The best pre-shave oil for men to help reduce razor irritation

For many men, shaving is a regular (and in some cases daily) activity. One of the biggest complaints about facial hair removal by shaving is the bumps, burns, and irritation that can occur. These cuts and cuts are not only painful, but can also create an unsightly appearance on your face. Shaving the irritation the next day or in the following days can exacerbate the problem.

The key to a successful shave (i.e. without razor irritation) is not only to apply shaving cream and avoid dulling the blade. This includes some prep work that can be done with the right pre-shave oil. Below we detail what preshave oil is and how it can benefit your skin, as well as our pick of the best preshave oil for men!

What is a pre-shave oil?

Pre-shave oil is exactly what it sounds like - an oil or product that you apply to your skin before shaving. It's not usually considered an essential shaving aid, but there are many men who enjoy pre-shave oils. Will you be next? If you tend to experience shaving irritation, be sure to add pre-shave oil to your arsenal.

The pre-shave oil works by softening beard hairs and removing stubble from the skin. Because it is an oil, there is the added benefit of lubricating the hair and surrounding skin to provide a smoother, closer shave. Less razor resistance means less chance of cuts, bumps and scrapes.

Not all pre-shave oils are the same, but many of them contain a mixture of vegetable oils, vitamins, and moisturizing carrier oils, such as coconut oil, avocado oil, or jojoba oil, just to name a few. In our opinion, choosing a good shaving oil is just as important as buying a quality razor or shaving cream.

The best pre-shave oil for men

Not sure which shaving oil to choose? We have prepared for you a selection of the best preshave oils for men from the L'Oreal portfolio of brands.

Baxter of California Shaving Toner

This coveted pre-shave tonic contains a combination of rosemary, eucalyptus, camphor and peppermint essential oils, plus vitamins E, D, A and aloe. The formula can help you achieve the best possible shave by opening up pores and lifting facial hair before shaving, as well as helping to calm and soothe the skin after shaving. That's right, shaving tonic can be used both before and after shaving.

Dampen a clean towel with hot water before shaving. Remove excess water and spritz shaving tonic on towel. Apply to the face for 30 seconds, avoiding the eye area. If you want to apply shaving tonic without a towel, spray it directly on your face before shaving. No need to rinse! 

To use an aftershave (hooray, dual-use products!), follow the same steps as above, but wet a clean towel with cold water instead. You can also spray shaving toner directly onto your skin. Just be careful to avoid the eye area.

Baxter of California Shaving Toner. MSRP $18.

How to use oil before shaving

Your first step should be to follow the directions on your product packaging. Most preshave oils will require changes to the following steps:

1. Apply a few drops of pre-shave oil to your palms and rub your hands together. 

2. Rub the oil into your facial hair for about 30 seconds.

3. Wait another 30 or so seconds before applying shaving cream.

4. Lather and shave with a clean blade.

When you're done shaving, check out these 10 aftershave balms to soothe your skin!