and distinctions, too. Regardless, each of these products is among the best in the entire category, and I made sure to pick products with a trusted customer base, as evidenced by reviews around the web.

Matty Conrad is GQ’s resident barbering expert (you can see him in a bunch of GQ videos), as well as the founder of Victory grooming products as well as Victory Barber in Vancouver, BC.

Meelo Cervantes is a barber at San Francisco barbershop Church Barber.