The best hair removal creams offer a quick, low-effort alternative to shaving, helping to dissolve hair just below the skin’s surface for longer-lasting smoothness without the need for razors, waxing or salon appointments. While it’s a product category that has been around for a while, formulas have come a long way from the strong-smelling creams you might remember.
However, as has always been the case, choosing the right option still depends on where you’re using it – from legs and underarms to more delicate areas such as the face or bikini line. So to find the formulas worth adding to your routine, I tested a mix of targeted treatments, from high street classics and newer options, and paid close attention to comfort, scent, ease of use and how smooth skin felt afterwards.
And because traditional depilatory creams don’t suit everyone, particularly those with sensitive skin or fragrance intolerance, I also tested a clever reusable exfoliating hair removal tool as an alternative. Whether you’re looking for a fast leg solution, something suitable for facial hair or a gentler formula designed for delicate areas, these are the options that delivered the most reliable results during testing.
Read more: Best at-home IPL devices
The best hair removal creams for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Veet spray on hair removal cream: £8.50, Superdrug.com
- Best budget buy – Superdrug limited edition hair removal cream legs and body: £4, Superdrug.com
- Best for removing upper lip hair – Jolen facial hair remover kit: £3.99, Savers.co.uk
- Best for bikini line and underarms – Nair smoothing cream bikini & underarm: £1.99, Superdrug.com
- Best for legs – B. by Superdrug hair removal cream legs and body: £6, Superdrug.com
Read more: Best women’s razors
Veet spray on hair removal cream
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: hair removal cream overall
Suitable for: Legs, arms, underarms, bikini line
Features to know: Spray applicator, moisturising complex, spatula included
Key ingredients: Aloe vera, vitamin E
Processing time: 5-10 minutes
Size: 150ml
Fragranced: Yes
Why we love it
- Spray format makes application quicker
- Ideal for using across larger areas like legs
- Less messy to use
Take note
- Has the typical depilatory cream scent
- Harder to control on smaller areas
Veet’s clever spray on hair removal cream was immediately one of the easiest to apply during testing, especially on larger areas such as the lower legs, where traditional creams can feel a bit messy or hard to apply evenly. I initially expected a shaving foam-esque texture, but it was actually much lighter, and the coverage was surprisingly consistent without having to go back in and smooth things out.
I left it for around five minutes before using the spatula. Lighter, finer hairs were removed cleanly within the shorter end of the recommended time scale, but the longer, darker ones needed a bit longer. The scent is still a strong, recognisable hair removal cream, but it was definitely less overpowering than older formulas I’ve used. My skin felt smooth immediately afterwards with no tightness, which helped this one stand out as the most reliable all-rounder.
Buy now £8.5, Superdrug.com
Jolen facial hair remover kit
Rating: 4/5
Best: for removing upper-lip facial hair
Suitable for: Upper lip, chin, cheeks
Features to know: Facial-specific formula, precision spatula included
Key ingredients: Aloe vera, vitamin E
Processing time: 5-8 minutes
Size: 19g
Fragranced: Yes
Why we love it
- Specifically designed for finer facial hair
- Smaller applicator allows precise placement
- Comes with a skin guarding balm
Take note
- Small tube means fewer uses
- Requires patch testing on sensitive skin
I was slightly nervous about using the Jolen facial kit because I have previously experienced irritation from using a hair removal cream on my upper lip. But the inclusion of the skin guarding balm here did make a real difference. Applying it directly from the bullet onto skin and massaging it in helped to protect the surrounding area while making the process feel much more controlled.
The cream itself was easy to apply precisely using the built-in, lip balm-esque applicator – the instructions say to apply it to your finger first. But I found it was fine not to – just make sure you rinse and dry the applicator properly afterwards. The cream worked quickly on finer facial hair without leaving skin looking red, but coarser, thicker, more stubbly hairs needed a bit longer. It still requires careful timing, but overall, it felt gentler to use than expected, plus results lasted longer than when using a facial razor.
Buy now £3.99, Savers.co.uk
Nair smoothing cream bikini and underarm
Rating: 4/5
Best: for bikini line and underarms
Suitable for: Bikini line, underarms
Key ingredients: Lily flower extract and cottonseed oil
Features to know: Targeted formula for coarse hair, smoothing complex
Processing time: 5-10 minutes
Size: 100ml
Fragranced: Yes
Why we love it
- Effective on thicker hair types
- Formulated for delicate areas
Take note
- Not suitable for larger body areas
- No applicator tool included
Nair’s smoothing cream is a formula designed specifically for coarser hair in delicate areas, so I found it to be noticeably more effective around the bikini line and underarms than standard leg creams, which can sometimes struggle in these areas.
The texture made it easy to apply evenly without slipping, but it was a bit messy (likely more down to user error). Removal was straightforward with a damp flannel, and all my underarm hairs were removed with minimal effort – although sitting with an arm raised for five minutes post-application was a bit annoying, especially when shaving takes less than 10 seconds.
I couldn’t really smell the formula while it was being applied or while it was working, but once it was removed, that telltale scent lingered and ended up being stronger than some, but the results were smooth and consistent.
Buy now £1.99, Superdrug.com
Superdrug limited edition hair removal cream legs and body
Rating: 3.5/5
Best: budget hair removal cream
Suitable for: Legs, arms, underarms
Key ingredients: Grape seed oil
Features to know: Spatula included, quick-action body formula
Processing time: 3-7 minutes
Size: 100ml
Fragranced: Yes
Why we love it
- Widely available and affordable
- Suitable for larger areas
Take note
- Scent is quite heavy
- Results can vary on coarse hair
Superdrug’s hair removal cream is a straightforward, no-fuss formula that does exactly what you’d expect.
I used it on my lower legs and found it spread easily and removed the most hair within the recommended processing time, though it did need to be left on slightly longer in a few areas where hair was thicker.
The scent is more noticeable than the more premium alternatives, but the performance was reliable, especially at this price point.
Buy now £4, Superdrug.com
B. by Superdrug hair removal cream legs and body
Rating: 3.5/5
Best: hair removal cream for legs
Suitable for: Legs, arms, underarms
Features to know: Infused with argan oil, vegan-friendly formula, spatula included
Key ingredients: Cotton Seed Oil and Argan Oil
Processing time: 3-7 minutes
Size: 100ml
Fragranced: Yes
Why we love it
- Good affordable option
- Suitable for larger areas
- Easy-to-use spatula included
- Vegan-friendly
Take note
- Takes longer to work on thicker/longer hair
- Finish wasn’t quite as smooth as other formulas
A relatively affordable option – but not the cheapest – I was curious to see how this one compared with more established brands. The texture was slightly lighter than expected, and it did apply evenly and easily, though it needed a bit longer than the recommended time.
That said, my skin still felt smooth afterwards, likely thanks to the addition of argan oil in the formula, and it generally performed well enough for quick at-home maintenance between longer-lasting hair removal methods.
Buy now £6, Superdrug.com
WooWoo hair removal cream
Rating: 4/5
Best: for intimate-area use
Suitable for: Bikini line, underarms
Features to know: Formulated for intimate skin, suitable for sensitive skin
Key ingredients: aloe vera and soothing ingredients
Processing time: 3-6 minutes
Size: 100ml
Fragranced: Yes
Why we love it
- Designed with delicate skin in mind
- Softer scent than others
- Easy-to-control texture
Take note
- Better suited to targeted areas than full leg use
- More expensive than most
I love seeing a fun hair removal brand and WooWoo is exactly that. The texture was easy to apply neatly to targeted areas, such as the bikini line, where precision matters more than speed, making it a great choice for use on intimate areas. This is one best removed in the shower, so apply before getting in and then rinse off while you’re in there – it’s much less messy than other creams, and results were consistent on finer regrowth.
Although on the pricier side, the formula felt a bit different from traditional depilatory creams throughout my testing, mostly in terms of scent, which was much softer and less chemical-smelling than some other options.
It felt like a much gentler option for intimate areas than leg-focussed creams.
Buy now £13.95, Amazon.co.uk
Answr exfoliating hair removal drop
Rating: 4/5
Best: reusable alternative to hair removal creams
Suitable for: Legs, arms
Key features: Nano-glass surface, reusable design, has exfoliating properties
Processing time: None, manual use
Size: Single tool
Fragranced: No
Why we love it
- Reusable alternative to traditional creams
- Fragrance-free option for sensitive users
- Doubles as a gentle exfoliating tool
- Compact and travel friendly
Take note
- Slower than creams for larger areas
- Results depend on hair thickness
- Not suitable for underarms or bikini line
A clever, reusable, fits-in-the-palm-of-your-hand tool that works differently from a traditional cream. Instead, this removes hair through gentle friction rather than chemically dissolving it. I found it most effective on lower-leg hair, where it also left skin feeling noticeably smoother thanks to the additional exfoliating effect.
I was a bit sceptical at first, but it really does work, and I was humbled at how much my legs clearly needed exfoliating. It does take more time and patience than using a cream, and it isn’t suitable for use on areas such as underarms or the bikini line. But it’s a useful alternative worth keeping in your stash if you’re somebody who prefers a fragrance-free option, or if you want to use something more natural between other treatments. Overall, I was suitably impressed, and my recommendation would be to use it pre-shower so you can wash away all the hair and dry skin quickly and easily.
Buy now £29, Facethefuture.co.uk
What is the best hair removal cream?
The Veet spray-on formula is the best hair removal cream. It’s by far the best for ease of use, speed, and even application and effective removal. However, the Answr exfoliating drop was a surprise for me – I didn’t expect much from it, but for quick, pain-free hair removal and thorough exfoliation to boot, it’s a solid choice.
What are the different hair removal methods?
There are lots of different hair removal methods, notably:
How I tested and selected the best hair removal creams
I tested a range of popular and widely available hair removal creams over several weeks, applying them to legs, underarms and facial areas where needed (fellow polycystic ovary syndrome girlies unite) to see how effectively they removed hair, how comfortable they were during use and how skin looked and felt afterwards.
Depilatory creams rely on active ingredients to dissolve hair, so I was particularly mindful of irritation levels, how heavy the scents were and ease of application across different formulas. I also took note of how easy each product was to incorporate into a typical at-home routine and how long results lasted.
I assessed the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
With almost 15 years of experience under her belt, Lucy Partington is a well-versed and respected editor in the beauty industry. She’s tested her fair share of beauty and hair products, including hair removal like the best IPL machines. In her reviews, she offers her honest opinions and will only recommend products she believes are worth your money.
Read more: Estrid razor review
