The Best Shaving Creams and Gels in Canada

Shaving creams and gels are an important part of the shaving process. After all, they protect your face from nicks and cuts and other irritations caused by your razor. Based on this fact, you want to have a shaving gel or cream that does its job effectively. To help you with selection, we’ve created this buying guide that lists the top shaving creams and gels in Canada.  

Since shaving cream and shaving gel differ from each other, we’ve separated the two in this section. 

For Shaving Cream 

Lather: This refers to the protective foam you create when using a shaving cream. You’ll often have to work the cream into a lather before you begin shaving. You can do this by rubbing it between your hands, or by using a shaving brush. When selecting a shaving cream, try to find ones that have thick lathers. Using a shaving cream with poor lather can result in issues like skin irritation and razor bumps.  

For Shaving Gel 

Lubrication: Shaving gels have an edge over shaving creams when it comes to lubrication. Try to find a shaving gel that lubricates your skin effectively. The gel should let your razor glide over your skin easily. Having poor lubrication can lead to cuts or skin irritation.  

For Both 

Ingredients: This is the most important factor for both shaving creams and shaving gels. Stick to products that have more natural ingredients. For example, look for shaving creams or gels that have pure oils, essential oils, or conditioners. The oils will provide your skin with essential minerals, vitamins, and nutrients, along with nice scents. Conditioners will help those with sensitive skin. For gels specifically, look for products containing glycerin. This ingredient acts as a lubricant and helps your skin retain moisture.  

We recommend you avoid products containing artificial/chemical ingredients. Some examples to look out for include: 

• Parabens: These are chemicals used as a preservative in many shaving creams and gels. Most have negative effects on your hormonal function. 
• Sulfates: Sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, is the most common sulfate found in shaving creams or gels. While sulfates are used as cleansing ingredients, they are actually harsh and corrosive chemicals. They can remove some of the skin’s natural oils and have been linked to other issues such as dry skin, rashes, and dermatitis.
• Fragrances: Many products will simply list “fragrances” as an ingredient in the shaving cream or gel. The reason for this is that companies do not have to reveal the chemicals in their fragrances (some cite it as a “trade secret”). Therefore, you don’t really know what you’re getting with the fragrance. You could be exposing yourself to hundreds of harmful chemicals. Fragrances are also one of the most common allergens, and they have been known to cause rashes, headaches, dizziness, and skin irritation.
• Alcohol: If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid shaving creams and gels that contain alcohol. It can remove the natural oils from your skin, which leaves the skin vulnerable to environmental contaminants.   

Price: The price for a shaving cream or gel may not be as important as ingredients, but it is still something to consider. Creams or gels with lower prices are great for those on a budget. Some also come in twin packs, which gives you more value for your money. However, cheaper shaving creams or gels often contain some of the ingredients that you should avoid, such as sulfates and alcohol.  

Expensive shaving creams or gels often provide you with more comfort and protection. Some are made with all natural ingredients, which is the reason for the high price point. Despite the added perks of more expensive shaving creams or gels, the high price point is unaffordable for some people.  

For this buying guide, we spent over eight hours reviewing various shaving creams and shaving gels. We read several customer reviews to determine what people look for in the shaving creams and shaving gels. We only considered products rated four stars or more on Amazon. Our picks were based on price, their ingredients, and the overall comfort and protection they provided. Lastly, we referenced trusted websites when we needed further information.  

What is Shaving Gel?  

Shaving gel is similar to shaving cream in that it is a lubricating product that is applied to your face before shaving. It softens your hair as well as moisturizing and protecting your skin from things like razor burn. Shaving gel can also be clear so people can see where they are shaving. In most instances, you can lather shaving gel by gently rubbing it between your hands or on your face. In comparison to shaving cream, shaving gel is usually more efficient. This is because you often only need a small amount for shaving. 

How Do You Use Shaving Cream? 

Using shaving cream is fairly simple. Before you begin using your shaving cream, the first thing you should do is wash your face with warm water. This will make it easier for you to apply the cream to your face. It also helps lubricate your face and prevents your razor from dragging on your skin. Next, dispense the cream from its packaging and lather it up. There are two ways you can do this. First is with your hands. This the way most people lather shaving cream, but it is a messy process. Using a brush and a bowl is a much cleaner and effective way to lather shaving cream.  

After the you’ve lathered the shaving cream, you can apply it do your face. When applying to your face, use circular motions to further lather the shaving cream. Once you’ve applied the shaving cream, it now time to shave.  

How Do You Make Shaving Cream? 

If you don’t want to spend money on the shaving creams found in the store, then a good alternative is making your own cream. That way, you know exactly what the ingredients are. Here are the steps to follow: 

• Gather your ingredients all of which should be natural. What you use depends on the type of shaving cream you want to make. For some people, they want lots of essential oils in the formula. Therefore, they should use things like coconut oil in their shaving cream.  The following is a sample ingredients list for homemade shaving cream: 
  • 2/3 cup shea or cocoa butter 
  • 2/3 cup coconut oil 

• • 1/2 cup olive oil 
  • 10 drops essential oil of your choice 
  • 2 tablespoons baking soda 

• Place butter in a small saucepan and heat until it liquifies. Once it is completely melted, transfer to a bowl. 

• Next, mix the melted butter with your other ingredients. Make sure you stir well so that the ingredients are entirely mixed together. Aim for a smooth consistency.  

• After you’ve combined the ingredients, place the cream in an airtight container and chill it in the fridge.  

• Once the cream has somewhat solidified, transfer it to a storage container. 

Note: Homemade shaving cream usually lasts one to two months. To preserve it for longer, you can add the contents of a vitamin E capsule. This will act as a natural preservative. 

How Do You Shave Without Shaving Cream? 

If you don’t have shaving cream or shaving gel handy and you still want to shave, the good news is that you can do so without those products. Shaving without creams or gels is called dry shaving. With this approach, you will have to take your time since there is an added risk of nicks and cuts, razor burn, and razor bumps.

There are alternative lubricants to use for shaving. Some examples include: 

• Shower gels or soaps. 
• Hair conditioners or cream rinse. 
• Cream-based body lotion. 
• Aloe Vera gel. 
• Hot water.