The 11 Best Hair Removal Creams for Smooth Skin, According to Dermatologists

Best Overall

Veet Professional 2 Minute Hair Removal Cream

$14

$12 at Amazon $12 at Target

$12

$10 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Calcium hydroxide, sodium gluconate, shea butter | Size: 13.5 oz  

Why we chose it: According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jeanette Graf, M.D., this is a fan-favorite option that works quickly. All you have to do is leave it on for two minutes and remove it with the included hair removal tool. As you can imagine, because this works so quickly, the formula is pretty strong—if you have super sensitive skin, we suggest trying something else.

What the experts say: “It’s suitable for most people to use on any area of focus they’d like to remove hair, and includes shea butter to soothe the skin during application,” Dr. Graf explains. 

Best for Bikini Area

Bikini Zone Crème Hair Remover

$10 at Amazon

Key Ingredients: Aloe, chamomile, green tea | Size: 2 oz

Why we chose it: A solid choice for those wanting to target their bikini area, this cream removes hair in four minutes with little to no irritation. Simply apply the cream with your fingers and wait four minutes. Once the time is up (remember, time is of the essence here), wipe it away with a washcloth and cleanse the area with lukewarm water. It can leave some hair behind, but considering it’s formulated for the bikini area, we like that it’s gentler.

What the experts say: “It includes ingredients like aloe, chamomile, and green tea to prevent irritation while also working quickly to remove the thick hair in the bikini area,” Dr. Graf explains.

Best for Sensitive Skin

Veet Sensitive Formula Hair Removal Cream

$10 at Amazon $10 at Target

$13

$10 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera | Size: 13.5 oz

Why we chose it: Sometimes, hair removal creams can be too harsh on sensitive skin. Thankfully, you don’t need to worry about that with this formula from Veet. We like that it effectively removes hair without burning your skin and minimizes the time it takes for hair to grow back, allowing you to cut back on your hair removal maintenance.

What the experts say: “This is a great formula for sensitive skin because it contains aloe vera and vitamin E to soothe and moisturize the skin,” Dr. King says.

Best Gentle

Nopunzel Hair Removal Cream

$17

$16 at Amazon

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, vitamin E, and olive oil | Size: 4.2 oz 

Why we chose it: We like this product for use on the bikini area because it’s so gentle. Of course, you can use it on other areas of your body besides the bikini area, and you’ll be surprised to see how nonirritating this formula is. It contains a lot of hydrating and soothing ingredients like aloe vera, vitamin E, and olive oil to keep the skin under the hair calm during and after removal. The one downside with this option is that some folks have complained it doesn’t fully remove thick, coarse hair. This is something to consider if you tend to have thicker hair on your body.

Best for Face

Nair Hair Remover Moisturizing Face Cream

$30 at Amazon $4 at Ulta $4 at Target

Key Ingredients: Almond oil | Size: 13.5 oz

Why we chose it: We like that this pick works pretty fast (just five minutes) and is gentle enough to use on your face. It smells better than your typical hair remover cream, and can be used a few times a month to help remove facial hair. Some folks with sensitive skin have complained that this formula burns their skin. Make sure you follow directions and don’t leave it on for too long. 

What the experts say: “I recommend this pick for the face because it contains sweet almond oil, which moisturizes the skin while the cream removes hair,” Dr. King says.

Best Spray

Completely Bare Easy Off Foaming Hair Removal Spray

$13

$10 at Amazon $10 at Target $16 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Volcanic ash, shea butter, vitamin E, sea kelp | Size: 5.8 oz  

Why we chose it: Because this is in a spray format, it can be used on large areas of the body, such as your full legs and arms. The only negative is that, like many other hair removal creams, it doesn’t smell great.

What the experts say: “I like the easy spray and wipe format of this hair removal product,” explains Dr. King. “I also like that it contains shea butter and cocoa seed butter to moisturize, as well as aloe vera and bisabolol to calm the skin.”

Best Scent

Flamingo Body Hair Removal Cream

$19 at Amazon $10 at Target $12 at CVS

Key Ingredients: Glycerin | Size: 6.7 oz  

Why we chose it: Yes, if you can believe it, this is a hair removal cream that actually smells good. This pick from Flamingo has an “elevated iris and suede scent” that makes the hair removal cream application experience a lot easier and more pleasant. One of the downsides of this product is that a little does not go a long way—if you want to use it on large areas of your body, like your arms or your legs, you might end up using most of the bottle. 

What the experts say: “I like this formula for people with sensitive skin, as it’s formulated to be gentle on all skin types and is paraben and cruelty-free,” Dr. Graf explains.

Best Glide-On

Nair Hair Removal Cream

$10 at Amazon

$10

$6 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Moroccan argan oil, orange blossom | Size: 3.3 oz  

Why we chose it: One of the things we love about this formula from Nair is that it’s mess-free. The cream comes housed in what looks like a deodorant stick—all you have to do is turn the dial to dispense the formula, then glide it across your body. After that, you leave it on for 3-10 minutes and gently wipe it off with a damp washcloth. Another plus: It’s great for travel. If you want to bring your hair removal cream with you on your next adventure, rest assured that this stick packs really nicely. It’s worth noting that this formula can burn the skin if left on for too long, so be sure to do a patch test and remove it promptly.

Best for Men

No Hair Crew Intimate/Private At-Home Hair Removal Cream for Men

$17 at Amazon $17 at Nohaircrew.us

Key Ingredients: Seaweed | Size: 3.4 oz 

Why we chose it: For the men who are looking for a fuzz-free area down there, consider trying this pick from No Hair Crew. This formula is safe to use all over your intimate area, and it only takes three minutes to work. It’s painless, easy, and effective, just remember to take it off ASAP. It contains all the usual suspects you’ll find in a hair removal cream, except with the addition of seaweed to soothe and calm skin after use. 

Best In-Shower

Nair Sensitive Shower Cream Hair Remover

$10 at Amazon $13 at Ulta $11 at Target

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, vitamin E, calcium thioglycolate | Size: 12 oz  

Why we chose it: This is probably one of the easier hair removal cream formulas to work with because it can be washed away in the shower. All you have to do is apply it to your body at least one minute before hopping into the shower (but 3-10 minutes is optimal). Once it’s been on for at least a minute, step into your shower and let the warm water rinse away the formula while you use a washcloth to rub the affected areas in a circular motion. Then you can wash your body with soap and shower as usual. Note: This formula doesn’t remove thick hairs as effectively as other hair removal creams, but it might be a great choice for those with thinner hair.

Best for Coarse Hair

Neomen Hair Removal Cream

$18

$14 at Amazon

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, vitamin E, baby oil | Size: 3.7 oz

Why we chose it: Those with thick, coarse hair may need a more intensive formula. This product removes even the most stubborn hair from your legs, arms, pits, and privates without irritating the skin, thanks to the added baby oil, vitamin E, and aloe vera. The downside is that it’s not in a large bottle, so you might go through it faster than you’d like.