Collage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brandsSave this storySave this story
Finding the best shave cream is a lot like finding the perfect pair of sheets—and not just because each should be silky smooth. In both cases, you don’t actually know how much of a difference it’ll make in your life until you find the right one. Shave creams don’t just provide much-needed lubrication for razor blades, thus reducing friction and preventing irritation. They also hydrate the hair shaft, “causing it to swell and soften, which lowers the force required to cut it,” says Anetta Reszko, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. “This results in fewer passes, less irritation, and a lower risk of razor burn and follicular inflammation.” That can be a godsend for sensitive areas like your bikini line.
Our Top Shave Creams
- Best Overall: Skintimate Fragrance Free 2-in-1 Shave Oil + Moisturizer, $9
- Best Drugstore: Gillette Foamy Sensitive Shave Foam, $3
- Best for the Bikini Area: Fur Shave Cream, $34
- Best for Dry Skin: EOS Vanilla Cashmere Shave Butter, $9
These days, they’re also chock-full of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, like shea butter and nut oils, that can help you get a closer shave and leave you with softer skin. They also come in a variety of formats—think oils, gels, or foams—and scents, which can make the entire shaving experience more enjoyable and tailored to your preferences or skin type.
To help you find your best shave cream, we went through Allure Best of Beauty Award winners, editor recommendations, and dermatologist favorites. Ready to head into shorts-and-tank-top season with your silkiest skin yet? Read on for the standout picks.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- Do I really need to use shaving cream?
- Are there areas of the body that especially benefit from shave cream?
- How can I get my best shave?
- What ingredients should someone look for in a shaving cream?
- Meet the Experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Skintimate Fragrance Free 2-in-1 Shave Oil + Moisturizer
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Skintimate
Fragrance Free 2-in-1 Shave Oil + Moisturizer
Amazon
Why we love it: The best shaving solution isn’t always a cream; you just need “a lubricant to create a protective barrier between your blades and your delicate dermis, preventing cuts, nicks, irritation, and razor burn,” says Ava Shamban, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in southern California. The star ingredients of Skintimate’s Fragrance Free 2-in-1 Shave Oil + Moisturizer are ideal for creating just that, pairing vitamin E—which is both a water-attracting humectant and water-trapping emollient—along with shea, almond, and jojoba oils. Those moisturizing ingredients help create a silky-smooth base upon which your razor can simply glide, even without the traditional soapy lather. You can apply this oil after shaving for maximum radiance, too.
Prefer an old-school gel-to-foam formula? Editors love Skintimate Skin Therapy for Sensitive Skin, which builds to a nice lather and doesn’t dry out skin.
Tester feedback from former senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen
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“I genuinely did a double-take the first few times I used this shave oil because I could swear my leg hair was melting off—even the really stubborn stubble that's barely long enough to shave. Nothing has given me as close a shave as this. And you should take my word for it; I've got Italian body hair." —Nicola Dall’Asen, former senior news editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: vitamin E, shea oil, aloe, almond oil, jojoba oil
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best Drugstore: Gillette Foamy Sensitive Shave Foam
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Gillette
Foamy Sensitive Shave Foam
Amazon
Why we love it: Not only does Gillette’s Foamy Sensitive Shave Foam tackle coarse hair that grows on sensitive areas—think the ingrown-prone bikini area, with its plentiful contours—but it does so with a light-as-air texture that won’t clog up your razor, all while coming in at under $4 a can. (And a little bit goes a long way, upping the value factor even more.) Technically a men’s shaving cream meant for facial hair, the no-frills formula isn’t loaded with fancy skin-care ingredients, but it does the trick for reducing razor burn and skin irritation while leaving skin smooth but never tight. Plus, this classic shaving cream has a nice, clean fragrance that’s mild enough to layer under any scented body oils or lotions that you might apply post-shower.
Tester feedback from content director Sophia Panych
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“I love trying a fancy shaving cream, gel, oil, or foam. I'll try them all. But I always just come back to this classic Gillette shave gel that you can grab in the men's aisle. My husband and I share it, and it's always a buck or two cheaper than the women’s offerings. It's just one of those basic, reliable formulas. It protects your skin from nicks, keeps skin soft, and doesn't gunk up your razor. So basically, it makes an annoying task go faster and smoother (literally and figuratively). You'll always find a tube in our shower and whenever I'm travelling, I grab a travel size at the airport or train station.” —Sophia Panych, content director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: water, triethanolamine, palmic acid, stearic acid
- Fragrance-free: no
- Sulfate-free: no
Best for the Bikini Area: Fur Shave Cream
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Fur
Shave Cream
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: Among the top-line ingredients in Fur’s Shave Cream are antioxidant-rich olive oil—which, as an emollient, can help provide a buffer between your skin and the razor—and aloe, one of the best-known soothing agents around. They’re exactly what you want in a shaving product for the bikini area, where the skin is more sensitive but the hair is coarser. To strike that happy medium, this formula “cuts down on ingrown hairs and irritation while leaving the skin feeling soft and pampered,” says Peterson Pierre, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Thousand Oaks, California. It’s got a creamy, non-foaming consistency that won’t give you a sudsy lather, but can help you get a super-close shave, and the fresh scent is light enough for even the most sensitive noses.
Tester feedback from former senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
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“My super-sensitive skin doesn't love it when I shave—unless I use Fur's Shave Cream. It's thick and smooth (almost fluffy) and goes on in one sheer white layer that makes it easy to see every stroke. After I rinse it off, my skin is left feeling ultra-soft, with no irritation in sight. I'll admit, I didn't see shaving cream as a necessity until I tried this one—now, I'm not sure how I'll shower without it. I just wish the tube was bigger!” —Sarah Felbin, former senior commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: olive oil, aloe
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: EOS Vanilla Cashmere Shave Butter
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EOS
Vanilla Cashmere Shave Butter
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: At the heart of EOS’ Vanilla Cashmere Shave Butter—the sibling of the EOS Cashmere Skin Shave Oil, a past Best of Beauty Award winner—is the brand’s Cashmere Smooth Complex. It’s a blend of shea, cocoa, and argan butters, which translates to a rich, luxurious cream that creates a pillowy base, providing your skin with ample moisture while you shave, and offsetting dryness. There are also plenty of oils (specifically, avocado, macadamia, and almond) to help prime the skin for a close, comfortable shave, free of irritation. And the benefits don’t stop in the shower: The shaving soap also includes colloidal oatmeal, which can soothe inflammation immediately, according to Dr. Reszko.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: shea butter, cocoa butter, argan butter, colloidal oatmeal
- Fragrance-free: no
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best Scent: Athena Club Fluffy Shave Butter in Golden Vanilla
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Athena Club
Fluffy Shave Butter in Golden Vanilla
Walmart
Athena Club
Why we love it: While there are plenty of great-smelling shave creams out there, few can compete with the sophistication of Athena Club’s Fluffy Shave Butter in Golden Vanilla. The 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner has a blend of vanilla cream, cashmere, and sandalwood that would be right at home in a perfume bottle (and is, in fact, available in a hair and body mist format, as well as a body wash, lotion, and deodorant). But the benefits go beyond the fragrance-layering opportunity: The thick, creamy, non-foaming formula contains shea butter—which is great for sealing in moisture and banishing dry skin—and rosemary extract, which provides post-shave soothing for more sensitive skin types, while keeping ingrowns at bay.
Tester feedback from senior copy manager Dawn Rebecky
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"You can keep the creams, foams, and gels because Athena Club's Fluffy Shave Butter is my new go-to for getting a comfortable, nick-free shave. Even better is how soft and smooth my sensitive skin feels days later, thanks to the glycerin, shea and cocoa butters, and rosemary leaf packed into the formula. Bonus: The light coconut-and-vanilla aroma is enough to perk up your shower, but subtle enough for people who prefer those scents in small doses." —Dawn Rebecky, senior copy manager
More to know
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- Key ingredients: shea butter, rosemary extract
- Fragrance-free: no
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best Fragrance-Free: Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel
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Aveeno
Therapeutic Shave Gel
Amazon
Walmart
Why we love it: If you have sensitive or eczema-prone skin, you might want to think twice before bringing your scent routine into your shower routine. “Fragrance is a common trigger for both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, especially in more sensitive areas like the face, underarms, and bikini line,” says Dr. Reszko, who recommends skipping the ingredient altogether if you fall into either of those categories. Aveeno’s Therapeutic Shave Gel is formulated without fragrance, but does feature the brand’s signature oat along with a host of hydrators and barrier boosters. For instance, it “has hydrating glycerin for a smooth shave,” notes Peter Bittar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. “In addition, its vitamin E and vitamin B5 can help comfort skin and support a healthy skin barrier.”
Tester feedback from former associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry
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“I never know how my body will react to products (thank you, contact dermatitis), so I'm hesitant to try anything new. But I picked up this shave gel for its “sensitive-skin” branding, and I'm so glad I did. It’s so foamy and thick that my razor glides easily without any nicks or irritation, leaving me with a baby-smooth shave. The formula also has vitamin E and aloe, so your skin isn’t thirsty for hydration. You’ll still need a post-shave oil, of course, but stripping is no more after shaving with this bb.” —Melanie Curry, former associate manager of audience development
More to know
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- Key ingredients: oat, vitamin E, vitamin B5
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Vanicream Shave Cream
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Vanicream
Shave Cream
Amazon
Why we love it: The only thing dermatologists might agree on more than daily sunscreen use is Vanicream being a go-to brand for those with sensitive skin. The Vanicream Shave Cream is no exception. “It avoids common irritants and focuses on barrier protection, making it a very reliable choice for reactive patients,” says Dr. Reszko. That can mostly be chalked up to what isn’t on the ingredients list: The formula is “hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and dye-free,” says Dr. Shamban. “It is also paraben- and lanolin-free, making it gentle enough for even the most sensitive or reactive skin.”
More to know
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- Key ingredients: stearic acid, glycerin
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Sulfate-free: yes
Best for Travel: Hanni Shave Pillow
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Hanni
Shave Pillow
Amazon
Why we love it: Heading to the gym or a hotel? Skip the can and reach for Hanni’s Shave Pillow instead. It’s a smooth, handheld balm stick that can help you achieve a water-free shave in or out of the shower. It achieves this through glycerin—which, according to Dr. Shamban, provides both glide and moisture retention—as well as antioxidant-rich cactus water and adaptogenic mushrooms. And it really is water-free: Once you’ve finished shaving, just rub the remaining product into your skin to reap the antioxidant and soothing benefits.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: cactus water, adaptogenic mushrooms, glycerin
- Fragrance-free: no
- Sulfate-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need to use shaving cream?
Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: Wet shaving with some form of lubrication—be it a traditional shaving cream, oil, or butter—is important for your skin health. “Shaving on dry skin increases transepidermal water loss and creates microtears in the stratum corneum layer,” explains Dr. Reszko. “A proper shaving cream provides a lubricating interface, therefore reducing friction and sheer stress from the blade.” This is all to say: Unless you’re in a pinch, you should use one every time you whip out a razor.
Are there areas of the body that especially benefit from shave cream?
Wherever the hair is coarse and/or the skin is thin, it’s especially important to use shave cream. This includes the neck and beard, underarms, and genital area; essentially, any “very sensitive areas where you don't want a lot of friction,” explains Dr. Brian Hibler, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology. “These are all areas where hair tends to be coarser, or the skin is more prone to irritation, so you want as much cushion and glide as possible.” Not doing so could lead to some unpleasant side effects: Since these areas are also more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, “minimizing trauma during shaving is key,” says Dr. Reszko.
People with curly body hair will also want to make sure they’ve used proper lubrication before pulling out the razor, says Dr. Shamban, due to the increased risk of ingrown hairs.
How can I get my best shave?
- It’s best to shave during or before a shower, not after, and warm water is ideal. “Heat and water increase hair shaft hydration and elasticity, allowing for a smoother cut,” Dr. Reszko explains.
- Let your shaving product sit on the skin for about thirty seconds before you start to lather up and shave; Dr. Reszko says this will help soften the hair.
- Reszko and Hibler both recommend shaving with the grain (so, in the direction of growth) and not against it, especially if you’re prone to ingrown hairs and breakouts. You also want to make sure you’re using light pressure and not bearing down too hard on the skin with your razor—which is especially important if you’re using a safety razor.
- You want to apply a full layer of product, but not too much; Shamban recommends about a quarter to half an inch of thickness. “As long as your skin is not ‘visible’ and no areas are left uncovered, you should be fine,” she adds.
What ingredients should someone look for in a shaving cream?
“The best ingredients in shaving cream enhance gliding and supporting barrier function,” says Dr. Reszko. This includes emollients—think squalane, shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil—as well as glycerin and hyaluronic acid for hydration. Barrier-boosters like ceramides and panthenol are also great (Dr. Shamban especially likes the latter for sensitive skin).
Soothing ingredients should also be top of mind; these include aloe vera, allantoin, or colloidal oatmeal. These ingredients are especially important for people with sensitive skin and those who are prone to follicular inflammation, says Dr. Reszko.
Meet the experts
- Anetta Reszko, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Brian Hibler, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology in New York City.
- Ava Shamban, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in California.
- Peterson Pierre, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Thousand Oaks, California
- Peter Bittar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best shave creams, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: wear, longevity, color variety, and ease of use. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
