Best Shaving Creams for Wet Shaving in 2022
Lather up with one of our top shaving cream picks for a super-close and irritation-free morning shave
As traditional shaving has enjoyed a recent boom in popularity, customers have suddenly become bombarded by an endless selection of shaving creams. Between unique all-natural formulations, eye-catching designs and crazy new fragrances you’ve never even heard of, it can be hard to know which of the latest shaving creams will actually give you the smoothest and most comfortable shave. Fortunately, The English Shaving Company is here to make life easier. Check out our expert recommendations below and discover which shaving creams really are the crème de la crème.
Firstly, what makes a good shaving cream?
The key to an exceptional wet shave is a rich and smooth shaving cream. With just a small amount of cream, a dash of warm water and a high-quality shaving brush, you will be able to whip up a thick, creamy texture with minimal effort. The best shaving creams contain a rich blend of ingredients designed to nourish and protect the skin, preventing razor burn, cuts and shaving irritation. Some shaving creams rely heavily on synthetic substances and chemicals to cheaply create the ideal consistency, but these ingredients can upset sensitive skin. If you’re prone to soreness and redness, always look for shaving creams made from natural extracts and essential oils.
The consistency of the cream should provide ample cushion and traction, allowing your razor to flawlessly glide across your face and neck without painfully dragging the skin. The best shaving creams also soften your facial hair, making it easier for the shaving brush to lift your hair so the blade can slice through at the optimal angle.
The Best-Selling Shaving Cream: Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream Tub 150g
There’s a reason this world-famous shaving cream from Taylor of Old Bond Street is constantly flying off the shelves. The first thing to strike you as you unscrew this elegant tub is the subtle and enjoyable fragrance that is unmistakably masculine. A classic fougere fragrance, the top notes of geranium, lavender, rosemary and liquid amber are supported by a heart of carnation, fern and orange blossom while resting on a sumptuous base of patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, powdery musk and rock rose.
It's not just the aroma that’s incredible: the rich cream is particularly long-lasting with a texture that feels luxurious on the skin. It creates a nourishing protective barrier between the skin and the blade, ensuring maximum comfort and ease as you shave every last bit of your stubble. Despite Taylor of Old Bond Street being a luxury brand, this product is very reasonably priced and is part of the multi-buy deal on our website, allowing you to save when you stock up on this exquisite shaving cream.
The Best Budget-Friendly Shaving Cream: Proraso Shaving Cream Collection
If you’re looking for a luscious and reliable shaving cream without paying over the odds, Proraso is the brand for you. With four incredible ranges designed for different skin types, we couldn’t just pick one of these budget-friendly beauties to recommend. The white Sensitive range is best for protecting against painful razor burn, redness and irritation; the red Moisturising & Nourishing range is designed for those with particularly coarse facial hair; the green Refreshing & Toning range is packed full of skin-loving ingredients to restore and hydrate dry and damaged skin; and the blue Protective & Moisturising range prevents nicks and cuts by making the skin feel soft and elastic.
Whichever you go for, you’re sure to have an incredibly smooth and comfortable shave with a delicate and enticing fragrance. As a budget-friendly shaving cream, you may find you need more cream for each shave and the tube doesn’t last as long as other high-end brands but for the weekly wet shavers out there, Proraso shaving cream is an exceptional choice.
The Best High-End Shaving Cream: Geo F Trumper Eucris Shaving Cream Tub 200g
Looking towards luxury shaving products now, we have the iconic Eucris shaving cream from the world’s most celebrated Gentlemen’s barbers, Geo F Trumper. Featured in the James Bond novel On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the dark and mysterious Eucris fragrance is an ode to British excellence, evoking sophistication, charm and pleasure.
Geo F Trumper has been making high-quality shaving products for the discerning market since the 19th century and now offers nothing short of shaving cream perfection. The excellent concentrated lather prepares the face for an extraordinarily comfortable shave that leaves the skin feeling soft and looking sublime. The fragrance lingers long after the shave, tantalising the senses throughout the rest of the day. Costing slightly more than your run-of-the-mill shaving cream, this luxury creation makes a perfect gift for someone else or a special treat for yourself. After all, we all deserve a little luxury from time to time.
The Best-Value Shaving Cream: Musgo Real
This is another European brand with such an incredible range that we couldn’t pick just one. While Musgo Real shaving creams may be on the more expensive side initially, they have been formulated in such a way that you only need a pea-sized amount to create a luscious, velvety lather, giving you a multitude of morning shaves for your money. The most popular fragrances are Spiced Citrus—a dynamic and opulent profusion of lemon, spice and coriander that gives a lasting effect of exotic warmth—and Oak Moss—an invigorating and comforting blend of coriander with a profound woody core and understated layers of spices. Every fragrance is designed to be enticing without being overbearing, ensuring you never tire of the exotic aroma as you lather up day after day.
The Best Shaving Cream for Sensitive Skin: Edwin Jagger Aloe Vera Shaving Cream 75ml
Aloe Vera is the absolute go-to for anyone who regularly experiences red, sore and blotchy skin after shaving. The natural gels extracted from the aloe vera plant have an incredible ability to restore dry and cracked skin while healing and disinfecting cuts and sores. Of all the Aloe Vera ranges out there, we recommend the expert formulation from Edwin Jagger. This rich and special concentration contains no parabens, mineral oils or harsh chemicals that are likely to upset vulnerable skin. The fragrance is sweet and delicate and the lather it produces is unrivalled, softening the skin while lifting facial hair for an incredibly smooth and comfortable skin.
We would like to give an honourable mention to Proraso again, this time specifically for its Sensitive shaving cream. Formulated using aloe vera and oat extract, it is purposely designed for those who regularly suffer from post-shave irritation.
The Best Vegan Shaving Cream: Muhle Organic Shaving Cream 75ml
You might never have considered it, but many mass-produced shaving creams are not suitable for vegan customers as they are formulated using animal fats and other animal by-products. One range you can be sure is fully vegan is the incredible Organic range from shaving experts, Muhle. As the name suggests this shaving cream is fully organic, made with fair-trade Argan oil and enhanced by vitamin E and essential fatty acids to nurture, nourish and protect your face. Creamy waxes and vegan glycerine optimise the hydro-lipid balance of your skin while shaving, leaving it feeling smooth, silky and elastic. It has a light and smooth consistency with a high conditioning factor, enabling the blade to glide effortlessly during the wet shave. It contains zero synthetic substances or colourants, making it a great choice for those with highly sensitive skin as well.