Lather & Wood Shaving Co. Original Balm
Nivea Post Shave Balm
Aramis Aftershave
The most difficult task for any man comes down to selecting the best aftershave: It’s supposed to compliment your natural musk, and it’s a quest to find the right one. Based on customer reviews, we’ve grabbed the best ten aftershaves that work for most men. These aftershaves have gone above and beyond to contour to your natural musk in the best possible way. While it’s a unique selection process for everyone, we’re pretty damn sure that you’ll find more than one excellent scent for your rugged composure on our list.
Our Top Picks Of The Best Aftershave For Men
1. Issey Miyake L’Eau De Issey
If you’re looking for the perfect compliment to your robust natural scent, L’Eau fits the bill. Fitted with compliments of spice and amber, you’ll encapsulate the attention of every gorgeous woman you come into contact with. While L’Eau is best suited for evening wear, it compliments rugged looks, whether it be an off-the-cuff suit style, or a pair of jeans and a leather jacket. For the man that wants to be noticed for the right reasons, there’s L’Eau.
2. Old Spice Classic
There are trends with men’s fragrances; they come and go, they rise and fall, but Old Spice has stood the test of time. As one of America’s top-rated brands, their aftershave compliments every time of day, and every type of man. Walk out of the restroom feeling refreshed like a pack of winter mint, and walk with the confidence to slay any beautiful dame that struts your way. Old Spice is best used in small amounts; one drop between each wrist, one drop for beneath your jaw. You’re ready, killer—get out there.
3. L’Occitane Moisturizing Balm
There’s two ways to describe a woody musk: The first is complimenting, while the other is, “Were you hunting deer for three days with no shower?” You never want to opt for the latter. The natural oils released in our skin blends with L’Occitane to craft an oaky musk, perfect for your evening attire. Keep your eyes on the ladies when they catch a gentle whiff of your scent; eyes will widen, gents. Eyes will widen.
4. Lather & Wood Shaving Co. Original Balm
No more razor burn, no more dry skin after shaving—sounds like a dream, right? Dreams were made to come true. Amazon’s top choice for aftershave comes down to impeccable encounters. Half the battle, as you well know, is getting the right scent to woo the ladies. The flip side of the coin is not hating the scent you’re stuck in, whether it be for burning or what have you. One sniff over the open bottle of Lather and Wood will have you in a sense of euphoria. You can imagine how it’ll work on the swooning crowds.
5. Aramis Aftershave
Value doesn’t have to come with a lower quality. One of the least pricey bottles on our list comes with one of the greatest scents you’ll ever have the pleasure of having cut across your walking path. This blend gives you a citrus and spice flair without focusing too much on the low-lying, woodsy musk that many aftershaves do. For a bit of extra pep in your step with the scent that beats the rest, Aramis helps you stand out from the crowd of men who stopped reading at product number four. That’s right; set the trend.
6. Proraso Lotion
Aftershave comes with a varied set of price tags. Proraso affixes itself to fit every man’s style to the best of their abilities, and for the most part, does its job pretty damn well. If you’re looking for an all-day aftershave that’s going to last and attract, you’re staring it down right now. Proraso works against your natural must—hear me out—to overshadow it, and as the day goes on, it’s essence dilutes into a blend of your own natural scents, easing you into the night.
7. Lucky Tiger Aftershave & Facial Tonic
Women adore an inviting aroma (I mean, you have to smell it all day too, so it might as well be nice, yeah?)—enjoy the blends of citrus in grapefruit and tangerine, gently surrounding your face and neck. The manufacturer states that you should apply liberally—you can make this 8oz bottle last all year if you use it right. A few dabs here, a little for the wrists, and you’re ready to rock and roll on your own terms. Go get ‘em, tiger.
8. Pre de Provence Shea Butter Aftershave
Shea butter is the answer for those of us with sensitive skin. If you have eczema or psoriasis, picking out aftershaves and colognes—basically anything with a fragrance—can be a nightmare. They react poorly on your skin, and leave you irritated. Shea butter is the answer to all of our problems. It not only hydrates your sensitive skin and keeps it smooth, but it prevents negative reactions such as blemishes and itching. Pre de Provence banked on the best substance on Earth to craft a perfect application with their signature scent, and they couldn’t have done it better.
9. Nivea Post Shave Balm
Another excellent two-in-one. You get moisturizing effects to keep your face looking chiseled without any imperfections, while enjoying the smooth, cooling sensation that comes with this premier aftershave. The scents intermingle with your own, like a handshake or how-do-you-do, and work seamlessly to enhance your original musk; not mask it entirely. With Nivea, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Those eyes on your during your morning train commute? You can thank Nivea for the introduction.
10. Captain’s Choice Original Bay Rum Aftershave Pour
It’s not that captain, and no, you can’t drink it—you get a much more holistic approach to aftershave. Witch hazel, alcohol (no, you still can’t drink it) and essential oils not only treat your skin with a cushiony, cool side of the pillow feeling, but it also leaves a light hint of natural scents. If you’ve been waiting for a confidence boost when you splash on your aftershave, well, they say good things come to those who wait—now you’ve found Captain’s Choice.
Buyers Guide
There are more factors that go into selecting the perfect aftershave that’s tailored to your style and natural scents than you’d think. We can’t all have the perfect shave every time. There’s risks, rewards, and unfortunate incidents that leaves us looking God-awful on a Saturday night. Fortunately, I’m going to prepare you for all of that with this little guide. Strap in, and hold your razor or shaver steady.
What To Consider When Buying Aftershave
The number one thing is this—is your skin sensitive? If you have allergies, or you have eczema, you’re going to have one hell of a hard time finding a proper aftershave. Think about any time you’ve tested colognes in the stores and had them singe your skin or itch for days—you probably don’t shop for cologne all that often, right? Aftershave is sort of like taking that plunge. If you’re able to get a full list of your skin irritations that are specific to your brand of eczema, then you’d do well to investigate as many materials as you can in your potential aftershave purchase. While not everything will be listed, it’s still better to go in knowing half the battle beforehand.
Another thing to consider is how subtle you want your scent to be. The stronger an aftershave smells, the thicker it will sit on your skin. Nobody wants to replicate the infamous “Axe Cloud” that hung around 95% of the population from 1997 to 2008. Really, nobody wants that. Your aftershave should have a three-foot radius. You pass by women at a crowd, they catch your scent and see you walking away—perfect scenario. If they dig their noses into their wine glass to escape the smell, well, you put too much on. Test the strength with a smell test.
5 Tips For A Great Shave
These are the five commandments of shaving for men. Skip these, and we’ll see you on the shaving rash side of the road. If you want an even shave, a close shave, and one that doesn’t leave you scratching your head, itchy, or dabbing shredded pieces of toilet paper to your face, then read below.
- Don’t Cheap Out on the Razor
This is the biggest shaving crime you can commit. You need four blades, man. Even if you’re not sensitive-skinned, four blades give you the perfect shave every single time. If you cheap out on the razor, you’re cheaping out on how you’re going to look.
- Go Barbershop or Go Home
No, you don’t actually have to go to the barbershop. If you want an ultra-close shave, or at the very least, a super even one, get a barber’s shaving / beard brush. It not only makes your hair stand on end, but it balances the shave to keep softness all the way through. Last thing you want is a lovely lady kissing on your neck to get stabbed by a prickly patch of face needles.
- Go With The Tides, Not Against Them
Men want a closer shave, so they end up cutting against the direction of their facial hair growth. No. Big red flag, mark an ‘X’ over it, and say no. You’ll get ingrown hairs, which bring on bumps, potential acne, and make you itchy as hell. Shave in the way that the hair grows, including your chin.
- Don’t Rub Your Skin
Sounds like a no-brainer, but you wouldn’t be surprised how many gentleman scrape a towel across their freshly-shaved jaw. It’s just going to irritate it; dab it, don’t drag it.
- Use a Quality Shaving Cream
This can’t be stressed enough. It’s like buying a Ferrari, and waxing it with Pledge. It just doesn’t cut it. Don’t skip out on the shaving cream—it’s the gateway between a close shave, or donating blood.
How Do I Stop A Shaving Rash?
It happens to all of us. The worst thing is when you end up buying a crummy razor, and it ends up doing more harm than good. Shaving too early in the morning when you don’t have full dexterous control over your extremities. Well, the list goes on and on. Fortunately, stopping a shaving rash is pretty simple. You have three options that work for just about every guy out there.
- Apply baby oil to the shaving area and wait five minutes before shaving.
- Use moisturizing shaving cream. Remember, you get what you pay for.
- Rubbing alcohol post-shave—it stings like hell, but it kills bacteria that irritate your skin.
