Get the Skinny on Dermatologist-Approved Epilators (2024)

Kiss your razor goodbye and grab hair by the roots with the best epilators on the market. Your skin will thank you!

By Emma Sutton-Williams
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

3

Best Epilator for Eyebrows

Flawless by Finishing Touch Instant and Painless Facial Hair Remover

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 Pubic Hair

Phillips Epilator Series 8000

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4

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.

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 Legs

Remington Smooth & Silky Deluxe Rechargeable Epilator

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6

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.

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7

Best Epilator for Underarms

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

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7

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.

8

Best Cordless Epilator

Panasonic Premium Cordless Epilator

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8

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.

9

Best Epilator for Sensitive Skin

Braun Silk-epil 3 3-270 Epilator

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9

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.

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10

Best Long-Lasting Epilator

Corded Compact Epilator

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10

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.

11

Best Epilator for Bikini Lines

Remington Smooth & Silky Facial Epilator

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11

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.

12

Best Epilator for Wet and Dry Use

Cshidword 2 in 1 Womens Electric Epilator & Shaver

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12

Best Epilator for Wet and Dry Use

Cshidword 2 in 1 Womens Electric Epilator & Shaver

Now 61% 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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Emma Sutton-Williams

Freelancer

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

Get the Skinny on Dermatologist-Approved 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.

Do dermatologists recommend epilator? ›

"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.

What is the best epilator in the world? ›

Braun Silk-Epil 9-flex

The Braun Silk-Epil is arguably the most famous epilator on the market and the first in the world with a fully flexible head, which makes for a smooth ride even over those tricky kneecaps and performed best compared to all the others when it came to my bikini line.

Will epilating eventually stop hair growth? ›

Once you have used your epilator several times you will find your hair growth has slowed and you will be able to reduce the frequency of epilation. It will prolong the time it takes for your hair to grow back but it won't permanently get rid of your hair forever.

What are the disadvantages of an epilator? ›

Side effects of Epilators
  • Pain. Epilation involves pulling out hair from the root, so it can hurt quite a lot, especially when done for the first time. ...
  • Redness. A big side effect of epilation is redness and inflammation, because the hair has been pulled out with some force. ...
  • Bumps. ...
  • Whiteheads. ...
  • Swelling.

Does the crystal hair eraser work? ›

Crystal hair eraser advertisers have made some really big promises. In some cases — for some people — they deliver on them. But they aren't revolutionary. In fact, they don't even really change the game: The results are very similar to shaving, take longer to achieve and leave hair and dead skin cells everywhere.

Why not to use epilator on face? ›

Epilators are safe to use on your face but need to be used with caution. The skin on the face can be quite fragile so it is important that you are using these correctly, especially if you have sensitive skin. Otherwise, you may experience ingrown hairs and skin irritation.

Is it better to epilate 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.

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.

How do I know which epilator to buy? ›

Some important factors that you can consider while buying an epilator, include:
  1. Areas where you can use. Epilators come with different attachments to use on different areas of the body. ...
  2. Wet vs Dry Epilator. ...
  3. Number of Tweezers. ...
  4. Amount of Pain. ...
  5. Attachments. ...
  6. Speed settings. ...
  7. Wired vs wireless. ...
  8. Built-in light.

Does epilating stop Strawberry legs? ›

While an epilator might be uncomfortable or even painful (like waxing), anecdotal evidence suggests that this form of hair removal can prevent strawberry legs from occurring. Skipping shaving cream may also be causing your symptoms, so be sure to carefully moisturize the area before it comes in contact with a razor.

Why am I still prickly after epilating? ›

Epilating pulls out hair from the root. Some after-effects like itchiness, redness or tightness after using your Philips epilator are normal, especially if you have sensitive skin. You may also see small bumps on your skin or experience a burning sensation.

Can you epilate 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.

What happens if I epilate too much? ›

epilating can cause trauma to the skin and hair follicles by ripping out the hairs from the root. any hair removal method can increase the risk of ingrown hairs and irritation to the follicles, hence the “strawberry legs".

Does it hurt to epilate pubic hair? ›

Yes, you can use epilators in your bikini area. However, as the area down there is sensitive, it can irritate your skin and be more painful, if not used correctly. So, gently exfoliate the skin before using epilators and discontinue if irritation persists.

Does epilator increase hair growth on face? ›

Myth no. 4 - Hair Grows Back Thicker. Fact: No, your hair growth remains the same. Rather using the best quality epilator for the facemay result in finer and reduced hair growth.

Is a facial hair remover better than an epilator? ›

They have entirely different functions. Epilator's remove hair from the root like dozens of tiny tweezers. They're painful, but the regrowth is slower than with a trimmer, which just cuts the hair at the surface of the skin. Epilator hair grows back finer, while trimmer hair has a scratchy, blunt edge.

Do epilators cause more ingrown hairs than waxing? ›

Using an epilator will reduce the amount of ingrown hairs you experience, as it works by picking up each hair and pulling all of it out as you glide over it. With waxing it's one quick pull from the strip, resulting in a higher chance of the hair breaking than being completely pulled out, cue the ingrown hair.

What is the best device to remove facial hair? ›

If you want something electric, we recommend the Dermaflash Luxe+ Dermaplaning Kit or the Gillette Venus Mini Facial Hair Remover. There is a little bit of a learning curve, and if you aren't careful, you can cut your skin since it's a single-blade razor.

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