Whether they are fancy trainers, work boots, or formal dress shoes, owning at least one pair of nice leather shoes is a key part of anyone's wardrobe. However, looking after them is a commitment and paramount to guaranteeing they last for years to come. This is where shoe polish comes in! It will not only ensure your shoes look clean and shiny, but it'll protect them, too.
To help extend the life of your favourite footwear, we've come up with a handy buying guide to let you know whether you should get a wax or cream polish, as well as some other key considerations. Plus, we've rounded up the 10 best shoe polishes from popular brands like Kiwi, Cherry Blossom and Saphir, all available from online retailers such as Amazon and eBay.
Before we jump into the best shoe polishes for purchase online, our buying guide is here to help you figure out the difference between a cream and wax formula, which ingredients to look out for, and whether you need a coloured polish or not.
Shoe polish usually comes in one of two types of formula: cream or wax. Deciding on which formula you want depends on what type of finish you prefer for your shoes, so let's take a look at the specifics of each.
A cream polish will provide your shoe with a matte shine along with moisturising the leather of your shoe. Plus, they often come in colours which is great for restoring your shoe’s exterior and covering up any potential scuffs.
This is typically the most common type of shoe polish, as well as the easiest to use for beginners, so start here if you're buying your first tub!
A wax-based polish, on the other hand, will give your shoes a shinier finish than a cream polish, as well as protecting the leather.
Wax polishes contain ingredients like beeswax that will allow you to buff out marks and scuffs from your shoes, but there is a learning curve with this, so start slowly – use too little polish and you won't achieve a shine, but use too much and you may dry your shoes out and have the polish flake off.
As we mentioned, cream-based polishes will often contain colourings for various shades of shoe. This is especially useful if you think your shoes are looking particularly dull or you have some scuffs you need to cover up.
If you mostly own black shoes or have a particular white pair you want to restore, you may want to consider a coloured shoe polish. Otherwise, using a multipurpose transparent shoe polish is the best option, as it means you will be able to use it on your whole shoe collection as opposed to just one or two pairs.
Plus, unless you are using it on black or white shoes, it may be hard to match the polish colour to your shoe.
Being a natural material, it makes sense that natural ingredients work better on leather shoes. Natural ingredients, such as lanolin and beeswax, will absorb better into the leather material and help protect your shoe better in the long term.
Although synthetic ingredients such as petroleum and silicone aren’t necessarily bad for your shoes, they won’t be as effective as natural ingredients. However, they are usually cheaper so if you’re on a budget, this may be a better option for your purchase.
Before you go applying polish, you need to get the right equipment to apply it properly. That's why the final thing to think about is whether you are just buying the product on its own or if it comes with any additional extras.
To efficiently polish your shoes, it’s advised to use a cloth to apply it, as well as a brush to buff it out. If you don’t own any of these, it might be worth buying a polish kit that comes with these accessories, as opposed to a standalone container.
And if you're a complete newbie, there are even polishes with inbuilt sponges so you don’t need any additional extra materials. If you often find yourself needing to polish quickly and on the go, this could be a better option for you!
Now you know all the important factors to consider when buying shoe polish, let’s have a look at our rankings list of the top 10 best shoe polishes to buy online. From travel sets to complete kits, we've got an option for every shoe lover!
£5.99
Formula Type | Cream |
---|---|
Colour | Black (transparent available) |
Synthetic or Natural | - |
Additional Extras | Inbuilt sponge |
Size | 60 ml |
£12.99
Formula Type | Wax |
---|---|
Colour | Black, neutral |
Synthetic or Natural | - |
Additional Extras | 2 brushes, shoe horn, polishing cloth and carry case |
Size | - |
£5.26
Formula Type | Cream |
---|---|
Colour | Black (brown and neutral available) |
Synthetic or Natural | Synthetic |
Additional Extras | Inbuilt sponge |
Size | 75 ml |
£10.69
Formula Type | Wax |
---|---|
Colour | Neutral (cherry and black available) |
Synthetic or Natural | Synthetic |
Additional Extras | None |
Size | 50 ml |
£1.35
Formula Type | Wax |
---|---|
Colour | 7 colours available |
Synthetic or Natural | Natural |
Additional Extras | None |
Size | 50 ml |
£1.98
Formula Type | Cream |
---|---|
Colour | Black (tan and neutral avaiable) |
Synthetic or Natural | Synthetic |
Additional Extras | None |
Size | 50 ml |
£9.90
Formula Type | Wax |
---|---|
Colour | 15 colours available |
Synthetic or Natural | Natural |
Additional Extras | None |
Size | 60 ml |
£5.89
Formula Type | Cream |
---|---|
Colour | 85 colours available |
Synthetic or Natural | Synthetic |
Additional Extras | None |
Size | 50 ml |
£6.79
Formula Type | Cream |
---|---|
Colour | 4 colours available |
Synthetic or Natural | - |
Additional Extras | None |
Size | 50 ml |
£10.49
Formula Type | Cream |
---|---|
Colour | Neutral |
Synthetic or Natural | Natural |
Additional Extras | Polishing cloth |
Size | 50 ml |
Image | 1 ![]() Saphir | 2 ![]() Wren's | 3 ![]() TRG | 4 ![]() Angelus | 5 ![]() Kiwi | 6 Cherry Blossom | 7 ![]() Dr Martens | 8 ![]() Kiwi | 9 ![]() Glo-Earth | 10 ![]() ECCO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Beaute du Cuir Renovateur | Leather Cream Classic | The One Shoe Cream | Perfect Stain Shoe Wax Polish | Shoe Polish | Premium Shoe Polish | Neutral Polish Shoe Care | Shine and Protect Black | 7 Piece Shoe Polish Kit | Self Shine Shoe Polish |
Features | Unbeatable for Bringing Life Back to Old Leather | A Classic Formula Best for Restoring Shine and Ensuring Longevity | A Polish Suitable for Shoes and More in a Range of 85 Colours | Available in 15 Shades and Perfect for Shoe Collectors | An Affordable Cream That Won't Dry Out | A Classic Shoe Polish From a Classic British Brand | A Quality Neutral Shoe Polish Not Just for Dr Martens | Quick and Easy Shine for Polishing on the Go | An All In One 7 Piece Shoe Polishing Kit for Beginners | A Travel-Sized Polish With An Inbuilt Sponge For Easy Polishing |
Price | £10.49 | £6.79 | £5.89 | £9.90 | £1.98 | £1.35 | £10.69 | £5.26 | £12.99 | £5.99 |
Formula Type | Cream | Cream | Cream | Wax | Cream | Wax | Wax | Cream | Wax | Cream |
Colour | Neutral | 4 colours available | 85 colours available | 15 colours available | Black (tan and neutral avaiable) | 7 colours available | Neutral (cherry and black available) | Black (brown and neutral available) | Black, neutral | Black (transparent available) |
Synthetic or Natural | Natural | - | Synthetic | Natural | Synthetic | Natural | Synthetic | Synthetic | - | - |
Additional Extras | Polishing cloth | None | None | None | None | None | None | Inbuilt sponge | 2 brushes, shoe horn, polishing cloth and carry case | Inbuilt sponge |
Size | 50 ml | 50 ml | 50 ml | 60 ml | 50 ml | 50 ml | 50 ml | 75 ml | - | 60 ml |
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To get the best out of your shoe polish, you need to ensure you’re using the product properly. Here are a few tips and tricks on how to do so:
Start off by using a brush or a damp cloth to clean off any dirt or dust that may have gathered on your shoes. This ensures that your shoe is clean enough for the polish to properly penetrate the material of your shoe.
Now you’re ready to polish, but remember, a little goes a long way! Using a cotton cloth and a dab of polish, buff the polish into the exterior of your shoe, making sure to apply a small amount of pressure to really work the product into the material.
After working the polish in, leave it to dry and work its way into the leather. This can be anywhere from 20 minutes to even overnight to fully work its magic.
Then, using a polishing brush, use long, firm strokes to brush over the entire shoe. This final step not only removes any excess polish but the buffing action also helps to bring out the shine of your shoe.
Taking care of your clothes and shoes to extend their lifespan isn't only good for your bank balance, but it's better for the environment, too. Here are a few more products that will help both you and your favourite outfits look fresh for years to come!
Now you've invested in a polish for all your leather shoe needs and read our guide on how best to polish your shoes, all that’s left is to get to work! With a little bit of time and some elbow grease, you’re sure to have the shiniest and most impressive shoe collection.
Author: Dodo Wang
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