The 6 Best Natural Shaving Creams of 2023

Shaving isn't for everyone, but if it's your thing, there’s a whole wide world of natural creams, gels, oils, and foams to explore. These are great alternatives for folks who want to avoid chemicals associated with environmental issues.

To help you choose the right one for your skin, we turned to Debra Jaliman MD, board-certified dermatologist and author of the book “Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist," who helped us navigate the tricky road of razor burns and inflamed bumps.

“It is important to use shaving cream or gel, as it makes the razor glide, helping prevent friction, which can cause razor bumps and ingrown hair,” says Dr. Jaliman. “Natural shaving creams are very good for those with skin sensitivities.”

Our list steers clear of no-no’s such as artificial fragrances, phthalates, and parabens. We’ve also scoured the Environmental Working Groups’ Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, for high-ranked products that meet strict safety and health criteria, keeping you safe from unnecessary chemicals. We’ve also shortlisted creams certified by independent third parties based on various guidelines.

Ahead, our list of the best natural shaving creams on the market, according to our research and testing.

The Rundown

Best Overall:

Dr. Bronner's Organic Shaving Soaps at Walmart

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Best Splurge:

Qet Botanicals Fresh Body Oil at Qetbotanicals.com

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Best Budget:

Badger Shaving Soap Bar at Walmart

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Best for Face:

Lather Almond Shave Crème at Amazon

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Best for Sensitive Skin:

Be Green Shaving Foam at Begreenbathandbody.com

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Best Vegan:

Fur Shave Cream

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Courtesy of Amazon

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Armed with the right certifications and suffused with organic ingredients, Dr. Bronner's Organic Shaving Soap is our top choice. The formula includes nourishing shikakai powder and a boat load of oils including coconut, olive, palm kernel, and hemp. These liquid shaving soaps are great for legs, underarms, face, and more. We prefer the unscented version, though you can select among Lavender, Lemon Grass Lime, or Peppermint. It's best to use after a shower. Just work up a good lather and deftly wield your blade. Squirt with care and affix the cap firmly, as it can get runny.

Renowned for its gargantuan bottles of Castile soap (another Treehugger favorite), Dr. Bronner’s soap making family business has built on its founder’s legacy, creating a global brand based on the principles of Fairtrade and certified organic ingredients.

Price at time of publish: $10

Key Ingredients: White grape juice, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, olive oil, shikakai powder, hemp oil, jojoba oil | EWG score: 1 | Certifications: Fair For Life Fair Trade, Leaping Bunny, NON GMO Project Verified, Certified Vegan, USDA Organic

Courtesy of Qet Botanicals

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Qēt Botanicals is a luxurious handcrafted beauty brand that’s formulated from natural ingredients (many of which are also organic), steering clear of concerning chemicals. The multipurpose plant-based body oil blend is made in small batches from wonderfully scented essential oils such as raspberry, jasmine, and rosemary, along with grape, olive, and sunflower oils. This opulent oil calms and soothes post-shave irritation.

Regular use will help slough off dead cells and soften skin. For a decadent shave, pump it in your hands, add a splash of water, and spread it evenly. Besides a refreshing shave, you can also use this product for oil brushing and oil massage.

Price at time of publish: $35

Key Ingredients: Grape seed oil, olive fruit oil, sunflower seed oil, peppermint leaf oil and lavender flower oil (all organic) | EWG score: EWG Verified | Certifications: Green America Certified Business

Courtesy of EarthHero

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We love the sustainable package of this sudsy shave soap. Featuring aloe vera and coconut oil among others, using it helps sooth redness and leaves skin slick. The brand recommends you prep your skin with a warm shower (you can also use a hot towel), slather on a pre-shave oil, then create a rich lather with a brush (it’s a tad lighter than that of commercial shave soaps though), and smoothly prune off the stubble.

Bill Whyte founded Badger as a holistic body care company, bringing affordable, healing, and earth-friendly products to your boudoir. Badger is armed with the right credentials, right from ethically sourcing raw materials to its environmental advocacy. The family-owned company sells over 100 carefully created products across the world.

Price at time of publish: $13

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, glycerin, shea butter, bergamot oil, aloe, sandalwood oil | EWG score: Not rated | Certifications: USDA Organic, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, Certified B Corporation, Leaping Bunny Cruelty Free, Certified Gluten Free, Forest Stewardship Council sustainable packaging

4.5

Amazon

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Founder of clean beauty label Lather, Emilie Hoyt’s philosophy is to use natural ingredients that are free of nasties such as synthetic fragrances, sulfates, and parabens. We love the luscious vegan and cruelty-free shave cream that’s perfect for sensitive skins. It's lush with omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and protein, whisks off your whiskers in a jiffy, leaving your chin silky to touch. Treehugger's tester noted that this cream has a thick, whipped texture that makes it easy to see where you've already shaved.

Price at time of publish: $24

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, sweet almond oil, coconut oil | EWG Score: Not rated | Certifications: PETA, Leaping Bunny Cruelty Free

4.9

Courtesy of Be Green

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If your face has been pickled by razor burn, and shave oils aren’t really your thing, turn to Be Green Bath and Body’s EWG Verified plant-based citrusy shaving foam. A potent mix of anti-inflammatory sweet orange castile soap, moisturising coconut oil, and soothing aloe vera, it makes your daily shave smooth as butter.

Building up a respectable lather (not the same heft as that of synthetic foams though), it’s gentle to use on sensitive skins and mild enough to use as a face and body soap. Also available in a 16.5 oz refill bottle (without a foamer pump), you can ditch the other cleansing paraphernalia for this multi-tasking marvel.

Price at time of publish: $15

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, aloe leaf juice, orange peel oil | EWG Score: EWG Verified | Certifications: Contains organic ingredients

Ulta

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Fur is an entirely vegan brand, including this luxurious shave cream. Treehugger's tester reported that after using this product, their skin felt wonderfully smooth. It has a number of moisturizing ingredients like olive oil and shea butter, plus lemon peel oil which can help exfoliate. A little goes a long way, so although it's one of the pricier bottles on our list, it can last longer than some of the other products on the market.

Price at time of publish: $32

What Treehugger Testers Say

"It comes out looking similar to a conditioner, but when you rub it in, it gets all bubbly and softens the skin it's being used on."

Key Ingredients: Marshmallow root extract, shea butter, olive oil, hemp seed oil | EWG Score: Not rated | Certifications: Leaping Bunny

Final Verdict

Dr. Bronner's Organic Shaving Soap is our top choice, thanks to organic ingredients and a long list of certifications. Another budget-friendly option is Badger Shaving Soap Bar that’s great for your skin and prunes off the stubble smoothly.

What to Look for in a Natural Shaving Cream

The perfect shave depends on various factors. Such as your razor wielding skills, a sharp blade, and of course, the right lather that helps you get the oh, so close shave. To answer all your niggling grooming questions and more, we spoke to Debra Jaliman MD, board-certified dermatologist and author of the book “Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist.”

Good Ingredients

Dr. Jaliman says that the fewer the ingredients a product has, the lesser is the risk of allergic reactions. She says that some of the good ingredients to look out for in a shaving product are aloe vera, shea butter, glycerin, and jojoba oil.

Aloe vera: Bonus points for creams containing this anti-inflammatory ingredient that reduces post-shave redness. “Aloe is great for skin irritation and inflammation," says Dr. Jaliman. "It’s cooling and soothes the skin.”
Shea butter: Thanks to its natural vitamins and fatty acids, shea butter is extremely moisturizing. It also contains the anti-inflammatory cinnamic acid.
Glycerin: “Glycerin works to moisturize the skin by drawing water from the air into the skin's outer layer," says Dr. Jaliman. "It generates a protective layer that helps prevent moisture loss.”
Jojoba oil: Acting like a natural skin conditioner, jojoba oil seals in moisture, forming an effective barrier to external elements such as cold weather which can parch your skin. “It also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help soothe irritated skin that can arise from shaving,” says Dr. Jaliman.

You can also use these ingredients to make your own shaving cream.

Ingredients to Avoid

Nix any shave lubricants that contain harsh ingredients. If your bar of soap and your shaving cream have similar ingredients, rather than moisturising your skin, you will strip it dry of moisture.

For sensitive skin, Dr. Jaliman advises to look for non-alcohol-based shaving creams. “Aloe vera and colloidal oatmeal are great ingredients to look for in a shaving cream if you have sensitive skin," says Dr. Jaliman. Colloidal oatmeal is said to be anti-inflammatory and soothes irritated skin.

When it comes to acne prone skin, she recommends you avoid creams that contain heavy oils such as coconut oil or shea butter. “These are typically great for the body, but be careful to use on your face if you are acne prone," says Dr. Jaliman.

The best thing about most shaving creams and gels is that they’re versatile enough to be used on all areas. However, Dr. Jaliman cautions, “If you are using shaving cream on your bikini area, make sure it’s not full of added fragrances which can irritate that delicate region.”

Why Trust Treehugger?

Treehugger helps you get a nick-free smooth shave using the gentlest creams, gels, oils, and foams. Kind to you and clean for the earth, we consulted with a dermatologist. We then carefully reviewed ingredients lists, and tested a selection of top products.

Author Neeti Mehra is a luxury-industry veteran who’s also committed to sustainable, slow, and mindful living. She loves exploring the world of ethical and DIY skincare and haircare.

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