7 Best Hair Removal Creams 2025, Recommended By Dermatologists
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
You might have thought it impossible, but yesâyou 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 âfind shaving or waxing leaves irritation bumps or causes breakouts,â says Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. These days youâll find options that are fragrance-free, contain soothing ingredients like aloe vera, and work on coarse hair. (Trust us, theyâre 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 glanceBest Overall: Flamingo Body Hair Removal Cream with Spatula Applicator, $10Best for Bikini Area: Bikini Zone CrĂšme Hair Remover for Intimate Areas, $10Best for Sensitive Skin: Veet Sensitive Skin Hair Removal Cream, $10Best Spray: Veet Spray On Hair Remover Cream, Sensitive Formula, $17Best Stick: Nair Glide On Hair Removal Cream, $9Best Hair-Removal Cream Overall: Flamingo Body Hair Removal CreamOriginal photo from Neha Tandon testing Flamingo Body Hair Removal Cream
1/7
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 Ciprianiâs lead esthetician, Samantha Susca, likes that it is formulated with anti-inflammatory bisabolol, urea, and shea butter to offset the thioglycolic acidâthe chemical that removes hair. While these chemicals tend to have an unpleasant, sulfuric odor to them, this one has a light floral scent.
âItâs 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,â Dr. Spearman adds. âUnlike 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.â
Tandon says the cream was effective at removing the coarse hair on her bikini line. âI have really sensitive skin, and this didnât leave me with the redness or irritation that shaving does,â she says. âItâs the only way Iâm going to remove hair from that area from now on.â
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 easyWhat could improve: If you donât like fragrances, this isnât for youKey ingredients: Aloe vera, shea butterSize: 6.76 fl oz.Best for Facial Hair: Nadâs Gentle & Soothing Facial Hair Removal2/7
Nad’s Gentle & Soothing Facial Hair Removal
Not all depilatory creams are recommended for use on facial hair, so if this is what youâre trying to remove, itâs best to find formulas that specifically cater to this area. We love Nadâs Gentle & Soothing Facial Hair Removal because itâs carefully formulated with gentle, moisturizing ingredients like almond oil, and it works fast so you donât have too leave it sitting on your skin for too long.
Because itâs specifically designed for sensitive skin, youâre not likely to experience any irritation, but another great perk of this product is that it comes with an after-treatment thatâs 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 applyWhat could improve: May not work on coarse facial hairKey ingredients: Almond and calendula oilsSize: 0.99 oz.Best for Bikini Area: Bikini Zone CrĂšme Hair Remover for Intimate Areas3/7
Bikini Zone CrĂšme Hair Remover for Intimate Areas
If youâve ever removed hair from your bikini area, you probably already know that itâs more sensitive than other areas on your body. Thatâs 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.
âWhat makes this kit stand out is that it doesnât just remove hair, it also helps prevent common post-hair-removal issues like bumps, redness, and ingrown hairs,â 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 itâs used.
What we like: Works under five minutesWhat could improve: The pack is pretty smallKey ingredients: Aloe veraSize: 2 oz.Best for Sensitive Skin: Veet Sensitive Skin Hair Removal Cream4/7
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. âItâs a good option for those with sensitive skin and those looking to remove hair in sensitive areas,â Dr. Garshick says.
Veetâs formula also comes in handy because itâs an in-shower product that only requires five minutes of downtime, not to mention youâll get a pretty hefty amount of product for just under $10.
What we like: Breaks down and removes hair in five minutesWhat could improve: Not fragrance-freeKey ingredients: Aloe vera, vitamin ESize: 13.5 fl oz.Best Stick: Nair Glide On Hair Removal Cream5/7
Nair Glide On Hair Removal Cream
Again, removing unwanted hair is a lot easier to do when youâre guaranteed a mess-free experience, which is where Nairâs Glide On Hair Removal Cream comes in. Itâs a stick that can be used on the legs, bikini line, arms, and underarms, but donât expect it to feel like a deodorant stick when youâre applying it. Itâs still a cream formula, itâs just dispensed through a stick to help you better control how much product youâre applying to the area.
This is a favorite of Dr. Garshickâs, 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, inexpensiveWhat could improve: Can be irritating if you rinse with water thatâs too warmKey ingredients: Argan oilSize: 3.3 oz.Best Value: Nad’s 3n1 Gentle & Soothing Body & Legs Hair Removal Butter For Women6/7
Nad’s Gentle & Soothing Facial Hair
Want a hair removal cream that does three things at once? This is what you need. This multi-use product is a buttery lotion that removes unwanted hair while also exfoliating to ensure smooth skin and a base thatâs free of ingrown hairs. Shea butter also hydrates and softens the skin, so you donât have to worry about any dryness post hair removal.
What also sets this product apart is that it has a thick consistency that wonât drip or run down your arms and legs when you apply itâand when you consider the fact that you can get all of these benefits for just over $5, youâre really in for a treat.
What we like: Thick consistency, exfoliates while removing hair, very inexpensiveWhat could improve:Key ingredients: Cocoa and shea buttersSize: 5.1 fl oz.Best Scent: Woo Woo Tame It Hair Removal Cream7/7
Woo Woo Tame It Hair Removal Cream
Susca recommends Woo Wooâs cream to her clients who are about to go on a photoshoot, because they shouldnât risk razor burn. This is a great option for sensitive skin as itâs 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. Whatâs 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. âIt was actually an enjoyable experience to use it on my leg hair,â she says. âI was nervous because Iâve been literally burned by hair removal creams in the past, but this was actually super soothing and felt really nice. Itâs a great hair removal option.â If thatâs 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 skinWhat could improve: Not fragrance freeKey ingredients: Aloe vera and jojoba oilSize: 6.8 oz.Your hair removal cream questions, answeredHow to use hair removal creams
If youâve never used a depilatory cream, the best way to try one out is to do a patch test first on the area youâre hoping to remove the hair. âTest on a small part of your skin and waiting 24 hours to get an idea of how you can handle the product,â Dr. Spearman says.
After the waiting period, make sure to youâre applying an even layer if you want to remove all hair. Then, set a timer for the amount of time listed in the productâs instructions, and make sure to rinse or wipe of the cream as soon as the wait time is over to avoid irritation.
âYou should avoid using in the face or bikini area unless the product states itâs safe for that zone,â Dr. Spearman says. âFor aftercare, you should apply a fragrance-free moisturizer or aloe vera.â
Additionally, she says you should avoid showering at super hot temperatures or using any skincare products with harsh chemicals and ingredientsâthink actives like retinol and exfoliating acidsâfor at least 24 hours after use.
When should you not use a hair removal cream?
âIf you have sensitive skin, depilatory creams could cause a reaction,â Dr. Spearman says. âMake sure to follow the instructions to ensure you arenât leaving the cream on for too long and start with a small area to understand how your skin will react.â 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 CityDara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Radiant Dermatology in Fort Wayne, INSamantha Susca, a lead esthetician at Casa Cipriani
