I Tested the Best Shaving Cream for Men to Get a Closer Shave in 2025 (2025)

Many men, myself included, shave daily, whether with anelectric razoror old-fashioned manualrazor. But it's challenging to find the best shaving cream or gel that suits your skin, facial hair type, and overall preferences. We've all been there: either a shaving cream doesn’t lather enough, a shave gel doesn’t allow for a close shave, or a formula doesn’t protect as well as we’d like against irritation, nicks, and bumps.

Maybe Barbasol was your introduction to shave cream, and you haven't found a good alternative yet. Well, the good news is there are now many great shaving creams on the market and we're here to help you narrow them down to find the one to enhance your daily shaving ritual.

I found Harry’s Shave Cream to be the best shaving cream, and the brand's Foaming Shave Gel to be the best shave gel. All the shave creams below, however, are the best in their respective categories and worth trying, depending on your preferences.

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Read more of the greatest hits from our2025Men's Journal Grooming Awards, including best face sunscreen, beard oil, beard brushes, andcolognes.

Related: I Tested All the Top Afteshaves and This Is the Best Option to Prevent Irritation

Best Shaving Cream of 2025 at a Glance

• Best Overall Shave Cream: Harry’s Shave Cream

• Best Overall Shave Gel: Harry's Foaming Shave Gel

• Best Shave Cream for Sensitive Skin: Gillette SkinGuard Shave Gel

• Best Shave Cream for Thick Hair: Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather

• Best Lathering Shave Cream: Supply Ultra Lather Shaving Cream

• Best Scented Shave Cream: Cremo Palo Santo Shave Cream

• Best Shaving Cream for Electric Razors: Lab Series Electric Shave Solution

• Best Natural Shave Cream: Horace Shave Cream

• Best Hydrating Shave Cream: Nivea Maximum Hydration Shave Gel

• Best Cleansing Shave Cream: The Grey Cleansing and Shaving Mousse

• Best Fragrance-Free Shave Cream: The Art of Shaving Unscented Shave Cream

The Best Shaving Creams for a Smooth Shave

Best Overall Shave Cream: Harry’s Shave Cream

Some guys want that gel-to-foam action with a cooling, cloud-like lather, while others prefer the thicker, richer feel of a classic cream that leaves skin soft and moisturized. Harry's delivers both, each in equally stellar formulations. Harry's Shave Cream gives a smooth, cushiony shave with plenty of aloe to soothe all skin types, and it lathers up nicely even without a brush for just the right amount of glide. My face felt soft as heck afterward.

Best Overall Shave Gel: Harry'sFoaming Shave Gel

Harry's Foaming Shave Gelfoams up generously and has an incredibly refreshing post-shave feel. A little pump goes a long way—it's wild how much the formula expands after application. It also contains aloe and does a great job lifting stubble. It's free of parabens and sulfates, easy on the wallet, and a solid, all-around pick for most guys.

Best Shave Cream for Sensitive Skin: Gillette SkinGuard Shave Gel

I’m seriously impressed by Gillette SkinGuard Shave Gel, which launched late last year. The gel transforms into a rich, expansive foam—a tiny amount goes a long way—and the lather is top-tier.Beyond feeling great to use, the formula has been clinically tested for gentleness and protection, making it one of the best options for sensitive skin.

It creates an ultra-lubricating layer that minimizes razor drag and lets you get a super close shave without the usual irritation. Shea butter moisturizes, softens, and shields your skin from nicks, while vitamin E nourishes and helps prevent razor bumps. If you have sensitive skin but still want a smooth, clean finish, this is the one to reach for.

Best Shave Cream for Thick Hair: Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather

If you have thick facials hair, you want emollients like shea butter or natural oils to hydrate and soften the hair, making it easier for the razor to glide without tugging. Humectants like glycerin are essential, as they pull moisture into the skin and hair to keep things smooth. Finally, a thick texture is key for that protective cushion.Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Latherdelivers on all fronts.

It's packed with hydrating oils like macadamia, soybean, and jojoba, plus glycerin to lock in moisture and organic edelweiss to calm the skin—especially clutch under a dense beard. Plenty of shave creams will get the job done, but Jack Black's an original that's tough to beat.

Best Lathering Shave Cream: Supply Ultra Lather Shaving Cream

Supply Ultra Lather Shave Cream doesn’t puff up into a big foam, but its buttery, whipped texture feels more like a luxurious night cream than your average shave product. It tackles even the toughest beards with ease and creates a rich, creamy cushion that allows your razor to glide effortlessly while actively nourishing your skin.

Kaolin clay gently exfoliates and softens stubble, shea butter delivers deep moisture with anti-inflammatory benefits, and jojoba oil keeps things hydrated while offering antibacterial and anti-aging perks. The formula is free of sulfates and parabens, made for all skin types, and scented with a subtle woodsy blend of sandalwood and cedar that smells quietly confident.

Best Scented Shave Cream: Cremo Palo Santo Shave Cream

Most guys don’t give much thought to the scent of their shave cream, but when I caught a whiff of Cremo Palo Santo at a recent preview, I knew it was going to be a hit. Shave solutions rarely bring this level of scent sophistication. It’s a warm, woodsy blend with subtle hints of cardamom and papyrus that wouldn’t feel out of place in a high-end cologne lineup.

Scent aside, Cremo’s always been known for its ultra-slick, water-activated formula that delivers a smooth glide while helping to reduce irritation and razor burn. There’s something charmingly old-school about Cremo, but it’s modern where it counts. With this elevated scent in the mix, shaving might just become an olfactory ritual you look forward to.

Best Shaving Cream for Electric Razors: Lab Series Electric Shave Solution

If you use an electric shaver, traditional shave creams or gels won't cut it. You need a lightweight solution that preps the skin by lifting hairs and forming a thin, protective layer before the buzzing blades get to work. That's where Lab Series Electric Shave Solution shines.

The brand's nailed one of the best formulas out there for electric razors. It goes on like toner-lotion hybrid that makes stubble stand while silicone ensures a smooth glide. A potent blend of kola nut extract tones the skin while antioxidants protect and bisabolol soothes. Cool, refreshing, and seriously effective, it sets the stage for a clean electric shave that leaves your face feeling smooth sans the irritation.

Applying it takes some getting used to; it's not like a traditional cream. Start with a dime size amount and massage into the beard, making sure to the skin underneath.

Best Natural Shave Cream: Horace Shave Cream

Buzzy Parisian grooming brand Horace has quickly carved out a spot in my routine, thanks to its luxe, effective skincare that is elevated yet approachable. I especially love Horace Shave Cream. It comes in an old-school, apothecary-style tube that adds a touch of niche cool to your bathroom shelf.

The formula contains over 98 percent natural ingredients in a rich, nourishing cream with none of that synthetic, chemical feel. It's packed with skin soothing powerhouses like shorea butter to help prevent razor burn, kukui oil to calm irritation, shea butter for deep hydration, and allantoin to soften. It's free of silicones, parabens, and mineral oils. The subtle green citrus scent is a modern spin on the classic barbershop vibe: fresh, simple, and chic.

Best Hydrating Shave Cream: Nivea Maximum Hydration Shave Gel

Aloe vera to soothe and hydrate? Check. B5 to attract and retain moisture, keeping your skin soft and hydrated? Check. A whole lineup of moisturizers that make this a full-on hydration powerhouse? Triple check. Any good shave cream should soothe your skin, but Nivea Maximum Hydration Shave Gel goes the extra mile with a formula that leaves your face noticeably softer than most.

After shaving with it, I felt like I’d already applied a moisturizer. If you’ve got dry skin, this is a no-brainer, but even if you don’t, you’ll still appreciate the hydration boost post-shave. That said, gents, you still shouldn't skip the moisturizer afterward.

Best Cleansing Shave Cream: The Grey Cleansing and Shaving Mousse

Sometimes you're short on time and skip your usual face-washing routine. That's where The Grey Cleansing and Shave Cream comes in. For a premium price, the dual-action formula removes grime while also creating a conditioning lather for a smooth and nourishing shave.

It's packed with skin-soothing ingredients like apricot oil and vitamin E to hydrate, protect, and condition as you go. The Grey thinks outside the grooming box, and this innovative two-in-one further proves that with a rich lather that also leaves your face feeling clean.

Best Fragrance-Free Shave Cream: The Art of Shaving Unscented Shave Cream

Many enjoy shaving cream with a subtle scent, and some options even come with full-on fragrance pyramids. But other times, you want your cologne to do the talking. Plus, synthetic fragrances can sometimes trigger sensitive skin, leading to redness or irritation.

The Art of Shaving Unscented Shave Cream skips the scent and zeroes in on performance. The formula builds a thick, cushiony lather that enhances razor glide and helps prevent nicks and irritation while glycerin delivers lasting hydration. Dermatologically tested and fragrance-free, this stellar cream from one of the original names in the shaving game gets the job done simply.

How to Lather Shaving Cream

According toMatt Ruggieri, a product development consultant specializing in men's grooming, the ideal shaving cream is dense enough to provide cushioning for the razor but is light enough to lather smoothly. "A classic shave cream formulation uses ingredients like myristic acid, stearic acid, and potassium hydroxide to help create a dense lather," he says. If the regular cream is too thick, you can easily mix a small amount of cream with water and whip it into a rich foam using a brush. Then put the brush to the skin and apply it in a circular motion, which helps lift the hair away from the skin.

"This ensures that the razor can glide smoothly without tugging or pulling, resulting in a closer and more comfortable shave," Ruggieri says. However, even if you don't lather, most modern shaving creams use ingredients that allow for a smooth, comfortable shave no matter what.

However, not all quality shave creams lather; some prioritize moisturizing and gliding with silicones and oils, making them suitable for brushless shaving.

How to Choose the Right Shaving Cream

The ideal shaving cream, according toRuggieri,"strikes a balance between being dense enough to provide cushioning for the razor and being easy to lather for a smooth application."

Your main goal when using shaving cream is to get a close shave that hydrates and soothes skin without causing irritation, he says. Therefore, look for creams with high concentrations of hydrating and nourishing ingredients like glycerin, aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil. "These ingredients help to soften the facial hair and hydrate the skin, making it easier for the razor to glide smoothly without causing irritation or razor burn," he says. They also help to promote skin healing and repair."

The main types to consider are cream and gel—cream offers a dense, hydrating lather suitable for sensitive skin or brush-assisted shaving, while gel provides a translucent consistency ideal for precision grooming.

Shave Cream vs. Shave Gel

Shaving gel and shaving cream differ in consistency and lubrication. Gel is best for precision shaving, while cream is better for sensitive skin.

“Shaving cream typically has a dense and creamy consistency, creating a thick and cushiony lather. This helps to hydrate the skin, soften the facial hair, and reduce friction between the razor and the skin," says Ruggieri. "On the other hand, shave gel has a translucent and gel-like consistency [which] provides lubrication and protection. It tends to have a lighter consistency compared to shaving cream and provides the benefit of being able to see the area being shaved clearly."

How I Picked the Best Shaving Creams

I had the privilege of speaking with Matt Ruggieri, a product development consultant specializing in men's grooming. Ruggieri is a co-founder of skincare brand The Motley and has 15 years of experience formulating for award-winning brands like Harry’s, Heyday, Port Products, Onekind, Supply, and Blu Atlas. His insights on what men should consider or look for when shopping for the best shave cream, as well as shaving tips, are invaluable.

In testing these shave creams, I found that each excelled in its respective categories. I also consulted with friends and grooming specialists with various skin types for feedback.

Why You Should Trust Me

In addition to writing for Men’s Journal, I have covered topics ranging from grooming, menswear, fragrances, watches, and styling for InsideHook, Robb Report, Esquire, and Men’s Health. I served as the market editor at Esquire for several years, scouring the industry for the best garments and goods that were worth the investment and made for compelling stories and good advice for our readers. I also conceptualized and wrote many fragrance stories for Esquire and a significant portion of the grooming pages.

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