The process of shaving is nothing new, but the products we use for it are ever-evolving. We’re here with another addition for your consideration: shaving butter.
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Best Overall
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Best Budget
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Best Natural
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Shave butter combines the best qualities of all of the products that came before it. It is lightweight and spreadable like a gel while retaining the protective thickness of shaving cream and is packed with nutrients to hydrate and nourish your skin.
Our Top Picks For Shaving Butter
Here are our top picks for shave butter for men, ranked.
Best Overall
The Dollar Shave Club shave butter is the leader in the men's grooming space, with thousands of glowing reviews. This goes on smooth and leaves your skin moisturized. Paired with your favorite razor, even classic straight razors, this butter is effective anywhere you wish to groom.
PROS: Smooth texture, subtle scent, transparent butter doesn’t obstruct view
CONS: Transparency makes it difficult to track, requires a subscription
- Star Rating: 5/5
- Value: The frontrunner for a good reason!
- Application: Apply a thin layer with fingers, allow to “rest” for 15 minutes before shaving
- Ingredients: Macadamia nut oil, grape seed oil, willow bark, papaya extract, pineapple extract
- Effectiveness: A close shave without irritation or cuts
Best Alternative Option
The Arctic shaving butter from Strictly Man Supply Co. is an excellent alternative for those hesitant about the subscription service required for DSC. This semi-opaque butter is easy to track while using. Its peppermint aroma refreshes while the added witch hazel soothes.
PROS: Easy to track, fresh scent, soothes skin, bought individually
CONS: Spreads thickly, requires frequent rinsing
- Star Rating: 4.5/5
- Value: High-quality product purchasable without a subscription
- Application: Apply a thin layer with fingers
- Ingredients: Shea butter, coconut butter, aloe vera, sage extract, peppermint extract
- Effectiveness: A smooth shave that simultaneously smooths
Best Budget-Friendly Option
This is a more affordable but still quality shaving butter from Van Der Hagen. With a creamy feel and a subtle cocoa butter scent, this butter is opaque so you can clearly track where you’ve been. Its formula is thinner than the other products but doesn’t leave the skin feeling slick or greasy.
PROS: Affordable, non-greasy feel
CONS: Washes away easily, dries easily on the skin
- Star Rating: ⅘
- Value: Quality product for a competitive price
- Application: Apply a thin layer with fingers
- Ingredients: Shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter, macadamia nut oil
- Effectiveness: Clean shave without leaving behind a greasy feeling
Best Natural Option
The Henna Guys shaving butter uses frankincense to create a luxurious shaving experience. This has the same benefits as other products but is best applied with a boar-bristle brush. It uses natural ingredients to rejuvenate and moisturize without added chemicals.
PROS: Natural ingredients, thick consistency, sophisticated scent
CONS: Higher price, requires a brush
- Star Rating: ⅘
- Value: High-quality butter made with all-natural ingredients
- Application: Apply with a bristle brush after warming
- Ingredients: Shea butter, jojoba oil, aloe vera, papaya extract, pineapple extract
- Effectiveness: Requires more preparation but a smooth, cut-free shave
Best for Head and Body
OmniShaver shave butter is excellent for legs, head, arms, armpits, and chest. This formula spreads smoothly and is opaque to make it easier to track in hard-to-reach places. It is not for use on sensitive facial skin as some of the stronger ingredients may cause irritation.
PROS: Full-body use, easy to track, long shelf-life
CONS: Not for sensitive skin, higher price
- Star Rating: 3.5/5
- Value: A great choice for shaving large areas of the body
- Application: Apply a thin layer with fingers, but do not use on face
- Ingredients: Shea butter, aloe vera, tea tree oil, peppermint oil
- Effectiveness: Provides smooth shave without using large amounts of product
Best Classic Feel
From a time-honored brand, the Clubman Pinaud shaving butter has a thick texture and a classic scent that lingers for the rest of the day. The upfront price might seem intimidating, but this butter is sold in packs of three and ultimately saves you a few bucks while still providing that old-fashioned barbershop feel.
PROS: Three-pack, masculine aroma, thick texture
CONS: Chemical additives, requires frequent rinsing
- Star Rating: 3.5/5
- Value: Appealing, classic aroma for a competitive price
- Application: Apply thin layer with fingers
- Ingredients: Shea butter, cocoa butter, chamomile extract, vitamin E
- Effectiveness: Protects against nicks and ingrown hairs
Best Cruelty-Free Option
This vegan and cruelty-free brand has become recently popular for its shave butter for women, but they have products for men, too. The Coco Cloud whipped shaving butter is thick with a pleasant vanilla smell. Our biggest issue with this product is that it comes at a high price for a small container.
PROS: Natural ingredients, responsibly produced, sweet aroma
CONS: High price, requires frequent rinsing
- Star Rating: 3.5/5
- Value: High-quality vegan product for socially-conscious men
- Application: Apply thin layer with fingers
- Ingredients: Coconut oil, grapeseed oil, turmeric root extract, mango seed butter
- Effectiveness: Protects and hydrates skin with creamy luxurious butter
Benefits of Using Shave Butter
Shaving butter has a lot of advantages that set it apart from other products:
- Hassle-free: Shaving butter is easily applied using only your fingers.
- Natural: Shaving butters are made with natural oils and enhanced with nutrient-rich plants and herbal extracts.
- Protective: Shaving butter’s thick consistency ensures your razor doesn’t nick skin or leave rashes.
- Low-lather: Shaving butter spreads easily, making it easy to track and sculpt clean lines.
- Versatile: Shaving butter is ideal for use anywhere, not just on your face.
- Non-clogging: Another feature of this low-lather quality is that it won’t clog your razor like foamy shaving creams.
Shave Butter vs Cream
So, what is shave butter used for compared to shaving cream? The classic aerosol shaving cans that became popular in the 1960s use gasses like propane and butane, which are harmful to your skin, to expel the product. Shaving butter uses natural ingredients to moisturize and replenish your skin.
Shaving cream’s foamy lather makes maneuverability difficult. Shaving butter spreads in a thin layer for maximum visibility and smooth glides without sacrificing protection.
DIY Shave Butter Recipe
Shaving butter is made from natural ingredients that are easily found at home.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup cocoa butter
- 3 tablespoon castile soap
- 20-25 drops of essential oil(s) of choice
Directions
- Melt coconut oil and cocoa butter over the stovetop or in the microwave. Remove from heat as soon as everything liquefies.
- Pour into a large mixing bowl and add olive oil.
- Cover and refrigerate until halfway solidified.
- Whip with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Add castile soap and whip to combine.
- Add in essential oils.
- Store in a glass jar in a cool, dry place.
Final Thoughts
Shaving is a personal experience and, ultimately, it’s up to your own personal preference to decide on what’s best for you.
Shaving butter is a high-quality option with a low-hassle execution. It takes the best of all the shaving products that have come before it and combines them into one convenient, healthy, modern product for the modern-day man.
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Born and raised in Austin, David is a dedicated writer and avid fragrance lover. When he's not trying out perfumes, he enjoys traveling and exploring new restaurants.