When you get out of the shower and don’t dry off, are you surprised you’re still wet? Of course not. So why would you be surprised after shaving that your skin is irritated when you didn’t use an aftershave balm?
So much skin irritation can be prevented just by finishing your shave with soothing, restorative aftershave balm. Unlike traditional aftershaves, aftershave balms typically avoid alcohol and so skip the typical short burning sensation you may get from other aftershaves with alcohol. They also tend to have a more lotion-like consistency so they spread easily but don’t usually run off your face or splash.
But like so many identifiers in the grooming space, terms like “balm” don’t have a firm definition and can be used however a company sees fit. So, if you’re worried about having this or that ingredient in your aftershave, it’s best to simply check the ingredients before buying.
And for what it’s worth, even aftershave balms that use alcohol are still incredibly soothing once the burn period — no more than a few seconds — wears off.
So, that all being said, check out some of our favorite aftershave balms below because getting an irritation-free shave is as easy as using an aftershave balm.
1. NIVEA Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm
The NIVEA Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm is an all-around great pick for any dude just dipping his toes into the aftershave balm world. First, it’s stupid cheap, second, it absolutely soothes your skin, like, immediately with things like vitamin E and chamomile, and third, it has no drying alcohol and only a light fragrance.
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Trust us, this is one of the most popular and best-selling aftershave balms on Amazon for a reason: It just plain works to take skin irritation out of the post-shave game.
2. The Art of Shaving Unscented Aftershave Balm
When it comes to anything in the shaving space, you should always consider The Art of Shaving. The Art of Shaving Unscented Aftershave Balm is clinically tested for sensitive skin and uses quality soothing ingredients, such as shea butter, jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and more, to moisturize and restore skin.
It won’t clog your pores and it will help provide a protective moisture barrier for up to eight hours, more than enough time for the irritation to pass you by.
3. Bevel Aftershave Restoring Balm
We’re big fans of all things Bevel at SPY and the Bevel Aftershave Restoring Balm does not disappoint our expectations.
This lotion-like balm relies on ingredients like tea tree oil, witch hazel and shea butter to calm angry skin while lactic and salicylic acid effectively exfoliate your skin. While the latter could lead to a little skin irritation at first — salicylic acid is the active ingredient in most acne-treating products — it’ll quickly wear off as your skin gets used to it and ultimately leave you with more beautiful skin than you started out with.
4. Baxter of California Aftershave Balm
The Baxter of California Aftershave Balm is a high-quality balm at a reasonable price that delivers what it promises. Aloe, tea tree oil and a bevy of hydrating chemical compounds like allantoin and glycerin (all good stuff, no worries) soothe and hydrate freshly shaved skin, leaving it feeling moisturized and irritation-free.
5. Proraso Aftershave Balm for Sensitive Skin
For a classic shaving staple, you can’t go wrong with the Proraso Aftershave Balm for Sensitive Skin. The cream-like alcohol-free formula uses tea tree extract, aloe, green tea and oatmeal to quickly calm irritated skin.
See, your parents weren’t crazy to give you an oatmeal bath when you had chickenpox. If oatmeal can work to soothe that red, itchy skin, your face after a shave will be no problem.
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6. Anthony Aftershave Balm
Anthony Aftershave Balm lays out its objective pretty clearly right on its bottle: “Extinguish the fire.” Well, Anthony, mission accomplished. This lightweight aftershave balm with allantoin, cornmint, eucalyptus and vitamins A, C and E quickly soothes and hydrates fiery red skin. At the same time, rosemary works as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, minimizing bleeding from nicks and redness.
7. Jack Black Post Shave Cooling Gel
It’s a balm, it’s a lotion, it’s … Jack Black Post Shave Cooling Gel? Of course, we couldn’t skip out on Jack Black’s signature aftershave product. Whether balm or gel, this alcohol-free aftershave delivers all the soothing aloe, chamomile, sage and lavender your facial skin can handle, leaving your mug hydrated, less red and generally irritation-free. While cooling sensations aren’t for everyone, we love the way it feels, especially after a rougher-than-usual shave.
8. Pré de Provence Aftershave Balm
The French know a thing or two about cosmetics and grooming, and the Pré de Provence Aftershave Balm doesn’t do anything to throw that into question. Enriched with shea butter, grape seed oil, allantoin and aloe vera, this aftershave balm gently soothes and restores irritated skin from shaving. Plus, the fragrance on this stuff is amazing, with notes of citrus, cedarwood, amber, leather and tobacco.
9. Ahava Men’s Soothing Aftershave Moisturizer
Up front, we’re going to tell you that the Ahava Men’s Soothing Aftershave Moisturizer burns a little bit thanks to the Dead Sea minerals. But we’ll be damned if it isn’t one the most restorative aftershave balms we’ve used. That’s because the formula isn’t just focused on soothing irritated skin. It also works to generally leave your skin looking younger and healthier.
Even if you haven’t shaved, you could use this as a standalone facial moisturizer for consistently better skin. Ingredients like ginkgo biloba, ginger and ginseng extracts work together to soothe and refresh your skin, leaving it nice and smooth whether you’ve shaved or not.