Like any of life's pursuits, looking our best means keeping the right tools handy. If keeping your face clean-shaven is your ideal, you'll need more than just the best razor to get an efficient shave. Your shaving regimen isn't really complete without using one of the best aftershave balms, a critical step in keeping your skin fresh, hydrated, and in the best shape possible following a close shave. Which one is best for you? Here are a few things to think about before you start shopping for your next aftershave balm.
Shaving can overly irritate the skin, especially if you’re not careful or properly equipped. (Black men in particular can benefit from using one of these moisturizing balms — rather than a drying, alcohol-based, classic aftershave — as part of keeping skin in great shape and fighting ingrown hairs.) Use one of the aftershave balms we recommend below to deliver comfort and relief. These
L’Occitane Multi-Grooming Balm
Some of the best aftershave balms get to work protecting your skin even before you start to shave — at least, that’s the case with this multi-use L’Occitane balm, which is designed to use both before and after you shave. L'Occitane's exceptionally soothing balm helps your skin resist redness, razor burn, and feelings of tightness, plus it purifies skin to clean and soothe nicks and breakouts. Even better, the rosemary and sandalwood scent is quite delightful!
Pacific Shaving Company Caffeinated Aftershave Balm
Perk up your skin after a close shave with this caffeinated aftershave balm. The naturally-derived caffeine helps reduce the appearance of redness and post-shave razor rash, plus it's a powerful antioxidant that can help your skin repair itself and stay healthy. The balm is never tested on animals and comes in a TSA-friendly sized tube that's perfect to slip into your suitcase so you can finish your shave the right way no matter where you end up next.
Reuzel Wood & Spice Aftershave
Leave it to the experts at Reuzel to provide the ultimate aftershave. Use this to cool and soothe your skin after you finish shaving. This crisp and defined formula has pleasant notes of citrus and sandalwood, and this vegan formula is great for finishing off your shave in a way that tightens your pores and properly nourishes your facial and neck skin. If a wood and spice scent isn't for you, it also comes in original scent.
Dr. Tusk Shave Cream
Even if you've already heard about Dr. Tusk's remarkable skincare and grooming products, now's the time to try out their amazing shave cream. Made with a plant-based proprietary blend of hemp, caffeine, and dragon's blood (Daemonorops Draco, that is. Don't worry. No dragons were harmed in the creation of this product.), it's great to use before you shave, after you shave, and anytime in between. This amazing 3-in-1 shave cream will help keep your facial skin hydrated all day.
American Shaving Co. Aftershave Balm
With what the aptly named brand calls a sandalwood “barbershop” scent, we’re certain this is one of the best aftershave balms for men, as it's expertly designed to soothe and refresh dry and irritated skin. This balm provides immediate skin hydration that lasts all day and it absorbs quickly into your skin without being greasy and it comes in a refreshing cleaan scent . We also like the fact that Amervcian Shaving Co. packs this balm in an easy-access, no mess jar.
Mod Cabin Glacier Aftershave Balm
Geared toward hydration and refreshment for your skin, the ice-cold cooling sensation (what did you expect from a product named after ice?) of this aftershave balm is assuredly a welcome addition to your grooming routine. Not only does it have a very appealing alpine aroma, but it's also highly effective at caring for your skin after shaving. With ingredients like shea butter and essential oils, this balm is perfect to be used as a moistureizer all over your face.
Rockwell Razors Aftershave Balm
Leave it to a brand with a focus on old-school grooming to come up with a critical addition to your shaving routine via this refined aftershave balm. Based on their many years of shaving experience, Rockwell Razors has honed in on the ideal formula to hydrate your skin, soothe irritation, and leave behind a fantastic scent. This balm includes ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, and jojoba to nourish your skin and keep it looking and feeling healthy.
Baxter of California After Shave Balm
Baxter of California has done it again. Now, they offer a premium aftershave that's alcohol-free, as well as being incredibly smoothing, and even helpful in protecting your skin from visible signs of premature aging. It also works to help prevent ingrown hairs and contains glycerin to protect and hydrate skin as well as aloe vera and allantonin to soothe sensitive skin from razor burn after shaving. It comes in a menthol scent that provides a cooling sensation.
The Art of Shaving Aftershave Balm
Of course the foremost name in shaving has the ultimate moisturizer and shave balm, all rolled into one amazing formula. This aftershave balm soothes, moisturizes, and refreshes the face, helps protect from signs of aging, and won't clog your pores. It's also available in a travel-friendly 1 oz. tube with a soothing lavender fragrance. If lavender isn't your cup of tea, The Art of
Cremo Cooling Post-Shave Balm
This balm comes in a lightweight formula with no synthetic fragrance that soothes and moisturizes with special cooling ingredients, such as menthol and tea tree oil, leaving skin feeling clean and refreshed. Of course, Cremo's balm also fights skin irritation and razor burn, with ingredients like shea butter, baobab seed oil, and tamanu seed oil that also hydrate skin, so we consider it a true grooming must-have. And it comes in a pleasant, refreshing mint scent.
Nivea Men Sensitive Soothing Post Shave Balm
Of course, one of the leading skincare companies would make a great soothing post-shave balm for men that is especially designed for sensitive skin. This alcohol-free balm won't dry your skin and it has ingredients like vitamin E, chamomile, and witch hazel to calm your skin after a shave, leaving it looking healthier. It keeps your skin smooth and comfortable by fighting what Nivea says are "the five signs of shave irritation: burning, micro cuts, dryness, tightness and stubble itch." The fast-absorbing, nongreasy balm won't feel sticky on your skin and it will provide you with long-lasting hydration.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you ask us, the best aftershave for men is a sort of catch-all as far as soothing irritated skin is concerned, so the search for the best
And even if you don’t go through a targeted shaving regimen (say, if you’re one who takes great care to study up on how to shape a beard), aftershave balm or lotion can still prove highly useful.
But that being said, there’s still a debate out there, right? No doubt. Picking out aftershave lotion or balm depends on both your skin type and your personal preference. A lotion used after shaving goes on smoothly and quickly, much like your face moisturizer or face lotion, but with the targeted approach to soothe and soften irritated skin. It’s a straightforward option that works well if you already moisturize frequently (and trust us, you should certainly add that step to your grooming routine).
A balm can be more gel-like and leave a refreshing feeling, but sometimes there’s an added residue. The end-all, be-all is this: If you go with a quality product in either category (like our picks above), you can’t go wrong either way.
Aftershave balm soothes and calms the skin, targeting inflammation, irritation, and nicks or cuts. The best
An aftershave balm is also a necessary final step in sealing in that close shave, seeing as
Whether you go with lotion after shaving or an aftershave balm, options abound (as do opinions as to what’s best to use after
For after shaving, we’re of the opinion that, at the end of the day, you simply need the best aftershave for men in your rotation, no questions asked. An
We hope this guide helps you find the ideal aftershave balm to add to your own personal grooming set. For more great grooming tips, take a look at this guide for the best luxury gifts for men, the best mustache waxes for better facial hair, and these helpful tips to get rid of razor burn quickly. Now that we took care of business, we'll leave it to you to take good care of yourself.
