Here are the best hair removal creams that actually work

Look no further - here's everything you need to know about depilatory creams.

best hair removal creams - closer

by Ruby Barry |
Updated on

When it comes to flaunting those sun-kissed legs during the summer season (or even daring to bare them in the winter), there's one best hair removal product that comes up again and again - hair removal cream. The latest formulas on the market eliminate hair follicles completely in one easy, pain-free step in only 10 minutes. And guess what? A majority don't reek of ammonia anymore so these creams can actually smell good now. Try not to faint with excitement.

Say goodbye to those pesky razor burns, irksome bumps, and those sneaky ingrown hairs that just won't quit. Trust us, when it comes to eliminating unwanted fuzz these creams are your new best friend. No more wincing from sessions using your home waxing kit. Life has been painful enough these last three years, so why go through any more when it comes to hair removal? We know you've cried using even the best epilators in the past. Our eyes are watering just thinking about it.

Closer's best hair removal creams at a glance:

Editor's Choice: Veet Pure Hair Removal Cream, Legs & Body, Sensitive Skin, £4.40 on Amazon

Best hair removal cream for thick, dark hair: Nair Tough Hair Removal Cream, £4 on Amazon

Best hair removal cream for the face: Nad's Facial Hair Removal Cream and Soothing Balm, £4.95 on Amazon

hair removal creams / veetuk on Instagram
©veetuk on Instagram

Let's chat about versatility. These creams are not a one-trick pony, they're your all-access pass to smooth skin. Legs, bikini line, face – you name it, and these creams have got you covered. If you're after that immaculate Brazilian or Hollywood wax feel, this method is the way to go. Be warned though, while there are specialized depilatory creams for facial zones, avoid direct application to sensitive areas if it's a general cream. Follow the advice on the packaging for the best results. And always do a patch test!

To save you the trouble of hunting down these miracle creams, we've done the legwork for you. We've rounded up the crème de la crème of hair removal creams available to purchase right now.

SHOP: Hair removal creams that will revolutionise your self-care routine

Editor's Choice: best hair removal cream

now under £5

Veet Pure Hair Removal Cream, Legs & Body, Sensitive Skin, 100mlamazon

Rrp: £6.39

Price: £6.00

Whether you have sensitive skin or can apply any old cream without a reaction, Veet's iconic Pure Hair Removal Cream has perfect results for every skin type. Although it does have the classic hair removal cream scent, the smell is non-ammonia, so there's no nose-wincing assault upon opening. A recent revamp in their formula has led to a 35 per cent reduction in chemical components, meaning no burning or irritation. Veet's cream has stood the test of time, emerging as a tried-and-true favourite. At only £4, it's a no-brainer buy for your beauty cupboard.

Amazon review: "My daughter got this she has quite coarse hair and we have found other products do not do the job!! She has got really sensitive skin but this had such good reviews we thought to give it a go and perfectly removed hair little tip use the spatula to remove most of the hair then a warm flannel wipe and it will remove the stubborn hairs very pleased with it and the smell is ok too."

Pros

  • Age-old classic
  • For sensitive skin
  • Works for majority of skin areas, versatile
  • Veet recently changed formula to be ammonia-scent-free

Cons

  • Not for use on the face
  • Still has a strong smell
  • Suitable for legs, bikini lines, underarms, and arms

Best hair removal cream for thick, dark hair

20% OFF

When those family genes gift you dark body hair, the quest for the perfect hair removal cream gets real. Enter Nair’s dynamo hair cream, tailored to tame this challenge. The Nair Tough Removal Cream banishes stubborn hair whilst delivering some serious moisture to your skin. With lily flower extract & cotton seed, the formula is enriched to make it suitable for even dry or sensitive skin.

Amazon review: "I suffer really badly from razor burn when I shave my legs and end up scratching until I bleed. The red lumps were awful and unsightly - I worried I would never have smooth legs again as it was just too painful to shave. Then I saw this stuff suggested for me. The product smelt nice and went on in a nice even layer. I left the product on my legs for the full 10 minutes then I scraped the spatula up my leg and all the hair came clean off. I was so amazed, it was honestly so easy. This is my new absolute favourite and I’m currently online to buy another tube. I can’t believe I’ve finally found an answer to shaving rash!"

Pros

  • Enriched with lily flower extract & cottonseed oil
  • Suitable for dry & sensitive skin
  • No stubbly regrowth: removes hair below skin surface

Cons

  • Will need to use flannel or exfoliating gloves for effective results
  • Strong smell
  • Suitable for legs, arms, chest, back, feet, bikini line and armpits

Best pump bottle hair removal cream

Veet Pure Hair Removal Cream, Legs & Body, Sensitive Skin, 400mlamazon
Price: £17.48

Love the formula above but want an easier application process? Veet also sells their famous Pure Hair Removal Cream in pump bottle form where you can purchase 400ml for under £10. This pump bottle innovation simplifies application, especially in spots like the shower, saving you from the tube-squeeze struggle. Within this rendition of Veet's formula, Aloe Vera and Vitamin E are the stand-out ingredients, providing even the most sensitive skin with powerful hydration.

Amazon review: "Handy-sized bottle at a reasonable price. This Veet hair removal cream has been around for decades and is always reliable and so, when I wanted to use such a product, I deliberately chose Veet. It goes onto the skin smoothly and works in a few minutes. It is easy to remove the cream with the provided scraper. I didn't have any sensitive response, even though I have sensitive skin. The skin was left smooth and soft and hairless.

Pros

  • Pump bottle application is super quick to use
  • Aloe Vera and Vitamin E hydrate skin
  • For sensitive skin
  • Works for majority of skin areas, versatile

Cons

  • Not for use on the face
  • Still has a strong smell
  • Suitable for legs, bikini line, underarms, and arms

Best hair removal cream for intimate areas

WooWoo Tame It! Vegan In-Shower Hair Removal Creamwoowoo
Price: £18.95

woowoo.fun

Undoubtedly, we all agree that the trickiest area for hair removal is in the private regions. Imagine a solution that’s not only effective but gentle for those intimate areas. Look no further than Woo Woo's Tame It! In-shower cream. This versatile wonder works its magic all over the body, private parts included. Infused with calming Aloe Vera and silky Jojoba Oil, this cream ticks the vegan box too. Prices begin at £6.99 for a 50ml option – ideal if you want to give it a test run – and climb to £18.95 for a generous 200ml size. Reviews recommend you pair it with the WooWoo Soothing Balm (£6.75) for the best results. Read our in-depth WooWoo Tame It! review here.

WooWoo review: "Always struggled with ingrown hairs, red irritated bumps, the awkwardness of shaving and the whole process. This changed my life. I had a lump in my groin that grew due to the irritation of shaving - no matter how long the gaps I took between shaving, it ALWAYS came back and angrier each time even when it had gone and healed. This got rid of it all. It’s easy, it’s quick, I’m left clean, spotless, with no ingrown hairs, no awkwardness - everything you want. I do leave it on for 10 minutes (longer than stated) as I have stubborn hair but I gradually increased to this and it works perfectly for me, I haven’t looked back at all. I’ve even started using it on my armpits too I can’t get enough!!! Litre bottles please!!"

Pros

  • Formulated to be used in intimate areas
  • No burning sensations
  • Infused with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil
  • Vegan
  • No strong smell

Cons

  • You may need to leave the cream on longer than recommended for it to work (at your own risk)
  • Pricier option on our list
  • Suitable for the bikini line, undercarriage, legs or bum

Best hair removal cream for the face

Nad's Facial Hair Removal Cream and Soothing Balm 28gamazon
Price: £10.00
Alternative retailers
Walmart$9.99View offer

Navigating facial hair removal calls for finesse. After all, hiding a shaving mishap under clothing isn’t an option for your face. But fret not, Nad's has you covered with their Facial Hair Removal Cream, with over 3,000 five-star reviews. Within a mere four minutes, it does its hair removal magic, which you can combine with the provided moisturizing balm, enriched with almond oil and calendula to soothe afterwards. We also recommend pairing this with using a dermaplaning tool for smooth makeup application.

Amazon review: "OK, so I have VERY sensitive skin caused by an allergic reaction about 5 years ago. Since then I have been unable to use the Nair or Boots versions of this product that I had previously used. When I tried they caused swelling and a rash, and it was so uncomfortable that I haven't even tried anything else for over a year. But this stuff is the answer to my problems. I put it on my face for 5 minutes and the hair was gone. Admittedly my hair is fine and easy to remove, so I didn't need to leave it on any longer. It did leave the skin a little rough/dry, so I put a little dermal cream on instead of the provided balm (in case of a reaction that one reviewer had spoken of) and it was fine. No swelling or marks. Very happy with this and will keep using and buying it."

Pros

  • Suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive skin
  • Aftercare Moisture + Soothing Face Balm
  • special angle-tip applicator for easy application
  • PETA-certified for cruelty-free hair removal

Cons

  • Small percentage reacts to formula so you need to do a patch test
  • Very stubborn thick hairs may need to be plucked afterwards
  • Suitable for the face, chin and upper lip

Best hair removal cream for sensitive skin

Nair Hair Remover Sensitive Cream 100mlsainsburys

Although the products we've listed so far are suitable for sensitive skin, some people may have to be ultra-careful about what they put on their skin - due to its reactivity. If this is you, Nair Hair Remover Sensitive Cream is the way to go. At only £2, this sensitive hair removal cream is dermatologically tested for super-sensitive folks, and enriched with Argan Oil & Aloe Vera extract to soothe.

Sainsbury's review: "I normally get really bad rashes or irritated skin after using hair removal creams even if it’s for sensitive skin, I had no issues using this and would definitely use it again! The smell is quite strong but the results outweighed it!"

Pros

  • Perfect for those with very sensitive skin
  • Ideal formula consistency (no-drip)
  • Infused with Argan Oil and Aloe Vera

Cons

  • Strong smell
  • Small bottle (travel size)
  • Suitable for legs, bikini area and underarms

Best moisturising hair removal cream

Nad's Natural Hair Removal Body Butter 3 in 1, 150mlboots

One thing you may be concerned about, if you suffer from dry skin, is how the hair removal cream formula will sap the hydration from your already dry-prone skin. To tackle this concern, Nad's Natural Hair Removal Body Butter 3-in-1 will be your knight in shining armour. Yes, you read that right - this is formulated as a body butter as well as a hair removal cream. This painless hair removal cream is made from 80% natural ingredients, including Shea Butter extract, to help hydrate and smooth skin, while gently removing body hair in up to four minutes.

Boots review: "This is a fast and effective way to remove hair when you don't want to try other methods. It's a thick body butter with a nice smell and it works I put it on before my shower so everything can be rinsed I don't have to use much and it works pretty fast. I used it on several different body parts and they all worked."

Pros

  • Body butter combined with hair removal cream
  • 80% natural ingredients
  • No drip formula - for use in and out of shower
  • No strong scent
  • Suitable for Vegetarian and Vegans

Cons

  • Formula can be tricky to squeeze out tube
  • You may need to leave the cream on longer than recommended for it to work (at your own risk)
  • Suitable for underarms, arms, bikini line and legs

How do they work?

Delving into the science, hair removal creams work their magic through the power of alkaline chemicals. These gentle-yet-effective ingredients safely break down your hair's Keratin structure, meaning after a five to ten-minute wait you can effortlessly wipe away those pesky strands using a spatula, a flannel, or even a sponge to reveal dolphin-smooth skin.

Does hair removal cream make hair thicker?

Depilatory cream does not affect the thickness of hair growth once used nor does it affect the speed of growth. However, because it does not remove the hair from the root as plucking does, you may still be able to see a very small shadow of the root under your skin after using it.

Do depilatory creams cause ingrown hairs?

Unlike electric razors that cut along the skin, hair removal creams dissolve the very follicle making ingrowns less likely. However, if you've battled ingrown hairs in the past, it's wise to exfoliate between cream applications. How? Take your pick – an exfoliating scrub or a trusty skin brush. These skin tools combat the buildup of oils, grime, and dead skin cells that can lead to follicle blockages.

Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for heat, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her “dupe queen”, as there’s not a product in the world she can’t find a cheaper alternative for.

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