Shaving creams and shaving gels are imperative when it comes to the ultimate shave. They hydrate the skin and soften beard hairs, therefore, making it easier for you to achieve a clean shave. There are also creams and gels that sooth and protect sensitive skin. In this light, you need to get the best shaving cream for sensitive skin for proper lubrication.
While shaving creams and gels are essential in your grooming regimen, there is always the question, which is the best option for you? Is it the cream or the gel? This piece takes a look at the two superior items to help you make informed decisions when choosing the best for your beard.
Shaving creams vs shaving gels
Shaving creams have been used for ages, and they provide a rich and thicker lather. The lather offers extra protection and cushioning of the skin as you shave. Gels, on the other hand, are known to be more hydrating, moisturizing and are a modern age shaving product. The gel is clear and you can see clearly where and how you are shaving. The gel is known to offer a perfect shave.
The shaving gel also comes with extra benefits including the fact it doesn’t take up much of your time when applying to your skin. It is used as it is, and once you rub it in the face, you are good to go. The gel is also transparent and this allows you to attend to sensitive spots on your face. With a gel, it is easy to achieve a cleaner shave on a patchy beard and get the desired beard trend.
Shaving creams, on the other hand, are known to have a better shave even though the application time requires a couple of more minutes. The cream is used with a brush, a vital tool that makes the shaving process simpler. The brush lathers up the beard more efficiently compared to using your bare hands. What’s more, the brush exfoliates and massages the skin. This means that it offers a sturdier barrier between the razor and the skin.
Shaving creams do not soften the beard hairs, but it lifts the hairs. As a result, it offers extra support for the entire shaving process. Consequently, it becomes easy to shave without pulling hairs. A point to note is that lifting of beard hairs as you shave can easily cause skin irritation, damage to the hair follicles and bruises.
A closer look at shaving cream vs shaving gels
| Primary Function | Shaving Cream | Shaving Gel |
| Skin protection | Exceptional | Good |
| Lubrication | Excellent | Excellent |
| Skin hydration | Excellent | Relatively good |
| Application time | Needs a couple of more minutes | Needs a small amount of time since it is used as it is |
| Skin care | The best skin care | Medium |
| Time used to wash off | Low | High |
| Shave | Offers a better and cleaner shave | Offers a clean shave |
Shaving cream vs Shaving gel: which one is the best for you
Shaving creams come with more saponification elements, and you can easily get a lather or foam by simply adding water and rubbing it on your face. It should be used with a shaving brush to get the best lather as you cream it up for shaving. This will offer a cleaner shave, extra cushion, and protection of the skin.
Shaving gels have a gelatinous texture and they provide extra protection for your beard hair. The gel keeps the skin free from injuries and cuts thanks to its lubricating properties including glycerin and Aloe Vera. You don’t need a brush to apply the gel.
Therefore when it comes to choosing the best, you will realize that the shaving cream is the most ideal for shaving because;
- It rubs well
Shaving cream is used with a shaving brush that helps to enhance skin moisture, its suppleness and it raises the beard/facial hair. As a result, you achieve the best shave within the shortest time possible.
- Easy to use
The shaving cream is easy to use and whenever you use extra cream on the face, washing it off is easy. This is not the case with the gel because you will need more minutes and extra water because the gel is slippery.
- Protection
Shaving cream offers extra protection to the skin because it allows the blade to glide safely and smoothly.
With the benefits above, you cannot afford to ignore a shaving cream for that cleaner shave. However, for a quick fix, you can have a shaving gel as a backup plan.