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Voluntary body hair removal, namely shaving, can be the bane of all beauty tasks. But when you factor in super lush shaving cream, things can take a turn. All of a sudden, a mundane task feels more like a self-care activity, not to mention your hair-free skin will feel all the better for it (hello, silky limbs).
But not all shaving creams are created equal, so to help you separate the okay from the epic, we’ve curated an edit of the best right here.
Keep scrolling to shop for the best shaving creams.
Best Overall: Flamingo Foaming Shave Gel
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Courtesy of Target
Doesn’t run or drip
Non-drying
Contains fragrance
Who else recommends it? Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and Allure all picked Flamingo Foaming Shave Gel.
What do buyers say? 91% of 100+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
This Foaming Gel from Flamingo is like shaving with a cloud. It’s thick and fluffy without being drippy and ensures your razor will glide across your skin. You’ll be left with smooth, soft limbs (and zero knicks). The elevated lavender packaging is also a win for your bathroom aesthetic.
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, allantoin | Size: 6.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Drugstore: Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel
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Courtesy of Walmart
Little goes a long way
Soothes skin
Affordable
Easy to pump out too much product
Aveeno is a trusted authority when it comes to body care, and the Positively Smooth Shave Gel is no exception. The light gel foams up when it comes into contact with skin and water, ensuring a close shave with minimal irritation.
Key Ingredients: Soy, aloe vera, vitamin E | Size: 7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Vanicream Shave Cream
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Fragrance- and alcohol-free
Great for sensitive skin
Doesn’t lather
If you experience extremely sensitive skin, Vanicream’s Shave Cream might be your new BFF. It’s formulated without botanicals, fragrance, alcohol, lanolin, or parabens for smooth skin with zero irritation. Simply apply a thin layer of cream all over damp skin.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 6 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Bikini: Fur Shave Cream
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Courtesy of Ulta
Soothes skin
Safe for intimate areas
Can leave a film on the skin
Shaving your bikini and intimate areas can be a tricky task, but Fur’s Shave Cream is up to the task. Nourishing and non-foaming, it prevents nicks, bumps, redness, and razor burn and will leave the skin silky soft when you’re finished.
Key Ingredients: Olive oil, aloe vera, shea butter, and hemp seed oil | Size: 5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Razor Bumps: Ursa Major Stellar Shave Cream
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Smells lovely
Can use face or body
Gently exfoliates
Pricey
Want to turn shaving into a spa-like experience? Ursa Major’s Shave Cream is rich and decadent, plus it smells incredible. The inclusion of willow bark—a natural BHA—is also an excellent way to simultaneously exfoliate and thus prevent ingrown hair.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, willow bark, sunflower, birch extract | Size: 5.3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Oil: Tree Hut Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil
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Provides excellent slip
Soothes skin
Can be slippery
Oils are a great choice if you want both a close shave and nourished skin in one easy step. Tree Hut’s oil is lightweight and spreads easily for a close shave with minimal irritation. Just be careful to not get it everywhere—no one wants to fall over in the shower or tub.
Key Ingredients: Argan, grapeseed, jojoba, and sesame oils | Size: 7.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Small Areas: Shea Moisture Tea Tree Oils & Shea Butter Non-Foaming Shave Gel
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Clear formula for visibility
Soothes skin
Strong scent
If you’re shaving small spots like the face, chest, or armpits, this gel from Shea Moisture is ideal. The clear formula makes it easy to track your handiwork, while the shea butter and tea tree extract will nourish the skin.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, tea tree, panthenol | Size: 6 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Nourishment: Eos Shea Better Shave Cream
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Doubles as a skin treatment
Smells lovely
Affordable
Contains fragrance
It’s no secret lavender is wonderfully calming, and this Eos Shave Cream actually smells like walking into a field of it somewhere in Provincial France. Rich in shea butter and calming oat extract, this product doubles as a nourishing skin treatment so you can skip lotions post-shower.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, oat extract, aloe vera | Size: 7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
What Our Editors Say
"I adore the scent of this shaving cream; it's so therapeutic, and turns my shower into a temporary spa." — Eden Stuart, Associate Editor
Best Body Wash: Gillette Venus 2-in-1 Cleanser + Shave Gel
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Doubles as a body cleanser
Safe for intimate areas
Pricey
Gillette has answered our prayers with this two-in-one wash and shaving gel. Light and foamy, it gently cleanses whilst ensuring a close, clean shave. The clear formula and fact that it’s soap-free make it ideal for intimate areas, as well. Put one in the shower, and you’ll never look back.
Key Ingredients: Coconut, olive, and jojoba oils | Size: 6.42 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Hydration: Billie Shave Cream
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Doesn’t run or drip
Nourishing for dry skin
Prevents cuts
Strong scent
Who needs moisturizer when you can use Billie Shaving Cream in the shower? Rich and decadent, it glides onto the skin like a dream and ensures your shave is smooth and knick/cut-free.
Key Ingredients: Aloe, shea butter, olive oil, sage | Size: 6.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
What Our Editors Say
"I've never met a more luxurious shaving cream. It's made with a rich blend of shea butter, aloe, sage, and olive oil. It feels so silky and creamy on my skin. When I use this, my skin feels so soft and moisturized after shaving." — Olivia Hancock, Associate Editor
Best Luxury Pick: Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Shaving Cream
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Courtesy of Malin + Goetz
Smells lovely
Soothes skin
Handy pump
Pricey
Loaded with good-for-skin ingredients, Malin + Goetz’s Shaving Cream is about as luxurious as hair removal can get. It’s creamy and nourishing, plus has a soft menthol kick for added freshness.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, vitamin E, squalane, glycerin, chamomile, menthol | Size: 8.5 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Scent: Cremo Coconut Mango Moisturizing Shave Cream
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Smells lovely
Nourishing for dry skin
Contains fragrance
Not only does this Cremo Shave Cream smell like mango ice cream, but it’s packed with skin nourishers like macadamia seed oil, calendula, and olive extract. It’s concentrated, so you only need a tiny amount to ensure your skin is properly lubricated.
Key Ingredients: Macadamia seed oil, olive extract, aloe vera, calendula | Size: 6 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Final Verdict
When it comes down to the wire, Team Byrdie is seriously impressed with Flamingo’s Shave Gel. It’s an elevated take on a shower staple and really does ensure a silky, super close shave. Second place is a tie between Ursa Major’s Stellar Shave Cream and the Billie Shave Cream, both of which prevent rashes and razor burn while nourishing the skin.
What to Look for in a Shaving Cream
Nourishing Ingredients
BIz Lindsay, Head of Brand and Marketing at Flamingo explains that it’s important to look out for skin hydrators, such as aloe vera and bisabolol, when choosing a shaving gel—this will help to avoid that dry, itchy feeling post-shave. She also recommends choosing a formula with a humectant in the ingredient lineup (such as glycerin or sorbitol), as these will draw moisture into the skin.
Drying Ingredients
In a similar vein, Lindsay also makes a point of saying that there’s also a bunch of ingredients that are best avoided: “Sulfates can really dry out your skin, so look to avoid any products that contain those. Parabens and phthalates are two other chemicals I would suggest avoiding—we don’t include them in any of our formulas at Flamingo.”
Why Trust Byrdie?
Emily Algar scoured the web, tested and trialed, asked colleagues, and consulted an expert to bring you the very best edit of shaving creams and gels.
Meet the Expert
Biz Lindsay is the Head of Brand and Marketing at Flamingo.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough shaving creams from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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