When your skin is sensitive, swiping the razor the wrong way can bring about a bad reaction. With a quality electric shaver in hand, you have a device that yields a clean, close shave with less irritation. It saves you time as opposed to using a safety razor and offers convenience with its flex head designs that naturally follow the contours of your face. And while the general consensus does remain that the razor blade yields a much closer shave, the best electric shaver for sensitive skin will offer a gentler experience.
Because sensitive skin is a real issue, you want to get a quality product that won’t aggravate the discomfort associated with shaving. That is why when buying an electric shaver for sensitive skin, just any model won’t suffice. Instead, you need to pay attention to features like blade count and sharpness, CPM, shaving and charge time, as well as the shaving options available on the unit.
After working with multiple electric shavers for sensitive skin, our testers have put together a list of the 7 most effective shavers available on the current market with the Panasonic ES8103S Arc3 as our Editor’s Choice. You can read a detailed description of each to get a better idea of what every model offers and then round up with our buying guide to understand how these features will help you get a more comfortable shave.
More features: wet/dry functions; pop-up trimmer for sideburns and mustaches; LCD display indicating battery power
Catered to working on sensitive skin types, this Panasonic Arc3 model excels at delivering a close and comfortable shave. Advertised as a wet/dry shaver, this unit comes with a foil shaver head designed to protect your skin from irritation. The shaving head sits at a 30-degree angle that pivots easily to stay close to the skin.
Using nanotech blades, this shaver promises a hypoallergenic shave which is suitable for people allergic to any sort of metal. In addition, the shaver head houses a three-blade system along with a trimming feature. The slit foil captures long beard hairs, trimming first followed by shaving away the rest.
This Panasonic model has a strong motor that packs a punch of power when operated. When you turn on the Power button, you get an immense speed at 13,000 CPM that shaves close to the skin without any tugging or pulling.
It’s easy to see why this Panasonic model still has a reasonably large fan following despite newer models being introduced on the market. This is also one of the reasons why it’s our Editor’s Choice on this list.
On the flip side, users feel that this otherwise fantastic shaver could do a little better with some cleaning tools and a charging unit included.
More features: comes with an interface displaying battery level percentage, cleaning indicator, battery low indicator, replacement head indicator, and a travel lock indicator
If you’re a fan of rotary shavers, then this Philips model may be the right place to start. Three shaving heads work together to give you a fast and clean shave. Each head can move in eight different directions to match the contours of the face and has V-Track precision blades. The blades trim and shave without any tugging or pulling making it suitable to use on sensitive skin.
While a pop-up trimmer is a standard on most models these days, this Norelco shaver comes with a detachable precision trimmer. Designed with sensitive skin in mind, this trimmer can help you style your facial hair with high precision.
There is the option of personalizing the speed setting to your preference with a Normal or Fast mode. But for anyone with sensitive skin, there is also a Sensitive setting to give you a much gentler shaving experience. It is this freedom to customization that ranks this shaver as the best electric shaver for sensitive skin.
As with anything on the market, there are a few things that could stand improvement eventually. For instance, while the detachable trimmer is a handy add-on, some people find the process of having to remove the shaver head first before inserting the trimmer in its place bothersome.
However, this shaver has way more pros than cons at this point.
More features: five Turbo/Sensitive modes; 10,000 microvibrations per minute
A favorite among the Series 7, this Braun model makes an impression right away. It showcases an elegant, grey unit engineered as a foil-style shaver which is accompanied by a black, charging, renewing and cleaning station. This is a top of the line shaver that may cost more than others in this category but comes as a comprehensive package, leaving nothing to chance.
The Braun 790cc has been crafted with some unique features in mind. For instance, this model uses the Active Lift Technology which lifts up flat and curly hairs and cuts them with one swipe. The shaver also has three personalization modes that allow you to use a setting most suitable to your skin sensitivity and the type of hair.
Among others, this shaver has won accolades for being among the best shavers for black men. How so? Because black skin is generally more sensitive than other types, being prone to a higher number of issues like ingrown hairs, razor burn and razor bumps.
Fortunately, with the Braun 790cc’s sensitivity settings of Intensive, Extra Sensitive and Normal mode, you can choose an exact mode that will not damage the skin.
Plus, black skin typically comes with curly hair which can be tricky for many shavers to deal with. The Braun 790cc provides a cut that lifts the hairs first and then cuts, making it easier to work with curly hair.
While such a hefty price tag, getting refills and replacement parts should not be an issue, but it seems to be so with this model’s additional accessories.
More features: includes 3 stubble combs: 1 mm for a tight trim, 3 mm for a stubble, or 5 mm for long stubble
Looking suspiciously like a single blade trimmer, the Norelco OneBlade is actually a pure stroke of genius. While it may not seem to have the aesthetics or the solid structure of other electric shavers, the OneBlade delivers what it promises.
Hiding behind its modest appearance is a half electric trimmer, a half shaver that comes together as an all-in-one electric razor. It trims, edges and shaves just as other models but all with the use of a single blade. The trimmer head is unique in its construction with a razor that presents a cross hatch design. This works well to prevent itching during close, smooth shaves.
There are small, green tipped teeth surrounding the blade that protect the skin from the sharper blades hiding behind. Moving the trimmer head along the face, your hair falls between the green tipped teeth and gets cut by the rapidly oscillating blades. And because the teeth are found on either side of the blade, it is safe to use both upward and downward motions when using the OneBlade.
Experts describe this as a hybrid unit with exceptional shaving capabilities. It provides a gentle, close shave that is facilitated by the rounded teeth of the comb.
The unit comes with three additional attachments to work on stubbles of different lengths which makes it the perfect trimming tool. It also makes it the best electric shaver for trimming on our list.
That said, this unit does come with a short battery life. After charging it for a full eight hours, you only get 45 minutes worth of shaving time.
More features: hypo-allergenic stainless-steel blades; can be used dry or wet
This is an electric powered, handheld shaver geared towards the personal grooming needs of women with sensitive skin issues. Starting with its aesthetics, this shaver reveals a sleek and feminine design with a pearlescent pink casing. The foil styled shaver has the power button positioned in the middle of the front.
Showcased as a wet/dry shaver this unit has four shaving elements and heads that float independently. This allows the blades to glide over the skin smoothly while cutting stubborn hair on the legs, underarms and the bikini zone.
In addition, the four laser-sharpened blades are positioned beneath hypoallergenic heads for a more comfortable shave. Keeping skin sensitivities is mind, this feature is handy.
However, the absence of a carrying case or charging port can make it inconvenient to pack and lug along with you. But if you must, you can purchase a coordinated case for this unit at an additional price.
More features: 3-action alcohol-based Clean&Charge station; shaving head adapts in 8 directions
This electric shaver is unique in the sense the motor on this unit is capable of automatically adjusting its power to the beard’s thickness. Not many shavers can boast about this feature, and that’s why it ranks as the best electric shaver for tough beards on our list. This autosensing feature prevents you from putting excessive pressure on your skin when using this unit.
Other than this, the Braun 5190cc comes with two foil blades and an Actilift middle trimmer. Together, the shaving elements cut and capture flat lying hairs while flexing in eight directions to achieve a close and comfortable shave. Suitable for both wet and dry shaving this unit is fully submersible. It comes with a textured grip that makes it easy to hold when using it in the shower.
The Braun 5190cc has a three-level battery display that indicates how much shaving time you have left on the unit. There is a quick charge component that powers up the unit for a single shave.
The unit is also accessorized with the Clean&Charge station for optimal cleanup and maintenance of the unit. The cleaning mechanism for this unit is alcohol-based and delivers impressive results.
More features: washable body; wet/dry function; 4-direction flex head
This is a 2-in-1 multifunctional electric razor that is a compact unit suitable for travel or daily use. It is a basic rotary model that comes with three floating shaving elements. The head can quickly change from shaver to trimmer.
The upgraded shaving blades have a slit that shaves long beards while the round hole works on the shorter stubble. The heads move independently in four directions adjusting to contours easily.
This is a budget-friendly option that will give you a clean, close shave without taxing your wallet too much. This is a wet/dry model that is safe to use in the shower and is IPX7 waterproof. The entire body of this unit is washable which lets you have a refreshing wet shave when shaving with gel or cream; an important feature when shaving on sensitive skin.
The security lock mechanism on the unit goes into effect after holding the on/off switch for three seconds putting it into a safe travel mode. Cleaning involves simply detaching the blades and rinsing them under cold water. These are a lot of useful features considering the very favorable price point.
Shaving over sensitive skin does not simply mean finding a shaver that will glide smoothly on the skin. In fact, there is a lot more to consider than that. In this section, we’ll look at different characteristics of electric shavers so that you could find the perfect one for your needs.
Whether you shave or not, sensitive skin demands extra care. But when you do shave, you need to be especially particular before you put a razor to your skin. It is essential to make sure that your shaver travels across a smooth surface so soften your hair and skin with an appropriate product such as a cream or oil. You can also soften the hair by pressing a towel soaked in hot water against your face or shave right after taking a hot shower. The combination of heat and moisture softens the hair while dilating the pores which makes it easier for the blade to cut hair and reduces any pulling which can cause irritation.
Always go with the grain as you shave, and resist pushing too hard on the shaver to avoid undue pressure causing nicks and cuts. Make sure to keep the blades sharp as dull blades will garb at the hair more.
If your skin is prone to irritation, ingrown hairs, or razor burn, here is what you need to look for in a suitable electric shaver:
While the general idea may be equating a better shave to a greater number of shaving elements, that changes slightly when dealing with sensitive skin. For sensitive skin, more blades mean more friction and thus more irritation. The same also increases the chance of nicks and razor burn.
Experts recommend staying between the 1-3 blade range when it comes to working with sensitive skin. If your skin is a little more forgiving, maybe you could go with a four-blade device, but five blades is a definite overkill for sensitive skin.
If you want to simply stick with the basics then look no further than the Philips Norelco OneBlade that comes outfitted with a single blade and will work really nicely for a gentle shaving experience. We also have a number of three-blade options on our list for you to try out and even two models including the Braun Electric Series 7 790cc and the Panasonic Advanced Women’s Electric Shaver that come with four shaving elements.
As someone with sensitive skin, you may need to wait a couple of days between shavings. This gives your skin some time to recover and heal before being subjected to a razor again. But during this time your hair will have grown.
So to deal with this you need a trimming function on your shaver. The trimmer won’t work as closely to the skin as a shaver, and if you’re looking to sport a stubble or a beard, the trimming function will come in handy.
This function also allows you to deal better with longer hairs. Popup trimmers found on most electric shaver models work well as beard trimmers, letting you style and maintain your beard or sideburns.
Most electric shavers come with inbuilt rechargeable batteries, but performance varies by the model. You may get a high-end model and then find out that it needs a substantial amount of charging time before it’s ready for use again. So if you forget to recharge it beforehand, you may not be able to shave when you need to.
To avoid this from happening, look for a model such as the RENPHO Men’s Electric Shaver 2-in-1 that charges fully just after one hour and gives you 6o minutes of shaving on a single charge. This is the type of machines that will save on the hassle of repeated charging and be ready for use whenever you need to shave.
All electric shavers have different dimensions and specs including their weight. The weight feature ranks in as important since electric shavers are all handheld devices and holding a heavier shaver can tire your hand out. If it gets too bulky to hold after a while, you may get sloppy with your strokes, and your sensitive skin will suffer.
This is often an overlooked feature when shopping for electric shavers. Ideally look for a model that does not exceed the 1-1.5-pound mark. However, if you decide to go for a high-end model with more features, then your device can even go up to three pounds or slightly higher.
Never invest in something that doesn’t come with a warranty and electric shavers are no exception.
Most of our recommended models come with a one to two-year warranty which is a great option. This says a lot for the brand’s trust in their products.
Extra features like travel pouches, cleaning brushes, LED displays and protective caps won’t impact the performance of the shaver but will accessorize it for ease of portability, maintenance, aesthetics, and safety. Most mid-range and high-end models are equipped as such, with the cost added to their price-point.
While every model on our list comes with its unique features, our Editor’s Pick offers great value for the dollar. The Panasonic Arc3 listed here is a well-made product that is easy to use and gets the job done right. We like that you don’t have to pay too much for it and it still yields excellent performance backed by a recognized brand name.
And if you want to get something gentle for your sensitive skin needs, then the Philips Norelco 9700 will promise some good things. Ranked as the best electric shaver for sensitive skin with a rotary design, this unit offers comfort and convenience at an attractive price point.
If you’re looking for more features and don’t mind paying for them, then consider the Braun 5190cc model. It offers technology and sophistication in one bundle and is an ideal candidate for men who don’t mind spending time grooming their beards. This is an excellent choice for an uncompromising shave.
