Is face waxing safe for sensitive skin? We’re not going to lie to you – it’s risky. We’re not saying it’s bad to wax your face, but you need to take precautions. The way you prepare the skin and how you treat it afterward can lessen the irritation you might experience.
To help you get started we researched the best face wax for sensitive skin. Check out the reviews below for the details you need to know before choosing a product.
Keep in mind we chose the best wax for hair removal at home. If you’re not certain about DIY face waxing, check with local salons about how they wax sensitive skin.
For starters, here’s an overview of the best face waxes, both soft and hard:
The best face waxes for sensitive skin | Why we love them |
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GiGi Microwave Sensitive Tweezeless Wax with Azulene Oil |
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Parissa Wax Strips Sensitive Formula + Azulene Aftercare Oil |
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Bare Faced by KoluaWax for Sensitive Skin, Hard Wax |
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Hyposia Luxury Hypoallergenic Hard Wax |
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GiGi Zinc Oxide Ultra Sensitive Hair Removal Wax |
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GiGi Creme Hair Removal Soft Wax for Sensitive Skin |
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Contents
- 1 How to wax sensitive skin on the face
- 2 Which is better for sensitive skin: hard wax or soft wax?
- 3 Best Face Wax for Sensitive Skin in 2024
- 3.1 GiGi Microwave Sensitive Tweezeless Wax with Azulene Oil
- 3.2 Parissa Wax Strips Sensitive Formula + Azulene Aftercare Oil
- 3.3 Bare Faced by KoluaWax for Sensitive Skin, Hard Wax
- 3.4 Hyposia Luxury Hypoallergenic Hard Wax
- 3.5 GiGi Zinc Oxide Ultra Sensitive Hair Removal Wax
- 3.6 GiGi Creme Hair Removal Soft Wax for Sensitive Skin
- 4 Conclusion
How to wax sensitive skin on the face
If you’ve never waxed before, it’s smart to test it on a spot of skin out of sight. Try removing hair with your chosen method and wait a day to see what happens. It’s normal to experience a little redness, but that should fade within a few minutes. If it gets worse or you develop bumps or more sensitivity, you might want to try a different type of hair removal (1).
With that said, prepare your skin for waxing by cleansing it with a gentle face wash and lukewarm water. Pat dry with a clean towel and make sure your hands are clean as well.
Follow the face wax directions to the letter. Don’t improvise based on what some beauty influencer says. The instructions are there to protect you.
After waxing, gently cleanse the skin again and apply moisturizer. Some wax product packages come with a type of soothing lotion or oil. It’s probably worth trying as long as it doesn’t have an artificial fragrance (perfume), alcohol, or parabens. Again, don’t hesitate to do a patch test with it beforehand.
Which is better for sensitive skin: hard wax or soft wax?
There are two basic types of face wax. Here’s a quick overview to help you choose between them.
Hard wax is the most common kind used on the face because it’s less painful than soft wax. It’s best applied in small areas like the upper lip and it easily grabs short hairs without gluing itself to the skin. It leaves no residue and it’s straightforward to clean up after using.
However, hard wax is a little trickier to use and it has to be melted like fondue. Generally, it’s not something you can pop in the microwave. You need the right kind of equipment like professionals use in salons.
Once you melt the little beads, you’ll use a spatula to spread the warm and gooey hard wax. The heat helps the follicles release the hairs, but it may also aggravate sensitive skin. When the wax cools, it hardens. As you remove it, it pulls out the hairs.
Soft wax is what most people use at home because there’s no need for extra equipment and it’s cheaper. Sometimes it’s already “melted” so it just needs to be spread on the skin. Other times, you’ll have to melt it like hard wax – it just depends on the brand.
Apply it in the direction that the hair grows. Usually, you’ll press a strip of cloth on top (unless it’s a pre-prepared strip already) and pull the strip against the grain of hair growth to remove the hair.
The downside is that soft wax sticks to the skin so removing it hurts a bit more and is more likely to cause irritation. Still, it’s a quick and easy way to depilate. Some manufacturers have formulated special soft wax versions for sensitive skin. Keep reading to explore the options.
Best Face Wax for Sensitive Skin in 2024
GiGi Microwave Sensitive Tweezeless Wax with Azulene Oil
This brand offers more than one type of wax for sensitive skin so we decided to dig deep into the details to help you decide. We started with one of the least complicated products that didn’t require extra equipment like a melting pot or removal strips. You can melt the soft wax in the microwave and it comes with its own strips.
The formula features azulene oil, a blue-colored botanical extract that calms redness and helps skin retain moisture. It also has some antibacterial properties. As you might imagine, it soothes the skin immensely after waxing.
The wax is designed to remove hair as short as 2mm, so you’re going to have to let that mustache grow a little bit. But then, the effects last for weeks two or three weeks. Not only does the skin stay smooth, but it grows back softer and finer instead of stubbly, like after shaving.
What’s nice is that this wax only takes a few minutes to use as there isn’t any cleanup. Furthermore, it’s made in the USA by a brand with forty years of experience. Happily, their products are cruelty-free.
Pros:
- Uses azulene oil with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties to soothe the skin
- No additional equipment needed – melts in the microwave
- Removes hair as short as 2mm, effects last for weeks
- Straightforward to use at home
- Cruelty-free and made in the USA by a brand with forty years of experience
Cons:
- We checked the ingredients and didn’t see any artificial fragrances, only artificial colors
Parissa Wax Strips Sensitive Formula + Azulene Aftercare Oil
Wax strips like these are excellent for beginners. Warm them in your hands, press them on the skin, and pull them off like opening a zipper. There’s no mess, no melting pot or applicators required, and little to no residue. Anything left over comes right off with a little oil.
Moreover, this wax has azulene oil and natural ingredients like castor oil, beeswax, and vitamin E. It has no artificial fragrance or parabens, plus it’s certified cruelty-free. Even the backing on the strips is made from biodegradable cellulose.
As seen in the review above, azulene oil calms the skin, moisturizes it, and helps prevent infections. It’s the perfect ingredient for face wax for sensitive skin.
Pros:
- Perfect for beginners with no additional equipment needed
- Strips have azulene oil to calm, moisturize, and protect the skin
- Formula made with mostly natural ingredients with no artificial fragrance
- The backing is biodegradable cellulose and the product is certified cruelty-free
Cons:
- None
Bare Faced by KoluaWax for Sensitive Skin, Hard Wax
If you have access to a wax warmer, or choose to purchase one, try this hard wax for sensitive skin. It’s ideal for removing thin and fine hair because it’s a little stickier than the typical hard wax.
The kit includes a one-pound bag of wax beans and twenty disposable spatulas. The quantity of wax can do up to one hundred brow waxes.
Guess what, there’s no need for cloth strips to remove the wax. Apply it with the spatula, let it harden for about thirty seconds until it’s not gummy, and pull it off with your fingers.
We recommend fragrance-free products for those with sensitive skin. However, if perfume doesn’t bother you, this wax smells like a tropical vacation.
Pros:
- Professional-quality product for salon-style results
- Hard wax beans with a slightly sticky texture when they melt
- Suitable for removing thin, fine hair
- Comes with disposable spatulas, no need for cloth strips
Cons:
- None (unless there’s an issue with artificial fragrances)
Hyposia Luxury Hypoallergenic Hard Wax
Here’s an Australian-made hard wax that uses flexible synthetic rosin to protect sensitive skin. It avoids natural rosin which is a common ingredient in waxing products, but it tends to irritate sensitive skin.
Furthermore, this wax doesn’t have to be heated very much and the low temperature is kinder to delicate skin. It has a pleasant scent and no artificial color.
Users say it’s more supple than the typical hard wax, so it removes easily without cracking. Still, beginners will have to practice the technique.
Pros:
- Contains synthetic rosin that’s more flexible and doesn’t require as much heat to melt
- Milder the natural rosin for sensitive skin
- Has a pleasant scent and no added color
Cons:
- Takes a little practice to use properly
GiGi Zinc Oxide Ultra Sensitive Hair Removal Wax
Here’s a wax with zinc oxide to calm the skin. It’s for fine to medium hair and normal to oily skin.
Why zinc oxide? Isn’t that a sunscreen? It is, and it’s also anti-inflammatory for the skin. You’ll notice that this wax has a whitish color and a creamy texture. The mineral is supposed to guard against redness and irritation while leaving the skin smooth and comfortable.
It’s recommended to use the brand’s muslin cloth strips with the wax. They are sold separately, as are the applicators.
Once you use a disposable spatula to spread the heated creamy wax in the direction that the hair grows, press the strip on top and allow the wax to set. When you peel the strip off, go against the direction that the hair grows. It lessens the pain a little if you press down on untreated skin nearby.
Reviewers’ comments are generally positive, but there were some complaints about difficulty of use, and having redness and bumps all the same. On the bright side, the formula is unscented and isn’t super sticky. Also, it’s cruelty-free and made in the USA.
Pros:
- Uses zinc oxide as a buffer to prevent inflammation and redness in sensitive skin
- Removes fine to medium hair on normal to oily skin
- Doesn’t stick to skin as much as some soft waxes do
- Unscented, cruelty-free, and made in USA
Cons:
- Not a magical solution for sensitive skin but seems to work well for some people
- You may need to purchase accessories like applicator sticks and cloth strips
GiGi Creme Hair Removal Soft Wax for Sensitive Skin
This cream wax is made to remove fine hair. It penetrates follicles to pull the hair out by the roots. Unlike many soft waxes, it doesn’t leave a residue. Moreover, it has titanium dioxide to calm the skin during the process.
It doesn’t take a lot of heat to melt, which means it shouldn’t burn your skin or cause as much irritation as some waxes do. Of course, it’s also cruelty-free and made in the USA.
What are the cons? If you are sensitive to artificial fragrances or colors, you’re going to be disappointed because this formula has both. Unfortunately, some users say it sticks to the face like gum if you don’t remove it at the right time.
But wait, did you know you also need a melting pot, applicator sticks, and removal strips? Yes, this is a serious investment.
Pros:
- Uses titanium dioxide to calm irritation
- Cruelty-free and American-made
- Designed to remove fine hair
Cons:
- Requires additional equipment
- Has an artificial fragrance and dyes
Conclusion
Waxing ensures that you don’t have to remove hair frequently. That can be a bonus for sensitive skin. On the other hand, it’s smart to use face wax formulated for sensitive skin.
We hope our reviews helped you find the best face wax for your needs today. If it’s working well for you, we’d love to hear about it. Feel free to leave us a comment below.
Source:
1. https://swirlster.ndtv.com/beauty/waxing-for-sensitive-skin-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-1787366 Waxing For Sensitive Skin: Here’s What You Need To Know, by Dayle Pereira, published December 13 2017, accessed July 8, 2021
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