The best at-home waxing kits, according to skincare and hair removal pros
21 December 2024
Body and facial hair are completely natural. However, if you’re looking to go hair-free, whether it’s your upper lip, eyebrows, armpits, legs, arms, or bikini line, you should consider your options. The best hair removal products range from dermaplaning devices to at-home laser hair removal devices. Then there are professional services, but regular visits to a salon for waxing can become an expensive habit. Depending on the area of your body being removed, you can expect a very intimate experience between you and the technician. As a result, some people may choose to purchase one of the best at-home waxing kits instead of using an in-person service. While not for everyone, at-home hair removal kits offer an affordable and thoughtful way to remove unwanted hair the way you want it. They can also be useful between appointments and for small touch-ups, says Vanessa Coppola, APN-C, FNP-BC, RN, founder of Bare Aesthetic. However, “it takes time, patience, and often some practice before you feel comfortable with the process,” adds Rachel Nazarian, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group.
If you’re concerned about the safety of at-home waxing kits, experts agree that most are safe to use as long as you follow the instructions and properly care for your skin before and after waxing.
“Because waxing temporarily damages the skin, you need to pay close attention to the overall health of your skin,” explains Natalie Chan, product development manager at Flamingo, a personal care brand that sells at-home hair removal products.
Are you ready to enter the world of home waxing? The best kits include fragrance-free wax, different shapes of wax strips to suit your needs, and aftercare products to keep your skin in tip-top shape.
1. Nader’s Facial Waxing Strips. Amazon’s best-selling waxing strip kit for hair removal contains 20 pre-cut wax strips for removing hair from small areas of the face. It also includes toning powder and soothing wipes for when you’re done. At just $5, it’s a fantastic deal for those looking for a more cost-effective alternative to regular trips to the salon. What we said about it: “I really enjoyed using these products to remove facial hair. I love the pre-applied powder and wipes it comes with – really worth the money.”
2. Tress Wellness Waxing Kit. “This is a great way to wax at home because it really gives you everything you need,” says Dr. Nazarian. The kit (a best seller on Amazon) includes a pre-applied gentle cleanser, a warmer to melt the wax beads, and a post-treatment spray. “I also like bead waxing because it’s clean, sanitary, and you can use it when you need it without having to worry about contaminating the wax between sessions at home,” she adds.
Reviews note: “This is great for beginners like me because it has everything you need and the instructions are very clear. It smells great, too. The best part? It’s gentle on sensitive skin.”
3. Flamingo Facial Wax Kit The Flamingo Facial Wax Kit contains soft gel wax strips for removing short, fine hairs. For areas like the upper lip, chin, and temples. The kit also includes an oil cloth and a soothing serum to soothe skin after waxing. Hundreds of buyers rated it five stars. Reviews: “Simple and effective. What else do you need to know?” one reviewer wrote. “The cleansing wipes and soothing serum are fantastic.”
4. GiGi Brazilian Hard Body Wax While not technically a set, this hard wax is great for removing coarse hair on sensitive skin and treating the bikini area. Dr. Nazarian recommends it because it’s easy to use and provides detailed instructions on how to use it safely. She also notes that it contains moisturizing oils. You’ll need to purchase a wax warmer separately, but once you have one, you can use the applicator stick to apply and remove the hard wax without leaving unwanted marks. What the review says: “I’ve tried Brazilian waxing a few times and it never quite worked…until I tried the GiGi Hard Brazilian Wax,” one Amazon shopper wrote. “The fact that you don’t need the strips reduces the work and mess and allows you to focus on the small parts, which is an absolute must for me.”
5. Veet Ready-to-Use Hair Removal Wax Strip Kit. These Veet wax strips ensure results that last longer than shaving. They’re perfect for keeping your legs hair-free. The kit contains 40 wax strips enriched with vitamin E and almond oil, wipes for legs and other parts of the body, and four conditioning wipes. The brand promises easy application and results that last up to 28 days. What it says: “I’ve been using Veet patches for about 13 years. They work,” says one reviewer. “You need to practice to figure out the stripes, but once you do, you’ll be so proud of yourself! I’m glad that at-home waxing can save you so much money and time.” How to Choose the Best Waxing Kit for Your Home
✔️ Consider the type of wax. Wax kits come with hard or soft wax. Some come with pre-cut wax strips, while others require you to heat and apply the wax yourself. The best choice is up to you and your comfort level. Regardless, you should also make sure the kit you buy is the right one for the area of your body you want to remove hair on.
✔️ Check the ingredients. Scan the ingredient list for potential allergens, like fragrances, essential oils, and parabens, Coppola says.
✔️ Pay attention to hydration. Dr. Nazarian recommends using a wax with added oils, such as olive oil, to moisturize the skin.
✔️ Invest in a few extras. According to Chen, some at-home waxing kits include aftercare products like wipes to wipe away any nasty residue. These types of items make the process easier and more convenient, so they may be worth the purchase.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
