Removing Unwanted Face and Body Hair

FACE

Depilatory cream

Best if you want a one-step process

• Upkeep: About every two to three weeks

• Insider's tip: Look for the word "face" on the label so you know it's a gentle formula. Test it on your leg first to make sure you're not allergic, then on a small patch of your chin.

• We like: Surgi-Cream Facial Hair ­Remover Extra Gentle Formula, $6, drugstores. It contains cooling cucumber and aloe vera to soothe skin while eliminating hair.

Razor pen

Best if your skin is ultra-sensitive

• Upkeep: Weekly maintenance

• Insider's tip: For a smoother finish, make small strokes in the opposite direction of natural hair growth. (It's also great for getting rid of hair on your toes.)

• We like: Remington Precision Detail Trimmer, $10, drugstores. So discreet it could be mistaken for a toothbrush. Adjustable settings allow the steel blades to really get into crevices to remove hair.

Wax

Best if your hair is coarse or if there's a lot of it

• Upkeep: Every four to six weeks

• Insider's tip: Since the wax needs to be able to cling to the hair, let hair grow out a bit. But don't worry — the new hair grows in finer and less noticeable.

• We like: Gigi Tweezeless Wax Facial Hair Remover, $6, drugstores. This microwavable natural beeswax is the first we've used that didn't hurt or cause a bumpy skin reaction.

EYEBROWS

Tweeze

Best if you have thin hair or an existing natural arch that merely needs tidying up

• Upkeep: Every three to four days

• Insider's tip: Use a toothbrush to smooth hairs into place so you can follow their growth line for a more natural result.

• We like: Revlon Platinum Slant Tip Tweezer, $16, drugstores. The no-slip finger grip and ergonomic design make it a cinch to snag even the tiniest hairs.

Wax

Best if you have bushy brows

• Upkeep: Once a week to every two weeks

• Insider's tip: To reduce post-treatment redness, use a wax that contains ­soothing ingredients.

• We like: Sally Hansen ­Microwaveable Eyebrow, Face & Lip Wax, $5, drugstores. Comes with a heat-sensitive stick that tells you when the wax is the right temperature, and a brow guide that helps you get the perfect arch.

LEGS

Shave

Best if you’re on a budget or want painless instant gratification

• Upkeep: Varies from every day to once a week

• Insider’s tip: Exfoliate to soften leg hair (it will be easier to cut) and use a multiblade razor with a moisturizing strip to prevent razor burn.

• We like: Gillette Venus Vibrance, $10, drugstores. Three moisturizing strips and a slight vibrating action raise the hairs, allowing the blade to get down to the roots for closer, longer-lasting results.

Wax

Best if hair is coarse and you want to postpone stubbly regrowth. (Hair takes longer to break the skin's surface once it's waxed.)

• Upkeep: Roughly every four weeks

• Insider's tip: Take away some of the sting of waxing large areas like your legs by rubbing on a numbing cream before you start. And avoid waxing just before your period, when your skin is more sensitive to pain.

• We like: Parissa Wax Strips, $10 for eight double-sided strips, parissa.com. Easy and ready to use, there's no heating, no spreading and no mess. Just press on and pull off.

BIKINI LINE

Shave

Best if you are pain averse and have fine hair

• Upkeep: About once a week

• Insider’s tip: To avoid ingrown hairs, always use a multiblade razor and small strokes in the same direction of hair growth.

• We like: Schick Quattro for Women, $9, drugstores. Four blades, complete with sliver-thin wires wrapped around them to protect you from nicks and cuts. Comes with two cartridge refills.

Wax

Best if you want a baby-smooth finish

• Upkeep: Every four to six weeks

• Insider’s tip: Don't wax if your skin is sunburned or irritated.

• We like: Bliss Poetic Waxing Kit, $40, blissworld.com. Removes hair as short as 1 mm in one yank. The aromatherapy-based formula is gentle on sensitive skin, too.

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