10 Best Electric Shavers for Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin isn’t fun. From requiring more care and attention to look and feel good to rebelling against the slightest adverse conditions, sensitive skin takes up time and attention. Sensitive skin can also make shaving and grooming your facial hair more difficult.

The wrong razor or shaver is likely to leave you with ingrown hairs, irritated razor burns, redness, and even acne. It might seem easier just to leave your facial hair alone. With the right shaver, however, you can enjoy a clean face without all the complications of irritated skin.

Electric shavers have an edge over traditional safety and cartridge razors, being less irritating overall than dragging multiple blades across your skin. Some shavers will be better than others, and this guide will help you choose between some of the best shavers for sensitive skin, as well as discussing what factors you should consider when choosing between them.

Some Things to Consider

When it comes to shaving sensitive skin there are a lot of factors that will determine how successful any shaver will be. Your grooming routine, whether you shave wet or dry, the shaver type, and your facial hair type all have a role to play, so before we get into the specific shavers lets talk about how to get the most out of each one.

Grooming Routine

Let’s talk about skincare. A lot of us still look at skincare as something women do, or bodybuilders, actors, and models, but not something your average joe needs to bother with. Toss that idea out the window.

You’re reading this list, which means you either know or suspect that you have sensitive skin. Basic skincare can make a world of difference for men with sensitive skin, you included.

At minimum, you should aim to wash your face with water and a mild cleanser every day. You should also get a good moisturizer. Washing your face with a cleanser will help to keep your pores clear, the first step in avoiding irritation. The moisturizer will help maintain the moisture barrier your skin cells need to stay healthy.

We recommend a moisturizer with SPF protection too, since sun damage can make skin problems worse over time and even a mild SPF rating will help reduce damage.

You’ll also find shaving more comfortable if you use shaving cream. Apply a thick lather to your face in a circular motion before you shave. If you use an old-fashioned shaving cream bar you can experiment with using a warm lather, which will open your pores and help make the whole process gentler on your skin.

Many of the shavers on this list are waterproof, which gives you the option of shaving in the shower. Since the warm water and steam will have opened your pores and softened your facial hair, shower shaving is a good option with sensitive skin.

Aftershave is not just about smelling good, it’s also about closing your pores and getting moisture back on your irritated skin.

Even if you prefer not to go with a true aftershave, plan on hitting the area you shaved with a little extra moisturizer to immediately counteract any damage or irritation.

Shaver Type

There are two basic types of electric shavers for use right next to your skin, foils and rotary shavers.

Foils lift the hair further away from your skin, making them slightly more protective and a good option for especially sensitive skin, while rotary shavers have specially designed rotating blades that are meant to shave directly on your skin.

The biggest downside of electric shavers is that, in general, you won’t be able to get as close a shave as you would with a safety or cartridge razor. Since rotary shavers don’t lift the hair, they tend to get closer than foils but may be slightly more irritating.

Rotary shavers are often better suited to coarse hair types, since foils may fail to pick up larger strands of hair.

However, foils perform better overall in terms of comfort and reducing skin irritation.

Facial Hair Type

The last consideration is your facial hair type. If you have thinner fine facial hair you’ll probably be able to get away with less prep overall, while still getting a close shave that doesn’t irritate your skin. However, if your hair is thicker or has even been described as whiskers, you should spend some time getting ready for a shave.

The reason is simple, it’s harder to cut through coarse hair, especially if it’s also very thick. That added difficulty forces you to make more passes over your skin with your shaver, and every pass is more irritation and damage.

So, to save some heartache and skin irritation, take the extra time to make sure you’re using shave cream, shower immediately before you shave, or shave in the shower. All of those options will help soften your hair, making it easier to cut.

Also, if you have longer facial hair, plan on taking it down to skin in stages. Rather than irritating your skin more as you take off long strands of hair all at once, taking it off gradually will reduce the strain on your shaver, resulting in fewer passes against your skin, and less irritation.

10 Best Shavers for Sensitive Skin Comparison Table

 

10 Best Shavers for Sensitive Skin: Detailed Reviews

1. Braun Series 7 7790cc (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 5.0/5.0

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The Braun Series 7 is our best overall shaver thanks to its high performance, extremely gentle cutting action, and overall durability.

Braun has a reputation for producing extremely high-quality products, and several of their other shavers are also on this list, but this one caught our eye as a great option for sensitive skin.

The Series 7 isn’t quite the latest line from Braun, the Series 9 is slightly newer. However, the differences between the series 7 and series 9 are minimal in terms of performance, and the cost difference is significant.

That said, this shaver is a complete package. Its flexible head is rated to move in 8 different directions, effectively reducing tension and friction on your skin.

Its sonic micro-vibrations help to lift even the densest hair types, further reducing friction between the shaver and your skin.

The Series 7 is also fully waterproof, giving you the option of wet or dry shaving, as well as shaving in the shower.

This shaver will also save you time. It comes with a cleaning center that cleans and charges the shaver at the same time. The cleaning center works with alcohol to effectively cleans and sanitizes as well as lubricating your shaver, protecting your skin from bacteria build-up and extending the life of the foil head.

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2. Philips Norelco 7500

Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5.0

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The Philips Norelco 7500 is one of the best rotary shavers available for sensitive skin. The 7500 comes with built-in comfort rings and an anti-friction coating to help the blades glide across your face without causing the damage and irritation common in other rotary shavers.

Rotary shavers have long been a favorite of men with thicker coarse hair or ethnic hair types. This shaver is fully equipped to remove even the thickest hair comfortably and quickly, with gentle precision blades specifically designed to protect against skin irritation.

This shaver also comes with a cleaning and charging station, and its cleaning solution is alcohol-free for further skin protection. Alcohol can be very drying, so by avoiding it in their solution, Philips Norelco provides the same protection from bacterial buildup and dulled blades without risking further drying your skin due to alcohol residue.

The flexi-head on this shaver isn’t quite as flexible as the Braun Series 7, but with 5 directions of flex, it’s still more than equipped to handle the angles and curves around your face with ease.

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3. Braun Series 3 Pro Skin

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

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We told you that Braun would be making another appearance on this list.

The Braun Series 3 Pro Skin is a good option for men who want to comfort and quality of the Braun line, but don’t want to spend the extra money for a premium shaver. This shaver is a great option for men trying an electric shaver for the first time, or who are skeptical about getting a close and comfortable shave with an electric shaver.

While this unit is a more affordable option than the Series 7, it’s still designed with customer comfort and sensitive skin at the forefront. You shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get a great shave without irritating your skin.

The main feature of the Pro Skin over other options is the pressure sensors. Each cutting blade senses the pressure against your skin and will retract slightly if the pressure is too high to protect your skin from excessive friction.

It’s also 100% waterproof and comfortable for wet or dry shaving.

While this model does not offer a flexible head, the ergonomic design makes it easy to shave your whole face, including around your nose and upper lip.

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4. Panasonic ES-LT3N Arc 3 (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5.0

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This Panasonic Arc 3 Shaver is a great compromise between features and price. While it’s neither the cheapest nor the most advanced shaver on this list, it hits all the most important features in a sensitive skin shaver without breaking the bank.

The flexible head on the Panasonic Arc 3 offers precision cutting and easy maneuverability for ease of shaving while beard sensing technology auto-adjusts motor speed for uniform cutting power across your whole face.

The precise 30-degree cutting angle on all three cutting blades also works to ensure a close and comfortable shave, every time.

Between the cutting angle and the adjustable speed motor, the Panasonic Arc 3 reduces the number of passes you’ll need for a close shave, reducing skin irritation without sacrificing the quality of the shave.

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5. Braun Series 5 5190cc

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Braun’s Series 5 51900cc is yet another good option from their line, and a good option between the Pro Skin Shaver and a premium Series 7 or 9 shaver.

Added to the skin protecting pressure sensors features in the Pro Skin, the 5190 adds a density-sensing motor and an 8-directional flexi head.

This combination is a good mix for sensitive skin because all three features result in significantly reduced drag, pressure, and friction on exposed skin.

It does fall a little short of the Series 7 in that it only has two cutting blades and doesn’t offer the sonic micro-vibrations to lift hair and further protect your skin.

However, the Series 5 is still a fully waterproof option, comes with Braun’s advanced cleaning and charging system, a similar high-powered motor, and all the other features you’d expect of a high-end Braun product.

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6. Philips Norelco 9700

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

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The Philips Norelco 9700 is a slightly more advanced rotary shaver than the 7500 we talked about earlier and comes with all the benefits you would expect from a top-of-it’s-line premium shaver.

However, it is also one of the pricier options on this list, so we recommend it for men who already know that they love the Philips Norelco brand and rotary shavers in general.

Each shaving head on this shaver moves 8 separate directions, guaranteeing a close shave. Philips Norelco rates this shaver as being able to tackle up to 3 day’s beard growth with ease and comfort.

This shaver also has three-speed settings, each geared toward a different hair type, that will let you move between different shave styles and settings quickly and simply.

As an added bonus for sensitive skin, the 9700 also comes with a facial cleansing brush for deeper and more effective cleaning, which can work wonders on even the trickiest skin types.

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7. Panasonic ES-LV95-S Arc 5

Editor’s Rating: 4.6/5.0

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The Panasonic Arc 5 is a slightly more advanced version of the Panasonic Arc 3 that got our Best Value rating earlier on this list. Like the Arc 3, it is a great shaver for sensitive skin, and all-around offers a good complement of features and functions for everyday use.

Yet, its slightly higher price point puts it a little lower on our list since you can get similar performance from the cheaper Arc 3 version.

This shaver offers 5 precision 30-degree shave heads for a close and consistent cut that doesn’t irritate the skin.

This fully waterproof shaver is equally comfortable for wet and dry shaving options, although wet shaving may be easier for sensitive skin.

The Panasonic Arc 5 also features a pop-up trimmer so you can easily shape and maintain the facial hair you want to keep in addition to quickly removing the rest.

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8. Wahl Professional 5-Star Hypoallergenic

Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5.0

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The Wahl 5-Star line is a great option in part because it’s a professional-grade series, meant for barbers as much as use at home.

The feature that drew us to this particular shaver, over others from this line, is the hypoallergenic gold foil head, perfect for men who struggle with metal allergies and sensitivities in addition to sensitive skin.

Although less important in a shaver, the Wahl 5-Star also has a distinctive and stylish look that can easily sit on the counter instead of hiding in a cupboard or drawer.

This shaver relies less on tricks and additional features to provide a close irritation-free shave. Instead, they provide a comprehensive user guide with instructions for use and maintenance. Despite the lack of frills, the gold foil goes a long way toward protecting sensitive skin.

This is a great option for men already experienced in using an electric shaver, but who need a step up in terms of function and skin protection.

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9. Philips Norelco 2100 (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5.0

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The Philips Norelco 2100 makes our Best Bargain rating as a great entry-level shaver that still offers skin-safe features that make it a good choice for men with sensitive skin.

Its shave heads all flex in 4 different directions, making it a comfortable and versatile shaver for every area of your face.

Its blades are also self-sharpening. Self-sharpening not only extends the life of the blades themselves before they need replacement, it also means you get the efficient skin-preserving like-new shave that much longer.

Sharper blades may seem counter-intuitive when you want to protect your skin, but they glide more easily over the skin without causing jagged micro-abrasions that are almost certain if your blade is too dull.

This is also an easy-clean shaver, although it does not come with a cleaning station, simply immerse the blades in running water and it’s ready to go.

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10. Panasonic Travel Shaver

Editor’s Rating: 4.1/5.0

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Traveling can often mean switching to a cartridge razor or straight razor for the sake of saving space. With sensitive skin making that switch often means you spend part or all of your vacation with irritated, itchy, bumpy skin.

Instead of choosing between bringing a bulky electric shaver and all the accessories or having an uncomfortable shave the whole time, the Panasonic Travel shaver gives you a good medium between the two.

The Travel shaver is a very basic single-blade foil shaver. However, foil shavers are consistently ranked more comfortable and less irritating than traditional razors, and the small size on this basic setup means you have plenty of room left over for souvenirs.

This isn’t a great sensitive-skin option for everyday use, but it’ll keep you comfortable for a shave or two on the go.

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