Our top pick is the Schick Hydro Silk 2-in-1 Hair Removal Cream
Jessie Quinn is a Los Angeles-based contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE with over 10 years of experience covering all things beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. At PEOPLE, she collaborates with the PEOPLE Tested team to share our top recommendations for everything from the best shapewear to the best dark spot correctors.
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Many different hair removal methods exist, from at-home laser hair removal and at-home waxing to epilation devices, with shaving as a starting place for many. But if you’re tired of razor burns and endless touch-ups, it may be worth trying hair removal creams: a typically gentler, longer-lasting alternative. Their creamy, lotion-like formulas lift away unwanted stubble and don’t come with some of the side effects and high costs of other methods.
But here’s the thing: Some hair removal creams simply don’t work as well as others (and, in some cases, at all). So, our team set out to find the best through extensive research and real-world testing.
After trying nearly two dozen formulas, we landed on our top 11 best hair removal creams, shared below.
The Schick Hydro Silk 2-in-1 Hair Removal Cream is our best overall pick for its lightweight, non-sticky consistency, which is easy to apply and remove with the included spatula. While we didn’t experience a cooling effect on the skin, the lotion-like formula has vitamin E, which softens dry skin while removing unwanted hair in an impressive five minutes.
While it did have a strong scent, it was tolerable and not as irritating (or stinky) as some other hair removal formulas. Hair grows back much slower after using this than other methods, like shaving.
Formula Type: Cream | Size: 8.4 ounces | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E
The convenience and efficacy of this Veet spray-on cream earns it a close second place for best overall. Like the Schick cream, it contains moisturizing vitamin E and skin-soothing aloe vera, providing a nourishing sensation.
It removes unwanted hair in just a few minutes, and since it’s a spray-on, you don’t have to worry about spreading it around to get full coverage. It also has a pleasant floral scent, a nice change-up from some of the more potent aromas that come with these formulas. Unfortunately, it’s not as long lasting as the Schick bottle.
Formula Type: Foam | Size: 5.1 ounces | Best for: Underarms, arms, legs, bikini area
Many hair removal creams have a stinky aroma that often smells like chemicals — like ammonia hair dye — but not the Flamingo hair removal cream. Its iris and suede aroma have a faint perfume scent, providing a much more pleasant experience for the senses.
Along with smelling lovely, it’s highly effective at removing unwanted hair; in most cases, you only need one round to remove everything. It’s gentle enough to use on sensitive skin, as it doesn’t cause itching or visible irritation, and it includes a spatula for easy application and removal.
The hair grows back faster than other formulas on our list, though it took much longer than shaving.
Formula Type: Cream | Size: 6.76 ounces | Best for: Legs, arms, stomach, bikini area
Consider the Completely Bare Easy Off Foaming Hair Removal Spray if you prefer a foam texture. This spray cream essentially goes on like shaving cream, and while it’s a little tricky to apply at first, the formula is easy to spread across the skin for an even layer. Its shea butter formula is deeply hydrating and nourishing, which feels especially nice on dry skin. It’s also gentler, so it’s a great option for sensitive skin types.
Formula Type: Foam | Size: 5.8 ounces | Key Ingredients: Volcanic ash, shea butter | Best for: Arms, legs
We also love the WooWoo Natural Tame It! Vegan In-Shower Hair Removal Cream: With skin-soothing aloe vera and nourishing jojoba oil, it's perfect for dry skin. Its thicker consistency is designed to stay put without melting away in the shower and conveniently takes effect in just a few minutes. On the flip side, its resistance makes removing it a little tricky, so use a loofah or washcloth to get all the excess residue.
Formula Type: Cream | Sizes: 1.69 ounces, 3.38 ounces, 6.7 ounces | Best for: Legs, bikini area
If you’re looking for a better value in-shower hair removal solution, opt for this Nair Shower Cream, which offers nearly half the price for almost double the size. Like the WooWoo formula, it has a thick, buttery consistency that stays put while in the shower. However, it takes five times longer to work (a.k.a. 10 minutes), which is a little long for the shower.
Still, it’s highly effective at removing all unwanted hair, so you don’t need to worry about touch-ups with a razor. Since it includes argan oil, it’s nourishing and gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Formula Type: Cream | Size: 13 ounces | Best for: Legs, arms, underarms, bikini area
Try the Theorganicones Charcoal and Turmeric Hair Removal Mask for a natural hair removal cream. This formula combines turmeric, natural clay, and activated charcoal to purify skin and remove unwanted hair in around 15 minutes.
It’s a little thicker in consistency, which makes it easy to apply and keep in place (especially since it needs to stay on the skin for longer), yet it easily comes off with a warm washcloth. Since it’s a natural formula, it doesn’t have the same stinky chemical aroma that often comes with this hair removal process, which we appreciate.
Formula Type: Clay | Size: 8 ounces | Best for: Body, legs, bikini area
If you’re tired of shaving or waxing your bikini line and want something a little less painful and longer-lasting, the Uttes Intimate Area Hair Removal Cream is our top pick. This hair removal cream features an ultra-thick consistency that makes it easy to apply to the desired area without it bleeding or running off.
The cream isn’t necessarily cooling and it does have a slightly uncomfortable sensation, however, it isn’t painf -
ul or irritating like some other hair removal methods. On top of that, it takes hair two weeks to grow back, so it’s a great alternative to waxing.
Formula Type: Cream | Size: 4.1 ounces | Best for: Underarms, bikini area
This men’s powder formula is worth trying for those who struggle with facial razor bumps after shaving, though the DIY application process has a learning curve. It took us a couple of attempts to know how much powder and water to mix in a container (not provided) to remove most of the facial hair after seven minutes. It left a slight stinging sensation after wiping it off with a damp washcloth, but we thankfully didn’t experience any ingrown hairs, and our hair grew back slower than it would typically from shaving.
Formula Type: Powder | Size: 4.5 ounces | Best for: Facial hair
This cooling formula has a smooth, lotion-like texture and glide-on applicator, making application easy and mess-free. It’s also highly effective at removing unwanted hair, with just a few stragglers left behind. Like the Nair Shower Cream, it took about seven to 10 minutes to work, and our hair grew at the same rate as it would from shaving. The scent was overwhelming and unpleasant, but for under $10, it’s still a great option, especially if you prefer a roll-on stick.
Formula Type: Stick | Size: 3.3 ounces | Key Ingredients: Moroccan argan oil | Best for: Underarms, arms, bikini area
We loved how the Neomen Hair Removal Cream’s smooth, easy-to-apply formula quickly and effectively removed unwanted hair in one go, taking only five minutes. Its aloe vera, vitamin E, and baby oil left our skin hydrated and soft. Its thin, watery consistency was pretty messy, and the scent was a tad too strong for our liking, but it’s worth it when you need a quick or last-minute hair removal solution.
Formula Type: Cream | Size: 3.7 ounces | Best for: Legs, arms, underarms, bikini line
Before selecting a hair removal cream, Dr. Graf says to consider your hair type as this can impact the overall efficacy of a formula. “Some depilatory creams will only work on finer hair and others will work best on thicker hair,” she explains.
Similarly, Dr. Graf recommends choosing a formula that is safe for your skin type. Many hair removal formulas are compatible with several skin types, but some have additional benefits that are worth considering. For example, cream formulas with aloe vera can soothe and hydrate dry skin while also helping prevent irritation.
Our best in-shower hair removal cream, the WooWoo Natural Tame It! Vegan In-Shower Hair Removal Cream, is formulated with aloe vera gel and jojoba oil, which soothe and nourish dry skin. Similarly, our best overall runner-up, the Veet Spray on Cream, also features aloe vera along with vitamin E. The Completely Bare Easy Off Foaming Hair Removal Spray is another dry skin-benefiting formula thanks to its inclusion of shea butter.
In addition to what to look for, Dr. Graf says a patch test on a smaller surface area is the most important thing to consider, as some formulas might cause irritation due to area of the body, skin sensitivity, and, in some cases, allergies. “Inner thighs might be more sensitive than outer and lower legs,” she notes, adding that underarms also tend to be more sensitive compared to other parts of the arm. By patch testing, you can avoid possible irritation.
Our PEOPLE Tested team conducted real-world testing on 22 formulas over six weeks to find the best hair removal creams. During this time, we tested each product to better understand its overall performance, including its texture, ease of use, comfort, and efficacy at removing hair.
After thorough testing, we compiled our notes and compared each experience to determine which formulas work best at removing hair, including our top pick, the Schick Hydro Silk 2-in-1 Hair Removal Cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jessie Quinn is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE and has written for publications such as Byrdie, InStyle, The Spruce, NYLON, and more. When covering the best hair removal creams, Jessie first reviewed the PEOPLE Tested team’s notes and insights to understand their overall experience with each of the 22 formulas tested. She specifically focused on the formula type, texture, and consistency throughout her research. Beyond the formula, she also considered the application process, ease of use, efficacy, and comfortability, too. In addition to considering our notes, Jessie also reached out to top skincare expert Dr. Jeannette Graf to learn more about hair removal creams, including what to look for in high-quality formulas and what to consider when trying these types of hair removal.
Kate Watson is a contributing commerce writer for PEOPLE with seven years of beauty writing experience. She’s used razors, hair removal creams, and at-home and professional waxes to get rid of unwanted hair, eventually resulting in laser hair removal post-pandemic to (mostly) banish it once and for all. For this story, she refreshed product reviews and added newly tested formulas to keep readers up-to-date on the latest and best hair removal creams.
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