9 best hair removal creams for smooth skin, tried and tested

When you're ready to apply hair removal cream, follow the directions, especially the length of time recommended to leave the cream on your skin. Every cream has different levels of thioglycolic acid (the chemical that removes your hair), so some creams can be used for 10 minutes, while others will start irritating your skin after four minutes.

You should always do a patch test on your upper thigh or arm 24 hours prior to confirm your skin can tolerate the formula before slathering it all over, says board-certified dermatologist Dr Karan Lal, MD.

Once you've confirmed the cream is suitable for your skin, smooth a thin layer of cream (or foam or gel) on the hair you want to remove and leave it on for the suggested amount of time, always erring on the side of caution the first time (i.e.; If they suggest five to 10 minutes, wash it off at minute five).

Then, use a warm, wet washcloth (or just water itself, depending on the formula) to remove the cream. Rinse your skin with a moisturising, fragrance-free body wash, and always slather on a gentle moisturiser.

You can use hair removal cream as often as every three days, but you might prefer to wait five to seven to avoid irritation, or based on how quickly your hair grows back. How often you decide to use hair removal cream will fully depend on your hair and skin type.

Some hair types grow back quicker than others, while some might only need to use hair removal cream once a week or so. Luckily, hair removal creams tend to keep you hairless a bit longer than shaving, since your hair is dissolved from the follicle, rather than just trimmed at the surface.

Yes, you can use hair removal cream on your 'private area' (AKA, your pubic region). But keep in mind that the skin around your genitals is extremely sensitive, so you might have to take some precautions. Hair removal cream should never go inside your genitals, which can result in burning, itching and potentially an infection. I always check the packaging on my hair removal cream to make sure it's safe for my bikini line.

To make sure your skin can tolerate the cream – whether you're using it on your bikini line or any other area of your body – start with a tiny patch test 24 hours before you plan to use the cream by dabbing it on your skin, then wiping it off after four minutes to see if you have any irritation.

If you start to experience burning, redness, itching or discomfort, immediately wipe off the cream with a warm washcloth, wash your skin with gentle soap and water, then dry off and smooth on a soothing, fragrance-free lotion.

Hair removal cream can sting a little bit, like when you use a chemical exfoliant, though it should ideally feel like nothing at all. And if it does, that's a red flag that the formula isn't agreeing with your skin and you should remove it immediately. "If your skin feels like it's on fire, wash the cream off ASAP and liberally layer on a 1 per cent hydrocortisone cream to help calm down some inflammation and itch," says Dr Lal.

Again, this is also why it's so important to not only patch-test 24 hours ahead of time, but to also follow the directions on the cream's package, as leaving a hair removal cream on too long can cause burning, peeling, dryness and irritation. And if you have naturally sensitive skin, you should avoid using hair removal creams on even more sensitive areas, like your face and bikini line.

Whether you prefer hair removal cream or shaving depends on your personal preference and skin type. If you get painful, irritated razor burn or ingrown hairs whenever you shave, you might prefer a hair removal cream, which can be gentler.

But hair removal creams can also be too strong and cause burning and stinging for those with very sensitive skin (especially if you have eczema or keratosis pilaris), so you'll need to experiment a bit before making a decision.

No, your hair won't grow back thicker or faster after using hair removal cream. Any hair removal technique that dissolves, shaves or trims your hair without fully pulling it from its root will leave the tip feeling a bit more stubbly as it grows back.

But hair removal cream is not actually causing your hair to grow back thicker, darker or faster – nothing but your genetics and hormones can alter your hair growth.

No, hair removal cream doesn't generally leave stubble, because it dissolves the hair from the root rather than slicing it off on a jagged edge at the surface. But depilatory creams sometimes don't pick up all of the hairs, which won't necessarily leave behind stubble, but rather sparse patches.

In this case, you can pluck those individual hairs or trim them with a bikini trimmer, or wait three days to go over the area with your hair removal cream again (any sooner than that, and you can potentially experience dryness and irritation). As your hair starts to grow back, however, you might notice a little stubble, depending on how quickly your hair grows.

Determine where you'll use it

Whether you're using a hair removal cream on your legs, bikini line, underarms or arms will depend on what kind of cream you go for. Creams for your face and bikini line (like Nad's Facial Hair Removal Cream and Sally Hansen Creme Hair-Remover Duo Kit) tend to be a bit gentler and contain oils and ingredients that can help offset irritation on sensitive skin.

Creams for your legs or underarms (hi, Nair Clay & Seaweed Exfoliate & Smooth Leg Mask and Epify Hair Removal Cream), however, are a bit stronger for removing thicker hair, but will likely be too intense for other areas of your body.

Consider your skin type

If you have sensitive, reactive skin, look for formulas without potentially irritating ingredients, like essential oils and heavy fragrance, and instead pick formulas specifically created for sensitive skin, which tend to be filled with protective ingredients like aloe vera, butters, and oils. Those butters and oils (like shea butter and almond oil) will also come in handy if you have dry skin.

On the other hand, if your skin is super "tough", opt for a formula that'll remove your hair in the shortest amount of time – less time spent on your skin = less risk of irritation or having to apply a second layer. Often, these formulas will have labels reading "max strength," so you know which to choose. Our testers loved the SoftSheen Carson Magic Razorless Cream Shave for their coarse, curly hair.

Decide your ideal formula

You've got a few options when it comes to depilatories, like spray-on foams, wash-off creams and gel-based formulas. If you hate spreading a thick, goopy cream all over your skin (sticky hands aren't exactly conducive to TikToking), go for a spray-on foam. Or, if you hate doing laundry, try a formula that can be washed off in the shower rather than be removed with a washcloth, such as Veet In-Shower Hair Removal Cream.

• Dr Karan Lal is a board-certified dermatologist who specialises in atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, melasma, psoriasis, and hidradenitis. He is the only board-certified pediatric and fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologist in the US so has a wealth of knowledge in understanding the skin and how to look after it.