The Best Aftershave Balm For Men To Soothe Razor Burn and Irritation –  Updated!

What is the best aftershave balm for men? There is a surprising amount of choice in aftershave products, and some widely available aftershaves are actually pretty good (probably because many mass-market razors and shaving foams are so bad).

Here is a look at aftershave balms, and the research on which may rise above the rest. This is an update of an article that first appeared on Sharpologist several years ago!

[Note: Amazon, Leaf (tidd.ly), and PAA links are affiliate. Some Geni.us links may be affiliate.]

What Is The Best Aftershave Balm For Men? Quick Recommendations

Characteristic	Recommended Product
Best overall	Stirling Soap aftershave balms
Best “megamart” option	Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm
Best value	Pacific Shaving Company Caffeinated Aftershave Balm
Best for sensitive skin	Proraso Aftershave Balm for Sensitive Skin
Best for dry skin	The Art of Shaving After-Shave Balm
Best for oily skin	Bevel Post-Shave Balm with Tea Tree Oil
Best unscented	Zingari Man Unscented Sego After Shave Balm
Best scent variety	House of Mammoth
Best cooling or hot-weather option	Duke Cannon Ice Cold

The Criteria And Research

Unlike a lot of other “best” lists from large consumer or fashion websites that concentrate on sponsorships or just what is available on Amazon, Sharpologist specializes in getting the best, most enjoyable shave possible. The criteria for selecting these products include:

1. Superior performance to relieve after shave discomfort and benefit the skin, based on the personal experience of Sharpologist‘s editor, contributors, and readers who have actually purchased and used the products–plus over 15 years of research from specialty discussion forums and review sites.
2. Available in a variety of scents (you won’t use even the best product if you don’t care for the smell) or no scent at all.
3. Time on the market.
4. Availability.
5. Price.

The Details And Runners-Up

While the Quick Recommendations list above gives you a fast answer, some products deserve a little more detail, and there are a few “runner up” products that also merit a look.

Best Overall

This choice may not have absolutely superior results in all aspects, but taken as a whole it is a solid recommendation overall.

Why Stirling Soap Aftershave Balms move ahead:

1. Choice. Stirling offers numerous scented balms plus Unscented. Its range covers traditional, cologne-inspired, gourmand, citrus, woodsy, cooling, and seasonal scents.
2. A coordinated product system. Customers can often purchase matching shave soap, balm, splash, and sometimes fragrance. That is a genuine advantage for traditional wet shavers, not merely superficial variety.
3. Strong underlying performance. Stirling has a highly regarded moisturizing formula across the line. Its current unscented balm receives particularly strong feedback for soothing and lasting moisturization, although some customers find it heavy or greasy.
4. Good value. The current price is approximately $9.60 for four ounces.

Base ingredient list: Aqua (Distilled Water), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice, Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol & Polysorbate 60 (Emulsifying Wax), Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, (Vegetable) Glycerin, Myristyl Myristate (Co-Emulsifier), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Phenoxyethanol & Caprylyl Glycol & Sorbic Acid (Optiphen Plus), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Stearic Acid, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Allantoin.

Best “Megamart” Option

Widely regarded as the best aftershave balm you can easily find at the big-box “megamart” retailers in the US, Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm is often praised for how it calms post-shave burning and redness, moisturizes without much sting, and absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy feel. In our own testing it doesn’t perform quite as well as it did before a minor reformulation a few years ago, but it remains excellent. It is also attractively-priced.

Ingredients: water, glycerin, isopropyl palmitate, chamomile flower extract, panthenol, tocopheryl acetate, tapioca starch, triceteareth-4 phosphate, maltodextrin, pantolactone, sodium hydroxide, phenoxyethanol, piroctone olamine, citric acid, and fragrance.

Best Value

Pacific Shaving Company Caffeinated Aftershave Balm may not look like a “best value” at first, and it is not as widely available in “brick and mortar” stores: your best bets other than online are Meijer, Lucky, Harris Teeter, Hannaford, Big Y, and some smaller independent stores, along with a limited number of Walmart locations. Prices vary but it can be found for a very inexpensive price (in this case about US $1.14/oz, vs the average “value” product at about $2/oz). In any case, the Pacific Shaving Caffeinated Aftershave Balm conditions the skin very well and it has an excellent price-to-performance ratio.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol (plant-derived), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (plant-derived), Glyceryl Stearate (plant-derived), Glycerin (plant-derived), Dimethicone, Caffeine (naturally-derived), Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Argania Spinosa Kernel Argan Oil, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Crambe Abyssinica (Abyssinian) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate (coconut-derived), Menthol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carvone, Pinine, Limonene

Best For Sensitive Skin

Proraso Aftershave Balm for Sensitive Skin. Not to be confused with Proraso Aftershave Lotion (which is actually more like a splash). Proraso sensitive skin balm has a bit of an odd ingredient mix but is surprisingly good for sensitive skin and comparatively inexpensive.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water/Eau), Glycerin, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Oryza sativa (Rice) Starch, Betaine, Dodecane, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Tocopheryl Acetate, Avena sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Camellia sinensis Leaf Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Geraniol, Limonene.

Best For Dry Skin

The Art of Shaving After-Shave Balm. Available in a number of scents, plus Unscented. The Art of Shaving sometimes takes some heat from the shave nerd community but their balms are actually pretty well thought-of. They have a lot of good ingredients that our reviewers like and work well for dry skin.

Ingredients (Unscented): Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Isohexadecane, PEG-4 Olivate, Isopropyl Isostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Silica, Tapioca Starch, Chondrus Crispus Powder, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl Lactate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Cera/Wax, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, PEG-4 Dilaurate, PEG-4 Laurate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, PEG-4, Equisetum Hiemale Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caramel

Best For Oily Skin

Bevel Post-Shave Balm appears in other recommendations for oily skin, and our testing agrees. Its ingredient list gives a reason to consider it: the balm contains salicylic and lactic acids for exfoliation, plus it also contains witch hazel, tea tree oil, and moisturizing ingredients. This suggests it may suit someone whose oily skin also comes with post-shave bumps well. The mild cooling sensation is a variable: some will enjoy it, some may not.

Ingredients: water, butylene glycol, sorbitol, shea butter, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, glycerin, lactic acid, panthenol, menthol, salicylic acid, niacinamide, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, aloe leaf juice powder, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, allantoin, argan oil, tea tree oil, tocopheryl acetate, jojoba oil, dimethicone, bisabolol, witch hazel extract, sunflower oil, safflower oil, calendula extract, oat kernel extract, grape seed extract, purslane extract, polysorbate 20, cetyl alcohol, laureth-4, stearic acid, polyacrylamide, C13-14 isoparaffin, laureth-7, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, xanthan gum, triethanolamine, and fragrance.

Best Unscented

Zingari Man Unscented Sego After Shave Balm is now their sole balm product: other scents are now serums instead of balms. Zingari Man’s explanation is that the two products serve different preferences. Sego provides a thicker, creamier feel and lasting moisture; the serum spreads more easily, absorbs faster, and feels lighter. Whatever the reason, the unscented aftershave balm is a stand-out performer.

Best Scent Variety

At the opposite end of the scent scale are products designed with a variety of available scents. In addition to scent, these products also offer excellent post-shave performance.

House of Mammoth

Widely known and respected in the artisan wet shaving and fragrance communities, House Of Mammoth aftershave balms get consistent rave reviews from users for both the number and sophistication of scents the offered and the performance of the balms.

Castle Forbes Aftershave Balm

Castle Forbes Aftershave Balm. Available in Lavender, Lime, Cedarwood/Sandalwood, and 1445 lines, Castle Forbes balms strike an almost perfect balance for our testers between scent, skin feel (not sticky at all!), and performance. If you normally don’t use a “regular” fragrance (cologne or EdT) these balms (particularly 1445) can provide a somewhat persistent but subtle background scent for you.

Ingredients (Lime-scented version for example): Water, Witch Hazel, Aloe Vera, Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Cedarwood Essential Oil Virginian, Sandalwood Essential Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Methylchloroisothiazolinque, Methylisothiazolinone

Best Cooling/Hot Weather/Mentholated Option

Other “best cooling aftershave balm” lists highlight Duke Cannon Ice Cold. Though we agree it is a solid performer and widely available, its cooling sensation may not quite rise to the level of your expectations for a skin-cooling aftershave balm if your desired response is “boy, that’s really cold!” But if you are looking for something reasonably widely available that balances moderate cooling, moisturization, size, and price it is hard to argue not trying it.

What Is Aftershave For Men?

An aftershave is a skincare product that is applied immediately after shaving to provide some combination of shave irritation relief (think razor burn), skin moisturizing, and protection from the elements.

Although references to after shave preparations (for hygienic rather than cosmetic purposes) go back to the ancient Roman Empire (some say even earlier), the modern “aftershave” as part of a grooming routine can probably be traced back to about 1830. 

Aftershave Lotion Types: Balm Vs. ?

Aftershaves can be divided into two broad categories, balms and splashes, but there are also some “hybrid” products to consider.

Balm And Cream

Balms have a thicker texture and the best typically provides more relief from shave irritation and razor burn (redness), and act as a moisturizer to the skin (particularly in cold or dry climates). Generally, a little goes a long way to relieve discomfort on the skin.

Aftershave Splash

More of a liquid texture, splashes are more watery and generally contain a combination of toners, astringents, and hydrosols to cleanse and provide some degree of antiseptic or antibacterial protection to the skin. This skincare product is more popular with those with oily skin or in hot, humid climates and in some cases can be effective at combating razor bumps or ingrown hairs.

Gel

Aftershave gel was originally created to disinfect the little nicks and cuts one can get from shaving, and to soothe the skin but is now formulated to soothe and cool the skin after shaving, and generally doesn’t contain alcohol. It is good for those with dry or sensitive skin, and is designed to provide a crisp and clean sensation. It is typically a semi-solid, creamier, and thicker than aftershave lotion. Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements, Mondial, and St. James of London have excellent aftershave gels.

Milk

Aftershave milk is a white, milky lotion designed to soothe post-shave skin. It helps calm the skin, limit the effects of razor burn, and moisturize dry or chapped skin. DR Harris is considered the classic milk formulation, and Antica Barbieria Colla also offers a milk.

Serum

Balms and serums both aim to calm post-shave skin, but think of a balm as doing more “repair and moisture,” while a serum as doing more “treat and protect” (though these are not standardized). A lot of the higher-end serums are really borrowing from skincare (think a shaving-specific niacinamide serum) rather than the old barbershop aftershave tradition balms descend from. Leaf Shave, Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements, and Zingari Man (mentioned earlier) offer serums.

An interesting angle is that “serum” is a newer marketing term in wet shaving specifically — it borrows credibility from mainstream skincare, and some products labeled serums are really just thin balms rebranded, so ingredient-list scrutiny matters more than the label.

Common Post-Shave Lotion Formulas And Properties: What They Are And What They Are Not

Over the past few years there have been many additions to the list of ingredients that may be found in the best post-shave products for men (particularly balms) to relieve discomfort. Ingredients to look for: aloe vera, chamomile, tea tree oil, calendula, witch hazel, lavender, jojoba oil, rose oil distillate, and various vitamins, Shea butter, fractionated coconut oil, glycerin, squalene, alloton, pea extract, green tea, sodium lactate, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, oat protein.

Ingredients and additives considered as potential irritants: high concentrations of alcohol and/or lemon oil (especially if you have sensitive skin), camphor, or eucalyptus; grapefruit (if you’re going to be outdoors a lot) and grapefruit seed extract, and lanolin.

(Click For Full Size Image)

Alcohol in particular should be treated with caution. There are a lot of preparations out there, particularly in the splash category, that contain way too much alcohol. Yes, some men have been taught to “love the burn” and yes, alcohol can help clean and kill surface bacteria from a shaving cut. But far too many alcohol-based products do little or nothing to nourish the skin. Consider going alcohol-free. Don’t agree? Change my mind in the comments section.

How To Apply Aftershave Balm

A post-shave skincare routine is a fairly simple and easy one, and should be a mandatory part of your shaving routine:

1. Rinse the shaved area with warm water and keep wet (it doesn’t have to be “dripping” wet but moist)
2. Optional: clean the shaved area with a low/no alcohol toner or witch hazel soaked on cotton round, then rinse with cool water, again keeping the area moist.
3. Apply dime-size amount of aftershave to a palm and rub hands together.
4. Massage the aftershave into moist skin with upward motions.
5. If you’re applying multiple products use the thinnest consistency first then apply thicker products.

Conclusion

Proper aftershave selection and care is part of an essential post-shave skincare routine. Don’t just grab for the cheapest “faceburner” in the grocery store for your shaving experience; consider your skin type and environmental conditions, then select the best product that will work with you and for you. The products on this list will give you great results.

Do you know of a great performing aftershave? Leave a comment below!