Best Electric Shaver for Sensitive Skin Review 2024 (Top 5 Choices)

Are you tired of dealing with red, irritated skin after every shave? Does the thought of dragging a razor across your face fill you with dread because you know it’s going to leave your skin feeling dry and uncomfortable?

If you’ve got sensitive skin, shaving can feel like more of a chore than a grooming routine.

That’s why I’ve taken the time to thoroughly review five of the top electric shavers designed specifically for sensitive skin. I’ve delved into the nitty-gritty details, assessing not only how well each shaver performs but also how gentle it is on delicate skin. From cutting precision to comfort, I’ve scrutinized every aspect to help you make an informed decision.

Let’s talk about maintenance too. Proper care of your electric shaver can prolong its lifespan and ensure optimal performance. I’ll walk you through the dos and don’ts of shaver maintenance, because taking care of your tools is just as important as choosing the right one.

If you’ve been avoiding shaving because you’re tired of dealing with the aftermath, this guide is for you. Say goodbye to redness, irritation, and dryness, and hello to a smooth, comfortable shave every time.

Now, let’s dive into the details. I’ll break down the features, accessories, and pros and cons of each shaver, giving you all the information you need to select the perfect option for your sensitive skin.

But before we get into the nitty-gritty, let me answer some common questions that often crop up when people are in the market for their first electric shaver.

These two models stand out for their exceptional performance and comfort, earning high praise from satisfied users.
However, if budget is a concern for you, fear not. There are other options worth considering that offer great value without compromising on quality.

Best Electric Shaver for Sensitive Skin – Quick Comparison Table

If you have sensitive skin, finding the best electric shaver for sensitive skin is a personal choice and requires a good bit of research before you choose.

Here’s a summary of the best electric shaver for sensitive skin in 2024.

Best Electric Shaver For Sensitive Skin: Our Top Picks

Choosing the suitable best electric shaver for sensitive skin is one of the key elements in getting a close, comfortable, and enjoyable shave. This article will help you find the right men’s electric shaver and use it the right way.

1. Braun Shaver Series 7 7085cc

The Series 7 was Braun’s best shaver before the Series 9 came out. It’s also made of stainless steel, and comes with a cleaning station, one cleaning cartridge and a travel case.

It does not, however, include the power adapter for international outlets.

This shaver also includes an edging trimmer that sits parallel with the head. If we had to guess, we’d say it’s the same exact edging trimmer as the Series 9.

That’s just fine by us, since it’s a great trimmer. There’s also a speed selector on this unit that lets you choose from five different speeds.

You can slow it down for gentleness while you’re working on your upper lip, then crank it up to get your cheeks shaved in a flash.

There’s also a speed selector on this unit that lets you choose from five different speeds. You can slow it down for gentleness while you’re working on your upper lip, then crank it up to get your cheeks shaved in a flash.

My impression:

This is another very smooth shaver. The heads float easily and gave me no trouble on my upper lip or chin. Because the head is a little fat, it can be awkward to use under your nose, but I got the hang of it after a few shaves.

It runs very quietly, like a barbershop trimmer, and vibrates gently for minimal irritation.

Maintenance is easy. The cleaning station works with the push of a button and cleans your electric shaver in about an hour. If you’re taking it on the road – or want to save money – you can clean it manually as well.

What could be better?

While the Series 7 is much more affordable upfront than the Series 9, it still uses the same expensive cleaning cartridges.

Over the course of six months, these will cost you more than you spent on the shaver in the first place.

2. Braun Shaver Series 9 9370cc

The Braun Series 9 is the most powerful shaver Braun sells. It’s made of durable, easy-to-clean stainless steel, and comes with a cleaning station, one cleaning cartridge, and a brush. It also includes a power adapter for plugging into 240V outlets. This makes it ideal for frequent overseas travelers.

There’s an integrated edging trimmer on the back. It slides up parallel with the main blades, so it’s convenient to use.

The main shaver head has computerized sensors that check for snags 160 times per second, so the shaver will take care of them before you even notice that anything’s wrong.

My impression:

This is a nice, smooth-running shaver. It cuts fast, so you’ll only need 3-4 passes to trim all of your hair. Maintenance is very easy. Just put it in the cleaning station, and press the clean button.

You’ll need to replace the cleaning cartridge about once a month. These cartridges can be on the pricey side, but you can reduce the need for them by cleaning your shaver manually. Check the manual for instructions, but it’s pretty easy.

The free-floating heads on the Braun Series 9 float easily over all your face’s contours. It can be awkward to navigate at first since it tilts, but once you get the hang of it it’s very easy to use.

What could be better?

This electric shaver is expensive but is the best electric shaver for sensitive skin. This is to be expected since it’s Braun’s top-of-the-line model, but the cleaning cartridges are also very expensive. Expect to spend more on this shaver than you would on most models.

3. Braun Series 5 5020 Electric Razor

Continuing down the line of Braun electric shavers, we arrive at the Series 5. This shaver is Braun’s budget option, but don’t let that fool you.

For the price, you’re getting one heck of a shaver. The handle on this unit is a little wider than the others we’ve reviewed. While that makes it slightly less ergonomic, the handle is made of firm, non-slip rubber, so you’re not in any danger of dropping it.

Because it’s Braun’s budget shaver, the Series 5 ships with only a cleaning brush and a blade cover. There is no travel case or cleaning station.

There is, however, an integrated edging trimmer. Like with the previous Braun shavers, this one also slides out parallel to the main blades.

My impression:

This shaver isn’t as efficient as the Series 7 or Series 9. It needs 4-5 passes to get down to a smooth shave. That said, it’s a little bit easier to use.

Since the head doesn’t pivot, it doesn’t tend to angle off to the side along your jaw or under your nose. The foils still float individually, so you won’t have any issues with sharp angles.

Because there’s no cleaning station, you’ll need to clean the blades and foils by hand each time you use it. On the plus side, this will save you a lot of money on cleaning cartridges.

Unfortunately, it’s less convenient.

What could be better?

I’d have liked a little bit more efficiency, but honestly this is still a fantastic shaver for the price. The other thing I’d like is a cleaning station, or at least to purchase an aftermarket one.

Overall, I would highly recommend the Series 5 electric razor to anyone looking for a reliable and efficient electric razor. Its powerful motor, 3-stage cutting system, and comfortable design make it a great choice for everyday use.

I also added that the Series 5 5020 is an almost identical electric shaver alternative to Series 3 when dry shave and it can also be used with shaving foam or cream.

If you need a good shaver for your skin, I recommend using the Braun series 5 would probably be a better option than the Series 3 3040s, because it is very gentle for sensitive skin.

4. Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige

This is another premium shaver, and it’s the only rotary shaver on our list.

It’s also a series of shavers: The Series 9300 and 9700. While there are minor differences between these two models, they’re mostly cosmetic, so this review holds true for both models.

The Philips Shaver 9000 series of shavers ship with a cleaning station, a cleaning cartridge, a travel case, and an edging trimmer head that you can swap out with the rotary foils to get nice, sharp lines.

My impression:

This is the Cadillac of rotary shavers. According to Philips, it cuts 30% faster than their next-best shaver. That said, it’s still a rotary shaver, which means it can tend to pull hair in different directions if you’re using it on several days of growth.

If you’re going to use a rotary shaver, it’s wise to shave every day.

That said, it cuts a one or two-day beard very quickly, with 3-4 passes at top speed. It’s also extremely gentle, and lets you throttle back to lower speeds for awkward areas.

What could be better?

This is a fantastic shaver, but nothing is perfect. We’d love to see an integrated edging trimmer, instead of having to swap out the trimmer head every time we shave.

Overall, though, this is a minor gripe. Given how well the shaver performs, we still highly recommend it.

5. Panasonic Arc 5 ES-LV6U

Shaver is indispensable for everyday men to have a perfect masculine look. However, there are many shavers on the market that are of poor quality, causing skin damage when used and very quickly broken.

Therefore, it is difficult to find a good quality machine. The Panasonic ES-LV6U electric shaver will help you solve that problem.

Unlike other Panasonic electric shavers, the foils of ES-LV6U don’t get too hot. The shaving process of this razor is generally smooth and non-irritating.

If you want to use a wet shave, the ES-LV6U will be a real choice when using it. In general, Panasonic shaver models are well suited to shaving cream and this one is no exception.

The Panasonic ES-LV6U electric shaver will help you clean your beard quickly with a flexible ultra-durable blade system that easily adjusts and fits the contours of your face. Is Panasonic ES-LV6U plastic or metal? As is true of most electronic devices, ES-LV6U has both. The case is plastic and seems substantial.

The blades, mountings, and screens are metal. The Panasonic ES-LV6U shaver has a compact design that is easy to carry when traveling. Choose the Panasonic ES-LV6U shaver as a dear gift that you want to give to the loving men in your family.

6. Philips Norelco Series 7500

The Philips Norelco Series 7500 is the second-budget product on our list. This shaver has 50-minute battery life. It’s stainless steel but has rubber grips on the handle for comfort and convenience.

This shaver ships with a cleaning station and AquaTec technology, cleaning cartridge, and travel case, and has an integrated edging trimmer.

It’s 100 percent waterproof, so you can use it in the shower if you like.

My impression:

For a budget shaver, the Philips Norelco Series 7500 shaves very quickly and close shave with 3 ultra-sharp stainless-steel blades.

The blades deliver amazing 13,000 cuts per minute, which makes it one of the fastest shavers I’ve tried. 3-4 passes are all you should need to get a close shave with this machine.

Cleaning is easy. Just set the shaver in the base and press the Clean button. You can also clean this shaver manually if you want to save more money.

We all have our unique approaches to life. When choosing these shavers, I was looking for two things: cutting speed, and the ability to shave wet.

Besides Philips Norelco Shaver 7500, you can choose the Panasonic ES-LV95 Arc 5 shaver with good wet and dry shaving ability for sensitive skin.

For someone that shaves often and if they don’t have sensitive skin, a Philips Norelco shaver would likely be a better choice. On the other hand, if you shave every three days or so and have sensitive skin, chances are that a Braun series 7 will provide a better experience for you.

What could be better?

There are a lot of reasons why I include this shaver in my collection of the best electric shaver for sensitive skin. The SmartClick precision trimmer on this model could use some improvement. It opens easily and cuts well, but the angle is all wrong.

Because it’s perpendicular to the unit and closes by pressing it in one direction, you can only run it forward.

Depending on what part of your face you’re trimming, this can be awkward, and you can block your own view in the mirror.

How Does an Electric Shaver Work?

What are the best blades for sensitive skin but thick hair? Blades are, in my opinion, the most subjective item in wet shaving. Blades react differently in different razors, to different faces, hair growth, and coarseness of the hair.

If you’ve never used an electric shaver before or how to use an electric razor, it can look like some kind of witchcraft. A manual razor is straightforward. You drag the sharp blade across your sensitive skin, and it cuts the hair off at the base.

It’s not exactly the latest technology, but everyone knows how it works. An electric razor’s cutting mechanism has two parts: a foil, which is a screen full of holes, and a blade, which vibrates back and forth behind the foil and cuts any hairs that poke through.

On the plus side, this can be faster and easier than a manual shave. On the downside, electric shavers typically require several passes, which can be more irritating for your sensitive skin.

What Makes The Best Electric Shaver for Sensitive Skin?

When choosing these electric shavers, I was looking for two things: cutting speed, and the ability to shave wet. Cutting speed is typically measured in RPM.

The faster your blades move, the faster they’ll cut, which means you’ll need fewer passes and have less risk of snagging hairs.

In this regard, when you’re looking for the best electric shaver for sensitive skin, you’re just looking for a fast, efficient shaver. The other thing you’ll want is the ability to shave wet. A lot of electric shavers are only designed for a dry shave.

This is fine for a lot of guys, but if you have sensitive skin you’ll want to use shaving cream for sensitive skin, which means you’ll be getting your shaver wet.

An electric shaver that is good for sensitive skin typically has a number of features that reduce irritation and discomfort. Here are some of the most important factors to consider:

• Blades: Electric shavers with high-quality, hypoallergenic blades are best for sensitive skin, as they are less likely to cause irritation and redness.
• Adjustable Settings: An electric shaver that has adjustable settings can help you to customize the shave to your skin type, making it easier to avoid irritation.
• Comfort: An electric shaver that is comfortable to hold and use is also important, as this can reduce the amount of pressure you apply to your skin, which can help to reduce the risk of irritation.
• Skin Guard: Some electric shavers have a skin guard that helps to protect your skin from the blades and reduces the risk of cuts and irritation.
• Wet/Dry Use: Wet/dry electric shavers can be used with shaving cream or gel, which can help to reduce irritation and provide a more comfortable shave.
• Power: An electric shaver with a powerful, yet gentle motor helps in providing a smooth and effective shave without irritating sensitive skin.

4 Facial Hair Options for Sensitive Skin

1 – The Full Beard

The Lumberjack. The hipster. The Cast Away. Simply put, the easiest way to protect your sensitive skin is to never shave at all. Of course, if you’re reading this review, I’m guessing you prefer a more clean-cut look.

Full beards can also cause skin irritation in and of themselves, particularly if you have very curly hair. A good quality beard oil can fix this, though. You’ll definitely want to invest in some if you want to go full ZZ Top.

2 – The Goatee

The goatee is a nice balance between a full beard and a clean shave. It’s one of the few beard styles that looks equally good on a biker or a corporate CEO. No matter who you are or what you do for a living, a goatee is almost certainly fine to wear to work.

The advantage of a goatee is that you don’t have to shave your upper lip or your chin. These are common shaving trouble spots that can require several passes to get completely smooth, which can be irritating if you have sensitive skin.

3 – The Stache

A good old-fashioned mustache, like Tom Sellick, used to wear. These many classics aren’t as stylish as they used to be, but mustaches never really go out of style.

Like a goatee, a mustache doesn’t require you to shave your upper lip, which can save you a lot of irritation. On the other hand, you will still need to shave your chin, so it’s not quite as convenient as the goatee.

4 – The Clean Shave

The exact opposite of a full beard. This is the cleanest look a man can get, and like the other styles I’ve looked at, it never really goes out of fashion.

The downside? You need to shave your entire face, including your upper lip. If you prefer a clean-shaven look, it’s especially important to use the most gentle trimmer you can.

How To Choose The Best Electric Shaver for Sensitive Skin?

Depending on your long beard style and your specific needs, you’ll want to look at a few different things when choosing an electric shaver.

Let’s cover the most basic features.

Rotary Style or a Straight Foil?

There are two main types of electric shavers: Straight foil shavers and rotary shavers.

A lot of review websites are of the opinion that straight foil shavers for sensitive skin are universally gentler than their rotary cousins. This has some truth to it, but it’s a broad generalization.

The reason a lot of people believe it is that straight foil shavers use a side-to-side motion. They’re never cutting your hair against the grain.

Rotary shavers, on the other hand, have spinning blades that end up cutting cross-grain as much as in any other direction.

A lot of people find this irritating, but there’s also another reason rotary shavers are perceived as worse. The earliest electric shavers were rotary shavers, with straight shavers being invented later.

Since these straight shavers were newer, they were better than the rotary shavers of the day. Because companies are constantly developing new and better shavers in both styles, rotary shavers can now be just as good as straight foil shavers.

Merkur Mk34c Double Edge Razor

Corded or Cordless?

There are advantages to both corded and cordless shavers. Corded shavers never run out of power, and can be lighter to hold since they don’t have batteries. On the other hand, you can’t use them in the shower.

For this reason, I’ve reviewed only cordless, waterproof shavers. If for some reason you absolutely need to buy a corded shaver, make sure it at least has waterproof blades.

You still won’t be able to use it in the shower, but you’ll at least be able to do a wet shave at your sink.

What’s a Good Speed?

The faster a shaver’s blades move, the faster they cut your beard. This means you need to make fewer passes, so your sensitive skin won’t be so irritated after shaving.

Since I reviewed only shavers with a motor speed of at least 10,000 RPM, all of the shavers I listed are fast enough to be extremely gentle.

If you’re going to buy a different product, we strongly recommend 10,000 RPM as a minimum benchmark for sensitive skin.

What About Accessories?

Which accessories you need will depend on your lifestyle. If you don’t travel much, a big cleaning station can be nice and save you some time. On the other hand, you won’t need a travel case.

If you travel a lot, you may prefer a shaver with fewer accessories for easier packing. Long battery life is also a plus for travelers since you can oftentimes get away with leaving your charger at home for shorter trips.

You’ll also want a nice, rugged travel case to protect your new electric shaver.

A Step By Step Guideline for Using an Electric Shaver

Some of our readers are already familiar with electric shavers. For others, this may be their first time around the block.

Here are the basics of using an electric shaver.

● Make several passes. If you’re used to using a manual razor, you’re probably accustomed to going over each area only once, or twice at most. With most electric shavers, on the other hand, you’ll want to make 5 or 6 passes over your face to get all the hairs.

With some faster shavers, you can get away with 3 or 4 passes. As I’ve discussed, all the best electric shavers for sensitive skin I reviewed are on the faster end of the spectrum.

● Rinse the shaver frequently. As you shave, bits of hair can get caught in your foil, which can reduce efficiency and drag hair clippings over your face, increasing irritation.

Shaving cream will also build up, and get in the way. Just like you would rinse a manual razor every couple of strokes, rinse your electric shaver off every few passes.

This will keep it running smoothly, and avoid unnecessary skin irritation.

● Use an edge trimmer for trouble spots. All the shavers I reviewed include an edge trimmer. This is true for most modern shavers because foils are not as precise as a manual razor.

When you’re trying to get a clean line on your sideburns or the edge of a goatee, a trimmer is a must.

The only people who won’t benefit from an edge trimmer are clean-shaven men who also shave their heads completely.

● Clean your shaver after each use. You wouldn’t put your manual razor away without cleaning it.

Come to think of it, you wouldn’t put any tool away dirty. Why would you treat your shaver any differently? A lot of shavers include cleaning stations, which make maintenance a breeze.

Just put your shaver in the dock when you’re done with it and run a cleaning cycle. Shavers without charging stations will still need to be cleaned, so check your owner’s manual for instructions for your model.

Final words

For those of us with sensitive skin, shaving has never been easy. Even the most luxurious hot towel shave can be a literal pain in the neck. Thankfully, there are more and better shavers available than ever before, and these modern models are gentler than anything that’s been around in the past.

I hope you’ve found our review helpful enough to choose one of the best electric shavers for sensitive skin I recommended. Even if you decided to go in a different direction, I hope you’ve found enough useful information to get you pointed in the right direction.

After all, our main goal is to help you, my readers.