8 Best Shaving Creams for Super Smooth Skin, Tested and Reviewed
Razor burn, be gone!
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If you weren’t already aware, your skin deserves the best of the best. And we’re not just talking about your precious face! Your skin all over your body needs a lot of love, too. And to make sure you’re kept in tip-top shape, your handy dandy shaving cream should nourish the skin, while simultaneously preventing razor-induced irritation.
If your shaving routine is met with pesky ingrown hairs, razor bumps, or dryness, finding the perf formula for your skin will be an absolute game-changer (because skincare includes the entire body!!!). If you haven’t improved your shaving routine since you were 13, or simply need a shower regimen refresh, these shaving creams are sure to become a bodycare mainstay.
Ahead, the best shaving creams for smoothness from head to toe.
When searching for a shaving cream, you’re gonna want a formula that allows your razor to glide along your skin with ease while simultaneously hydrating the skin. Enter: Billie’s Whipped Shaving Cream.
The formula is packed with nourishing shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe vera (just to name a few). Plus, the whipped texture effortlessly dispenses out of the squeeze bottle packaging (we love mess-free convenience), and lathers extremely well for simple distribution.
“Before I used Billie, I hadn’t used shaving cream since I tried it as a middle schooler, approximately, 14 years ago,” admits Meg Uy, associate shopping editor. “I’m so glad I jumped back on the wave with Billie, I literally can’t feel the razor against my skin when I have it on because of its fluffy and gentle texture.” Uy adds that “it helps shave off every strand of hair, even the stubborn ones.”
| Key Ingredients | Coconut oil, shea butter, aloe |
| Size | 6.5 fl oz. |
Prior to using this gel-to-cream shower savior, I was the queen of uneven, cut-filled shaves. Luckily, this innovative formula transforms from a gel into a foamy texture to coat the skin with ease—making it pretty foolproof for even the worst of shavers.
Plus, it’s packed with skin-loving ingredients like soothing chamomile and aloe. So not only does it create a clean, smooth canvas, but it does so while nourishing the skin (double yay!). Not to mention, the floral scent is a nice added bonus for the full “everything shower” effect (okay, triple yay!).
| Key ingredients | Aloe, chamomile |
| Size | 5 fl oz. |
For all those hard-to-reach areas, this shaving cream is the answer to all your razor burn and sensitivity problems. Aloe, shea butter, and coconut extracts are the perf combination of gentle ingredients for the skin and allow for top-tier smoothness and hydration.
Plus, the formula is lightweight, so you can still see all the areas you’re shaving—safety first!
| Key ingredients | Aloe, shea butter, coconut extracts, vitamin E |
| Size | 5 fl oz. |
Looking to treat your skin to some well-deserved self-care? Look no further than this luxe gel-to-milk (yep, milk) formula. It’s filled with Vitamin C—to stimulate collagen production and improve hyperpigmentation—and nourishing marula oil to soften the skin.
The lightweight formula is not only super silky and hydrating, but it also assists with an even, easy glide for your razor.
| Key ingredients | Vitamin c, marula oil |
| Size | 5 fl oz. |
Tree Hut is beloved for its skin-smoothing exfoliators that make you feel like you just got back from a spa getaway (no joke), so it’s no surprise that the brand knows a thing or two about shaving. Filled with skin-nourishing extracts like Moroccan argan oil and rosehip oil, this formula supplies the skin with a silky base for long-lasting moisture—no suds necessary.
“I swear I get my closest shave when I soften the f outta my skin with this shave oil,” says Beth Gilette, beauty editor. “My razor glides right across my skin—no tugging or nicks. And once I rinse it off, my legs and underarms feel smooth and hydrated too.”
| Key ingredients | Moroccan argan oil, rosehip oil, vitamin E |
| Size | 7.7 fl oz. |
Is there anything worse than going on a vacation, and noticing some prickly hairs growing back after just a couple of days? Well, resorting to a hotel razor and some shower water is officially a thing of the past thanks to this moisturizing gel stick. The compact packaging TSA friendly and the stick itself is a mess-free solution for your toiletries—no exploding bottles here!
“This shave gel is my secret weapon on trips, I just swipe the stick across my skin, then shave as usual,” explains Gilette. “It's beyond easy to use, even easier to pack, and leaves my skin soft as hell.”
| Key ingredients | Mushroom extract, glycerin, cactus water |
| Size | 3 oz. |
If razor burn, ingrown hairs, and irritation are pesky constants in your shaving routine, this shaving gel specifically designed with sensitive skin in mind will be your BFF.
The gel texture transforms into a cushion-esque cream, filled with oatmeal and Vitamin E to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. Not only does the moisturizing cream leave the skin feeling super soft, but the thickness of the formula itself allows for smooth razor strokes (goodbye, redness).
| Key ingredients | Oatmeal, vitamin E |
| Size | 7 fl oz. |
After shaving any part of your body, replenishing the skin with moisture is key. Luckily, this shea butter shaving cream = hydration heaven. And we can’t ignore the under-$5 price tag.
“As someone who is too busy (and lazy) to apply moisturizer after every shower, eos’ shea butter formula ensures I don’t skimp on hydration,” says Sarah Maberry, commerce writer. “Texture-wise, it’s more akin to a lotion than traditional shaving cream and a pump or two is all it takes to cover each leg. And it’s Leaping Bunny certified (which is important, ppl!).”
| Key ingredients | Shea butter, aloe, vitamin C, oat extract |
| Size | 7 fl oz. |
How do you apply shaving cream?
Before shaving, make sure to cleanse and exfoliate in order to remove any dirt and dead skin for optimal smoothness. Then you should pump the shaving cream into your hands instead of directly onto where you want to shave—this will allow for even distribution and you can control how much product is being spread. (You don’t want to apply too much that the razor can barely make it through, or too little that you’re getting nicks or cuts!) Then simply shave (with the grain to minimize ingrowns!) and voila! Super soft and smooth skin.<3
Is foam or gel better for shaving?
It totally depends on personal preferences and your skin type. If you’re looking for a shaving cream with an easy lather to cover a larger surface area (like your legs), a whipped texture foam formula might be best for your needs. If you want some extra hydration and precision, a gel formula might be best due to its moisturizing properties and ability to see exactly where you’re shaving. Regardless, any type of shaving cream will be a much smoother outcome than solely using some water and a razor!
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan. For this story, she spent hours researching and reviewing the best formulas, ingredients, and brands of shaving creams. For added insight, Cosmo’s beauty contributors also reviewed and shared their favorite shaving creams.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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