Dr. Sison is a board-certified dermatologist who practices in the Philippines and sees both medical and cosmetic dermatological cases on skin, hair, and nails.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
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Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Hair removal creams contain a component called calcium thioglycolate as their active ingredient, which breaks down the hair’s keratin or protein structure so that the hair comes off when you rub off the cream. Since your skin contains keratin, too, this ingredient may cause irritation or roughness, especially when left on too long.
In order to prevent this, opt for creams with a mild formula or that use natural ingredients. Since there are still bound to be some chemicals in your cream, make sure to do a patch test to see how your skin reacts.
Hair removal creams are also called chemical depilatories because they contain alkaline chemicals, such as sodium thioglycolate, strontium sulfide, and calcium thioglycolate, that react with the hair on your body. These chemicals break down the keratin of the hair and dissolve it. Once this happens, hair becomes weak enough to fall off.
It's important to do a patch test first of these hair removal creams before using them on a large area because these can cause adverse reactions such as redness, burning, stinging, itching, and blistering in some people.
This is especially important if you use hair removal creams in more sensitive parts of your body, such as your bikini area or face. Even though you should moisturize using a lotion or body butter after hair removal, these types of ingredients are still great to have for extra hydration.
Hair removal creams can also be formulated with soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients, especially if they will be used on sensitive skin. Look for ingredients like aloe vera because it has moisturizing properties because of its polysaccharide content. These polysaccharides are known to have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
Aloe vera has also been shown to accelerate wound healing in burns. If your hair removal cream does not have soothing ingredients, you should use a moisturizer after wiping off the hair removal cream. Look for ingredients like green tea, allantoin, panthenol, shea butter, among others.
Thick hair can be stubborn and difficult to remove, so a strong type of hair removal cream is needed. For example, armpit hair is thicker than most types of body hair, so to effectively remove it, you’ll need a strong product.
In saying that, hair removal creams formulated for men tend to have a stronger formula and are suited for thick and coarse strands. However, they likely do not contain any extra hydrating ingredients, so make sure to moisturize well after use. Make sure to do a patch test on the area that you will use it on to ensure no bad reactions.
Check the label very carefully because the strength of hair removal creams can vary depending on the type of hair and the area where it will be applied. Hair removal creams for thicker and coarser hairs usually have stronger formulations and can cause greater irritation. These should not be used for fine hair.
This is because the skin on your face and bikini areas are more sensitive compared to the other parts of the body. They are more susceptible to irritation or chemical burns, which is why you should only use products that are specifically formulated for them.
It is important to consider the body part where the hair removal cream will be used. For example, the skin in the bikini area is more delicate than the rest of the body so you have to look for hair removal creams formulated for that area.
Additionally, if you plan on using it while in the shower or if you generally have limited time to do your hair removal routine, it's best to go for one with a shorter application time since water can cause the product to slide off. If you have a lot of time, though, any product will do since application time won't matter.
Make sure to follow the directions stated on how long the hair removal cream will be applied on your skin. Do not leave the product longer than the amount of time specified because it can cause burning, stinging, or itching when left for a longer time.
This hair removal cream will not just rid your body of unwanted hair but also leave your skin soft and smooth with the microbeads that it's formulated with. These microbeads gently remove dead skin cells to give you visibly brighter and smoother skin every time you use this cream.
Since it's formulated for sensitive skin, even though it sloughs away dead skin, you will not likely experience any irritation. Users can vouch for this, adding that they also like this product for its convenience and tolerable scent. We recommend this for first-timers, those who want a brighter complexion, and those with sensitive skin.
Since this hair removal cream from Nair is infused with sweet almond oil that is rich in vitamins A, B, and E, it helps maintain skin moisture and avoid irritation. It's gentle enough to be used on the face and is perfect for those with sensitive skin. It will not only remove your hair but will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth!
This is ideal for those looking for an all-around cream that they can use in all parts of their bodies. Customers say that it works wonders and that they have no reaction at all, even if they use it in the most sensitive parts of their body. It works on both thick and thin strands, so this will truly do the job for you.
Being infused with ingredients such as aloe vera extract, vitamin E, and glycerin, this hair removal cream will ensure that your skin stays hydrated after you successfully get rid of your unwanted hair. It's fast-acting, too, with you only needing to leave it on for 7 minutes before your hair is removed!
Users have a lot of good things to say about this product since they say that it does its job really well and that it has never let them down. It's suitable for all skin types, especially dry skin, since its line-up of ingredients will definitely make sure that your skin stays moisturized.
This product was made to be used in the shower, perfect for those on the go. In five minutes, you can finish the hair removal process on different parts of your body. It contains aloe vera and vitamin E to ensure that your skin is hydrated after you use it. It also has a new fragrance technology that ensures there is no lingering bad odor.
With the features that it has, this is perfect for those with sensitive skin and those who don't want to spend a long time doing their hair removal routines. It's convenient and hassle-free and will allow you to use it anytime. It's practical and ideal for many people, and this option surely won't let you down!
This hair removal cream is suitable for all hair types, whether thin, thick, short, or long. This makes it useful during any time of your hair growth cycle, which is very convenient. It can be used in all parts of the body, including your face. It removes hair in 6 minutes, so if you're in a rush, this cream will do the job for you.
It costs less than Php 200, which is a great deal for a cream that you can use all over your body. We highly recommend this for those looking for an affordable all-around option that doesn't take too long to use. It's great for any situation, including emergencies when you need to quickly get rid of unwanted body hair.
This hair removal cream is infused with shea butter and milk to ensure that your skin is nourished after the hair removal process. It helps prevent ingrown hair and bumps and is best used for those with normal skin. Because of its ingredients, those with dry skin will benefit from this hair removal cream as well.
As per its instructions, you only need to leave it on for 4-6 minutes for it to remove your unwanted hair. According to user reviews, though, you will get better results if you leave it on for as long as 10 minutes, especially if you have thicker hair. If you have thin hair, it should work just as advertised.
Containing mango extract, this hair removal cream will help improve your skin health because of its high vitamin C content that supports your body's natural collagen production. It also contains glycerin that ensures your skin stays moisturized after your hair removal routine.
It does not irritate the skin and is easy to remove, so those with sensitive skin can use this with no problems. It has a long shelf life of 3 years, so one tube should last you a long time. Users are fond of it since it has no hapdi factor and is easy to use. Lastly, it only has a mild smell, so you will not find it repulsive but surprisingly pleasant.
This hair removal cream has a great line-up of ingredients, including almond oil, vitamin E, and peony root extract, which ensure your skin stays soft after the hair removal process. It follows your hair growth cycle to make it grow slower, which is good for your skin since any type of hair removal is stressful for it to some extent.
Aside from moisturizing your skin, this hair removal cream also helps shrink and repair pores. Overall, it will not only successfully remove your unwanted body hair but will also ensure that your skin is not damaged in the process. Costing less than Php 200, this is a budget-friendly but effective option for anyone.
Containing ginseng extract, this hair removal cream is beneficial for your skin since, aside from removing unwanted hair, it's a great antioxidant and natural skin balancer that helps brighten and revitalize it. It also contains glycerin that ensures your skin is properly hydrated, which is a must after any hair removal procedure.
This is why it's no surprise that this option is a crowd-favorite since users have positive experiences using this product. They say that it really does its job as advertised and that it exceeded their expectations. They like its packaging, too, as it looks and feels luxurious with its shiny gold finish.
This hair removal cream is formulated for the underarms and bikini area, being able to remove thick hair in those delicate parts of the body. This product works in as fast as three minutes, although you can leave it in as long as ten minutes for the best results. After using this, you will remain hair-free for up to 4 weeks.
Its fast and painless application is one of the reasons users are fond of this product, giving it high ratings. This hair removal cream is ideal for those who want to get the long-lasting results of waxing but don't want the pain that comes with it. It's a truly convenient option, perfect for everyone.
In order to prevent dryness and roughness, make sure to moisturize after you use your hair removal cream. This is important even if your depilatory cream contains hydrating ingredients. In saying that, here are some tips from Skincare by L'Oreal on how to properly moisturize after hair removal.
Tips:
Use bland, fragrance-free moisturizers on your skin after removing the hair removal cream. Look for soothing ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties, as mentioned above. Ceramides, glycerin, colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, jojoba oil, and petrolatum would also help preserve the skin barrier.
Make sure to use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers and avoid applying body scrubs, alcohol-based toners, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, and retinoids to prevent skin irritation.
Let's get to some of the nitty-gritty details as Dr. Meg Sison answers the most asked questions on the web about hair removal creams!
Using hair removal creams makes the hair regrow with rounded tips. It does not affect the thickness of the hair.
Hair removal creams can be used for the genital area but make sure to use products specially formulated for it. This is because the genital area is more delicate compared to the rest of the body.
Take care not to apply the hair removal cream on the genital mucosa to avoid adverse reactions such as burning, stinging, itching, blistering, or redness.
The effect of hair removal creams lasts only from one day to several days at the most since these products remove hair just below the skin. It's best to wait for at least one week before using hair removal creams again.
Hair removal creams cannot be used by those with open wounds, sunburn, eczemas, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, or other inflammatory skin conditions. If any adverse reaction occurs after using hair removal creams, consult a board-certified dermatologist as soon as possible.
Feeling good is key to looking good so it's important to take care of yourself. To be able to do that effectively, check out our other articles for the best products that will give you a healthy glow from within.
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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