Every woman is in a lifelong feud with a single chin hair - and if not, well, you have that to look forward to.
For some, this is something that appears later in life, while others have been battling the strands since their early teens. Facial hair is linked to a hormone known as androgens, and so when going through hormonal changes - be it at puberty, menopause or with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, you may find hairs popping up along the jaw and upper lip.
Women’s facial and body hair is a surprisingly controversial issue. Since it became a trend to shave in the 1920s on account of advertising from the likes of Gillette, defuzzing - or better put, not defuzzing - has become symbolic of the feminist movement. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of personal choice. While it is completely normal to have facial hair, it can affect your confidence and so if you choose, there are easy ways to remove unwanted strays.
Hair removal on the face takes a different approach altogether than the rest of the body. While you can layer on harsh creams, sharp razors or molten waxes onto most areas of the body, the face - much like the intimate area - is a whole different ball game.
These methods need to be gentle and non-irritating - the last thing you want is to leave a red, blotchy mess in its wake. That’s where depilatory creams come in.
Unlike other methods, it feels like an easier solution from start to finish. It’s the ultimate lazy girl or guy removal method. First and foremost, there is no pain. Secondly, while hair removal cream of old would contain harsh chemicals and egg-like odours, there’s been a revolution in the space with gentle, fragrance-free formulas taking the spotlight on shelves. And lastly, it takes less than five minutes. You apply, get comfy in front of the TV, whip out the vacuum or pop on the pasta and it’s off before you know it.
What is left behind is silky soft hair-free skin with zero bumps, ingrown hairs, cuts or burns - and this is thanks to the way that these depilatory creams are created.
The main ingredient is thioglycolic acid which works by effectively breaking down keratin, a protein found naturally in hair. This is usually set alongside kind-to-skin ingredients like aloe vera or vitamin E to moisturise and soothe, but sensitive skin types should always do a patch test first.
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Jolen Facial Hair Remover Kit
Jolen may be best known for its bleaching products but the brand offers this hair removal kit too. It’s a two-step process that leaves your complexion free from the downy fuzz in just five minutes. It’s one of the speediest on the market.
Start with the Skin Guarding Balm that acts as a layer of protection for your delicate skin in order to get the full power of what’s to follow without irritation or redness. Massage into the skin for around 20 seconds. Next, apply the Hair Removal Cream. If your hair is particularly thick, you may need slightly longer but the brand stresses that you should never go beyond eight minutes.
The price is affordable and it leaves your skin feeling super soft, no matter whether you apply it to the upper lip, jawline or sideburns.
Buy now £4.99, Boots
Veet Pure Face Hair Removal Cream Kit
Veet has upgraded the formula of its depilatory cream to make it kinder on sensitive skin. There are fewer chemicals included within but there’s no sacrificing on efficacy. This also means the smell is far more pleasant than it used to be, but you’ll only need it on for five minutes, so this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
This is another two-step process but it starts with the hair removal cream that you can use on upper lip, cheeks and chin and is set alongside a healing balm. The products contain aloe vera and vitamin E to encourage nourishment alongside hair removal, a welcomed addition.
Buy now £6.00, Amazon
Nair Sensitive Formula Facial Brush-On
Nair and hair removal cream are almost synonymous and so it will come as no surprise that this is one of our favourites on the market. What makes it stand out from the crowd is the inclusion of camellia oil and ylang-ylang which makes for a more pleasant experience in the sensorial department.
When you stick to the recommended timing, it works a treat without leaving redness behind but you can always layer up a soothing product to help sensitive skin heal. Application time is a mere three minutes, which even removes dark and coarse hair.
Buy now £4.25, Boots
Nads Facial Hair Removal Creme
When it comes to hair removal on your face, you want a product that won’t irritate or cause any downtime. Enter Nads and this creme that will lift finer hairs without leaving redness or lumps or bumps behind. The smell is not the most pleasant but it gets the job done - and quickly.
Buy now £4.95, Amazon
WooWoo Tame Intimate Hair Remover
This is one of the bestselling hair removal creams on the market for a reason. The brand has taken it back to the drawing board when devising the formula, going against everything you believed went part and parcel with products of this type.
WooWoo has instead created a gentle, skin-loving formula enriched with aloe vera and jojoba oil. It’s for the intimate area specifically but due to the delicate composition, we think it could work for the face too. Plus you can apply it in the shower and leave for just a few minutes while it dissolves hair in its wake.
Buy now £18.95, lookfantastic
Avon Works Facial Hair Removal Cream with Aloe Vera & Jojoba Oil
Avon’s calling with this shaving alternative product. The hair removal cream sets the soothing and calming benefits of aloe vera and jojoba oil alongside the potent hair removal components so that you can be freed from fuzz without burning the skin. It might feel slightly tingling while the product is on but shouldn’t leave a lasting impression or irritate those with sensitivities.
Buy now £4.35, Amazon
Sally Hansen Creme Hair Removal Kit
This may not be the best option for those with sensitive skin but if you find that your hair is thicker and needs a bit more oomph to tackle each and every one, this is the hair removal kit you’ll want to stock up on.
For the likes of the chin and upper lip, it does the job, while infusing skin with moisturisation from collagen and vitamin E. It has a slight vanilla smell that is more pleasant than the traditional egg-like wafts.
Buy now £14.62, Amazon
Jolen Cream Bleach
For some, it may be a far more effective method to lighten dark hair than removing it entirely, particularly for those with fair complexions. Jolen is one of the leaders with a gentle but effective formula where you can channel your inner chemist. Mix up the contents and have lighter, blonde hair in just 10 minutes. It really is that easy and may even work for those with sensitive and dry skin.
Buy now £4.40, Boots
Post hair removal cream
For those with sensitivities or to counteract the possibility of irritation, follow any of the above creams with soothing gels like the DECLÉOR Clove Post Hair Removal Cooling Gel (£32.64) or Australian Bodycare Intim Balm (£11.99) that are designed to be used on delicate areas to soothe the skin after hair removal. They may even minimise regrowth or ingrown hairs.
Hydrocortisone cream, which you can find over the counter, is also ideal for itching, inflammation or irritation. HC45 Hydrocortisone Cream is available at Boots for just £5.49.
