I Haven’t Shaved or Waxed in Years Because These Hair Removal Creams Are Honestly So Much Better (2025)

When I say this hair removal cream is the only reason I have fully stopped waxing, shaving, or trimming my bikini line, I mean it, y’all. The formula breaks down every single hair, leaving me super smooth for about a full week before I feel the need to spot-treat a couple of hairs or trim the edges. And it does so without even remotely irritating my skin, due to a mix of soothing urea and bisabolol. When I wipe the cream away with a washcloth after 8 to 10 minutes, I notice my skin already feels moisturized, even without any product on it (which I fully attribute to my fave, shea butter). FWIW, I also have been loving the Flamingo Facial-Hair-Removal Cream to get rid of peach fuzz because it’s equally as moisturizing.

• Key ingredients: Thioglycolic acid (chemical hair remover), urea, bisabolol, shea butter
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo editor says: "I tried this for the first time after a years-long hiatus when I burned TF out of my skin using hair-removal creams in high school. Now, I'm fully a convert, thanks to this cream alone. It's not irritating on my skin at all, even when I go a full eight minutes to make sure it leaves me completely hairless. And it's super easy to remove with the included spatula or a washcloth. It's helped me feel way more confident before a date, a day at the beach, a concert—I've genuinely relied on it so many times."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR

Hair-removal creams notoriously smell really bad. And if you have a teeny tiny bathroom (like me), it can make your space reek for an extended period of time, unfortunately. But this one from Wakse—a brand that makes a ton of diff hair-removal products—smells surprisingly good and actually helps mask the thioglycolic acid (i.e., the ingredient that breaks down your hair and smells like a strong chemical). My favorite is the Guava Butter (it's tropical and yummy), but Fairy Floss is for the gourmand lovers, and Mango Magic is citrus and fresh. No, it's not going to smell as good as your grapefruit-vanilla-sugar body lotion, but it'll still be easier on your nose than traditional formulas. And you only have to use it for a few minutes, according to testers, before it dissolves your hair.

• Key ingredients: Urea, sunflower seed oil, vitamin E
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo reader says: "It smells better than most I've tried. And within eight minutes, it was all clean and removed. Leaves my skin soft. Don't see myself not buying this again. Totally worth it."

Even though the hair on your face is NBD, you might still want to get rid of yours, and that’s where this gentle hair removal cream comes in. Just smooth it on straight from the tube with the attached applicator, wait five minutes, and gently wipe it off with a damp cloth to instantly remove even the finest facial hair like peach fuzz. It's suitable for sensitive skin, but make sure you don't leave it on for any more than 10 minutes (and for most people, you shouldn't need more than eight minutes, unless your hair is super coarse).

• Key ingredients: Coconut oil
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo editor says: “I got dermaplaning once and left with scratches all over my face. Now, when I wanna get rid of peach fuzz and make my makeup look smoother, I opt for this facial-hair-removal cream. It leaves my skin feeling the softest it's ever felt, but without burning or drying it out either."—BG

Few moments are as embarrassing as standing in my bathroom naked, covered in hair-removal cream, waiting to scrape it off. But this in-shower version essentially takes all of that away. You just smooth on an even, thick layer (don't rub it in), then wait at least a minute before hopping in the shower. Keep wherever you put the cream—legs, arms, bikini line, underarms, wherever—out of the direct stream of water for at least two minutes but up to eight minutes while it ~works its magic~. Then, just wipe it off by massaging your skin with a wet washcloth in circular motions.

• Key ingredients: Argan oil
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo editor says: “I'm really frickin' into how easy this is to use. I always just put it on while I'm waiting for the water to heat up, then get in, wash my hair, and take it off. And the argan oil actually makes my skin feel pretty soft too."—BG

Now that I’ve tested dozens of hair-removal creams, I realize that my faves require little-to-no finesse. Basically, I don’t have time to swipe a formula on and wait for 10 minutes, all to be left with a leg still covered in hair. But with this gentle cream, I truly only need one layer to get my legs silky smooth. And surprisingly, I find the formula pretty gentle (shout out to aloe vera and allantoin, which both help soothe my skin).

• Key ingredients: Aloe vera, allantoin
• Fragrance free? Yes

Glowing customer review: “This was literally the same as if I got a Brazilian wax. I left it on the whole 10 minutes, and it started to sting a tiny bit as I was scraping it off, which had me hurriedly jumping into the shower to rinse. It had almost no smell, which was nice, and it took off ALL the hair!”

Your bikini area is prone to irritation (as you already know from being a living, breathing human), so if you’re going to use a depilatory on sensitive skin, it has to be packed with hydrating and soothing ingredients, like this Nad’s formula. It’s made with moisturizing shea butter and avocado oil, as well as soothing aloe vera and honey to help prevent the sensitive skin on your bikini line from freaking out and becoming irritated.

• Key ingredients: Potassium thioglycolate (chemical hair remover), shea butter, aloe vera, avocado oil, honey
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo reader says: “I always get razor burns or cuts from shaving, and I always seem to miss spots. I layered this cream on very thick and didn’t rub it in. I let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, I went in the shower with a loofah and rubbed it away in circular motions. All the hair came off without any effort!! I was shocked. No razor burn. No missed spots.”

So, this cult-favorite hair removal cream (waddup 7,000 positive reviews) is actually geared toward removing thick facial hair, which is why it’s ideal for anyone looking to remove coarse or curly hair from their body. Just smooth on a thick layer of this shea butter-spiked cream wherever you want to get rid of hair, leave it on for 4-7 minutes depending on the thickness of your hair, and wipe the hair away with a damp washcloth.

• Key ingredients: Thioglycolic acid (chemical hair remover), shea butter
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo reader says: “I get bad razor burn on my bikini area and have been waxing instead to prevent that. However, I used this stuff the other day, and I was pleasantly surprised that it removed most of my unwanted hair and left me with no irritation.”

Need a gentle facial hair remover? Skip the irritating razors and wax and try this gentle hair-removal cream instead from Nad’s. It leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth, thanks to moisturizing calendula and almond oils, without having to worry about patchy skin or nicks. If you’re prone to sensitivity, definitely layer on a hydrating serum and barrier-repair cream afterward to limit inflammation and dryness.

• Key ingredients: Thioglycolic acid (chemical hair remover), sweet-almond oil, calendula oil
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo reader says: “I was using this to remove both thick and thin dark hairs on my upper lip and my chin. It worked like a charm! I ended up leaving it on for a total of eight minutes. Honestly, I didn’t think it would work as well as it did.”

If you hate slathering on runny hair-removal creams, switch to this whipped, spray-foam formula that sticks to your legs as soon as you spray it on (just make sure to hop in the shower first to avoid spraying your floor or walls). Let it sit for four to six minutes, then wipe away with a wet towel or rinse it off with water. And, thanks to its added mix of moisturizers (hi, urea, aloe, shea butter, and cocoa butter), your skin will be left feeling softer and smoother, too.

• Key ingredients: Potassium thioglycolate (chemical hair remover), urea, aloe vera, shea butter, cocoa butter
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo editor says: “This is, by far, the easiest hair removal method I've ever tried. Legit, I just spray it on, leave it for a few minutes, then wipe it off. Truly, it doesn't get more low-maintenance."–BG

Most hair-removal creams tend to be runny and lightweight, which is totally fine, unless you've already got dry, scaly skin that could use some extra TLC. Enter: This rich formula from Nad’s, which uses urea, glycerin, sweet almond oil, and shea butter to help lightly moisturize and coddle your skin while the formula does its thing to your hair. Leave it on for four to six minutes and either wash it away in the shower or remove with a washcloth.

• Key ingredients: Potassium thioglycolate (chemical hair remover), urea, glycerin, sweet almond oil, shea butter
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo reader says: “This literally goes on like butter and leaves skin feeling like it also. It doesn’t burn or take a long time for hair to be removed. Will purchase again.”

More than 47,000 reviewers rave about this hair-removal cream on Amazon, especially its gel-cream formula that sticks to skin without sliding off. Testers also noted again and again how their skin was left feeling smooth for over a week (!), as well as immediately after wiping off, thanks to the formula’s aloe vera, urea, and vitamin E.

• Key ingredients: Potassium thioglycolate (chemical hair remover), urea, aloe vera, vitamin E
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo reader says: “I shaved previously the night before, but I went ahead and applied this on both pits and waited the allotted amount of time. The hair was very very small, but this product got it done! Using the included plastic scraper, I was able to remove all the teeny tiny hairs that were left over from the shave the night before.”

This gently exfoliating hair-removing leg mask is a godsend for my ingrown-prone legs. It uses kaolin clay, which you've likely used all over your face if you've ever used a detox face mask, since it helps slough away dead skin. I slather a thick layer all over my skin, wait about five minutes, and then wipe it off and hop in the shower to rinse off any residue. It quickly gets rid of any stubble and leaves my skin feeling smoother, especially when I follow it up with a rich moisturizer.

• Key ingredients: Kaolin clay, seaweed extract
• Fragrance free? No

One Cosmo reader says: “This is absolutely one of the best purchases I've made. I use this on my arms because they've always grown lots of hair, and I never liked shaving them because of the razor burns. This product couldn't be easier to use! Just lather a good amount on, wait 10 minutes, and wipe off with a wet rag.”

When you’re ready to apply hair removal cream, follow the directions, especially the length of time recommended to leave the cream on your skin. Every cream has different levels of thioglycolic acid (the chemical that removes your hair), so some creams can be used for ten minutes, while others will start irritating your skin after four minutes. You should always do a patch test on your upper thigh or arm 24 hours prior to confirm your skin can tolerate the formula before slathering it all over, says Dr. Lal.

Once you’ve confirmed the cream is suitable for your skin, smooth a thin layer of cream (or foam or gel) on the hair you want to remove and leave it on for the suggested amount of time, always erring on the side of caution the first time (i.e.; If they suggest 5-10 minutes, wash it off at minute five). Then, use a warm, wet washcloth (or just water itself, depending on the formula) to remove the cream. Rinse your skin with a moisturizing, fragrance-free body wash, and always slather on a gentle moisturizer or occlusive ointment.

Yes, you can use hair removal cream on your “private area” (aka your pubic region). But keep in mind that the skin around your genitals is extremely sensitive, so you might have to take some precautions. Hair-removal cream should never go inside your genitals, which can result in burning, itching, and potentially even an infection. I always check the packaging on my hair-removal cream to make sure it’s safe for my bikini line (and my favorites for this area are the Bikini Zone Hair-Removal Treatment Kit and the Nad’s Sensitive Hair-Removal Cream).

To make sure your skin can tolerate the cream—whether you’re using it on your bikini line or any other area of your body—start with a tiny patch test 24 hours before you plan to use the cream by dabbing it on your skin, then wiping it off after four minutes to see if you have any irritation. If you start to experience burning, redness, itching, or discomfort, immediately wipe off the cream with a warm washcloth, wash your skin with gentle soap and water, then dry off and smooth on a soothing, fragrance-free lotion.

Hair removal cream can sting a little bit, like when you use a chemical exfoliant, though it should ideally feel like nothing at all. And if it does, that’s a red flag that the formula isn’t agreeing with your skin and you should remove it immediately. “If your skin feels like it’s on fire, wash the cream off asap and liberally layer on a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to help calm down some inflammation and itch,” says Dr. Lal.

Again, this is also why it’s so important to not only patch-test 24 hours ahead of time, but also to follow the directions on the cream’s package, as leaving a hair-removal cream on too long can cause burning, peeling, dryness, and irritation. And if you have naturally sensitive skin, you should avoid using hair-removal creams on even more sensitive areas, like your face and bikini line.

Determine where you’ll use it.

Whether you’re using a hair removal cream on your legs, bikini line, underarms, or arms will depend on what kind of cream you go for. Creams for your face and bikini line tend to be a bit gentler and contain oils and ingredients that can help offset irritation on sensitive skin. Creams for your legs or underarms, however, are a bit stronger for removing thicker hair, but will likely be too intense for other areas of your body.

Consider your skin type.

If you have sensitive, reactive skin, look for formulas without potentially irritating ingredients, like essential oils and heavy fragrance, and instead pick formulas specifically created for sensitive skin, which tend to be filled with protective ingredients like aloe vera, butters, and oils. Those butters and oils (like shea butter and almond oil) will also come in handy if you have dry skin. Neomen Hair Removal Cream is a great fragrance-free option, fyi.

On the other hand, if your skin is super "tough," opt for a formula that'll remove your hair in the shortest amount of time—less time spent on your skin = less risk of irritation or having to apply a second layer. Often, these formulas will have labels reading “max strength,” so you know which to choose. Our testers loved the SoftSheen Carson Magic Razorless Cream Shave for their coarse, curly hair.

Decide on your ideal formula.

You’ve got a few options when it comes to depilatories, like spray-on foams, wash-off creams, and gel-based formulas. If you hate spreading a thick, goopy cream all over your skin (sticky hands aren’t exactly conducive to TikToking), go for a spray-on foam like Completely Bare Easy-Off Foaming Hair-Removal Spray. Or, if you hate doing laundry, try a formula that can be washed off in the shower rather than being removed with a washcloth.