The 6 Best Epilators for Smooth Skin From Head to Toe

Andrea Jordan
·6 min read

When it comes to hair removal, using an epilator is probably the least popular (and least understood) method. It’s easy to reach for a razor, schedule a wax appointment, or even pluck a few hairs here and there, but epilating is one of those options many choose to tuck away in a ‘do not try this at home’ box thanks to all the myths of how painful it can be. Truth be told, it’s actually a great option for those who don’t like to shave every day but don't want the mess of waxing, either. It’s one of those meet-in-the-middle solutions you’ll be happy you tried.

Epilators work by removing hair from the root. They essentially pluck dozens of hairs at once, even those small, fine hairs that are hard to reach. Unlike shaving, which simply cuts hair from above the skin surface, epilators pull the entire hair out from the root so you likely won’t see hair grow back for a few weeks.

RELATED: 7 At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices That Actually Work

Like with waxing, the amount of ouch you feel truly depends on your pain tolerance. If plucking one hair is too much to stomach, you might want to choose another option. Otherwise, it’s worth a shot — and while you’ll feel some discomfort (a stinging sensation that quickly fades), the long-lasting results more than make up for it. Plus, the longer and more frequently you epilate, the higher your pain tolerance will be.

If you’re convinced that an epilator is your next beauty experiment, here’s a guide to finding the best one for your needs. Whether you want soft, silky legs or a fuzz-free face, you’re sure to find your perfect epilator here.

Ahead, find the six best epilators you can buy, stat.

Best Overall: Braun Silk-epil 9 9-579 Wet & Dry Epilator

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This epilator is not for the faint of heart. If you’re looking for a device that takes the thinking out of hair removal, this one's for you. The head of the epilator (where the tweezers are placed) is 40 percent wider than other devices. This means you’re covering more surface area with each pass. To make it even easier to use, the tweezers are wider, longer, and deeper to reach those short, stubby strands. Plus, the epilator can be used wet or dry so you can easily handle it in the shower or bath for a more comfortable process. But the best and most exciting part about this epilator is all the extras. You’ll get a shaver head (just in case), a trimmer, and massager so you can swap the head of your epilator whenever you please.

Shop now: $125 (Originally $150); amazon.com

Best Drugstore: Remington Smooth & Silky Deluxe Rechargeable Epilator

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So, you’re not sure if you want to truly commit to epilating and investing $100 into a device is completely out of the question. No problem. This wallet-friendly epilator delivers all the essentials without breaking the bank. Remove hair with 40 tweezers at a time, at two different speeds, and use it wet or dry. The head of the epilator pivots as you move so it stays close to skin to avoid that hair-yanking feeling we’re all trying to avoid. And if your skin needs some relief post-epilation, attach the massaging cap infused with aloe vera to soothe and calm redness. But rest assured, redness is completely normal and nothing to worry about.

Shop now: $43 (Originally $73); amazon.com

Best for Upper Lip: Tweezerman Smooth Finish Facial Hair Remover

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When it comes to facial hair removal, you need something gentle that won’t irritate or inflame the skin. This handy little tool mimics the process of threading and grabs even the tiniest peach-fuzz hairs without snagging. The coiled middle grabs ahold of hairs and pulls them out by the root, so you don’t have to worry about stubble coming back the next day. And even though we recommend it for your upper lip, it can be used all over the face. Although, we would suggest using another method to touch up your brows. The best part is, you don’t need an outlet or charger to use it. Simply put it in your makeup bag and touch up on the go.

Shop now: $20; sephora.com

Best for Eyebrows: VG Vogcrest Eyebrow Hair Remover

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First off, we get it. When it comes to shaping brows, we each have our preferred method of hair removal because ruining our arches is one of those beauty catastrophes we all try to avoid. So, before you keep scrolling, thinking you have your tried-and-true method of touching up your brows, hear us out. If you tend to reach for tweezers, you have to give this epilating pen a try. Here’s how it works: Simply run the pen across the bottom and top of your brows and watch all the stray hairs quickly disappear. The built-in light makes it easy to see those super fine hairs as you tweeze and, trust us, the pain will be significantly less than plucking one tiny hair at a time.

Shop now: $23; amazon.com

Best for Bikini: Philips Satinelle Advanced Epilator

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We don’t know about you, but those who can actually shave their bikini line without getting bumps and burns are simply blessed. Thankfully for those of us who weren’t given that gift, there’s this bikini-appropriate epilator. It’s the perfect size for cleaning up the bikini line and moving across all the curves and contours of that delicate area. It has 32 rotating disks that can grab hairs as short as 0.5 mm (so you can even use it on regrowth), and there’s also a bikini trimming attachment that can be used to shorten and groom the hair, well, down there.

Shop now: $80; ulta.com

Best for Legs and Arms: Panasonic ES-ED90-P Wet/Dry Epilator and Shaver

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When it comes to epilating your legs, you want a device that removes hair quickly and abundantly so you can be stubble-free in a shorter amount of time. This wet/dry epilator utilizes 48 tweezers simultaneously so you can get through larger areas, like your legs, quickly. If there are certain areas of your legs that are more sensitive than others (say, atop your shinbone), we recommend adding the epilation cap so you can slow down the pulls in that area.

Shop now: $79; amazon.com