Beard oil is the cheapest upgrade for an itchy, rough or scruffy beard. You comb a few drops through the hair, the carrier oils soften it, and the skin underneath stops feeling tight and flaky. What beard oil will not do is grow a beard. Growth comes down to genetics and hormones, and the only…

A shaving soap is the traditional alternative to a can of gel: loaded onto a brush with water, it builds a slick, cushioning lather that lets the blade glide and leaves skin less irritated. Hard soaps reward a little technique; creams lather faster if you want a shortcut. This guide covers six of the best-known…

A post-shave balm is the step that calms skin after the blade: it cools the burn, replaces some of the moisture shaving strips out and helps settle redness and itch. Balms are lighter than a heavy cream, absorb quickly and are usually fragrance-free or lightly scented, which suits skin that reacts to shaving. This guide…