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The best post-shave products for men can help soothe your skin after a shave, prevent razor burn, and even stop ingrown hairs. Unfortunately, like most grooming and skincare products, not all post-shave products are created equal.
Your father or grandfather may have slapped on some old-school after-shave, maybe even relishing in the tingly sensation, and called it a day, but our shaving routines have since evolved. Traditional after-shaves contain skin-drying alcohol (look for ethyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ‘alcohol denat.’ in the ingredients list), which is a hard pass for many skincare obsessives. The modern man is all about capitalizing on hydration and moisturization, and that’s one reason old-school after-shaves are going extinct.
While you can still buy skin-tingling, alcohol-containing, cooling aftershave products (I’ve even recommended some in this guide), I generally prefer to stick with products containing skin-nourishing botanical ingredients. Instead of alcohol, many modern post-shave products for men use a combination of moisturizing ingredients, natural astringents, and antiseptics.
What Ingredients Should You Look for in After-Shave Products?
If you’re a fan of au natural botanicals like me, look for post-shave lotions, creams, gels, and balms packed with hydrating ingredients such as aloe vera or jojoba oil. And to avoid inflammation, irritation, and razor burn, look for ingredients with natural antiseptic properties, antioxidants, and vitamins.
Personally, I’ve found that I get the best results from men’s skincare products with witch hazel, a natural astringent with antiseptic properties. Chamomile is another natural antiseptic that calms and soothes your skin (ditto for willow herb extract). Products that combine ingredients like this into a single formula earn extra points for me.
Finally, if you are a fan of that old-school tingly, cooling effect, instead of alcohol, look for products that contain menthol, mint, or tea tree oil. These after-shave alternatives should help you reduce razor burn and tamp down on the irritation, bacteria, and inflammation that lead to ingrown hairs without drying out your skin and causing premature fine lines. Besides, applying these lotions, creams, and balms to freshly shaven skin just plain feels good.
I’ve tried many different shaving products and grooming brands over the years. So, if you’re looking for the best after-shave products to avoid ingrown hairs and razor burns, here’s what I recommend.
Best Drugstore Aftershave
Best Upgrade
Best Splurge
Best for Afro-Textured Hair
Best Cooling After-Shave Product
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