Make the Switch: The Best Shaving Creams, Soaps & Gels in Australia
Read time: 6 mins
If you're still reaching for a supermarket shaving foam, it's time to make the switch. The difference a quality shaving cream, soap or gel makes is immediate: better razor glide, less irritation, and skin that actually feels good after the blade has passed.
Below are our top picks across all three formats, followed by a practical guide to help you choose based on your skin type and shaving style.
Our Top Picks: Best Shaving Creams, Soaps & Gels in Australia
Best Shaving Creams
Shaving creams are the easiest entry point into traditional wet shaving. They lather quickly, work with or without a brush, and suit most skin types straight out of the tube.
Best overall: Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream 150g A benchmark product from one of the oldest names in traditional shaving. Dense, slick lather with a classic barbershop scent. Works beautifully with a brush and produces a cushioned, close shave.
Best for sensitive skin: Taylor of Old Bond Street Jermyn St Sensitive Shaving Cream 150g Fragrance-free and formulated specifically for reactive skin. The same luxurious lather without anything that could aggravate redness or irritation.
Best value: Beard & Blade Sandalwood Shaving Cream 100g Our own formulation, made to the same standard as the premium European brands at a fraction of the price. A solid everyday cream that punches well above its cost.
Best Shaving Soaps
Shaving soaps take a little more technique. You'll need a brush to build the lather properly, but they reward the effort with a richer, more traditional shaving experience and far better value per shave than most creams.
Best artisan soap: Noble Otter Orbit Shaving Soap 113g A tallow-based artisan soap with exceptional glide and a distinctive, complex scent. One of the best-performing soaps we stock, and a favourite among experienced wet shavers.
Best budget soap: Proraso Eucalyptus & Menthol Refresh Shaving Soap 150ml The Italian classic. Affordable, widely loved, and produces a genuinely good lather with a cooling menthol finish. An excellent starting point if you're moving from cream to soap.
Best premium soap: Phoenix & Beau Spitfire Shaving Soap 115g A British artisan soap with a dedicated following. Exceptional post-shave feel thanks to a rich blend of skin-conditioning ingredients.
Best Shaving Gels
Shaving gels don't lather. They stay transparent throughout the shave, which makes them ideal for beard edging, defining lines, or any situation where you need to see exactly where the razor is going.
Best for precision: American Crew Precision Shave Gel 150ml A clear, skin-conditioning formula that provides excellent glide while keeping sight lines completely open. The go-to for men who maintain a beard and need clean, defined edges.
Best pre-shave gel: Taylor of Old Bond Street Jermyn St Pre-Shave Gel 50ml Technically a pre-shave, but worth including here. Applied under your cream or soap, it softens stubble and adds a layer of protection that noticeably reduces irritation on problem areas.
How to Choose: Cream, Soap, or Gel?
Shaving Creams: Best for Beginners and Everyday Shavers
Creams are the most forgiving format. They lather quickly with minimal technique, work with or without a brush, and are easy to adjust for the right consistency. If you're making the switch from supermarket foam and want something that works reliably every morning without much fuss, a quality shaving cream is where to start.
Creams tend to be gentler on sensitive skin too, particularly fragrance-free formulations. The main trade-off versus soap is cost per shave, which is slightly higher.
Shaving Soaps: Best for Experienced Shavers and Those Who Enjoy the Ritual
Hard shaving soaps have a steeper learning curve. You need a brush, and it takes a few sessions to get the water-to-soap ratio right. But once you have it dialled in, the lather quality is hard to beat.
Tallow-based soaps like Noble Otter are particularly prized for their rich, cushioning lather and outstanding post-shave feel. For shavers who view the morning shave as a ritual worth investing in, soap is the natural progression.
Shaving Gels: Best for Beard Maintenance and Precision Work
If you're maintaining a beard rather than shaving your entire face, a transparent gel gives you a real advantage. You can see exactly where you're shaving, making clean lines and defined edges far easier to achieve. Also a solid option for men who prefer a no-brush, no-bowl approach.
What About Ingredients?
The key difference between a quality shaving product and a supermarket alternative comes down to ingredients. Premium shaving creams and soaps use natural lubricants, glycerin, and skin-conditioning agents that protect skin during the razor pass and leave it feeling nourished rather than stripped. Most supermarket foam is largely propellant and cheap surfactants. It gets the job done, but your skin notices the difference.
Shaving Cream vs Soap: Which Gives the Better Lather?
Both can produce an excellent lather. The difference is in technique and preference.
Creams load faster and are more consistent with minimal effort. Soaps take longer to load and require more water management, but experienced users often find the lather denser and more satisfying. Neither is objectively better. It comes down to how much time and attention you want to give to your morning routine.
Watch: How to Build a Shaving Lather
The Bottom Line
The best shaving cream is whichever format you'll actually use consistently. For most men making the switch, start with a quality cream. Taylor of Old Bond Street and Proraso are both excellent entry points. For those ready to invest in the full ritual, a tallow-based shaving soap like Noble Otter is hard to beat.
Browse the full range in our Shaving Creams & Soaps collection.
Hi, I am currently switching to wet shaving and bought a Henson AL13. Wanted to ask if there are shaving creams that I can apply with my hands without a brush?
Edwin Jagger Shave cream has given me the smoothest shave ever and I have tried many of the premium options (including Proraso Yellow Foam which has been my “go-to” option for years.)
I have found the quickest and best shave by merely massaging a little onto your beard with my fingers. No brush no mess, easier and the best shave – no nicks.
Is there a reason you do not mention shaving oils at all? I have used these with success.
I can agree with terry, I use the proraso sentitive shaving soap… and I find that as it gets to the bottom of the tub foaming gets harder too. I still love the product…. but yeah I’ve noticed the same phenomenon.
Hey Terry, thanks for your comment! We haven’t heard any reports of Proraso shaving soaps losing their ability to lather towards the end of the bowl. If you’re getting through the bowl within 12 months, it should be good to the last scoop.
It’s hard to guess without having more details, but leaving behind moisture from bowl lathering can affect the remaining soap in the bowl. If you do lather in the bowl, it’s recommended that you leave the lid off for 24 hours to let the soap dry fully before storing it away.
I hope that helps!
Im about to order off yous for the first time. Have a 3 piece and butterfly shaver from the army…but would love a new one. Find the weight of the butterfly easier to use. Have you had any drama with the PRORASO EUCALYPTUS & MENTHOL REFRESH SHAVING SOAP 150M. The last two i bought from a shaver shop and find that when i have about a fifth left, it doesnt foam anymore. Before that they worked till the end.
Regards Terry
Hi Craig! As with a cream, a shaving soap will work best when the lather is built up in a separate bowl. This will allow enough room for the bristles to whip the soap into a foam, and for the lather to expand without spilling over.
Loading the brush with the hard soap should be done in a similar way to the cream as shown in the video, with a damp brush rotated over the soap in the container.
They key difference with a hard soap is that much more water will be needed while lathering in order for the lather to develop.
I hope that answered your question!
Hi,
How do you get the maximum foaming from a hard shaving soap (as opposed to cream) as you obviously don’t place an amount in a different bowl?
Thanks
Hi Linda, thanks for leaving a comment! Generally speaking, all shaving creams and soaps are ‘alkaline’, with a pH above neutral. This helps with softening the hairs and preparing them for shaving.
Provided you properly rinse off the razor and dry it fully, there should be no risk to the steel using any shaving cream or soap. For carbon steel razors (as it sounds like yours may be), it’s also necessary to apply a light oil to the blade before storing it away so as to prevent rust.
I hope that helps!
I’m looking for shaving soap that says alkaline free for a Rolls razor. It stipulates this to not rust the hollow ground blade.