If you have sensitive skin, you know what a struggle shave day can be when you don't have the right products handy. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way. My skin reacts to things as if it was a hobby or casual pastime. So I'm sure it's not surprising that I've had a few bad bouts of razor burn in my life. The redness and painful bumps that can follow shaving are never fun to deal with, but I've finally learned that adding one simple and affordable product to my shower lineup can change all that.
Yep, I'm talking about investing in a good shaving cream. I know shaving creams are nothing new, but I've never liked using one because it feels like an unnecessary extra step. However, you don't want to skip this step if you have sensitive skin. Bodywash alone wasn't doing the job for me anymore when trying to shave my legs, so I finally bit the bullet and invested in a $4 Amazon find. I'm happy to report that it's a winner. Keep reading if you're in the market for a good shaving cream. I'm sharing a few beauty editors' favorites below.
The Best Shaving Creams, at a Glance
- Best Overall: Eos Shea Better Shaving Cream
- Best Drugstore Shaving Cream: Gilette Satin Care Ultra Sensitive Women's Shave Gel
- Best Scented: Cremo Women’s Shaving Cream
- Best for Ingrowns: Fur Moisturizing Shave Cream
- Best Gel-Based Formula: Skintimate Coconut Delight Shaving Cream and Gel
The Best Shaving Creams of 2026
Best Overall: Eos Shea Better Shaving Cream
Three Who What Wear beauty team members agree that this budget-friendly shaving cream is one of the best out there. The addition of shea butter, aloe, and oil provides you with such a comfortable shave. I never get razor burn when I use it, and I sometimes can't believe it's only $5. It also has notes of pomegranate, tart raspberries, and watery lotus blossom.
Pros: Budget-friendly, provides up to 24 hours of hydration with shea butter and oil, and includes vitamin C, E, and aloe to nourish the skin
Cons: Light fragrance
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, aloe, and shea oil
Customer Review: "This is a nice shaving cream with a very pretty smell. It is a pump (not an aerosol.) It's rather a small size, but for me, it will last quite a while. It has such a pretty scent that I would like to use it as a soap. I think I will try the lavender scent next."
Best Drugstore Shaving Cream: Gilette Satin Care Ultra Sensitive Women's Shave Gel
Who What Wear beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock loves this hero drugstore shaving cream because it's fragrance-free, great for sensitive skin, and gets the job done. And, yes, many of the creams available on our list are already budget-friendly, but this one is also widely available. Gilette has been a staple for all things shaving, so it's no surprise the brand's shaving cream holds up to the hype.
Pros: Budget-friendly, great for sensitive skin, fragrance-free.
Cons: May not be hydrating enough for dry skin.
Key Ingredients: Aloe
Customer Review: "My skin is super sensitive, and this keeps it from getting irritated when shaving. I don't know what I would do without it!"
Best Scented: Cremo Women’s Shaving Cream Sensitive Skin
This shaving cream fights nicks, cuts, and razor burn. It's packed with key ingredients like macadamia seed oil, aloe, calendula, papaya, and olive leaf extract for soft skin that smells incredible. The lavender creates a spa-like experience that you can look forward to every time you shave.
Pros: Budget-friendly, packed with skin-soothing and hydrating ingredients like aloe, calendula, and macadamia seed oil
Cons: Contains fragrance
Key Ingredients: Macadamia seed oil, aloe leaf juice, calendula, papaya, and olive leaf extract
Customer Review: "I recently tried the Cremo French Lavender Moisturizing Shave Cream, and I am now hooked on it! The ultra-slick formula provides an incredibly smooth shave with no irritation or razor burn. The French lavender scent is also very pleasant and adds a nice touch of luxury to my shaving routine."
Best for Ingrowns: Fur Moisturizing Shave Cream
Enriched with ingredients like olive oil, aloe, and marshmallow root extract, this shave cream provides so much more than a comfortable shaving experience. It hydrates, soothes, and protections the skin against irritation or inflammation. While it's on the pricier side, just know that Fur works wonders in preventing ingrown hairs. To really round out the experience, assistant beauty editor Sabrina Talbert recommends pairing it with the brand's viral oil for undeniably soft skin.
Pros: Hydrates and soothes skin with ingredients like olive oil and aloe, contains coconut-derived cleansing agents to create a protective film while you shave
Cons: Expensive
Key Ingredients: Olive oil, aloe, and marshmallow root extract
Customer Review: "I absolutely love this shaving cream. The texture of the cream is not a gel or a regular cream. It is like [a] cross [between] the two in a good way. It smells clean, which is probably why it's a unisex item. I never have to shave over the same area because it shaves smooth... helping [keep] me from getting razor burns. Nice product highly recommend for sensitive skin people."
Best Gel-Based Formula: Skintimate Coconut Delight Shaving Cream and Gel
With ingredients like coconut water and plumeria petals, this shave gel feels and smells like a tropical vacation in a bottle. It's incredibly hydrating and helps replenish the skin's natural moisture levels. Talbert has used this formula on multiple occasions and loves that it supports a smooth shave thanks to the generous lather.
Pros: Budget-friendly, gel-cream texture, guards against cuts and irritation
Cons: Strong scent
Key Ingredients: Coconut water and plumeria petals
Customer Review: "I have tried multiple shaving gels, and I have always ended up purchasing Skintimate. I have no irritation, and they leave my skin feeling smooth and moisturized. I am able to get a close shave with minimal to no nicks. And the smell is divine... This will be my new go-to shaving gel."
Best for Sensitive Skin: Vanicream Shave Cream
Vanicream is a great no-frills brand designed for sensitive skin. I'm a fan of the brand's Daily Facial Moisturizer ($14) since I have incredibly sensitive skin, and this shaving cream is similar in all the best ways. It's fragrance-free and dye-free while still providing an extra buffer against nicks, cuts, and razor burn.
Pros: Great for sensitive skin, fragrance-free
Cons: Does not foam or lather
Key Ingredients: Sorbic acid
Customer Review: "I loved this stuff. [It's] creamy, doesn't leave my skin dry, and has no scent. I'm making sure I get this often."
How We Chose
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best shaving creams, we leaned heavily on firsthand testing and our knowledge as beauty experts. We also considered several factors, including key ingredients and customer reviews. We're aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details.
Why Trust Who What Wear
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Since 2006, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.
This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.