Best Shaving Creams: How to Choose the Right Formula

The best shaving cream for you is the one that suits how you shave. A traditional brush-lather cream and a transparent brushless cream do different jobs, even when both come in a tube or tub. Start with the application method, then compare fragrance, pack size and how much preparation you want in your routine.

This guide compares six examples from the MGS shaving cream range. It is a practical shortlist, not a ranking: choose the format and scent you prefer, and check each product page for its current details.

First choose: brush lather or brushless

For a traditional wet-shaving routine, choose a cream intended to be worked with water and a shaving brush. Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood, Cyril R. Salter's creams and Castle Forbes 1445 are examples to compare. The brush builds the lather; the cream's texture and fragrance then help distinguish your choices.

Some lathering creams also allow hand application. Proraso's Green tube instructions allow you to build its lather with water using either a brush or your hands. That is different from a ready-to-apply transparent brushless cream.

If you want to shave without building a brush lather, choose a specifically brushless product. Cella Rapid Shaving Cream 150ml is applied directly to the area being shaved. Its transparent texture keeps beard, moustache and sideburn outlines visible while you work. This is not the same product as Cella's bowl cream.

Packaging alone is not a reliable guide. A tube can contain a brush-lather cream or a brushless formula, so follow the directions for the exact product rather than assuming that every tube works by hand.

Six shaving creams to compare

Compare fragrance without changing everything else

For a traditional woody scent, start with TOBS Sandalwood. For an almond or floral preference, compare Salter Classic Almond and Wild Rose. Castle Forbes 1445 is another brush-lather choice if you enjoy that fragrance and want to try the brand's concentrated cream.

Proraso Green offers a different feel: its eucalyptus oil and menthol formula is intended to give a refreshing sensation during shaving. Choose according to your preferences rather than assuming that a cooling cream will suit every person's skin.

Keep the application method in mind when comparing scents. Cella Rapid contains almond oil, but that does not make it interchangeable with Salter Classic Almond: one is a transparent brushless formula, while the other is a cream for brush lathering.

Choosing shaving cream for sensitive skin

Start by comparing the exact formula, not just the fragrance name. Proraso White Sensitive Shaving Cream 150ml contains green tea and oat extracts and is formulated for sensitive skin. It is a lathering cream used with a damp shaving brush.

A sensitive-skin label does not mean fragrance-free or suitable for everyone. Check the full ingredients and directions on the product page before choosing your cream.

Which Proraso shaving cream should I choose?

The four 150ml Proraso tubes offer different formulas within a familiar format. Compare their distinguishing ingredients rather than choosing by pack colour alone:

• Green: Eucalyptus oil and menthol for a refreshing shaving sensation, as featured in the comparison above.
• White: Green tea and oat extracts in the Sensitive Skin range described above.
• Blue Protective: Aloe vera and vitamin E in a brush-lather cream.
• Red Sandalwood: Sandalwood oil and shea butter in the Coarse Beards range.

Follow the directions for the exact tube you choose. A familiar brand or colour is not a reason to treat every formula as interchangeable.

Pack size and value: compare like with like

A 150g bowl and a 200ml tub use different measurements. You cannot compare their contents simply by treating grams and millilitres as the same unit. Nor does a larger tub automatically mean more shaves: the amount you use and the formula matter.

Castle Forbes advises starting with a small amount of cream and adding water to develop its lather. Follow each product's instructions before adding more cream. Check live prices on the product pages rather than choosing only by the number printed on the pack.

Shaving cream or shaving soap?

This shortlist focuses on creams. If you are also considering a firmer puck, stick or refill, read our shaving cream versus shaving soap guide for the format comparison, or browse shaving soaps. There is no need to choose the same format for every shave.

Quick questions before you buy

How much shaving cream should I use?

Follow the directions for your chosen formula rather than using one portion size for every cream. For brush lathering with Proraso Green, the maker suggests a strip of about 2cm on the damp brush. Castle Forbes advises starting with a small amount and adding water gradually; wetting the brush tips can refresh its lather for a further pass before you add more cream.

Is pre-shave cream the same as shaving cream?

No. A pre-shave is a preparation step before your shaving cream, soap or foam. For example, Proraso Blue Pre-Shave is massaged onto a damp face and left in place, without rinsing, before you apply the shaving product. It is not the same as the Blue lathering cream in a tube. Check the exact product name and directions when choosing your routine.

Can I use shaving cream without a brush?

Yes, when the exact product's directions support it. Cella Rapid is a transparent brushless cream applied directly. Proraso Green can be lathered with water using hands or a brush. Check the instructions: not every cream uses the same method.

Which scent should I start with?

Start with a fragrance you already enjoy. Sandalwood, almond and rose give you distinct choices without needing to change your razor or blade at the same time. A fragrance name is not a guarantee that a formula will suit every person's skin.

Is one cream best for every razor?

There is no single winner for every routine. Choose the cream's application method first, then follow the instructions and compare how it works with your own shaving setup.

Browse the shaving cream collection to compare the exact sizes, fragrances and application methods before choosing your next cream.