In simple terms, getting rid of body hair is a hassle and, in the worst-case scenario, it can be downright uncomfortable. If you opt to shave, you have to contend with skin irritation, razor bumps and occasional nicks and cuts. Waxing and threading may give you smoother skin for a longer period of time, but they’re not exactly the most pleasant alternatives.
So, what about hair removal cream? Is it any good, or will it leave you looking like you have the mange?
Fear not! Hair removal cream technology has advanced a great deal over the past few years. There are even specially formulated creams for sensitive skin and even your more delicate features like the face and bikini area.
We’ve put together this review to help you find the best hair removal cream for every scenario.
Our Top Picks:
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Veet Sensitive Hair Remover
- Best for Underarms: Nair Glides Away Hair Removal Cream
- Best for Coarse Hair: Neomen Hair Remover
- Best For Facial Hair: Sally Hansen Hair Remover Kit
- Best Odorless Hair Removal Cream: Laluku Hair Removal Cream
- Best for Bikini Area: Nad’s Sensitive Hair Removal Cream
- Best for Dry Skin: Nair Clay & Seaweed Exfoliate
While these are just a few options, we’ve put our team to work to help make your search a little less hair raising. Ready to get started? Great — so are we. Let’s dive in.
Why Use Hair Removal Cream?
Hair removalother options
To begin with, hair removal creams work fast. Generally, it takes about 15 minutes to remove hair, start to finish. Some creams work in as little as three minutes. If you’re pressed for time, nothing works quite as fast as hair removal cream.
Secondly, hair removal creams are inexpensive. As with any other product, you may have to test a few before finding one that suits you. These creams cost only a few bucks and are easy to replace.
Also, a tube of hair removal cream will cost you less than a trip to the salon, and is easily accessible. Hair removal creams are also straightforward to use.
Simply follow the directions on the packet, and you’re good to go. You don’t need any special skills like mastering a shaving technique or learning how to wax at home. As with any other chemical agent, be sure to read and follow the product’s directions carefully.
Finally, the results of these creams last longer than shaving. You don’t quite get the same longevity as waxing, but these creams will keep you feeling smooth for several days.
You only need to apply the product about once a week in most cases, compared to every day or so for shaving. You also enjoy the bonus of no cuts and ingrown hairs that you often get with shaving.
How Hair Removal Cream Works
Before we jump to the best hair removal creams for various applications, it’s helpful to learn how these creams work and what’s in them.
Hair removal creams, also called depilatories, remove body hair through a chemical process. Unlike shaving, where a blade cuts the hair at skin level, depilatories in the cream break down the protein structure of your hair.
This breakdown process allows the hair to fall loose from the follicle. You can then easily wipe or rub off the hair. Please note that creams do not remove the root or any hair structure lying beneath the surface of the skin like waxing and threading does.
Hair removal creams contain various alkaline chemicals. These include calcium thioglycolate, strontium sulfide, and sodium thioglycolate. These alkaline chemicals react with your body’s hair and break it down. The result is smooth, hair-free areas.
Best Hair Removal Cream
So how do you go about finding the best hair removal cream? We thought about a few scenarios where you might need to use a hair removal cream. Then, we sent out team to the most popular shopping platforms.
As part of this review, they found the best-selling and best-rated products for each application. After much deliberation, we narrowed down the top seven best hair removal creams on the market.
And we won’t lie — picking the best hair removal cream is a huge pain. Sometimes literally. But that’s why our site exists, and we’re proud that we made your choice as easy as possible
Quick Note: Be sure to check out the “Things to Consider When Buying Hair Removal Creams” section at the tail end of this review. We’ve included some must-know tips to have before buying.
1. Best for Sensitive Skin: Veet Sensitive Hair Remover
Best for Sensitive Skin
Veet Gel Hair Remover Cream, Sensitive Formula
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Pros
- Easy to use
- Good for sensitive skin
- Available in a three-pack
Cons
- Some people might not like its smell
For most people, skin sensitivity is the topmost concern when choosing a hair removal cream. This Veet Sensitive Hair Remover is specially formulated for people with extra-sensitive skin.
It contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, some of the best ingredients for soothing skin.
This hair removal cream isn’t quite as harsh as some of the other products out there. You’ll have to leave it in for a full 10 minutes, which some people might think is too long. However, it’s a small price to pay if you don’t end up with a terrible rash! This product is available in a three-pack, handy for all-summer hair removal.
Veet Sensitive Hair Remover works particularly well for larger areas such as legs and arms. Some people even use it on their face, but we discourage it unless the product is specifically engineered for face use.
We are quick to caution you to apply this Veet Sensitive on a small area to see if your skin reacts to it. This is just a precautionary measure. Veet has done an excellent job creating a forgiving hair removal cream for sensitive skin.
2. Best for Underarms: Nair Glides Away Hair Removal Cream
Best for Underarms
Nair Hair Remover Glides Away Hair Removal Cream
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Pros
- Mess-free application
- Works in as little as three minutes
- Good for sensitive skin
Cons
- May cause a reaction on extra-sensitive skin
The underarms aren’t exactly the most convenient place to remove hair. Nair Glides Away Hair Removal Cream makes it as easy as applying deodorant. This product comes in a deodorant stick-style container for easy and convenient application.
Nair has included coconut oil and vitamin E into the cream to prevent your armpits from getting dry or itchy. The product works in three to ten minutes and is fast enough if you need to get rid of hair quickly.
None of our testers with sensitive skin showed any signs of a reaction. Some even used it on their arms and legs with the same positive result. Even so, there are a few complaints on Amazon, enough to warrant a disclaimer.
There is no full-proof hair removal cream, and this Nair might cause a reaction in people with super-sensitive skin. Overall, our testers were happy not to have to touch the hair removal cream.
You apply it just like deodorant and wipe it off with a damp cloth. This product is easy and mess-free to use, gentle on most skin types and works effectively for arms and legs.
3. Best for Coarse Hair: Neomen Hair Remover
Best for Coarse Hair
Neomen Hair Remover - Hair Removal Cream
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Pros
- Great for thick and coarse hair
- Works in as little as five minutes
- Suitable for most skin types
Cons
- Not ideal for facial hair
We also took people with coarse hair into account when creating this review. Out of all the products we tried on our hairier friends, the Noeamen Hair Remover gave the best result.
This hair removal cream is designed for men. But don’t be afraid to use it if other creams have failed you on account of thick or coarse hair. Despite being formulated for stubborn hair, it is still gentle on your skin.
Neomen has included trusty vitamin E and Aloe Vera to leave your skin feeling smooth and fresh. They’ve also thrown in some baby oil in the cream, just to be sure. You can also use this on other parts of your body as well, including your arms, underarms, and legs. We wouldn’t recommend it for facial hair, though.
4. Best For Facial Hair: Sally Hansen Hair Remover Kit
Best for Facial Hair
Sally Hansen Hair Remover Kit, 1 Count
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Pros
- Perfect for facial hair removal
- It comes with nourishing after-care lotion
- Affordable
Cons
- It may not work well for coarse hair
Choose the wrong hair removal product for your face, and the evidence will be right there for the whole world to see. If you don’t intend on taking any chances with your face, you can hardly go wrong with this Sally Hansen Hair Remover Kit.
The kit comes with two products. You get a hair removal cream to get rid of hair and an after-care lotion to soothe the skin. The lotion contains vitamin E and plumping collagen to prevent burning and breakouts.
The cream works in just under five minutes and gets rid of hair from below the surface. Using the Sally Hansen Hair Remover Kit will definitely last longer than even the closest shave.
If you have problems with a unibrow or hair growing on your upper chin or lip, this is as close to waxing as you get from a hair removal cream. On the downside, this product may not work as promised for coarse hair, as it might be too mild.
5. Best Odorless Hair Removal Cream: Laluku Hair Removal Cream
Best Odorless Cream
IALUKU Hair Removal Cream, 150ml Hair Remover Cream
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Pros
- Odorless hair removal cream
- Mild formula is suitable for sensitive skin
- Good for underarms
Cons
- Hard to use on thick or coarse hair
Hair removal creamsthe Laluku Hair Removal Cream
We were pleasantly surprised at how this product doesn’t have the all-too-familiar hair removal cream odor. The best word to describe it is odorless.
The Laluku Hair Removal Cream doesn’t only smell good. It also works well for your arms, legs, and even armpits. It’s a mild product that most people with sensitive skin can use without any problems.
Its gentle formula is excellent for sensitive skin but not so good for coarse or thick hair. You’ll have to leave it in longer for coarse hair, increasing the chances of a reaction. All the same, this is a great hair removal cream for most people, and it doesn’t smell awful!
6. Best for Bikini Area: Nad’s Sensitive Hair Removal Cream
Best for Bikini Area
Nad's Hair Removal Cream - Gentle & Soothing Hair Removal For Women
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Pros
- Great for bikini area
- Soothing ingredients for sensitive skin
- Great price
Cons
- Hard to use on thick or coarse hair
Nad’s Sensitive Hair Removal Cream is another great product for those skittish about using hair removal cream around the bikini area. You can use it for your arms and legs, but it’s specially formulated for the extra-sensitive bikini area.
It also has an excellent combination of soothing formulas, including Aloe Vera, melon extract, avocado oil, and honey. We were extra vigilant about the products we used for the bikini area.
This Nad’s hair removal cream got a unanimous nod from our testers, with no skin irritation to report. However, people with thicker hair may have to leave the product in for longer.
7. Best for Dry Skin: Nair Clay & Seaweed Exfoliate
Best for Dry Skin
Nair Hair Remover & Beauty Treatment Seaweed Leg Mask
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Pros
- Designed for sensitive skin
- 3-in-1 hair remover exfoliates the skin
- Great value for money
Cons
- Not suitable for face or bikini area
This combination product is a godsend for people with dry skin. The Nair Clay & Seaweed Exfoliate exfoliates, smooths your skin, and removes hair simultaneously. You can even feel the product working as it exfoliates your skin.
Say goodbye to dry and scaly skin thanks to its combination of sodium hydroxides, calcium, and exfoliating clay. This hair removal cream works in about five minutes, so it’s convenient for early morning prep.
We were also pleasantly surprised at its relatively modest price tag. Some three-in-one hair removal creams go for $100 or more. On the downside, this hair removal cream is too harsh for sensitive areas like the face and bikini area.
Things To Consider When Buying Hair Removal Creams
There is no single one-size-fits-all product out there to recommend. For the most part, finding the best hair removal cream is a trial-and-error process. Still, you can use a few guidelines to point you in the right direction.
We used these same guidelines when crafting this review. As we stated above, there are some really good tips in here. So be sure to read until the end before buying.
Type of Skin
For most people, hair removal creams are safe to use. Aside from the occasional mild burning sensation, most people can use approved creams with little or no side effects.
If you have sensitive skin, you’ll need to be more vigilant when choosing your products. The best advice is to consult your dermatologist to explore safe options.
This advice goes doubly if you are prone to allergies, breakouts, and rashes when using skin products. Short of professional advice, there are a few ingredients common with hair removal creams for sensitive skin.
Look for anti-inflammatory agents such as chamomile, Aloe Vera, vitamin E, or almond oil in the product. These agents help to soothe sensitive skin.
Hair Removal Area
Your skin isn’t the same all over your body. Your skin’s structure and how it behaves vary slightly depending on the part of the body. For example, your facial skin is thinner and more sensitive than the soles of your feet.
Similarly, your bikini area is more susceptible to chemical reactions than, say, your forearms. Most hair removal creams are designed to be used on specific parts of your body.
You should be rightly suspicious of any product that promises to do everything, with very few exceptions. As you can tell from our review, you shouldn’t have a problem finding specialized creams for specific areas of your body, no matter how delicate.
Odor
Hair removal creamsMost people
If you have a powerful sense of smell, some products are less offensive to your nose. You may want to look into perfumed products.
As a final note, consider doing a patch test before using the hair removal cream on the rest of your body. Pick a small, innocuous area and test the cream.
Watch out for skin reactions such as redness, itching, rash, irritation, or burning for the next 24 hours. Also, consider performing a patch test on your jawline before using hair removal cream on your face.
So, What’s the Best Hair Removal Cream?
The best hair removal creama good price
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