So, you just got your first double edge safety razor and you are looking to complete the wet shaving experience by getting yourself a the best shaving cream.
Well you have come to the right place.
In this review, we will show you several shaving creams or soaps that will work well with your new safety razor.
Of course, every guys beard and skin are unique so you may not really know what brand you like until you give a few a test run.
However, they are relatively inexpensive so you shouldn’t have to invest a ton of money to find a good fit.
Be sure to check out the complete list as we have recently updated the list for some new contenders in 2018. There have recently been some new products introduced that are quickly gaining popularity.
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Recommendations
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What Is Shaving Cream?
Shaving cream has actually been around for thousands of years but what we think of today didn’t come around until the early 1900’s.
They started out as bars or sticks of hard soap which turned into tubes of soft soaps. Then around the middle of the century aerosol cans of shaving cream started coming around.
Although by the 1970’s manufacturers were forced to switch their propellants to gasses like:
- Pentane
- Propane
- butane
- isobutane
Now, don’t worry there is so much water in the shaving cream that the risk of it lighting on fire is minimal but still, do you want to be inhaling or introducing those chemicals to your skin?
Don’t think so.
That is why most guys who wet shave have gone back to more traditional forms of shaving creams or soaps that they apply with a badger hair shaving brush and whip up a lather in their favorite scuttle mug.
However, some guys still prefer the convenience of the pressurized cans and they may be cheaper as well.
The post-foaming gel types might be better for your safety razor as it allows more water to penetrate your hair which makes it softer and easier to shave.
It is really a matter of what works for you as to what is the best cream. You just need to find a shaving cream or soap that does two things:
- Provide lubrication so your safety razor can slide easily over your skin
- Offer moisturization to your skin to reduce further irritation
The hope is that if you use a decent cream or soap with your DE razor, as well as possible a shave oil, you can reduce the occurrence of razor bumps.
What About A Shaving Soap For Your Safety Razor?
Shaving soaps haven’t changed much over the years and there are still a lot of guys who prefer to use this with their safety razor.
If you decide to use a shaving soap you will most likely need a shaving brush and mug to properly create a lather for your shave.
The main advantage of a soap over a cream is that it removes even more natural oils to allow your beard to soften.
Besides different fragrances, you will see guys talking about the slickness of individual soaps.
They may also last longer than a shaving cream which will save you money. You also don’t need to buy a mug if you have an old bowl or coffee cup lying around.
Some guys even microwave their soap in the mug for a few seconds so that it forms perfectly to the bowl. This ensures you don’t waste any soap at all and a more efficient lather.
Recommendations
[su_box title=”Cremo Original Shave Cream” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
The first time I tested this the Cremo Shave Cream I was pleasantly surprised at how accurate their description was of the product. Here is a video review I made with Cremo Shave Cream.
This is a very rich cream like they say and just a little goes a long way. They recommend keeping your face wet while applying as it is water activated.
However, what I found worked better was also wetting my hands before squeezing some out. This really brought the slickness out.
After a first pass, I squeezed out just a little more and this was enough cream for a second pass.
It has a very light citrus scent, it was not very noticeable.
Most of the negative reviews are guys who just didn’t like cream or it didn’t agree with their skin.
Just have the right expectations for this product, it does not create a lather like other shaving creams and is not meant to.
Cremo claims that lather is mostly filled with air while their product is not fluffed with air providing a richer layer of lubrication.
You may see a few bubbles form but they will not stay long, however the product will still be on your skin waiting for the shave.
This is also one of the most cost effective products on this list.
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[su_box title=”Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
Taylor of Old Bond Street is one of the beter shaving creams for safety razors on Amazon with almost 4,000 reviews. Their Sandalwood scent being the most popular, however they have many other varieties like:
- Eton College
- Coconut
- Peppermint
- Unscented
- Organic
- Lemon & Lime
- Taylor’s
Taylor of Old Bond Street kind of makes it seem like you can lather this product right in the bowl it comes in but it is too soft for that.
You don’t really need a separate bowl as you can dip your brush in it and lather the cream straight on your face. Or you could simply use your hands as well.
However, the brush will help exfoliate your skin as well as lift your beard hairs off the skin giving you a better shave.
There are some complaints about the smell so if you have a sensitive nose you may want to check out their unscented variety. They also say it can linger around for most of the day unlike others that dissipate fairly quickly.
This seems to be the main complaint besides guys just not liking this particular shaving cream.
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[su_box title=”VIKINGS BLADE Luxury Shaving Cream” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
This Vikings Blade Shaving Cream is another great one for your newly purchased double edge razor.
Like the Cremo, it will not foam up like most other creams. Just like their craftsmanship on the Chieftain, they take the same approach with this high-quality cream.
This is probably why it is on the expensive side for a shaving cream. It may foam up a little but will fade quickly leaving a slippery layer to guide your razor.
Despite the lack of foam, they still recommend using a shaving brush to whip up your lather so you will probably need a mug as well for this one.
Since this does not fluff up with air it may help your razor not jump on your skin and slide easier over your beard stubble.
Most of the complaints just look like guys who had the wrong expectations about this cream.
The manufacturer specifically states not to expect a lather but you will see many reviews stating the same thing.
Contrary to the Sandalwood from Taylor, there are a lot of positive comments about the scent in this cream. Maybe it is from the added cedar scent they use.
They have another variety called Black Ocean as well if you are not a fan of sandalwood or cedar.
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[su_box title=”Proraso Shaving Cream – Best Men’s Shaving Cream” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
Proraso is doing things a little differently with their shaving cream. They put an emphasis on hydration as well as lubrication with ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E.
They use a special hot soap process that allows it to cure for 3 days making it extra soft and rich when you lather it on your face.
This Italian company has been in the business of helping wet shavers since 1948!
This cream comes in a tube so you can squeeze some into a bowl for your lather or straight on to your brush, either will work just fine. You could also use your hands to apply this directly to your face.
This shave cream comes highly rated with 4.5 stars and about 300 reviews. While not as popular as their shaving soap, it is obvious this product is loved by its customers.
There are not many criticisms of this cream, some don’t like the smell, some like other products better, some may have received a bad product. Nothing really stands out.
For less than $10 though it may be worth a shot if you are looking for a new variety.
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[su_box title=”Conair ” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
Col. Conk Shave Soap Best Variety Pack
Col. Conk is another well-liked brand of shaving soap on Amazon with almost 1,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating.
It is actually a great price, you get 4 2.25 ounce pucks of different scented soaps from them for a similar price as others on this list.
The only problem is, if you want to try them all quickly you may waste some soap cleaning out your mug unless you have 4 different bowls you can put these in. Or you can just lather it straight in the plastic container they come in.
However, that is a small price to pay to get to try out so many different scents.
These are hard soaps so you will definitely want to use a shaving brush with them.
Since you are getting 9 ounces of soap total this pack should last you quite some time. Especially since they quickly work up a lather.
Some guys really like the different scents but also say that it doesn’t stick with you all day.
A common criticism is that the lather disappears quickly and feels caked on. Maybe you could help with this by using more water to get a thinner consistency.
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[su_box title=”Henry Cavendish Himala Shaving Soap – Best Mens Shaving Cream” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
Henry Cavendish comes in as one of the highest rated soaps at 4.7-stars and over 2,000 reviews.
It is well known for its rick and slick lather that lasts longer than other shaving creams or gels. They have also added shea butter which adds a nice level of moisturization to your skin without it feeling oily.
They say their tub should last you about 3-6 months which would mean you won’t spend too much money shaving with this product.
You will see the lather form quickly with just a little bit of soap which should provide plenty for multiple passes with just one lather.
This soap may be good for those of you with sensitive skin as they use mostly natural ingredients as mentioned by several customers.
Like some other soaps some say the lather dries up quickly once on the face and there are some guys who just didn’t prefer the scent. But there seems to be mixed reviews about the lather.
Overall, this should be a nice, quality soap for most guys.
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[su_box title=”Proraso Shaving Soap in a Bowl Refreshing- Top Shaving Cream” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
Proraso appears again on this list of shaving creams for safety razors with their popular Soap in a Bowl.
This is a handy product the way it comes packaged, especially for the price. You definitely don’t need another bowl and can use the original packaging with your brush to quickly work up a lather.
You can then simply replace the lid to keep it from drying out. Although if it does dry out it should reconstitute with the next use.
It includes eucalyptus and menthol which will tone your skin and give you a minty refreshing feeling.
They use the same hot soap process as their shaving cream previously mentioned.
This soap may offer a thicker and creamier lather than their shaving cream tube. It has a mild scent that won’t stick with you all day.
Because of the way this soap is packaged and how easily it forms a lather, it could be a great option for guys who are new to wet shaving.
Some men found this soap to leave their skin feeling dry after using it a couple times or that it didn’t form a nice lather.
However, you can see several pictures from customers where the lather looks really nice.
There is only one way to find out if this is the right soap for you.
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[su_box title=”Sir Hare Shaving Soap for Men” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
Sir Hire brings a slightly different, tallow-based, shaving soap that would be great for your safety razor with an old-fashioned barber shop scent.
They give you an 8-ounce container that only has 4 ounces of product so there is plenty of room to whip up a rich lather right in that container.
Sir Hare claims that each 4-ounce bowl will give you about 100 shaves or about 4 months if you shave 5 days a week.
They also offer a no hassle guarantee so you really have nothing to lose by trying this product, if you don’t like it, just send it back!
It has some nice oils and shea butter which should leave your skin feeling nice and moisturized or at the very least not feeling dried out.
As far as performance goes, this should be one of the near the top of the list. It has been said the scent doesn’t last long so even if you don’t like it that is not an issue.
Many guys have compared this to the other more popular soaps on this list and say it works equally as well or better.
The main bad reviews are guys who didn’t like the scent so doesn’t give much help there.
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[su_box title=”Castle Forbes Lavender Oil” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
Castle Forbes shaving cream is one of the most expensive but they claim it is great for guys with sensitive skin so it may be worth it if you suffer from razor bumps.
This particular variety has essential lavender oil however, they also have a sandalwood and lime scent.
The lavender oil is supposed to protect your skin from the roughness of shaving.
It seems like the people who like this shaving cream really like it and the ones that don’t are let down by the cost of the product.
With a cost of 2-3 times the rest of these products people will have pretty high expectations. However, with a 4.5-star rating they mostly hold up to this.
There seems to be mixed reviews about the lather. Some say it holds up great and last long. Others say it dried out too quickly for their straight razor shave.
In the end, it will be up to you to determine if paying for the essential lavender oil is worth the price or not.
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[su_box title=”Pacific Shaving Company Natural Shaving Cream” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
The Pacific Shaving Company Natural Shaving Cream is a low lather product like the Cremo. A little will spread a long way.
This is a smaller container however this makes it great for traveling, it is also one of the cheapest options on this list.
It has many natural and certified organic ingredients like aloe that will help reduce redness after you shave.
This slippery formula will help your safety razor glide effortlessly over your skin. Reducing the chance of nicks or razor burn.
There are not many negative reviews and the ones that are there are just the typical “didn’t work for me”.
If you like this company they also have a Caffeinated variety that is fortified with anti-oxidants to help keep your skin looking healthy.
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[su_box title=”Mavericks” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
OK so I just had to include Mavericks in this list after getting my hands on some recently. Their COO reached out to me and asked for a review, sure why not?!
They are a relatively new player in the game but you wouldn’t know it from the shaving cream. It is actually a 3-in-1 cream. It contains a moisturizer as well as an after shave.
Yes you read that right. Several minutes after I had rinsed from the shave it all of a sudden started to feel like I had put on aftershave.
After reading more about it I realized that is what it is supposed to do.
It has a strong but not overbearing minty smell which is nice.
It works similar to the Cremo in that it will not create your traditional foam. Just a nice thin, slick layer to shave with.
Anyway, it is definitely worth consideration.
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[su_box title=”Art Of Shaving” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
The art of shaving is not the first shaving tool’s brand to grant men’s face a pretty cool pampering, but they’re among the best brands.
This shaving cream from art of shaving is appropriate for shaving every kind of skin, despite the fact that the addition of Sandalwood oils assists it to revitalize normal and dry skin much better compared to those with already sufficient oils.
This shave cream can be utilized similarly well with or without a shaving brush, though for a clean, close shave that is less irritating and smoother, coupling this cream with an impressive shaving brush, especially one with an above average moisture transference will grant your skin an amazingly fresh feeling.
Some of the pros and cons of Art of Shaving.
Pros:
- You won’t need any extra equipment to utilize this shaving cream
- It is easy and quick to apply
- This shaving cream is manufactured using natural ingredients that nourish and hydrate the skin
- A little amount of this shaving cream goes a long way
Cons:
- Can be troublesome to find in remote areas
- Being manufactured with only natural ingredients implies that it is more costly
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[su_box title=”C.O. Bigelow” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
C.O Bigelow has been manufacturing shaving creams since the year 1835. Since that time, I would like to state that they have refined their productions procedures.
The 4 prime ingredients in C.O Bigelow are menthol, glycerin, Eucalyptus, and Coconut oil.
I have utilized this cream for the last couple of months, and it has become my current go-to shaving cream. C.O. Bigelow shaving cream has always shaved well regardless of whether your stubble is lathered by brush or by hand, or whether it’s a thin one or a thick one.
The menthol fragrance in the shaving cream rushes the senses promptly once applied. Even more, this shaving cream executes best for those shavers looking to attain a pretty nice wakeup call in the morning.
There is an extremely cold rush every shaver will get when brushing this shaving cream on. Different sorts of shavers are guaranteed to shave through the lather efficiently.
Some of the pros and cons of C.O. Bigelow.
Pros:
- Comes with an enticing menthol scent
- Leaves the shaver’s skin hydrated
- It’s cheap since a 147 grams package retails at $10
- Executes just well under an array of lather consistencies
- Also amazing on sensitive skins
Cons:
- Might be a hassle to find this shaving cream in your neighborhood
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[su_box title=”Rocky Mountain” style=”default” box_color=”#2aff00″ title_color=”##000000″ radius=”6″ class=””]
Someplace along the way, shavers around the world settled for utilizing goop compacted into a spray can as shaving creams.
Inspired by the inordinate outdoor and an immense desire to provide shavers around the globe with premium shaving experiences they deserve, Rocky Mountain Co. Opted to manufacture one of the best natural based shaving cream, i.e., “The rocky mountain shaving cream.”
Their proprietary blend in this product results in a lavish and creamy lather for the eventual shaving experience.
Chemicals and additives found in other different compressed shaving creams can result in razor burns and irritations by drying out the shaver’s skin.
Rocky Mountain shaving cream, however, features both glycerin and coconut oil which assist in providing moisture to the skin leaving the shaver’s face smooth and soft.
Some of the pros and cons of Rocky Mountain.
Pros:
- No extra equipment is needed to apply this shaving cream
- A small amount of Rocky Mountain shaving cream goes a long way
- It is manufactured using only natural ingredients that nourish and hydrate the skin
- It is quick and easy to apply
Cons:
- The fact that it is manufactured only using natural ingredients implies that it is more expensive
- This product’s scent might irritate some individual’s skins
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Conclusion
Well there you have 14 different options for shaving cream or soap for your safety razor. Which one will you love?
You will have to try them out to see if they work well for you. Since most of them last 3-4 months it could take a little while to find your favorite.
Or maybe you just like trying new products and want to keep it fresh. Well there are plenty of more soaps to do that as well.
One thing is for sure, you will probably like any of these better than the classic aerosol cans. Those can be filled with lots of chemicals.
Vitaliysays
Hey Jeremy,
It seems like being a man I am already familiar with proper shaving. But after reading your article I felt like a newbie 🙂 There is so much useful information about shaving creams and (to my surprise) shaving soaps in here. We have to admit the fact that shaving is culture.
What we use is very important.
In my opinion, women have to learn a bit about this topic too. I wouldn’t mind to get VIKINGS BLADE Luxury Shaving Cream for my birthday as a gift from my wife :)))
My favourite so far which I tried is Jack Black
Supreme Cream Triple Cushionâ„¢ Shave Lather.
What are your thoughts about this one Jeremy?
Cheers,
Vitaliy
Jeremysays
Hey Vitaliy,
Thanks for the comment and I hope you get to try the Vikings Blade for your birthday.
I have not personally tried the Jack Black cream but I certainly will when I get the opportunity.
Thanks!
Jeremy
Ramonsays
What a great site! I didn’t know that those certain types of shaving cream had those gases in them, and you are right about not wanting to introduce those chemicals to my face.
Have you tried CO Bigalow’s shaving cream?
The eucalyptus scented cream comes in a tube that is like a toothpaste bottle but more firm.
If you do know about this shaving cream, can you include it on your page?
A review on it would be nice, and you seem to really know about shaving cream.
Thank you for reading my comment.
Jeremysays
Hey Ramon, thanks for the heads up, I will add this cream to my to-do list!
Mariasays
Oh my! I was planning to buy shaving cream as a gift to my husband but didn’t imagine that there are so many alternatives to choose from… I thought that men are more simple than woman with these things 😉
My husband uses at the moment the Proraso Shaving Soap in a Bowl. I was thinking to let him try the Henry Cavendish Himalaya Shaving Soap. I liked that it contains mostly natural ingredients and has shea butter for moisturizing. What do you think, could that be a good choice or do you recommend something else?
Most importantly I wanted to ask if it’s even okay to gift a shaving cream or is it sacred for men?
Thank you!
Maria
Jeremysays
Hey Maria,
I think it is definitely okay to gift some shaving cream to your husband! They Henry Cavendish would be a great choice.
If he is really into his shaving experience he would probably appreciate trying out a new product.
Hope he likes it!
Conniesays
I am glad I ran across this very interesting and comprehensive post. I am looking for a special shaving cream or shaving soap as a gift for my husbands birthday. At the present time, when shaving he uses a simple foam from a can, and no brush. He has several brushes and I am looking for a shaving soap that would be appropriate.
It will be fun to pick out a few of the very interesting English soap manufacturers products.
Thanks for the info!
Jeremysays
Hey Connie,
I’m sure if your husband is currently just using a foam from an aerosol can he will appreciate the upgrade to one of these quality creams or soaps.
Since he already has a shaving brush you just need to pick the right one for him!