Get the Skinny on Dermatologist-Approved Epilators (2024)

Get the Skinny on Dermatologist-Approved Epilators (1)

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If an epilator sounds like life support, you're not entirely wrong—that is, if you're into sleek, hairless skin. An epilator is a hand-held device that removes hair from the roots, keeping your face, arms, and legs hair free for days (that's right, days, even weeks). Although razors are quick and easy, they only reach surface-level hair and leave bumps in their wake, or worse—cuts. "Epilators can be a good option for someone who is not a candidate for laser hair removal or gets irritation with depilatory creams and shaving," explains Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York's MDCS Dermatology.

We won't sugarcoat this; they can sometimes be uncomfortable and slightly painful. You are purposely ripping hair out from the root, damaging the follicles, which in this case is a good thing because the next time hair wants to grow back, it'll come in thinner than before. Garshick suggests prepping the skin with a gentle exfoliation such as Dove's Gentle Exfoliating Liquid Body Wash: "[it] helps the hairs be more easily accessible, which also helps to address ingrown hairs." After epilating, use Vaseline's Intensive Care Sensitive Skin Relief Lotion to soothe the skin.

Pro tip: If your skin is loose, pull it taut so the tweezers don't grab it to avoid pinching. Now, if you just fainted at the very mention of tweezers, try at-home waxing kits, but if you want long-lasting results, consider the epilator. With Garshick's help, we've selected the most effective and comfortable epilators on the market so you can have smooth-to-the-touch skin and weeks of carefree shower time.

1

Best Epilator for Face

Braun FaceSpa Pro 910 Facial Epilator

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1

Best Epilator for Face

Braun FaceSpa Pro 910 Facial Epilator

This dermatologist-tested, editor-approved epilator can reach fine hairs that wax cannot and has a dual washing head that Braun claims to be six times more effective than manual washing.

2

Best Epilator for Face and Body

Emjoi AP-17LT Total Concept 2-In-1 Epilator

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2

Best Epilator for Face and Body

Emjoi AP-17LT Total Concept 2-In-1 Epilator

Glide Technology rolls the tweezer discs over the skin with less irritation and reaches delicate areas such as your lips, eyebrows, and bikini lines. If you press the skin too hard, a built-in safety touch will pause the tweezers.

3

Best Epilator for Eyebrows

Flawless by Finishing Touch Instant and Painless Facial Hair Remover

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Instantly remove hair from your lip, chin, or between the eyebrows with this lipstick-sized epilator, and never worry about nicks, burns, or irritation again.

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4

Best Epilator for Sensitive Skin

Braun Silk-epil 3 3-270 Epilator

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4

Best Epilator for Sensitive Skin

Braun Silk-epil 3 3-270 Epilator

Braun created this epilator to remove hair from sensitive, delicate skin by adding a massage roller head to soothe areas needing a lighter touch. You can either go cordless or plug it in, so you don't need to take epilating breaks.

5

Best Epilator Overall

Braun Silk-Épil 9 Flex 9-300 Beauty Epilator Set

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5

Best Epilator Overall

Braun Silk-Épil 9 Flex 9-300 Beauty Epilator Set

Whether it be massaging the skin to offering a shaver head in more sensitive areas this epilator comes with nine unique attachments to cover your every requirement. It has a flexible head that swivels and glides effortlessly with your body's natural curves.

6

Best Epilator for Pubic Hair

Phillips Epilator Series 8000

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6

Best Epilator for Pubic Hair

Phillips Epilator Series 8000

This is the world's first epilator to use ceramic tweezers—corrosion-resistant (perfect for the shower) and lightweight material. It reaches the shortest of hairs with double-action technology and keeps your skin smooth for weeks.

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7

Best Epilator for Bikini Lines

Remington Smooth & Silky Facial Epilator

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7

Best Epilator for Bikini Lines

Remington Smooth & Silky Facial Epilator

Small enough to pack and battery-powered, this epilator is perfect for bikini lines and other hard-to-reach areas for your upcoming vacation.

8

Best Long-Lasting Epilator

Corded Compact Epilator

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8

Best Long-Lasting Epilator

Corded Compact Epilator

An affordable, effective option, this corded epilator has an ergonomic handle, making it easy to use in hard-to-reach places, and has a detachable head for easy washing.

9

Best Epilator for Wet and Dry Use

Cshidword 2 in 1 Womens Electric Epilator & Shaver

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9

Best Epilator for Wet and Dry Use

Cshidword 2 in 1 Womens Electric Epilator & Shaver

Now 57% Off

If you're on the fence, this product is a safe bet because it provides dual usage: a razor head and an epilator attachment for wet and dry use.

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10

Best Cordless Epilator

Panasonic Premium Cordless Epilator

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10

Best Cordless Epilator

Panasonic Premium Cordless Epilator

Excellent for wet or dry skin, this cordless epilator has five easy snap-on attachments to adjust to your needs. Whether it be for sensitive skin or bikini lines, it covers everything at three speeds.

11

Best Epilator for Legs

Remington Smooth & Silky Deluxe Rechargeable Epilator

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11

Best Epilator for Legs

Remington Smooth & Silky Deluxe Rechargeable Epilator

This cordless epilator has two settings to help you find a comfortable speed while removing your hair. It has 40 tweezers working simultaneously, and this set includes a massaging cap with aloe vera to help soothe the skin after use.

12

Best Epilator for Underarms

Emjoi eRase 2-in-1 e60 Disc Precision Hair Removal Epilator

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12

Best Epilator for Underarms

Emjoi eRase 2-in-1 e60 Disc Precision Hair Removal Epilator

Now 35% Off

This vibrantly patterned epilator has staggered, dual-opposed heads that can remove hair from the roots effortlessly. It works well for both fine and coarse hair. Plus, it's easy on the eyes.

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Emma Sutton-Williams

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Emma is a New York-based writer focused on beauty, lifestyle, and fashion. When she’s not scribbling novel ideas (pun intended), she’s off performing on Broadway and recording movie scores as a Juilliard-trained violinist. Her bylines have appeared in Rolling Stone, Parents, InStyle, Oprah Daily, and well, you get the idea.

Get the Skinny on Dermatologist-Approved Epilators (2024)

FAQs

Do dermatologists recommend epilators? ›

"Epilators can be a good option for someone who is not a candidate for laser hair removal or gets irritation with depilatory creams and shaving," explains Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York's MDCS Dermatology.

Which brand epilator is the best? ›

So, choose an epilator that best suits your needs. Body epilators like the Braun Silk-épil 5 wet and dry, Silk-épil 9 Flex 9010, Silk-épil 3270 or SkinSpa 961 is best for areas like legs, hands, and underarms and also come with additional heads for extra sensitive areas like the bikini line.

Do epilators make hair grow back thinner? ›

Epilation provides lasting smoothness

Plus, when it does grow back it's softer and finer than before.

Can an epilator reduce strawberry legs? ›

Use An Epilator

It's seen that waxing or shaving can easily cause strawberry legs. So, switching to an epilator is the easiest remedy for strawberry legs. Epilators remove hair from its roots without causing any irritation to your skin. They are quite convenient to use and the results last for up to 3-4 weeks.

Who shouldn't use an epilator? ›

If you're more sensitive or prone to pain, epilation might not be the best for you.

Are there any side effects of using an epilator? ›

A person may get painful bumps and rashes around the pores for a few hours after using epilators. This generally resolves after some time. If you have sensitive skin, you may have severe rashes and boils. You may also experience some ingrown hair after using epilators and waxing.

Are expensive epilators better? ›

With any technology products, the more expensive it is the more features and advanced technology it has. Some of the more expensive ones have wider heads and better tweezers for a smoother finish. They also come with extra add-ons like a skin buffer or face epilator too.

Which is better, a cordless or a corded epilator? ›

How you intend to use your epilating device plays a vital role in which one you should go for. If you want to use the device during shower then you should go for a wet and dry one that is cordless and requires rechargeable batteries. The corded ones are perfect to epilate dry legs or arms, and do not require charging.

Is it better to use an epilator wet or dry? ›

We recommend that you use most products on dry skin, as wet hair tends to stick more to the skin. Also, if you are aiming to do an on-the-go session, try using the product on dry skin instead. Be certain that your skin is clean and completely dry before using the appliance.

Can you use an epilator on pubic hair? ›

You can also use an epilator to remove coarser hair such as heavy facial hair and bikini or pubic hair. These epilators have more tweezer heads and stronger motors to help manage thicker hair. If you use an epilator for pubic hair, test out a small area first to be sure it doesn't irritate your skin or cause a rash.

How many times do you have to epilate before hair stops growing? ›

To prevent your hair from growing, you may have to perform between two and four cycles of epilation in conjunction with applying the FRÉNÉSIES cream. In extreme and very rare cases, the treatment may take up to 6 cycles to achieve the permanent results.

Which is better, an epilator or an IPL? ›

IPL is more effective than waxing, shaving, and epilating all together because it's faster, easier, and it doesn't hurt. But scientifically speaking, it's the best method of permanent hair removal out there.

What happens if you don't exfoliate before epilating? ›

Once you've trimmed the hair to the optimum length, don't forget to exfoliate before epilating. Removing dead skin cells helps reduce the risk of ingrown hairs when your hair starts to grow back.

Why are my legs stubble after epilating? ›

If you are feeling stubble you are cutting the hairs rather than pulling them out of the root this happens if the hair isn't long enough to pull out yet or if you haven't exfoliated first or if you are not going against the hair when epilating, make sure you use exfoliating gloves in the shower prior to epilating which ...

Has anyone gotten rid of strawberry legs? ›

There's no cure for KP, but you can reduce the appearance. Treatments include exfoliants, moisturizers, retinoids, and more. Maintaining a skincare routine helps prevent strawberry legs. Contact a dermatologist if KP does not respond to at-home treatments.

Do epilators cause scarring? ›

The following are some of the minor risks associated with epilating: Skin redness. Swollen or inflamed skin. Scarring.

Does epilator cause inflammation? ›

Some women with sensitive skin can suffer swelling in certain areas of the body post-epilation. This normally happens in the areas such as the upper lip, underarms, or bikini area.

Does epilation damage hair follicles? ›

Electrolysis epilators, also known as medical electrolysis devices, destroy hair using a shortwave radio frequency. Since this type of epilator destroys the hair follicle, you can use it to get rid of unwanted body hair permanently.

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