The best shaving soap for sensitive skin

The Italian-made Proraso shaving soaps can offer some much-needed relief from bumps, razor burn, and general post-shave irritation.

Wet shaving isn't without its drawbacks. Chief among these is that the act of dragging a sharp razor across your skin can result in redness, bumps, inflammation, or a generally unpleasant sensation generally referred to as "razor burn." This is often due to a shoddy razor, but it can also be caused by a bad soap. If you have suffered from this, then you know the relief that a good soothing soap can provide. Our recommended solution to this is Proraso's excellent menthol and eucalyptus shaving soap.

The Proraso menthol and eucalyptus formula was actually our top pick for the best shaving soap for your shaving kit. It made the cut there due to its low cost, ease of use, great feel on your face due to the added menthol, and the fact that it's great for guys with sensitive skin.

I mentioned in that review that this is the soap I've used for years because I love the cooling effect of the menthol and my fair skin is on the sensitive side. I also shared a handy tip for maximizing the soap's potential: Grab a tube of the matching Proraso cream and pop a dollop of it on top of the soap before you start lathering. You'll get a super-slick bubble-free lather that lubricates your face extremely well.

I personally find the menthol and eucalyptus soap to be perfect for my skin. It doesn't hurt that it smells great, too, and I love anything minty. Proraso also offers another formula made for shavers who have particularly fussy faces. This one is made with green tea and oatmeal to reduce inflammation. I've never felt the need to use it myself, but if your skin is especially prone to post-shave irritation, it works a treat.

I recommend you try the menthol first, however, as the cooling effect on your skin is really something else. You'll feel it immediately after your razor makes a pass and the air hits the freshly-shaved skin. Afterward, instead of an alcohol-based aftershave, finish up with some Proraso aftershave balm. It's the perfect complement to your Proraso soap, and it'll cool and soothe your face without drying it out and giving you the burning sensation that alcohol-based aftershaves do.

Pros: The menthol immediately cools and soothes skin during and after shaving, the green tea and oatmeal formula provides extra relief for especially sensitive shavers, comes with a lathering bowl, it's made in Italy, and it smells great

Cons: The semi-soft soap won't last as long as a hard puck, and it lathers best when used with the matching Proraso cream