7 Best Hair-Removal Creams for Face and Body, Reviewed By Dermatologists
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You might have thought it impossible, but yes—you can absolutely remove unwanted hair from your body without any razors or painful waxing appointments. The best hair-removal creams (or depilatory creams) are gentle enough for your face, bikini area, legs, and everywhere in between. Lotions in particular remove hair from the root, are less painful than wax strips, and are much cheaper than laser hair removal and electrolysis. Plus, many people “find shaving or waxing leaves irritation bumps or causes breakouts,” says Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. These days you’ll find options that are fragrance-free, contain soothing ingredients like aloe vera, and work on coarse hair. (Trust us, they’re not the smelly formulas you once used in middle school that would burn your skin.) With help from a few dermatologists, the Glamour team tested out several hair-removal creams (all under $25) and evaluated how well they removed hair.
The best hair-removal creams, at a glance
- Best Overall: Flamingo Body Hair Removal Cream with Spatula Applicator, $10
- Best for Bikini Area: Bikini Zone Crème Hair Remover for Intimate Areas, $10
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Veet Sensitive Skin Hair Removal Cream, $10
- Best Spray: Veet Spray On Hair Remover Cream, Sensitive Formula, $17
- Best Stick: Nair Glide On Hair Removal Cream, $9
Best Hair-Removal Cream Overall: Flamingo Body Hair Removal Cream
- Courtesy of brand
- Original photo from Neha Tandon testing Flamingo Body Hair Removal Cream
This hair-removal cream is considered one of the best by experts as well as Glamour contributor Neha Tandon. Casa Cipriani’s lead esthetician, Samantha Susca, likes that it is formulated with anti-inflammatory bisabolol, urea, and shea butter to offset the thioglycolic acid—the chemical that removes hair. While these chemicals tend to have an unpleasant, sulfuric odor to them, this one has a light floral scent.
“It’s formulated with shea butter and aloe vera, which help soothe and hydrate the skin while effectively breaking down hair at the root for a smooth finish,” Dr. Spearman adds. “Unlike some hair-removal creams that can leave skin feeling dry or irritated, this one is designed to be gentle on sensitive areas while still delivering fast and effective results.”
Tandon says the cream was effective at removing the coarse hair on her bikini line. “I have really sensitive skin, and this didn’t leave me with the redness or irritation that shaving does,” she says. “It’s the only way I’m going to remove hair from that area from now on.”
Bonus: It comes with a spatula, which will allow you to apply and spread the product around evenly without getting it all over your hands or bathroom.
- What we like: Spatula makes the application process very easy
- What could improve: If you don’t like fragrances, this isn’t for you
- Key ingredients: Aloe vera, shea butter
- Size: 6.76 fl oz.
Best for Facial Hair: Nad’s Gentle & Soothing Facial Hair Removal
Not all depilatory creams are recommended for use on facial hair, so if this is what you’re trying to remove, it’s best to find formulas that specifically cater to this area. We love Nad’s Gentle & Soothing Facial Hair Removal because it’s carefully formulated with gentle, moisturizing ingredients like almond oil, and it works fast so you don’t have too leave it sitting on your skin for too long.
Because it’s specifically designed for sensitive skin, you’re not likely to experience any irritation, but another great perk of this product is that it comes with an after-treatment that’s made with cocoa butter and shea butter to moisturize and soothe the area.
- What we like: Sensitive formula; comes with an after-treatment; angled tip makes it easy to apply
- What could improve: May not work on coarse facial hair
- Key ingredients: Almond and calendula oils
- Size: 0.99 oz.
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Best for Bikini Area: Bikini Zone Crème Hair Remover for Intimate Areas
If you’ve ever removed hair from your bikini area, you probably already know that it’s more sensitive than other areas on your body. That’s why a hair-removal cream for private parts is specially designed to be used on the bikini line, as it includes soothing aloe vera to prevent irritation and itchiness.
“What makes this kit stand out is that it doesn’t just remove hair, it also helps prevent common post-hair-removal issues like bumps, redness, and ingrown hairs,” Dr. Spearman says. The kit removes hair in less than five minutes, but it also comes with an after-care treatment that has aloe vera in it to cool and relieve the skin in the area in which it’s used.
- What we like: Works under five minutes
- What could improve: The pack is pretty small
- Key ingredients: Aloe vera
- Size: 2 oz.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Veet Sensitive Skin Hair Removal Cream
Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, likes this gel because it contains vitamin E and aloe vera. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that provides barrier support and protects the skin from damage, while aloe vera is known to have soothing properties, though it can also address hyperpigmentation. “It’s a good option for those with sensitive skin and those looking to remove hair in sensitive areas,” Dr. Garshick says.
Veet’s formula also comes in handy because it’s an in-shower product that only requires five minutes of downtime, not to mention you’ll get a pretty hefty amount of product for just under $10.
- What we like: Breaks down and removes hair in five minutes
- What could improve: Not fragrance-free
- Key ingredients: Aloe vera, vitamin E
- Size: 13.5 fl oz.
Best Stick: Nair Glide On Hair Removal Cream
Again, removing unwanted hair is a lot easier to do when you’re guaranteed a mess-free experience, which is where Nair’s Glide On Hair Removal Cream comes in. It’s a stick that can be used on the legs, bikini line, arms, and underarms, but don’t expect it to feel like a deodorant stick when you’re applying it. It’s still a cream formula, it’s just dispensed through a stick to help you better control how much product you’re applying to the area.
This is a favorite of Dr. Garshick’s because it comes in handy when you need to remove hair from hard-to-reach areas, and it features argan oil to address dryness and reduce irritation.
- What we like: Non-messy, inexpensive
- What could improve: Can be irritating if you rinse with water that’s too warm
- Key ingredients: Argan oil
- Size: 3.3 oz.
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Best Value: Nad’s 3n1 Gentle & Soothing Body & Legs Hair Removal Butter for Women
Want a hair-removal cream that does three things at once? This is what you need. This multiuse product is a buttery lotion that removes unwanted hair while also exfoliating to ensure smooth skin and a base that’s free of ingrown hairs. Shea butter also hydrates and softens the skin, so you don’t have to worry about any dryness post hair removal.
What also sets this product apart is that it has a thick consistency that won’t drip or run down your arms and legs when you apply it—and when you consider the fact that you can get all of these benefits for just over $5, you’re really in for a treat.
- What we like: Thick consistency; exfoliates while removing hair; very inexpensive
- What could improve:
- Key ingredients: Cocoa and shea butters
- Size: 5.1 fl oz.
Best Scent: Woo Woo Tame It Hair Removal Cream
Susca recommends Woo Woo’s cream to her clients who are about to go on a photo shoot because they shouldn’t risk razor burn. This is a great option for sensitive skin as it’s fragrance-free and made with moisturizing jojoba oil and aloe vera, she says. In fact, she even recommends this for use on the face because of how gentle the formula is. What’s more is that people rarely complain about the scent of this product, which is practically unheard of with a hair-removal cream. Glamour tester Archita Patel loves how this hydrating formula feels too. “It was actually an enjoyable experience to use it on my leg hair,” she says. “I was nervous because I’ve been literally burned by hair-removal creams in the past, but this was actually super soothing and felt really nice. It’s a great hair-removal option.” If that’s not enough, it even comes with a soothing balm and spatula.
- What we like: Moisturizing; addresses ingrown hairs; pleasant floral scent; comes with spatula; safe for sensitive skin
- What could improve: Not fragrance free
- Key ingredients: Aloe vera and jojoba oil
- Size: 6.8 oz.
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Your hair-removal cream questions, answered
How to use hair-removal creams
If you’ve never used a depilatory cream, the best way to try one out is to do a patch test first on the area you’re hoping to remove the hair. “Test on a small part of your skin and wait 24 hours to get an idea of how you can handle the product,” Dr. Spearman says.
After the waiting period, make sure you’re applying an even layer if you want to remove all hair. Then set a timer for the amount of time listed in the product’s instructions, and make sure to rinse or wipe off the cream as soon as the wait time is over to avoid irritation.
“You should avoid using in the face or bikini area unless the product states it’s safe for that zone,” Dr. Spearman says. “For aftercare, you should apply a fragrance-free moisturizer or aloe vera.”
Additionally, she says you should avoid showering at superhot temperatures or using any skin care products with harsh chemicals and ingredients—think actives like retinol and exfoliating acids—for at least 24 hours after use.
When should you not use a hair-removal cream?
“If you have sensitive skin, depilatory creams could cause a reaction,” Dr. Spearman says. “Make sure to follow the instructions to ensure you aren’t leaving the cream on for too long and start with a small area to understand how your skin will react.” If you perform a patch test and find that your skin becomes irritated during or after the waiting period, it may be best to avoid using the depilatory cream altogether.
Meet the experts:
- Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City
- Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Radiant Dermatology in Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Samantha Susca, a lead esthetician at Casa Cipriani
