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Reviews Beauty
Written by Lauren Dana Ellman; edited by Maiya Pascouche
Updated
- Best overall
- Best permanent hair removal device
- Best epilator
- Best dermaplaner
- Best depilatory cream
- Best razor
- Best hair removal spring
- Best tweezer
- Best sugaring kit
- Best waxing kit
- How to choose the best facial hair remover for you
- Facial hair removal FAQs
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We've got you covered if you've landed on this story looking for quick solutions to your facial hair removal concerns. However, we don't know if you need to hear this, but facial hair on women is *very* common — and completely natural. While some are unbothered by facial hair, others may choose to remove it. For those in the latter group, you'll be pleased to find that you have plenty of options regarding the best facial hair removers that are expert-approved.
Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, a board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, says that finding the best hair facial hair removal device for you begins with considering several factors. First, consider "the anatomic site, your skin type and skin tone, your skin's sensitivity level, your comfort level, and experience with the hair removal modality," says the dermatologist.
Clinical facial hair removal procedures may be well worth a shot, assuming you do your research and select an experienced practitioner. But, of course, at-home facial hair removal is often cheaper and less time-consuming. Our top pick is the Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Remover, a handheld, virtually pain-free electric razor that leaves no bumps or nicks behind. And if you're looking for something more permanent, consider splurging on the Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X, which delivers the salon experience at home.
From shaving and dermaplaning to waxing kits and depilatory creams, here are the best facial hair removers, according to dermatologists.
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Our top 5 picks for the best facial hair removal products
This handy tool has received scores of five star ratings, is conveniently pocket sized, and virtually painless to use.
If you're ready to invest in high-tech, at-home laser hair removal, this is the best you can find for a forever-smooth feel.
This epilator kit has everything you need to achieve smooth skin lasting up to 4 weeks.
Safely rid yourself of peach fuzz with this dermaplaner's ergonomically designed slip-free grip handle.
This budget friendly almond oil-infused option is great for detailing facial hair around the mouth and chin.
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Best overall
Staff Pick
This handy tool has received scores of five star ratings, is conveniently pocket sized, and virtually painless to use.
What we like
- Wallet-friendly
- (Virtually) pain-free hair removal
What we don’t like
- Not as effective on thick, dark, or coarse hair
The Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Remover has over 131,000 Amazon ratings (including 92,000-plus five-star reviews), and for good reason. This small but mighty hair removal device is battery-powered and great for on-the-go use thanks to its compact size, making it the best facial hair remover for women we recommend. The Finishing Touch hair remover is perfect for removing peach fuzz and hair on the face, and the built-in LED light makes it even easier to spot stray hairs. Simply hold the device to your face and press down in small, circular motions — et voilà, no more peach fuzz.
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Best permanent hair removal device
If you're ready to invest in high-tech, at-home laser hair removal, this is the best you can find for a forever-smooth feel.
What we like
- Effective and easy-to-use
- Cordless
What we don’t like
- Expensive
- Battery life doesn't last long (about 30 minutes)
If you're looking for a permanent hair removal solution on your search for the best facial hair removers for women, consider splurging on the Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X. Suitable for use on both the face and body, this at-home laser hair removal device utilizes diode lasers, the same technology used in dermatologist offices and clinics. The built-in LED screen makes it easy to keep track of the device's remaining battery life. Choose from five levels (one being the lowest and most painless, five being the highest and most painful).
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Best epilator
This epilator kit has everything you need to achieve smooth skin lasting up to 4 weeks.
What we like
- Easy, efficient, and effective
- Removes hair from the roots
What we don’t like
- Not budget-friendly
Per Dr. Shirazi, the Braun Silk-épil 9 9-890 is both easy to use and clean — and it's suitable for wet or dry use on the face and body. She describes this epilator as "very effective at doing a thorough job of removing the maximum number of hairs with each pass." It's also cordless and waterproof. Finally, if you're worried about pain, you'll be relieved to find that this epilator comes with a massage cap to help reduce discomfort so that you have a gentle, comfortable hair removal experience.
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Best dermaplaner
Safely rid yourself of peach fuzz with this dermaplaner's ergonomically designed slip-free grip handle.
What we like
- Sturdy construction allows for no-slip grip
What we don’t like
- One of the more expensive dermaplaners on the market
At-home dermaplaning for exfoliation has become increasingly popular in recent years. Those interested in dermaplaning ought to try out the Versed Dermaplaning Tool, which comes highly recommended by California-based board-certified dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi, MD. She praises the tool's "slip-free grip" and "single-edge high-performing blade," which is key in removing peach fuzz and dead skin cells. The result? A brighter, smoother complexion. While this dermaplaner is not exactly cheap, it is reusable; plus, it includes two blades.
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Best depilatory cream
This budget friendly almond oil-infused option is great for detailing facial hair around the mouth and chin.
What we like
- Moisturizing formula
- Affordable
What we don’t like
- It may irritate those with sensitive skin
Keep peach fuzz at bay by using a hair removal cream (also known as depilatory cream) like this one from Nair. Clocking in around $4 per two-ounce bottle, it features an ultra-moisturizing formula spiked with vitamin E-rich sweet almond oil. It's ideal for upper lip, chin, and cheeks use.
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Best razor
Get rid of dull, dead skin and unwanted hair, all with this one easy-to-use facial razor.
What we like
- Made with stainless steel
- Easy to clean after each use
What we don’t like
- Challenging to find blade refills
This Tweezerman Facial Razor features stainless steel blades that effectively slough off dull, dead skin — along with peach fuzz and thicker facial hair — all from the comfort of your bathroom. Per the brand, this razor is best used either 1) after you've washed and moisturized your face or 2) with your face wash still on. From there, simply hold it at an angle and make short downward strokes while delicately applying light pressure. Then, rinse and sterilize the razor with an alcohol wipe to prevent bacteria from building up. Lastly, it's recommended that you change the blades every two to three months.
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Best hair removal spring
This inventive device grasps hair from the root and comes with a complimentary tweezerette.
What we like
- Quick
- Inexpensive
What we don’t like
- Can take a few uses to get the hang of it
Remove unwanted facial hair easily using the Tweezerman Smooth Finish Facial Hair Remover spring, which Dr. Shirazi describes as "a quick way to remove hair with minimal pain." As a bonus, this tool kit comes with a free Tweezerette (AKA small tweezers that are great for quick touch-ups).
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Best tweezer
These state-of-the-art stainless steel tweezers have a chiseled angular tip for accurate plucking.
What we like
- Wallet-friendly grooming tool
- Plucks away hairs with precision
What we don’t like
- Some reviewers note the tip is on the thicker side
- Difficult to tweeze ultra-fine, tiny hairs
The Revlon Expert Slant Tip Tweezer boasts a sturdy stainless steel construction that offers an easy, comfortable, and secure grip. Meanwhile, its slant-tip design is perfect for precisely plucking unwanted hairs away. With these super popular tweezers, you can add a permanent secret weapon to your hair removal arsenal for as low as $6.
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Best sugaring kit
This vegan formula is an alternative to waxing that's suitable for sensitive skin.
What we like
- Vegan formula
- Gentler than waxing
What we don’t like
- May leave a slightly sticky residue
Sugaring is similar to waxing, as both hair removal processes involve applying sticky substances to the skin to remove unwanted hair. However, sugaring is one of the best facial hair removers for women because it is gentler on the skin. The Schick Hydro Silk Sugar Wax Wand for Face + Brow makes at-home sugaring a breeze: The wand allows the wax to glide on smoothly, while the Precision Stick is great for targeting specific, small, and hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
Meanwhile, the vegan and paraben-free wax warms up in a matter of minutes. It can be easily rinsed off with water should you make any mistakes (we've all been there!). This starter kit includes 20 reusable strips and four sachets of post-wax soothing serum.
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Best waxing kit
The GiGi Mini Pro Waxing Kit is an easy-to-use, professional-grade, at-home waxing kit that works to help remove both coarse and fine hairs.
What we like
- All-in-one kit with pre- and post-waxing essentials
What we don’t like
- Can be sticky
- Requires practice to perfect
According to Dr. Shirazi, the GiGi Mini Pro Hair Removal Waxing Kit is one of the best facial hair removers for women searching for a more gentle wax. The all-in-one kit also offers excellent value: one kit includes a selection of cleansers, lotions, and gels for pre- and post-waxing — along with cloth strips in different sizes depending on what area(s) of the face you're working on.
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How to choose the best facial hair remover for you
When choosing the best facial hair removal method for you, be sure to consider everything from skin sensitivity to skin texture and tone. Take laser hair removal, for example. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Bradley Glodny, those with fair skin and dark hair are "the absolute best candidate for laser hair removal," which offers long-lasting results. On the other hand, "If you have white hair that is unwanted, laser hair removal will likely not be the best device for you," he explains.
Those looking for a quick, easy solution that's inexpensive and (virtually) pain-free may consider dermaplaning, depilatory cream, shaving, or tweezing (which is especially great for plucking stray hairs by the eyebrows, lips, or chin).If you have sensitive skin, you may want to opt for products that remove hair from the top layer of the skin, like our top pick depilatory cream, the Nair Hair Remover Moisturizing Face Cream, or a hair trimmer, like our best overall pick, the Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Remover.
Waxing is another great option for those with sensitive skin prone to irritation from friction. What's more, compared to shaving, waxing offers longer-lasting results (more on that below!) since the hair is removed at the root.
Dr. Murphy-Rose notes that safety comes first when performing any at-home hair removal treatments and advises making yourself aware of any "risks and potential side effects [irritation, cuts, burns, or scarring] to these procedures, and to therefore exercise caution while performing them."
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Facial hair removal FAQs
Which hair removal process lasts the longest?
Every dermatologist we spoke to agreed that laser removal lasts the longest. "I consider this a permanent or semi-permanent removal of unwanted hair," says Dr. Glodny. "Results following 3 to 6 treatments can last years."
Another form of permanent hair removal is electrolysis. "For those who are not good candidates for laser hair removal [such as people with light hair], I generally recommend electrolysis," explains Dr. Glodny. "This treatment involves sending electric currents down the follicles, hair by hair." Compared to laser hair removal, electrolysis is a much slower process, and per Dr. Glodny, it may take "10-20 treatments for significant results."
Which hair removal process lasts the shortest?
According to Dr. Murphy-Rose, shaving and dermaplaning last the shortest "because the hairs are removed at the level of the skin's surface or just below it." Dr. Glodny echoes these sentiments, saying, "Any hair removal treatment that breaks, cuts, or denatures the hair above the skin-hair border will not last as long as treatments which remove the hair at the level of the hair bulb or hair root."
"Any method that removes the hair at a deeper level will last longer because it will take longer for the hair to grow back," says Dr. Murphy-Rose. For this reason, she notes that "waxing, sugaring, tweezing, and epilating last longer than shaving."
Does removing facial hair cause it to grow back thicker?
Short answer: no, it's a myth. Removing your facial hair through whatever method you choose does not change the hair's color, thickness, or rate of growth. What you may notice when shaving, for example, is the bluntness of the hair follicle after it has been cut in half. Therefore, the hair may feel slightly more prickly or stubbly as it begins to grow back in.
Freelance writer
Lauren Dana Ellman is a New York City-based freelance writer, editor, and social strategist specializing in all things travel, beauty, wellness, and food. Her work has appeared in Bustle, Allure, POPSUGAR, ShermansTravel, Elite Daily, Hotels Above Par, and Mental Floss, among other lifestyle-oriented publications. She holds a degree in Magazine Journalism from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School of Communication. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenvellman.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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