Best Men’s Shaving Products That Are Also Good For The Skin
A man’s skin is not only thicker, but it can also be rougher, more sensitive and can experience enlarged pores, just this alone is enough of a reason to step up and use good skincare. Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated and certainly doesn’t need to include 9 different steps. I have done the hard work and put together my 6 top men’s shaving products which will make a difference and are also good for the skin.
So how does a skin expert test and rate shaving products and men’s skincare I hear you ask? Well, you can count on me to do a deep dive into the ingredients, texture and results. With my knowledge of a man’s skin, I can tell what is good for the skin and what can make the difference, then I asked the most demanding male shaving customers you will ever meet to put these men’s products through their paces.
The Best 6 Shaving Products
Best Foaming Shave Gels Over £10
Elemis Ice Cool Foaming Shave Gel
A gorgeous foam that is dense and luxurious, feels incredible on the skin and covers the skin really well. The level of coverage is an important factor and in a number of products we tested covering ability varied greatly, there is nothing worse than going to shave and the product lifts off and becomes patchy. The Elemis Shave Gel delivers a great shave thanks to the foaming gel which seems to wrap around the hair giving you a really close shave. Packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients, oak bark, witch hazel and aloe vera which also intensively hydrate as well as calm and soothes the skin. From the moment this hits the skin red date otherwise known as Chinese date conditions the skin, infuses the skin with antioxidants and is believed to help rejuvenate the skin. The menthol is a personal preference and if you really don’t like the aroma or the zingy feel on your skin then this one isn’t for you. My rating: 9/10
Clinique For Men Aloe Shave Gel
A rich gel that transforms into a creamy foam rather that gives the feeling of cocooning close to the skin. A neutral aroma with ingredients of aloe vera to calm, soothe and hydrate and hyaluronic acid to smooth and draw moisture into the top layers of the skin. The foam is less dense than Elemis Ice Cool Foaming Shave Gel so if you have a finer beard, then this is a good choice. It covers the skin easily, a great tip from the shaving testers - keep the razor clean and wet to get a close smooth shave. Overall, a great product that rinses off easily after use and the skin feels comfortable and supported. My rating: 8/10
Best Foaming Shave Gels Under £10
Gillette Rapid Foaming Shave Gel
With over 120 years of experience in male grooming, I feel like Gillette should be the high street shaving kings. Since 1901 the brand has come a long way and now has a whopping 9 different shaving creams, gels and mousses so it’s easy to get confused. This range is completely new to me and I kind of feel the whole positioning and use of the word ‘lab’ in the name is to elevate the science in the formula. With claims of protecting the skin from irritation and its ability to cool to soothe the skin, I am intrigued if this foaming shave gel can live up to the hype. The big question is, can you get the same results when the product is less than half the price of our top-rated shaving foam gels? A mousse-like foam with a fresh fragrance, that turns from a gel to foam easily, however, the foam fades quickly which sort of defeats the object of having a rapid foam as it deflates as you are applying it onto the skin. Top tip from our testers, apply directly onto the skin as opposed to in the palm of your hand and this will help you get the best of this product and gives you the chance to shave quickly. Ranking this product is difficult as you can’t ignore the price, but with ingredients such as niacinamide and panthenol your skin is in good hands however the foam is definitely different, and you would probably go through this twice as quickly as the top-rated shaving foam gels above. Be careful not to fall into the trap of marketing as we tried the majority of Gillette shaving products and they were all more or less the same quality all with different claims and no major difference just tweaks to the ingredients listing.
My rating: 7/10
Best Shaving Creams Over £10
L’Occitane Shaving Cream
Surprising and totally underestimated this shaving cream is outstanding. The cream is unexpectedly dense and upon application covers the hairs effortlessly and delivers a brilliant coverage. Feels light and fresh whilst soothing and cooling the skin, a complete contrast in sensation to a foaming gel. Many of our testers were reluctant to test shaving creams as had never experienced one and felt it would be too heavy and claggy but are now totally converted to this method of shaving. The biggest advantage a cream has over a traditional foam is the skin conditioning properties, your skin will feel hydrated, smooth, supple and comfortable for many of the testers in one use. My rating: 10/10
Clinique For Men Cream Shave
A very close second in the race to become the best shaving Cream, It is a lighter cream with excellent coverage that grips the hair effectively to deliver a close shave. It’s not quite as cooling and soothing as L’Occitane Shaving Cream but rinses away easily and leaves the skin feeling in great condition. This is a good option if you want more of a neutral aroma as just like the aloe shave gel the aroma is from the ingredients and no added fragrance.
My rating: 9/10
Also tested; Anthony Shave Cream, Weleda Shaving Cream, Kiehl’s Blue Eagle and White Eagle Shave, which were all good but unfortunately didn’t make the final cut.
Best Shaving Foams Under £10
Vichy laboratories Homme Anti Irritation Shaving Foam
Created with the complete understanding of what a man’s skin needs daily to support the shaving process, which can be irritating to some. Combining brilliant ingredients of Calcium, which helps to replenish the skin and support the skin resistance levels, with Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, and revitalising Vichy Mineralizing Thermal waters. A gorgeous masculine aroma and dense foam that cushions the skin and allows the razor to glide easily. This didn’t beat the shaving creams when it comes to the skin conditioning factor however this does beat many of the foaming shave gels. A serious contender if you want a fuss-free, quick shave.
My rating: 8/10
In the comparisons, we also tested non-foaming shave gels however, unanimously all the testers felt disappointed in the experience and results.
The biggest takeaway from this research and testing was if you haven’t tried a shaving cream, do it, your skin will thank you and you will be surprised how much you enjoy it!
Look out for top tips on how to care for skin after shaving when I’ll be covering the post-shave do’s and don’ts and best men’s moisturisers.
Thank You For Reading
I hope you have enjoyed this blog, please let me know if you need any help with your skin.
Stay tuned for more blogs and follow me on social media for latest launches and more skin school.
Bye for now,
Fiona x
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