I was always very skeptical of hair removal creams for the body, since the ones I used to use on my face barely worked. But Nair's Shower Power cream is a game changer and time-saver. You simply apply it in the shower, let it work its magic and wipe it off using the included sponge. I applied the cream to my legs right before shampooing and rinsed it off while my conditioner was sinking into my strands. It works like a charm, smells and feels good, and doesn’t irritate the skin. The best part is that it works on really short hair, so more having to wait until you look like Chewbacca to get silky smooth skin. 

Aside from the very potent hair-remover smell (you know what I’m talking about), this spray-on cream is awesome for many reasons. First, you don’t have to touch it; simply spray it on and forget it for five minutes. It distributes evenly and is made with aloe vera, so it doesn’t irritate the skin. I wasn’t a fan of the plastic scraper tool that comes with the product; it bothered my skin. So instead I used a standard dry wash cloth, and it worked perfectly. My skin was so smooth and my hair didn’t grow back for a few days. 

The bikini area is always the worst when it comes to hair removal. Waxing is painful, and shaving leads to razor bumps that just don’t look cute in a bikini. I used to stick with shaving because I’m too chicken to wax, but Bliss’ bikini version of their ‘Fuzz’ Off hair removal cream has gotten me to kick my razor to the curb. The built-in applicator makes it easy to distribute the cream without making a mess. All you have to do it keep it on for about five minutes, wipe it off (I used a dry wash cloth) and you’re good to go. It smells like your typical hair removal cream, which is inevitable, I guess. But it works really well, so I’m willing to grin and bear it. 

I was so pleased with the results from the ‘Fuzz’ Off Bikini cream that I had a feeling the original version for face was going to be a hit. I was right. In the past, I'd avoided hair removal creams and waxing, since both methods had made my sensitive upper lip break out into tiny little zits. But I was surprised to find that this cream didn’t cause any redness or pimples. Score! Again, the applicator made for mess-free application and effortless hair removal. Bliss has won me over in the cream department for sure. 

If there is one product in this roundup that you absolutely must buy, it’s this. A friend of mine got it for me for Christmas years ago after I mentioned my upper lip dilemma (see previous slide), and it’s been in my makeup bag ever since. The battery-powered trimmer is basically a razor that won’t – I repeat – won’t leave you with the typical stubble. It’s an absolute necessity for “peach fuzz” on your jawline and upper lip. It even comes with a built-in light that lets you see even the finest and blondest of hairs. It’s $10 bucks well spent, I promise!

If you’re looking to get rid of body hair for good, the Silk’n Flash&Go Lux might be your new best friend. The hand-held device works to disable hair growth using a “home pulsed light technology” that delivers light energy to the root of the hair, destroying it. But don’t expect it to work after one shot; it takes a couple of sessions to notice the lack of hair growth. Since the designated light area is fairly small, it only covers a few inches of your body, making the process a little time consuming. But it’s completely painless and non-irritating; all you feel is a smidge of heat and a big red flash that may or may not scare your cat. Just think how much time you'll save when you can give up shaving and waxing for good.

Disclosure: Unless it’s my eyebrows, I do not wax. I’d rather just waste 10 minutes every day shaving than endure the pain of ripping hair out by the root. So, needless to say, using these wax strips hurt (like any other wax). But the good thing is that they come in a variety of sizes for face, bikini and body, including supersized ones that cover a large area so you’re in pain for the least amount of time possible. These strips require a rub down to get warm instead of heating the wax in a microwave – no mess, baby! A little friction between my palms was all it took for the wax to be ready to apply.

Okay, so the box says “ouch-relief,” which I totally didn’t believe. I figured since they use sugar wax (which is known to be less painful than hard wax) and threw in some numbing wipes, then that was enough to be able to advertise a painless wax kit. While using the kit wasn't a completely pain-free experience, it wasn’t as bad as other wax kits I tried – so that’s a major plus. But what makes this kit even better is how easy the cold wax distributes on skin and how delicious it smells! The formula is made with cocoa, sugar and honey, so don’t be surprised if you want to eat it. The box also includes pain-relief pre-wax wipes that are to be used 10 minutes before waxing. And unlike regular waxes, this stuff came off easily with water and didn’t leave any sticky patches on my skin. 

I’m usually one to just get hair removal out of the way before my vacations and weekend getaways, but I can’t get over how adorable and handy this mini razor from Gillette is. It’s the perfect travel companion for a smooth bod on-the-go. The razor end is the same size as a regular razor (and uses the same cartridges as your full-size version), but the body is about half the size. The ergonomic handle is comfortable to hold and the travel case it comes in is so perfect. I won’t be leaving home without mine this summer.