- A lousy soap makes for a lousy shave, so choosing the right one is just as important as selecting a quality razor.
- Mitchell's Wool Fat is considered by many to be the gold standard of shaving soaps, and it's the best shaving soap that money can buy.
- If you're looking for a foamier alternative for use with multi-blade razors, check out our guide to the best shaving cream for men.
Most men today probably treat their daily shaving routine as something of a chore. It's very likely that you also use or have used a multi-blade cartridge razor and canned shaving foam to get the job done when what you should be using is a good shaving soap, bristle brush, and safety razor.
Quality soap is a vital part of your shave because it lubricates your face and whiskers so that your razor blade can move cleanly across your face for a close shave with minimal irritation. A good soap will also lock in your skin's moisture instead of drying it out and leaving your face with that unpleasant "tight" feeling.
What makes a shaving soap different from normal bar soap is its composition, which consists of added fat - either from animals or plant sources such as coconut oil - and/or glycerin. These ingredients are used to give the soap a smooth, slick consistency so it works better as a lubricant while keeping your skin hydrated. A number of all-natural shaving soaps are also made today for people who want to avoid certain synthetic additives like parabens.
Since everyone's skin and facial hair is a bit different, it can take some time to dial in your wet shaving kit, but it's worth the effort if you want to achieve that perfect shave every time. Your personal soap selection largely comes down to preference, so your best bet is to stick to established soapmakers and try a few to find the one that's right for you.
To help you choose, we've smoked out the five best shaving soaps, including our favorite pick along with a hard puck soap, a soft cream, a soap for shavers with sensitive skin, and a handy soap stick for when you're on the road.
Here are the best shaving soaps:
- Best overall shaving soap: Mitchell's Wool Fat shaving soap
- Best hard puck shaving soap: D.R. Harris shaving soap
- Best soft cream shaving soap: Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving soap
- Best shaving soap for sensitive skin: Proraso shaving soap
- Best travel shaving soap: Arko shaving soap
Updated on 1/6/2020 by Jen Gushue: Updated links, prices, and formatting.
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