If you’re like most guys, your morning shave is the closest you'll come to having a "grooming regimen." You’ve got the razor, the shaving cream, and (hopefully) face lotion. Not a lot, but it’s your moment of vanity, staring at your grill in the mirror and wondering whether it's time for you to finally lose that goatee of yours. But even with the advances in razors (9 blades wrapped in titanium alloy, guaranteed to slice your head off if used wrong!), it’s the shaving cream/soap/gel that's key to the comfort of your shave, enables the razor to glide smoothly over your face, and gives your skin some TLC. It’s probably the single most expensive item in the shaving process (unless you're going for a platinum shave handle or the oh-so rare Slovenian female badger-hair shave brush with Sri Lankan elephant tusk handle), so making the best choice in a shave cream for your mug matters.

As usual, Be Better Guys can't live with the thought that you might be wandering in the wilderness uninformed, so we've checked out several different shaving cream products so you don't have to. I tried them each for a week with and without pre-shave oil, with and without a brush, and using the same razor (Shick ST disposables for sensitive skin). I have combination skin (like most people) with my beard being the drier part of my face. Being African American, I do suffer from a minor case of pseudofolliculitis (razor bumps caused by curly hair), so factor this into these reviews. Take these recommendations and apply them to your regimen.

Sharps Kid Glove Shave Gel: The first thing you notice about the Sharps is that it’s Shrek-green. The second is that it’s really slick. The green comes from the botanicals (aloe leaf extract, rosemary leaf extract, algae extract) used to heal the face while shaving. The slick is glycerin, a non-oil based lubricant that helps the blade glide along your face. It made shave oil unnecessary, which saves time and money. The Kid Glove Shave Gel goes on clear, gives the skin a little tingle, and generally does a good job. It doesn’t lather up, so the brush didn’t help – again, saving time. But I didn’t like the feel of the glycerin, thought it made my face feel greasy. Otherwise, Sharps provides a good shave at a reasonable price. Available at men’s grooming locations around the nation and online at Sharps Barber and Shop online, $14.

The Grooming Lounge Beard Destroyer: What came to mind when using the Grooming Lounge Beard Destroyer was “Noxzema!” You know, the cleansing cream your mom and Aunt Gracie used to clean their skin? Both products share some of the same ingredients (eucalyptus and rosemary oils, Stearyl alcohol) and both work to soothe the damage done by a razor. It was closer to the standard drugstore shave creams or gels you may already be familiar with, having a light lather and thick covering. The Beard Destroyer does nice work, handles a razor well, and gave me a clean, crisp feel without the burn. Coincidentally, it works better with the Grooming Lounge’s Beard Destroyer shave oil, part of its own line of products, but certainly held its own without the oil. One complaint: the thickness of the cream jammed up the blades, making cleaning difficult. I’m also not a fan of the packaging, which shouldn’t matter, but it does to me. Available from the Grooming Lounge for $16.

Palmolive Shaving Cream:  You’ll think I’m crazy, but I wanted to see what an old time cream could do. Surprisingly, this did a better-than-expected job. The lubricant of choice is olive oil, with palm extract to soothe. It lathered up nicely with the brush, but worked well without it. It didn’t clog my razor (a complaint I’ve had with others). It definitely benefited from the pre-shave oil more than any other cream, but at the price (less than $3) it was a price performer. I felt like if I did my usual face regimen (wash daily, face scrub a couple of times a week, use a sharp razor, apply face lotion), this could work just fine. Alas, the word is that Colgate might halt production of this product – not trendy enough. Available at medshopexpress.com, $2.98 (while it lasts).

Moulton Brown SuperShave Olibanum: For a while, this had been my favorite shave cream. I liked that the frankincense (olibanum) helped with razor bumps, which I occasionally have. Although it was lighter than the creams I’d used in the past, it handled the razor quite well and left my skin with a fresh feeling (the vitamin E helps in the healing). However, I didn’t like the Moulton Brown as much without a shave oil. Kinda like realizing your stripper girlfriend looks better with her clothes on – alarming, but no cause to stop what you’re doing. Still a fan favorite, despite the fact I associate it with being called a priss by an in-law a few years back. Available through Moulton Brown and the Grooming Lounge, $20.

Edge Active Care Advanced Shaving Cream: The folks at Edge realized that the shaving revolution was passing them by and created a shaving cream that didn't come in an aerosol can and wasn't some shade of radioactive green. The surprising part is that they did a good job in making a quality product. The Active Care line comes in Deep Hydrating (for dry skin, which is what I used), Revitalizing (for normal skin), and Deep Cleansing (for oily skin). The Deep Hydrating has pro-vitamin B5, vitamin E, olive oil, and aloe vera. It lathered up well with and without a brush, let the blade glide across my face (it did better with the shave oil, as did most of the shave creams), and my face felt supple afterwards, not dry like when I'd used the old Edge gel. It can gunk up your razor -- in fact it mentions it on the tube -- but that was probably the worst of its sins. And it has a light spice scent, almost inoffensive. Edge has developed a good product to compete with all those more upscale brands. Available for $5 at your local drugstore and online.

The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Shaving Cream: This is my new favorite shaving cream. The people at The Art of Shaving make great products and this one is worth the price. It goes on great with and without a shave oil and in my opinion, works better with a brush. The sandalwood helps with my occasional battle with razor bumps and the glycerin and coconut oil reduce the road rash that shaving can give a brother. The razor didn't get clogged from the shaving cream and my face was as soft as I can ever remember after a shave. And, if you so prefer, you can get all the necessities to satisfy your shaving passion, from pre-shave oil to slick razor handles and blades. Available at The Art of Shaving stores and online, $22.

If I was forced to rank them, (or else this whole exercise is just me tossing off) The Art of Shaving is my favorite, followed by Moulton Brown, then, surprisingly, the Edge Active, the Grooming Lounge, Sharp's Gel, and the Palmolive. That's what worked for my face, but you should try these and see what you're happy with.

Remember, shaving boils down to your equipment and your time. A sharp blade, good lubricant, and a slow hand can give most guys a good shave.  A good shaving cream can minimize some of the trauma (dry skin, razor burn and bumps, nicks and cuts) to your skin. Everybody has their own shaving ritual - in the shower, after the shower, this guy a friend of mine knows who only shaves at night, with a Scotch in one hand and a razor in the other.  Whatever your style, try a few of these shave creams, take your time with the shaving process and give your mug the love it deserves.