What’s the Best Shaving Cream for Men?
Using the right shaving cream will help to prevent painful razor burn, dry skin and other skin irritations after shaving. However, some shaving creams will work better than others to keep your skin protected. Here are some tips on what to look for in a shaving cream, some of the best shaving creams for men, and shaving techniques to prevent razor bumps.
What to Look for in a Shaving Cream
The purpose of shaving cream is to create a barrier between the razor and your skin. This reduces friction and the risk of irritation, razor burn, nicks, and cuts. When choosing a shaving cream, look for these important qualities:
- High-quality formulation. There are countless options to choose from in a wide price range, but you do not want a product that contains the wrong ingredients for your Baumann Skin Type that could irritate your skin. Additionally, you want to choose a shaving cream with a consistency that is thick and creamy; not something thin that will not create much of a glide on the skin.
- Soothing ingredients. Any time you shave – especially your face – your skin is susceptible to irritation, dryness, and uncomfortable razor burn. To help prevent these problems, look for a shaving cream that contains soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients like argan oil and lavender oil to keep redness and inflammation at bay.
- Moisturizing properties. Shaving creams that contain moisturizing ingredients can help to reduce dryness caused by shaving, as well as some shaving creams that dry out the skin rather than hydrate it. This is especially important for men with dry Baumann Skin Types®.
- Scented vs. unscented. There is nothing wrong with a scented shaving cream if you prefer it. However, some men may have an allergic reaction or could be irritated by some fragrances. If you have sensitive skin, choose a product without added fragrances.
What’s the Best Shaving Cream for Men?
Any shaving cream that has the above qualities can be a good choice, especially for men with dry skin. Zerafite Creamy Cleanser and Shaving Cream is a great option, since it also gently cleanses the skin. You can use the code STSMD to purchase it on SkinTypeSolutions.com.
Additional Shaving Tips for Men
In addition to using a quality shaving cream, follow these tips when shaving to prevent irritation and dryness:
- Shave during or after showering. The ideal time to shave is right after your shower, when your skin is already wet and clean. This helps to prevent dead skin, dirt, and oil from becoming trapped in your razor.
- Sit in the steam for about 2 minutes before shaving. If you have a very thick beard and tend to get ingrown hairs, exposing the face to steam (a hot shower or steam room) before shaving will soften the hairs. When hairs are soft, the tip of the hair is not as sharp when cut with a razor and is less likely to burrow into the skin and cause ingrown hairs.
- Use a sharp blade. Always use a sharp, clean razor blade. This is especially important if you have breakouts under your beard. Having a sharp blade lets you reduce the amount of pressure you have to apply, allowing the razor to do the work for you. This will give you a gentler shave with less irritation.
- Store your razor in a dry environment. Avoid keeping your razor in the shower, as this warm, moist environment allows bacteria to thrive.
- Consider an electric razor. If you get ingrown hairs and the steam trick doesn’t work, consider an electric razor. You will not get as close of a shave but the angle that the hair is cut is less likely to cause ingrown hairs.
- Apply an anti inflammatory after shaving. If redness, scaling or irritation is your problem, apply a lotion, gel or cream that is correct for your Baumann Skin Type and has antiinflammatory ingredients such as green tea, caffeine, resveratrol, argan oil, aloe or chamomile. My favorite for men is Essopi Antioxidant Cream.
Bottom Line
Start your shave with clean skin and a gentle, effective shaving cream to prevent razor burn and get a smooth, clean shave. If you want to try Zerafite, Pedantic or Essopi- these are only sold by physicians. Find a physician in your area here or use my doctors code STSMD.
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