Men's & Shaving Creams, Lotions & Gels Reviews

This is the shaving cream you buy when you’re ready for your bathroom sink to feel a little more like a barbershop chair. In our testing, The Art of Shaving Shaving Cream consistently delivered closer, calmer shaves than the gels and foams we grew up on, wrapping skin in a dense, glycerin-rich lather that feels quietly indulgent rather than flashy. The sandalwood and other scent options whisper heritage and ritual, not department-store cologne.

It isn’t perfect—the packaging plays optical tricks with volume, the formula has clearly evolved over the years, and the price won’t suit every grooming budget. Yet for those who value the daily ritual as much as the result, this remains one of the most satisfying ways to meet a blade. If you’re building a considered, prestige grooming routine, this is a cornerstone worth serious consideration.

Proraso Refreshing Shaving Cream for Men is the grooming equivalent of slipping into a well-cut vintage suit: familiar, flattering, and quietly confident. In our lab and bathroom testing, this eucalyptus-and-menthol classic delivered a lather that feels far more expensive than it is—dense, slick, and satisfyingly tactile. The cooling sensation turns a rushed morning into a small ritual, especially when paired with a brush and hot towel.

It isn’t a one-scent-fits-all story. The barbershop aroma and menthol hit are intentional and polarizing; we adored it on humid days and after workouts, but some testers found it too medicinal or intense for daily use. Performance-wise, it excelled with safety razors and traditional wet-shaving techniques, giving close, low-irritation results that made our cartridge foams feel crude by comparison.

There are trade-offs of heritage: the metal tube and delicate cap demand a bit of care, and very sensitive or menthol-averse skin will be happier in Proraso’s White line or another gentler cream. But if you crave that Italian barbershop experience at home—cool tiles, clean steel, and a cloud of eucalyptus steam—this is a remarkably accessible way to get it, day after day.

Williams Lectric Shave is the grooming equivalent of discovering an old-school tailor who still cuts a flawless suit. The bottle looks familiar, the scent is unapologetically barbershop, yet the performance on modern electric razors is strikingly relevant. In our lab and real-world testing, it turned underwhelming shaves into confident, glass-smooth finishes—especially along tricky neck contours and wiry jawlines.

The trade-off is a bold, alcohol-forward splash that stings briefly and carries a strong, nostalgic fragrance some will adore and others will rush to rinse. This is not a spa-serum moment; it’s a functional, purposeful pre-shave ritual that rewards you with fewer passes, less tugging, and far less irritation. If you live in the world of foil and rotary heads and want them to behave like they cost three times as much, this classic remains one of the most effective—and affordable—ways to elevate your daily shave.

Proraso Shaving Soap is less a product and more a ritual—an accessible slice of Italian barbershop heritage sitting quietly by your sink. In our testing, it transformed hurried weekday shaves into something almost cinematic: brush swirling in a green tub, eucalyptus mist rising, steel gliding without protest. The lather isn’t the densest in the luxury landscape, but it’s reliably protective, forgiving on most skin, and wonderfully refreshing in warm weather. There are trade‑offs—a finicky water balance, menthol that won’t charm every complexion, and packaging that feels more utilitarian than lavish—but the emotional return on investment is high. For anyone flirting with traditional wet shaving or simply wanting a closer, calmer shave without the boutique price tag, this is a modern classic that earns its permanent place in the cabinet.

This is not a shy product—and that’s precisely its charm. In our testing, Proraso’s menthol-eucalyptus pre-shave turned routine shaves into a ritual: whiskers softened, blades glided, and chronic neck irritation finally calmed down. The texture is a solid, waxy paste that melts into a thin, protective veil, and the cooling hit feels like stepping into a tiled Florentine barbershop on a summer morning. It isn’t universally forgiving—the bold scent and tingle will divide opinion, and heavy-handed application can backfire—but when used sparingly over warm, damp skin, it performs with a quiet, professional confidence. For those who love traditional wet shaving or simply want their morning shave to feel less like a chore and more like self-care, this is a prestige classic that earns its place on the sink.