The 14 Best Facial Hair Removal Products of 2023, According to Dermatologists

Best Overall: Finishing Touch Flawless Women's Hair Remover

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Why We Like It: It's virtually painless.

It's Worth Noting: This device doesn't remove hair at the root, so it doesn't prevent hair from growing back.

Shaped like a luxury lipstick, the Finishing Touch hair remover is a discreet, battery-powered device that's super effective at removing peach fuzz and fine hairs. Not only does it get rid of hair, but it also reveals smooth skin underneath, making makeup application a breeze. Just roll the hypoallergenic head of the device around your face in small, circulation motions, and voila: facial fuzz and stubble is a thing of the past. It's that simple!

It's not only a wildly popular Amazon find — it's backed by derms. Board-certified dermatologist Nava Greenfield, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC, recommends the device for all skin types. "It's a hypoallergenic device and removes even very fine hairs on the face," she says. While it won't pull the hair out from the root, she says that it gets a very close buzz without being irritating or painful, making it an especially great choice for those with sensitive skin, as well as those who experience irritation from waxing, epilation, or tweezing.

Price at time of publish: $20

• Size: Pocket
• Method: Battery-operated device

Best Splurge: Dermaflash Luxe+ Facial Exfoliation and Peach Fuzz Removal

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Why We Like It: The wider head vibrates to make peach fuzz stand on end for easier removal.

It's Worth Noting: It only comes with five single-use blades and a re-stock starts at $29.

Designed with a wide head and 14,000 sonic vibrations per minute, this luxury dermaplaning tool is as good as it gets. "This device helps to exfoliate and eliminate dead skin cells in addition to helping with hair removal, including peach fuzz, to leave the facial skin looking and feeling brighter and smoother," says Marisa Garshick, M.D., board-certified dermatologist. "By eliminating the dead skin cells and facial hair, it helps skincare penetrate better and makes makeup application easier." Which is why the Dermaflash Luxe+ is a mainstay in so many celebrity makeup artist's kits ahead of awards shows and other industry events. It's the ultimate secret for flawless-looking makeup.

Logistically, the Dermaflash Luxe+ includes the handheld device, a prep treatment (though, at just .33 oz, it runs out fast), and four single-use blade replacements. One thing to note is that ridding the device of one blade and inserting another can be a learning process (so make sure you thoroughly read the instructions). If loaded incorrectly, the blade will snap off the palette before being secure in the device, which breaks the locking tip and makes it ineffective. Long story short, take your time with it to prevent wasting blades.

Price at time of publish: $199

• Size: Handheld
• Method: Dermaplaning Tool

Best Cream: Nair Hair Remover Moisturizing Face Cream

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Why We Like It: It's gentle and effective, and it's one of the more affordable facial hair removal options.

It's Worth Noting: It can cause irritation when used in conjunction with retinoids

Sometimes, classic beauty brands are a go-to for a simple reason: They just plain work. "Nair is still the tried and true depilatory cream," says Condon. "This product will soften the hair to either remove it at the surface or soften it enough to remove it from the root."

For best results, she says that it's extremely important to follow the directions, otherwise you could potentially burn or irritate your skin. "You can test it on parts of the body that don't show just in case there's a reaction," suggests Condon. "Most prefer behind the ear, the back of the neck, thigh, or even the inside of the wrist." (Stop using it immediately if you develop itching, raw or burned skin, or red bumps.)

Condon isn't the only skincare expert who's a fan of this facial hair remover, though. Dr. Garshick is, too. "This nourishing facial hair remover can be applied to the face, including the upper lip, chin, and cheeks to help remove hairs, including those that are fine to coarse." And since it's made with sweet almond oil, she says that it's less likely to cause irritation than some other hair removal options.

That said, Condon recommends avoiding this product if you take prescription acne medications, including Retin-A, because the combo could make your skin hyper-sensitive and potentially lead to irritation.

Price at time of publish: $4

• Size: 2 oz.
• Method: Cream

Best for Thick Hair: Surgi-Cream Hair Remover for Face

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Why We Like It: It dissolves facial hair in as little as five minutes.

It's Worth Noting: This product has a fresh scent that may be off-putting to some.

If the hair on your face is thick and coarse, your best bet is a cream that's specially formulated for that texture. "As we age, hair tends to get thicker and darker," explains Dr. Fromowitz. He recommends this Surgi-Cream for those with darker, coarser facial hair.

Simply apply a thick, even layer to your face (test first!), wait approximately four minutes, remove with the included gliding tool, and enjoy hair-free skin. Many of the products' die-hard fans say that it's effective on even the most stubborn, hard-to-get-rid-of hair and also works well on sensitive skin (just be sure not to leave it on for too long, as that's when irritation becomes more likely).

What's more, this facial hair remover, which is infused with calming aloe vera, comes with a follow-up soothing cream formulated with anti-inflammatory papaya extract, as well as nourishing olive leaf extract.

Price at time of publish: $22

• Size: 1 oz. each
• Method: Cream

Best Epilator: Braun Silk épil 9 Epilator

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Why We Like It: It's very user-friendly and helps ensure safe, pain-free hair removal.

It's Worth Noting: Even with how advanced it is, it can cause stinging.

"The Braun Silk-épil is great in that it can be used wet or dry — it's completely waterproof," says Hadley King, M.D., board-certified dermatologist. What's more, it's designed to vibrate to help decrease and distract from any discomfort (much like lasers use cool blasts of air to do the same thing). "The wider head removes more hair with each stroke, and it pivots to more easily accommodate body curves," she adds. "The newer models also have a smart sensor that helps to guide how much pressure to apply."

For those that don't know, epilators are electrical devices that remove hair by the root in a similar fashion to waxing, says Dr. Fromowitz — and, luckily, they're more technologically advanced than they were a decade ago. "As long as you follow their instructions, they're safe for home use," he adds.

While the process does sting a bit — which can be expected from pretty much any facial hair removal technique, sans shaving — this epilator doesn't rip up the top layer of skin like waxing. Plus, it can be used on much shorter strands of hair (just half a millimeter) than wax.

Price at time of publish: $80

• Size: Handheld
• Method: Epilator

Best Portable Device: Bellabe Facial Hair Remover for Women

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Why We Like It: It plucks more hairs at a faster rate than tweezers.

It's Worth Noting: While gentle, it can still sting upon plucking.

This springy, palm-sized facial hair 'plucker' is easy to bend and twist, providing a sturdier grip on tiny hairs — resulting in quicker and easier plucking — than a basic pair of tweezers. The coil-like material is made of hypoallergenic carbon steel, which won't pinch the skin as easily as tweezers often do. As such, this handheld device is the best option if you prefer manual tools that don't require any batteries or charging time.

Here's how it works: You hold one end of the "spring" in each hand and bend it, then gently roll it on your face. The spring pulls stray hairs from their roots as you slide the device along your cheeks, chin, jawline, and upper lip. Many reviewers swear that it's pretty painless (but remember, everyone's skin sensitivity is different).

After plucking your facial hair, it's important to rinse off the device or even wipe it down with an alcohol wipe to keep it from harboring bacteria before your next use.

Price at time of publish: $18

• Size: Handheld
• Method: Plucking Device

Best for Sensitive Skin: Funstant Eyebrow Trimmer

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Why We Like It: The row of stainless steel blades makes trimming facial hair and eyebrows simple and safe.

It's Worth Noting: To prevent potential infections, it's important to wipe down the blades after each use.

This trimmer is beloved for its double-blade head, which both holds hair and trims it simultaneously. This prevents painful tugging or yanking to keep the process running smoothly — which is particularly beneficial for sensitive skin. Plus, it comes with a blade guard that allows you to customize the length of a trim.

It's because of all these benefits that DiAnne Davis, M.D., board-certified dermatologist, is such a big fan of this type of small handheld facial and eyebrow trimmer. "With stainless steel blades in one row, it easily trims facial hair like an electric razor," she says. "I feel like these are the most gentle on the skin and they're operator-friendly without causing any pain, irritation, cuts, scrapes, or infection."

While this particular tool is among the more gentle on the market, removing facial hair isn't a painless activity — sometimes it stings or leads to irritated skin after. Thankfully, opting for a trimmer is an easy way to reduce your risk of harming sensitive skin. It doesn't expose skin to harsh chemicals, like creams, nor does it remove hair from the root, which can lead to ingrowns during the regrowth stage. Instead, the trimmer chops hair at the base to leave skin silky smooth without the threat of irritation.

Price at time of publish: $16

• Size: Handheld
• Method: Battery-operated Trimmer

Best Wax Strips: Nad's Hypoallergenic Facial Wax Strips

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Why We Like It: They don't require any prep work — just apply the strips and peel them off to reveal silky smooth skin.

It's Worth Noting: Pressure is paramount in applying these. If you skip the few seconds of pressure, they don't remove hair as well.

If waxing is your preferred method of hair removal, opt for these waxing strips from Nad's (a trusted skin-care brand that's been around since the early '90s) that don't require any prep work.

Rather than the hassle of heating the wax with a machine, you use your own hands to warm up the soft, flexible strips, and then apply them anywhere on your face — upper lip, between your brows, chin, cheeks, etc. Once in place, you put pressure on the area for a few seconds and then rip off. Presto! Hair vanishes for up to four weeks after a single use.

Just remember: Waxing facial skin should be performed with caution. "It can cause irritation, ingrown hairs, and burn, but if you want the hair removed for longer than just a few days at a time, only a few methods will provide that, and waxing is one of them," explains Dr. Greenfield.

Price at time of publish: $12 for 2-pack

• Size: 12-Count (each)
• Method: Wax Strips

Best Natural Wax: Moom Organic Hair Removal with Tea Tree Oil

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Why We Like It: It's all-natural, so you don't have to worry about any harsh, irritating chemical ingredients.

It's Worth Noting: The wax hardens quickly, so you have to apply it with care.

This wax uses an all-natural, honey-like formula made of cane sugar extract, lemon juice, tea tree oil, and chamomile tea. What's more, while this wax is certainly gentle enough to be used on the face, it can also be used all over your body, so you really get the most bang for your buck.

To use, heat up in the microwave or on the stovetop, then apply to the skin. Next, place a waxing strip (bought separately) on top and pull it in the same direction as the hair growth for top-notch efficacy.

When it comes to safely waxing at home, Dr. Fromowitz stresses that "the key is to follow the directions carefully." Namely, be very careful about temperature to avoid burns, he says.

On the bright side, this is considered a sugar wax, which is generally thought to be gentler than traditional wax.

Price at time of publish: $21

• Size: 12 oz.
• Method: Sugar Wax

Best Tweezers: Tweezer Guru Precision Slant Eyebrow Tweezers

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Why We Like It: They're very precise — and they're sold in eight colors.

It's Worth Noting: Tweezers are sharper than they appear — be careful not to grab skin along with the hairs.

If precision is your aim or you just need to pluck a few hairs, then you can't go wrong with a good pair of tweezers — and these are exactly that. These customer-favorite tweezers feature a strong, wide grip for easy grasping, along with sharp angled tips for seamless removal.

Speaking of the tips, they're made of hypoallergenic stainless steel that fares well when wiped down with alcohol, which is advised to prevent the transfer of any bacteria. While these tweezers are already a bargain, they also come with the option to buy them in 2-packs, so you can keep a pair in your medicine cabinet and one in your purse. With these tweezers in tow, never again will a stray chin hair haunt you.

Pro tip: When tweezing, as with waxing, it's best to pluck in the direction of hair growth to prevent causing any ingrown hairs.

Price at time of publish: $8

• Size: Handheld
• Method: Tweezers

Best Hard Wax: Tress Wellness Home Waxing Kit

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Why We Like It: It comes with various different scents of wax, all of which are easy to apply.

It's Worth Noting: This is a pro-level set-up that may be more advanced for beginner hair removers.

Scroll through TikTok long enough, and you'll eventually stumble upon a video of someone mixing up these little wax pellets (talk about oddly satisfying). But they're not just eye candy — they also melt into a warm wax that can safely be used on the face and body to pull hair out from the root.

What really sets this hard wax kit apart is just how much it includes. It comes with bags of eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, lavender, and tea tree wax melts (each of which are 3.5 ounces). Additionally, shoppers get the wax warmer, face and body application sticks, and pre- and post-wax spray to make the process as soothing as possible. And let us not forget about the instruction manual. With this all-encompassing kit, you'll be an at-home waxing pro in no time.

Price at time of publish: $50

• Size: 1.15 lbs.
• Method: Wax

Best Wax Pen: Nad's Eyebrow Shaper Wax Kit

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Why We Like It: It offers extremely precise application.

It's Worth Noting: The kit doesn't come with a ton of wax, so it's not a long-term solution.

If you like the convenience of wax strips but wish they offered just a little more precision (especially if you're using them on your eyebrows), this wax pen is the ultimate solution. It comes pre-filled with soft wax, which squeezes out of the brush tip for precise application.

For best results, start by swabbing the area you're planning to wax with one of the four pre-wax cleansing wipes. After, apply the no-heat-necessary gel to unwanted hair, place one of the 10 included reusable cotton strips over the wax, and pull. Easy enough, right?

Now, a note on the strips. Although they're reusable, they should only be re-applied if they've been thoroughly cleaned. Otherwise, there's the rise of introducing bacteria into open follicles, which can lead to infections. And, while on the topic, although the strips are reusable, the wand is not — once it's empty, it's done. As such, given the price, your best bet may be to simply buy another kit when the time comes.

Price at time of publish: $9

• Size: 0.2 oz.
• Method: Wax

Best Dermaplaning Tool: Schick Hydro Silk Dermaplaning Tool

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Why We Like It: It's angled to safely work with the contour of the face.

It's Worth Noting: Each blade should only be used once for sanitary purposes, so depending on how often you plan to use them, the cost can add up.

Concerned about peach fuzz? Consider exfoliating your skin and removing unwanted hair in one go with the help of a handy dermaplaning tool, such as this ultra-popular one from Schick. Dermaplaning is a technique that involves using a sharp blade to remove fine, small hairs — basically shaving in a sense, Rachel Nazarian, M.D., a New York-based dermatologist and fellow at the American Academy of Dermatology, previously told Shape.

Schick's easy-to-use dermaplaning tool is a top purchase for Amazon shoppers — which is partly due to its ergonomic design. "If you're going to use a razor on your face, I like one that contours to the shape of your face which makes it less likely to cause bleeding and infection," says Dr. Greenfield, noting that the Sephora Collection dermaplaning tool is another top choice. Just be sure to use a new dermaplaning blade each time for safety ("to avoid bacterial buildup," Dr. Greenfield says) and efficiency — but that shouldn't be an issue, since you can get this pack of three for just $5 at Amazon.

Price at time of publish: $6

• Size: Handheld
• Method: Dermaplaning Tool

Best for Beginners: Finishing Touch Flawless Dermaplane

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Why We Like It: It has a built-in light so you can easily see what you're doing.

It's Worth Noting: The blades aren't as sharp as other dermaplaning devices.

Whether you're traveling, headed to a work event, or are simply craving a smaller dermaplaning device that packs a vibrating punch without a high price tag, the Finishing Touch Flawless Dermaplane Glo Lighted Facial Exfoliator is worth checking out. It's one of Amazon's best-selling microdermabrasion devices, and it has a built-in light that makes it easier for you to see exactly what you're doing, much like the devices you'd find in a professional setting.

Another highlight of this product? It has an angled head and a safety guard, so it will help you not only remove unwanted hair but protect your skin in the process, too.

In addition to being a really effective dermaplaning tool, it comes with six replacement heads — all for under $15. As such, each DIY treatment costs about $2.30, as opposed to the hundreds you would spend on a single session in a pro's office.

Price at time of publish: $14

• Size: Handheld
• Method: Dermaplaning Tool