My Picks for the Best Shaving Creams

When the folks over at The Bluebeard's Revenge sent me a sample of their shaving cream and asked me to do a review, I intrigued but not overly enthusiastic. Another shaving cream from the UK?  Could there be anything better than the classics like Truefitt & Hill and Geo. F. Trumpers?  When it comes to shaving cream, the British really know their stuff -- I use the traditional shave lathers almost exclusively in my morning ritual and The Bluebeard's Revenge is now one of my "must-haves." This product takes the traditional shaving cream and throws in a little science for an outstanding shave. Read my review for more.

This old school English shaving cream is simply amazing.  Of course, Geo. F. Trumper's has been making shaving cream for over a century, so you can imagine they've got this shaving thing figured out.  The cream creates a rich lather and offers great lubrication.  What I find most compelling about this product is the scent of fresh cut roses.  What a great way to start off the day.  Don't worry, the fragrance goes a way when you rinse so you won't leave home smelling like a rose.  

The rich coconut oil and glycerin based formula of The Art of Shaving's Unscented Shaving Cream creates an amazing lather and really helps lubricate the skin and protect from razor burn. Like many traditional style shaving creams, this product works well with a shaving brush or with the fingers.

While I tend to prefer traditional style shaving creams, this formula for men-u (creatively spelled in hip all lower-case letters) is amazing. The product is super-concentrated and comes in a tiny 3 ounce package that will give you nearly 6 months worth of shaves. Of course, because of its size, this product is perfect for travel. men-u Shaving Cream does not lather like most traditional products, but it does create a very slick surface on your skin for a smooth, irritation-free shave. The big "foamy beard" created by most shaving creams is really pointless because it's what's in contact with your skin that matters. Good stuff.

Okay, so if you can get past the slightly derogatory sounding name, Nancy Boy actually makes a pretty fabulous shave cream -- especially for those with sensitive skin. The formula contains avocado oil, glycerin, and allantoin and leaves the skin feeling moist and smooth. I like the clean fragrance of this product and the formula avoids a lot of unnecessary artificial ingrediants -- also a big plus for me. At around $18 for a 6 ounce jar, it's fairly competitively priced as well.

Truefitt & Hill has been in the barbering business for over 200 years, so you can imagine they know a thing or two about shaving. In fact, they've been operating a barbershop on St. James Street in London since 1805. Their 1805 Shaving Cream creates a rich, luxurious lather and has plenty of great lubrication for a close, smooth shave. While their most popular 1805 Shaving Cream has a very clean, fresh fragrance, their Lavender Shaving Cream is one of my personal favorites with it's rich, earthy fragrance. This product works well with or without a shaving brush.

I'm in love with The Gentlemens Refinery Standard Shave Cream which is formulated with all-natural ingredients and is paraben and alcohol free. Like many of my faves, this formula is coconut oil and glycerine based and creates a rich, smooth lather for an exceptionally good shave without drying out the skin. Natural organic lavender oil adds analgesic, antiseptic, and stimulant properties which help soothe and heal the skin. No artificial fragrances are added, but you can smell notes of lavender in this product.