12 Hair-Removal Creams for Soft, Smooth Skin Without the Razor Burn
Ditch your razor and upgrade to one of these fast-acting depilatory creams.

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Let’s get real: Shaving is so overrated. Yes, it may leave you with super-soft, hairless skin, but it also comes with a slew of inconveniences: razor burn, cuts and nicks, and dull blades are just a few of them.
So, you can let the hair grow out and rock that as you please, but if you want go totally smooth, then opt for a hair-removal cream. It seems intimidating at first, but hear us out — it’s less painful than waxing, cheaper than laser hair removal, and it doesn't cause tiny cuts or red bumps like razors do. Need we say more?
What Are Hair-Removal Creams?
Rather than breaking out your razor or wax strips, these powerful hair-removal creams work to break down pesky hairs from the root so you can easily swipe or wash them away.
"Hair-removal creams contain ingredients such as sodium thioglycolate, calcium thioglycolate, and strontium sulfide," says Vanessa Thomas, cosmetic chemist and founder of Freelance Formulations. "These ingredients work by breaking down the protein bonds of the hair. In a water-based solution at the proper pH, these ingredients are converted to acid, which then affects the hair."
Thomas notes that these creams, which are also known as depilatories, are safe when used as directed on the label. However, if you're not cautious, you can easily burn and hurt your skin by leaving the product on for too long.
"These creams are also not recommended for sensitive areas such as the bikini area," says Thomas. "Depilatories react with protein in the hair first, and then the skin. For this reason, depilatories must be left on the skin for a certain length of time specified on the packaging."
The Best Hair-Removal Creams
- Best Overall: Veet Gel Hair Remover Cream
- Cult-Favorite: Neomen Hair Removal Cream
- Fast-Acting: Nair Shower Power Sensitive with Coconut Oil
- TikTok-Approved: Softsheen-Carson Magic Razorless Shaving Powder with Fragrance
- Best for Pubic Area: NULL Hair Removal Cream
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Nad's Sensitive Hair Removal Cream
- Best for Facial Hair: Completely Bare ctrl+hair+DEL Facial Hair Removal Cream
- Best for In-Between Treatments: Completely Bare Don't Grow There Body Moisturizer & Hair Inhibitor
- Under-$10: GiGi Hair Removal Lotion
- Dermatologist-Tested: Sally Hansen Creme Hair Remover Kit
- Best for Dry Skin: Nair Clay & Seaweed Exfoliate & Smooth Leg Mask
- Best Body Hair Bleach: Jolen Crème Bleach
If you're ready to break up with your razor, you're in luck: we scoured the internet for the most top-rated hair-removal creams that, well, actually work thanks to their impressive formulations. Below, check out our favorites:
Jennifer is the former beauty editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse. Her work has been featured in Allure, Byrdie, HelloGiggles, and more. When she’s not swatching eyeshadow all over her arms, you can find the NYC-based editor scouring for hours on end for vintage finds, eating pad thai, and hanging out with her cat, Chunks.
Ashley is the beauty and style editor at BestProducts.com, and her work has been featured on Cosmopolitan and Town and Country. She has an obsession with designer handbags, Liberty prints, 1960s fashion, and owns more shoes than she’s willing to admit. She's been using her learnings from owning a boutique and her shopping addiction for good since 2015. She’ll never accept that black isn’t a color. Away from the computer, you’ll likely find the Texas native binging on a British period drama or theorizing over Game of Thrones. She has yet to find a real cup of queso in NYC.


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