9 Best Aftershaves to Heal the Burn in 2025
GroomingBumps, burn, and ingrowns are an afterthought with these soothing aftershaves.By Adam HurlyFebruary 21, 2025photo: Getty Images, Adam Hurly; collage: Eli HabaSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.After you mow over your facial hair with a bare blade or six, you need to calm things down. That’s where the best aftershaves comes in. Its job is to soothe skin, restore moisture, neutralize bacteria, and keep pores clear, thus helping prevent bumps, ingrown hairs, and razor burns. It does so with a slew of common skin care ingredients, such as aloe vera, witch hazel, tea tree oil, and salicylic acid.While I certainly hope you still use a pre-shave oil, an editor-approved shave cream, and, of course, a sharp, fresh razor, above all, I believe that you should use a post-shave product. That product gets bonus points if it has soothing, hydrating ingredients—and steers clear of skin-drying ones like alcohol.The Best Men’s Aftershaves, According to GQBest Aftershave Overall: Lab Series Grooming Razor Burn Balm, $41Best Aftershave for Sensitive Skin: Proraso Aftershave Balm - Sensitive Skin, $16Best Aftershave for Bumps and Ingrown Hair Prevention: Bevel Bump Control, $11Best Aftershave for Razor Burn Prevention: Bevel Post-Shave Balm, $13Best Aftershave That's Also a Great Moisturizer: Aesop Neroli Post-Shave Lotion, $55Best Aftershave for Everywhere: Anthony After Shave Balm, $22Best Aftershave Splash: Supply Healing Post Shave, $13Best Aftershave Lotion: Marlowe Post Shave Lotion, $14Best Aftershave Cream: SheaMoisture Post Shave Restoring Cream, $12Looking for Something Specific?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWhich Aftershave Is Best for You?The Best Ingredients in AftershavesWhat to Avoid in AftershavesBenefits of AftershaveAftershave FAQHow We TestedAbout Our ExpertsHowever, because post-shave products meet many needs these days, it’s important to ensure that you’re matching your skin's needs with the ingredients in a given bottle to get the best results. To help you decipher the dizzying variety of aftershave grooming products out there, we’ve tested and tried loads. Following are the best of the best.Best Aftershave for Men Overall: Lab Series Grooming Razor Burn BalmAdam HurlyChevronChevronLab SeriesGrooming Razor Burn Balm$41 Nordstrom$42 HarrodsKey ingredients: Birch extract repairs damaged skin, while aloe vera, oat kernel extract, and bisabolol provide soothing, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory relief. | Consistency: LotionWhy it’s great: Of all the products on the list, this balmy lotion will benefit most skin types. It has soothing superpowers for the most sensitive folks and is light enough to satisfy the oiliest complexions. I dab it on following an electric shave since it only requires a light layer.On skin, it’s not overly astringent and drying, which might put off those prone to egregious breakouts. For everyone else who simply needs an aftershave to be a punctuation on their shave regimen—this one layers perfectly beneath your standard moisturizing agent (while providing nourishing benefits of its own). You’ll likely also be tickled pink with the balancing and cooling agents.Best Aftershave for Sensitive Skin: Proraso Aftershave Balm - Sensitive SkinAdam HurlyChevronChevronProrasoAftershave Balm - Sensitive Skin$16 Amazon$16 C.O. BigelowKey ingredients: Glycerin moisturizes and nourishes, while oat and green tea extract counter redness and inflammation. | Consistency: LotionWhy it’s great: This timeless barbershop favorite comes to mind first any time I recommend shaving products for sensitive skin. While the brand has four formulas addressing different needs, its products for the most sensitive skin types may be its finest. This lotion, in particular, has a glycerin-rich base that floods dry and vulnerable skin with moisture and also contains a dash of sweet almond oil, which is rich in skin-shielding antioxidants like vitamin E.A caveat: This formula has a pinch of artificial fragrance, so if that puts you off, take note. However, that same scent gives my mind so much peace. For some reason, it feels like a mother’s embrace, which makes this product doubly soothing.Best Aftershave for Bumps and Ingrown Hair Prevention: Bevel Bump ControlAdam HurlyChevronChevronBevelBump Control$11 Amazon$13 BevelKey ingredients: The hero ingredient is a concentration of 10% glycolic acid to remove surface cells and prevent clogged pores—alongside witch hazel, aloe, and glycerin to amp up its toning, hydrating, purifying, and balancing powers. | Consistency: Watery splashWhy it’s great: This product is as much a regular exfoliant and toner as a post-shave, which helps ensure that your hair follicles are always unencumbered. For bump-prone skin, I suggest using it as your go-to exfoliant a few times a week to prevent pore clogging and ensure oil balancing.Its potent combination of astri
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
After you mow over your facial hair with a bare blade or six, you need to calm things down. That’s where the best aftershaves comes in. Its job is to soothe skin, restore moisture, neutralize bacteria, and keep pores clear, thus helping prevent bumps, ingrown hairs, and razor burns. It does so with a slew of common skin care ingredients, such as aloe vera, witch hazel, tea tree oil, and salicylic acid.
While I certainly hope you still use a pre-shave oil, an editor-approved shave cream, and, of course, a sharp, fresh razor, above all, I believe that you should use a post-shave product. That product gets bonus points if it has soothing, hydrating ingredients—and steers clear of skin-drying ones like alcohol.
The Best Men’s Aftershaves, According to GQ
- Best Aftershave Overall: Lab Series Grooming Razor Burn Balm, $41
- Best Aftershave for Sensitive Skin: Proraso Aftershave Balm - Sensitive Skin, $16
- Best Aftershave for Bumps and Ingrown Hair Prevention: Bevel Bump Control, $11
- Best Aftershave for Razor Burn Prevention: Bevel Post-Shave Balm, $13
- Best Aftershave That's Also a Great Moisturizer: Aesop Neroli Post-Shave Lotion, $55
- Best Aftershave for Everywhere: Anthony After Shave Balm, $22
- Best Aftershave Splash: Supply Healing Post Shave, $13
- Best Aftershave Lotion: Marlowe Post Shave Lotion, $14
- Best Aftershave Cream: SheaMoisture Post Shave Restoring Cream, $12
However, because post-shave products meet many needs these days, it’s important to ensure that you’re matching your skin's needs with the ingredients in a given bottle to get the best results. To help you decipher the dizzying variety of aftershave grooming products out there, we’ve tested and tried loads. Following are the best of the best.
Best Aftershave for Men Overall: Lab Series Grooming Razor Burn Balm
Why it’s great: Of all the products on the list, this balmy lotion will benefit most skin types. It has soothing superpowers for the most sensitive folks and is light enough to satisfy the oiliest complexions. I dab it on following an electric shave since it only requires a light layer.
On skin, it’s not overly astringent and drying, which might put off those prone to egregious breakouts. For everyone else who simply needs an aftershave to be a punctuation on their shave regimen—this one layers perfectly beneath your standard moisturizing agent (while providing nourishing benefits of its own). You’ll likely also be tickled pink with the balancing and cooling agents.
Best Aftershave for Sensitive Skin: Proraso Aftershave Balm - Sensitive Skin
Why it’s great: This timeless barbershop favorite comes to mind first any time I recommend shaving products for sensitive skin. While the brand has four formulas addressing different needs, its products for the most sensitive skin types may be its finest. This lotion, in particular, has a glycerin-rich base that floods dry and vulnerable skin with moisture and also contains a dash of sweet almond oil, which is rich in skin-shielding antioxidants like vitamin E.
A caveat: This formula has a pinch of artificial fragrance, so if that puts you off, take note. However, that same scent gives my mind so much peace. For some reason, it feels like a mother’s embrace, which makes this product doubly soothing.
Best Aftershave for Bumps and Ingrown Hair Prevention: Bevel Bump Control
Why it’s great: This product is as much a regular exfoliant and toner as a post-shave, which helps ensure that your hair follicles are always unencumbered. For bump-prone skin, I suggest using it as your go-to exfoliant a few times a week to prevent pore clogging and ensure oil balancing.
Its potent combination of astringent witch hazel and exfoliating glycolic acid helps you from buying a standalone post-shave product (ahem: budget-minded guys or minimalists). It’s also among the easiest to layer beneath your moisturizer, not to mention one of the best bargains on this list.
I do think it could smell a little cuter. Not that it stinks, but it’s not exactly menthol or lavender. Still, it’s great that this one lacks any artificial fragrance.
Best Aftershave for Razor Burn Prevention: Bevel Post-Shave Balm
Why it’s great: Bevel might possibly have the best range of beard and shave products in the whole industry, which explains why they’ve got two on my list here and another pair on my list of the best shave creams.
This post-shave cream has all the heavy-hitting ingredients that are sure to thwart any potential redness and bumps from forming—and reduce existing inflammation, too. I’d soon use this as an everyday moisturizer, too, especially in winter (as it does wear a bit heavier than others on this list).
Best Aftershave That's Also a Great Moisturizer: Aesop Neroli Post-Shave Lotion
Why it’s great: Aesop's full range of shaving products is great, but it wouldn't be complete without the excellent Neroli Post-Shave lotion. It's lightweight, great for those with oily skin, but it's still hydrating enough for those with dry skin thanks to the addition of several nourishing oils. We especially love the woodsy smell, and even if you haven't shaved today, the lotion makes a great daily moisturizer that absorbs super quickly into the skin.
Best Aftershave for Everywhere: Anthony After Shave Balm
Why it’s great: Heads, shoulders, knees, and toes—wherever you just shaved would be a great place to apply some of Anthony's After Shave Balm. This use-everywhere lotion has vitamins A, C, and E, which work in tandem to hydrate and restore the skin's natural barrier after you just dragged a sharp-ass razor over it. This aftershave is especially hydrating, so it's great for those with dry skin or to use during the winter when the face (or other freshly shaved areas) take a beating from the brutal cold.
Best Aftershave Splash: Supply Healing Post-Shave
Why it’s great: This is like breaking open a fresh aloe pod and rubbing the gel right on your skin—plus, it’s got the toning and purifying powers of witch hazel to top things off. You can even use it as a quick cleansing and healing agent for shave cuts.
Personally, I’m a fan of this head-clearing white birch and sage scent (it smells like fresh laundry), but the brand offers a fragrance-free option, too, if you want to spray on something totally neutral. (I’d even use that one as a recovery for minor burns or sun-scorched skin, too.)
Best Aftershave Lotion: Marlowe Post Shave Lotion
Why it’s great: A go-to for my bald-headed brother, who likes to lather his dome with Marlowe after a full head shave. He’ll even use it as a routine lightweight, breathable moisturizer in the days after a shave. Given the large amount of real estate up top, he can’t be too careful in terms of keeping things balanced 24/7, especially in the day post-shave. Marlowe remains his ol’ reliable and has long topped this aftershave list in the same “best post-shave lotion” category.
Best Aftershave Cream: SheaMoisture Post Shave Restoring Cream
Why it’s great: SheaMoisture’s formula is for all hair types and will be especially remedial for ingrown-prone curly-haired guys. The aforementioned trio of hero ingredients works overtime to keep skin calm, cool, and collected—ensuring it stays nourished and bump-free with each shave. This one doubles as a daily redness- and acne-mitigating booster, applied ahead of a go-to night moisturizer. I like it as a same-day soothing agent in the hours leading up to a shave; it will soften hair, cushion skin, and reduce the risk of bumps and redness after the fact.
How to Pick the Best Aftershave for You
For insight on choosing the best aftershave and active ingredients, we spoke with Alex Hughes and Alyssa Bachowski, who are both senior barbers at Fellow Barber in NYC.
It’s too easy to confuse the different types of post-shave products out there and to determine which of them—balm, lotion, cream, splash—is best for your skin type. Truth be told, it’s often dependent on the formula itself since not all products labeled “balm” are going to be dense and heavy (as you might otherwise expect).
Hopefully, you have a facial moisturizer that satisfies those defensive needs; you need an aftershave to prevent irritation, bumps, ingrowns, and the like. Your skin might be sensitive for a few days after shaving (especially if you shave infrequently), so it’s most important to prioritize the particular ingredients.
But first, here’s how to frame the search for the best aftershave formula for you.
Dry skin
“Dry skin needs hydration to replenish its moisture barrier after shaving,” says Hughes. They recommend a denser formula (like a classic balm). “Or you can follow your favorite aftershave with a light moisturizer,” they say.
Oily skin
Oily skin types should prioritize lightweight formulas. If you aren’t sure about the balms or creams in question, Bachowski suggests sticking with an aftershave splash instead of a balm—ideally, one with witch hazel as its base to tone oil levels.
Normal/combination skin
Your skin has more balance than most in terms of moisture levels. So, Bachowski recommends a post-shave with mild moisturizing properties and one with astringent properties. “That way, you are getting the best of both worlds,” she says.
Acne-prone skin
Look for a witch hazel-based aftershave to help close the pores after shaving and keep bacteria out.
Ingrown-prone skin
The most important factor for ingrown hair mitigation happens before the shave and as part of your regular regimen—but your post-shave can also have exfoliating properties to prevent anything from getting trapped inside the pores. “Folks prone to ingrown hairs need gentle exfoliation to help dissolve and clear out dead skin cells to encourage the hair to sprout through the skin instead of getting stuck underneath,” says Hughes. Bachowski says to use a witch hazel-based aftershave to help close the pores after shaving and keep bacteria out.
Sensitive skin
“Look for ingredients such as aloe or chamomile as they will help calm the skin of irritation and redness,” says Bachowski. A lot of your best work can be done before the shave, adds Hughes: “Sensitive skin needs proper preparation pre-shave to reduce razor irritation as well as calming aftershave to help keep redness at bay.”
The Best Ingredients in Aftershaves
Both barbers mentioned a few key ingredients above, which can play pivotal roles in preventing redness, razor burn, bumps, ingrown hairs, etc. Here’s a deeper dive into the best active ingredients you can find in an aftershave. (In general, that is.)
Witch Hazel
“Witch hazel is a natural astringent that helps cleanse skin post-shave without the sting of alcohol,” says Hughes.
Vitamin E
“Vitamin E helps hydrate the skin to replenish its barrier after having a razor pulled across it, while also having healing and anti-inflammatory properties,” they add.
Bisabolol
“Bisabolol is an essential oil that helps calm skin and reduce redness,” Hughes explains. “It’s especially helpful for people with sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea.”
Aloe
“Aloe helps repair the damaged skin after shaving as well as alleviates irritation and redness,” Bachowski says.
Chamomile
“Chamomile soothes the skin and leaves the skin feeling soft,” she adds.
What to Avoid in Aftershaves
Here are the ingredients both barbers suggest avoiding or at least being cautious of.
Alcohol
“Alcohol has an unpleasant sting on freshly shaved skin, and it also can be harshly drying when what the skin needs is hydration,” says Hughes. They suggest prioritizing witch hazel or aloe for the same purifying aim, minus any pain.
Artificial fragrance
Lots of aftershaves carry a fragrance, and it’s best when these are naturally derived scents as opposed to synthetic perfumes, Bachowski says. “Artificial fragrances can cause irritation to the skin or an allergic reaction.”
Pore-clogging ingredients
While some denser balms rely on nourishing, heavy ingredients like coconut oil or cocoa butter, these can easily clog pores (which are especially open and susceptible post-shave). “Shaving takes off your skin’s natural moisture barrier, leaving your pores open and more sensitive,” Hughes reiterates. Stick with the lightweight, oil-free hydrators if you are especially pimple-prone.
Benefits of Aftershave
Aftershave has made a huge leap in the last 20 years, evolving from a bracing, drying, alcohol-laden cologne-y splash to what is now more typically a soothing, hydrating, skin-pleasing lotion. And if you aren’t using it, you’re doing yourself a big disservice. Here's what you'll gain from putting aftershave into your post-shave regimen.
It hydrates your skin.
First things first: Using aftershave these days is a little less Kevin McCallister in Home Alone, and a lot more like a hot towel treatment at the barbershop. That’s because most of them don’t use alcohol anymore, since it dries out the skin. Aftershave acts like a high-grade moisturizer—akin to a winter balm or a night cream—by forming a thick, protective layer over top the vulnerable skin. Your pores should already be tightening (from the cold splash of water you applied, per your diligent shave regimen), and now the post-shave product can form a thick, defensive, and nourishing layer over top it all.
It stops the spread of bacteria.
Aftershave also prevents the spread of bacteria and neutralizes the odds of infection, razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and more. Since most aftershaves these days aren’t centered on skin-drying ingredients like alcohol, they often include ingredients like tea tree oil, which naturally neutralize bacteria and prevent post-shave breakouts. However, if you want the potency of an astringent/antiseptic splash, then stick with witch hazel, which is a less abrasive way to keep pores unclogged and tone your skin. All of this being said, there are ways to neutralize the threat of bacteria without destroying the pH levels in your skin and risking an entirely different kind of burn. Primarily, you can minimize bacterial threats by following a proper shave regimen and practicing good razor hygiene.
It soothes and calms the skin.
Don’t confuse the hydrating function of aftershave with its ability to soothe and calm your sensitive skin. You just shed the uppermost layer of your cells, and that raw, vulnerable skin is in need of some serious care. Aftershave halts the burn and turns it into a tingle, relieving you of immediate pain and preventing redness and irritation for the days ahead. The big difference between many aftershaves and a standard moisturizer will be the inclusion of ingredients like aloe or eucalyptus, for this very reason.
Aftershave FAQ
What is the difference between aftershave balm and lotion?
The skin care and shave industries have come to refer to all post-shave products as “aftershave balms,” even if they don’t have a dense, balm-like consistency. So, assuming a balm and a lotion are both properly labeled, the balm will have a heftier concentration of nourishing and occlusive ingredients, while the lotion will be lightweight (almost watery). You can also use an aftershave cream as a midpoint or an aftershave splash/tonic as a purely liquid solution.
Why is aftershave-based alcohol bad?
While alcohol can purify skin and prevent any infections in your freshly shorn skin, it is an extremely drying astringent ingredient. This can yield other skin care problems down the road, like redness and breakouts. (Not to mention, it can be extremely painful.) Instead, choose an aftershave with witch hazel or aloe.
What does aftershave do?
Aftershave hydrates, calms, and cools (understandably) angry and irritated post-shave skin. If you shave with a razor, you need aftershave. Whether or not you’re prone to bumps, razor burn, or ingrown hairs—and especially if you’re prone to those things—you need it. And you need it for a host of reasons.
How We Tested
There are a whole lotta shaves behind these picks—11 years’ worth. OK, maybe I alternate between facial hair and freshly shorn, but I’ve been writing about grooming (and thus testing the best men’s aftershaves) for over a decade. These products are a reflection of my favorites over time, as well as some of the best new ones, too. And, just to be sure I’m not alone in my picks, I also make sure they’re generally well-reviewed across the core retail sites.
About Our Experts
Alex Hughes and Alyssa Bachowski are both senior barbers at Fellow Barber in NYC. Hughes cuts at Fellow Barber Seaport in south Manhattan, while Bachowski cuts at the brand’s Williamsburg barbershop.
