Best electric shaver 2023: For sensitive, wet and dry skin | The Independent

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In the same way that The Beatles and The Stones divide music fans, electric shavers and traditional razors divide anyone who wants to shed some stubble. Both methods of shaving have their pros and cons: wet shaving might deliver marginally closer results but electric shaving is by far the simpler, quicker and less messy option.

Since electric shavers work by gently lifting stubble as they cut, and the blades themselves don’t come into direct contact with the skin, they’re also ideal for those with sensitive or blemish-prone skin, and for older gents with the odd wrinkle to navigate.

The fact that they’re fast, safe and relatively mess-free makes them ideal for festivals, travel and for when you’re generally time poor or just too lazy to bother with all the gubbins involved in wet shaving.

To get the most out of your shaver, use your fingers to stretch the skin on your face as you shave, resisting the temptation to press too hard. Afterwards, clean your shaver as instructed using the brush or cleaning station provided, and change the blades and/or foils as instructed.

Above all, be patient – electric shaving is very different from wet shaving and irritation can occur in the first few weeks of switching methods, as the skin adjusts to a new approach. The good news is that this usually subsides after a couple of weeks, so don’t give up thinking it’s not a method that suits your skin.

So, now all you need to do is match the shaver to the man. Luckily, we think you’ll find something to suit in our electric shaver shortlist – whether you’re a total beginner or an electric aficionado.

How we tested

We put each shaver through its paces on two occasions – once on light, day-old stubble and again after several days’ growth. Performance was key, obviously, but functionality, appearance, value-for-money, charging time and how they felt in the hand were taken into account too.

The best electric shavers for 2023 are:

• Best overall – Braun series 9 with SmartCare Center: £499.99, Braunshop.co.uk
• Best for sensitive skin – Panasonic ES-LV97-K premium performance shaver: £124.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Best for ease of use – Philips OneBlade pro face and body QP6550/15: £100, Argos.co.uk
• Best for robustness – Wahl Lifeproof shaver: £56, Very.co.uk
• Best multi-functional shaver – Babyliss men 7861U 12-in-1 Japan steel multi trimmer: £90, Johnlewis.com
• Best first shaver – Braun series 3 proskin 3040s wet and dry shaver: £57.76, Amazon.co.uk
• Best for stubble-lovers – Remington F6 style series aqua: £54.02, Amazon.co.uk
• Best for gadget geeks – Philips Series 9000 wet and dry electric shaver with quick clean pod S9987/55: £250, Boots.com