It’s worth investing in the best shoe polish if, like us, you can’t recall the last time you saw a shoe shine booth in operation in order to maintain your shoes looking polished and attractive. Dress shoes made of leather can easily cost up to $400, but if you take good care of them and give them regular shoe shine, you can justify the investment.
The Saphir Renovateur, a rich conditioning shoe lotion that successfully hydrates leather and comes in a macadamia oil or mink oil recipe, is our top pick. A cream polish, on the other hand, puts a thin layer of cream on the shoe that gives it a medium sheen and helps blend in scuffs and scratches. We suggest the for a more reasonably priced solution that handles this.
This tutorial covers three types of shoe polishes: conditioner, wax polish, and cream polish. The proprietor of Manhattan’s Modern Leather Goods, a renowned company that has been providing leather maintenance and repairs since the 1940s, Tony Pecorella, gave me an explanation of each product’s function in extending the lifespan of the finest leather dress boots. He suggests using wax polish for the greatest shine and the best coverage for scratches and scuffs. See the FAQ section below for additional information about our chat.
Our top picks for the best shoe polishes in 2024
Best conditioner: Saphir Renovateur
Saphir goods are used nearly entirely by Modern Leather Goods, and they’re not the only ones. Almost all of the industry experts’ shoe care guidelines that I have studied identify Saphir as the greatest leather product firm and their Renovateur as the best conditioner. I tested it on an old pair of cowboy boots I’ve had for twenty years; they’ve seen a lot of use and little maintenance. I could immediately notice the results when the leather was opulently soaked in the Renovateur. The leather took on a deeper brown hue, became lighter in sheen, and became more uniform in colour.
A representative for the company claims that Saphir, a 1920-founded French company, still manufactures its goods the same way it did at the time of its founding. The ingredients list is more like what you may find in a skincare product than what you would anticipate to rub on your shoes, as is the smell, which is rather lovely. Mink oil, beeswax, and lanolin are on the list.
Even while the 75 mL jar costs more—roughly $29—a little goes a long way, and it only needs to be used occasionally—perhaps once a month. The Renovateur is well worth the money if you’ve spent a lot of money on leather shoes or boots because it will help you maintain their best appearance.
Best wax: Saphir Medaille d’Or Pate de Luxe
Particularly when it comes to its wax polish, the Medaille d’Or Pate de Luxe, Saphir is an extremely difficult brand to surpass. I used it on a pair of dress shoes that were in dire need of some TLC and that I hadn’t worn in a long time. It had faded so much that I was afraid I might have to use shoe dye. As instructed, I used the Pate de Luxe, and the polish instantly restored the faded colour. Not a lot of product was needed to provide coverage. Saphir is a top pick for the best shoe polish because it uses a greater pigment concentration in the Pate de Luxe, and it shows.
The business claims that the Pate de Luxe can be used with a cream polish and Renovateur to obtain a high gloss or mirror gloss. Similar to the Renovateur, the majority of the ingredients list seems like something from a high-end face cream: beeswax, turpentine oil, almond, and macadamia oils. With minimal effort, I was able to shine the shoe to a brilliant gloss.
When I tested it against Leather Spa’s Luxury Wax Polish, I discovered that it covered more area and required less product to provide comparable effects at a cost that was roughly same. Depending on which of the twelve colours you choose, a 50 mL tin of Pate de Luxe may be purchased on Amazon for roughly $15.
Best color: Tarrago Cream Polish
The Spanish firm Tarrago was the first to market water-based polishes in the 1960s. It was founded in 1940. (Alta FRC, the parent company that also owns Saphir, currently holds it.) The cream polish is available from the brand in almost a hundred different colours. The wax polish is available in seven different hues.
I polished a pair of severely damaged grey leather trainers with Tarrago cream polish. The rich cream poured into the leather fast, covering the different scuff marks with ease. I polished it to a medium gloss after it dried. Your best option if you want your coloured shoes to have a high shine is to use the Tarrago Cream Polish first, then a neutral wax polish that can produce a greater shine.
Best budget: Moneysworth & Best Cream Polish
In the 1980s, Moneysworth & Best, a family-run business in Canada, was founded as a shoe repair store in Toronto. Made in Spain, the Shoe Cream is composed of natural substances such as lanolin along with a variety of oils, waxes, and colours. There are over 30 colours available for the product.
I applied this to two distinct worn-out old-fashioned boots. Although the shoe cream covered most stains, some stains could not be concealed by it. The substance soaked into the leather rapidly and has a creamy consistency. I was able to obtain a slight gloss after buffing. The leather seemed more even and smoother, and even if the problems on the boots weren’t entirely fixed, I felt more at ease wearing them in public once more. Having said that, if your boots or shoes are in decent shape and don’t need a lot of pigment, I’d suggest this product.
One of the most affordable varieties of the best shoe polish is this 1.55-ounce jar, which retails for approximately $9. Be advised, however, that prices do differ; some colours may run you $12 or more.
Best self-shining: Tarrago Self-Shine Kit
With very little time or effort, you can revitalise your shoes with Tarrago’s Self-Shining Kit. You just dip the sponge applicator on top into the cream polish and use it to apply the polish to the leather. I used it on my wife’s boots, which had not been shined in a few months and were slightly scuffed. All it needed to revive them was a single stroke over the leather. It produced a medium sheen without the need for buffing and readily covered the scratches and scuffs.
The product gives off an instant shine because of its high carnauba wax content. The Brazilian palm tree’s leaves are used to make the wax. Because the trees aren’t harmed during processing, it’s collected sustainably.
The Self-Shine kit is a terrific alternative for the best shoe polish when you’re in a hurry and need to get your shoes in order, even though it doesn’t come in nearly as many colours as the company’s usual shoe cream (around a dozen variations). I regret not using this when I went through the security checkpoint years ago.
Best cream: Leather Spa Leather Cream
In addition to providing leather care and repairs, Leather Spa, a well-known company in New York City, also manufactures shoe cream and other shoe care items. The brand Leather Spa was founded in France, and there, all-natural components are used to make their shoe care. It is free of silicone and petroleum-based ingredients that may eventually cause harm to leather.
My wife’s boots were polished with cream polish by me. The leather acquired a pleasant gloss as the cream immediately seeped into it. It concealed the scuffs and evened out the colour with excellent coverage. Although Tony Pecorella pointed out that wax polish is better at covering such kinds of flaws, it didn’t fully cover a little divot in the leather. I was able to achieve a medium shine on the boots after buffing them. The fact that Leather Spa’s Shoe Cream is available in 34 hues is a huge benefit because it allows for complementary tones other than the standard black or brown.
How we tested the best shoe polish
I conducted some testing at home using products that have received great reviews from professionals and customers in order to select the best shoe polishes. I tested their coverage, shine, and conditioning strength on a single boot or shoe by taking a before-and-after photo. Price, materials, and colour selection were other factors. Keep in mind that these are not meant for cleaning suede or nubuck; they are for smooth leather.
Best shoe polish FAQs
Do I need to clean my shoes before polishing them?
Indeed. You can remove any apparent dirt with a moist cloth. Saddle soap, like Fiebing’s, can be used using a slightly damp dauber brush if they’re extremely dusty or stained. Apply the soap to the shoes after rubbing the brush in it until a little lather forms. Using a dry cloth, wipe away. You are now prepared to shine the shoes after conditioning them.
How often should you polish your shoes?
“That’s the age-old question,” Pecorella remarked. Each person’s experience and attire vary. Once every two to six weeks if you wear the same shoes every day. Maybe once a month to twice a month if you switch shoes. Nobody knows your shoes better than you, and the eye test is actually the basis for this decision.”
When should I use a wax polish versus a cream polish?
I spoke with a Saphir representative, and she told me that wax polish is used to create a high shine, whilst cream polish is more for nurturing and recolouring. Dress shoes are the primary use for wax when a high sheen is desired.
Can wax polish damage my shoes?
Tony Pecorella cautions that wax polish, in contrast to cream, might accumulate over time and dry out the leather. It also doesn’t moisturise the leather. Even if cream polish is used regularly, it won’t damage the leather.
What’s the difference between leather and suede or nubuck?
The shine factor is the clear difference between leather, suede, and nubuck. While suede and nubuck have more of a matte appearance, leather is typically glossy. An abrasive procedure is used to buff suede and nubuck, giving them a softer, thinner feel. Conversely, leather is smoother and therefore more water resistant. Instead, go to our tutorial on how to clean suede shoes for maintenance recommendations on your dress shoes.
Should you polish brand new shoes?
A thorough shoe polish is not necessary while getting ready to wear a brand-new pair of leather shoes. The Shoe Snob claims that conditioning them before the leather’s pores have had chance to open can result in cracks. Try testing a tiny bit of conditioner on the inside heel of a new pair if you’re really determined to make them shine. Try dabbing on a little conditioner and wax polish on the tips and toes if it doesn’t darken.
How long should you let shoe polish dry?
To begin with, let me clarify that using a hairdryer to speed up the drying process will not work. The focused airflow will just spread the polish unevenly, and even low heat will dry up the leather. Allow plenty of time before you wear newly shined shoes. After conditioning the leather, allow the mixture to seep for ten to twenty minutes before putting on the initial layer of polish. Before determining whether it requires another thin layer, give this coat another ten to twenty minutes to dry. The leather can be buffing and shining to a uniform sheen with your horsehair brush after an additional 10 to 20 minutes of air drying.
