The best face wax for smoother skin

Let's face it, keeping on top of hair removal for your body can be expensive. From eyebrow shaping to upper lip waxing, salon prices can seem costly when all you're looking for is some maintenance. However, waxing can be a fairly simple process and one that's easy to achieve from home. So, if you're wanting to save some money on salon appointments and do it yourself, the best face wax will have your face looking smoother in no time.

We've also spoken to our expert, Dr Hiba Injibar, the Consultant Dermatologist at the Dermasurge Clinic to give us some insight into some frequently asked questions. Dr Hiba Injibar is renowned for having honed her craft in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon before bringing her exceptional talents to London.

The Best Face Wax At A Glance:

• Best highly-rated facial waxing strips: Nad's Facial Wax Strips - View offer on Amazon UK
• Best bestselling face waxing kit: Mylee Professional Waxing Kit with Wax Heater - View offer on Amazon UK

Face waxing is a form of hair removal that targets the facial area. Hair can grow anywhere from the upper lip, sides of the cheeks, chin and nostrils. It's perfectly common, particularly during menopause, for hair growth to be affected due to the imbalance of hormones. If you've decided you want to remove this hair, there are many methods of hair removal that you can try.

Removing facial hair can take the form of threading, tweezing and hair waxing, to name a few. However, waxing actually removes the hair from the follicle. Therefore, it may be the best method if you're looking for longer-lasting results. Additionally, if you're a fan of wearing makeup, waxing the face can provide a smoother surface for your foundation to lay on.

The best face wax: Rated and reviewed

What types of wax are there?

Not one wax fits all, and as you may have guessed, there are different types of wax for different areas of the body.

Face wax may often take the form of cold, soft wax that requires face wax strips to remove. Alternatively, it can also take the form of warm, hard wax that you heat, apply and remove. Here are some of the different types of wax and their benefits.

Soft wax is ideal for areas with larger coverage, such as the legs. However, it requires waxing strips to remove the hair. It's thinner than hard wax, so it may be slightly more painful when it comes to removal as there's less of a barrier against the skin.

Hard wax is better for sensitive areas, such as the face, underarms and bikini line. It is much thicker than soft wax and you can actually remove it without the use of waxing strips. As well as this, it adheres to the hairs and not the skin, making the process a lot less painful.

Cold wax comes as it is and doesn't require heating up. More often than not, you can buy cold waxing strips that are ready for you to use. This wax may be better at removing finer hairs, so is best to use on the face or legs.

Warm wax involves gently heating the wax in a wax heater as part of a home waxing kit. The heat from the wax opens up the pores and adheres to the hairs more strongly than cold wax. Arguably, it's a more efficient hair removal tool compared to cold wax. You can use warm wax across the body; just make sure it's at the right temperature.

As the face is a more sensitive area, you should always do a patch test beforehand. Apply the wax to a small area of the skin and somewhere that is discreet. Keep an eye out for any burning, itching or redness, as this may indicate you've had a reaction. If this occurs, try a different wax or a different hair removal method altogether, such as a laser IPL device.

FAQs

Does facial waxing loosen the skin?

We spoke to Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Hiba Injibar, to give us some insight into whether waxing can loosen the skin, cause wrinkles or further emphasise lines in the face.

"To answer simply, no – facial waxing does not loosen the skin," Dr Injibar answered. "This misconception is based on the idea that facial skin is thinner and more delicate, so removing hair from this area will also remove layers of protection provided by the epidermis. This supposedly causes wrinkles on the face, as opposed to other parts of the body where the skin is thicker, such as your legs.

"However, If waxing is performed safely and effectively on the client, no skin damage should occur. When performed incorrectly, waxing can damage the skin due to the wax being too hot, resulting in burns. Beauty therapists should be careful not to overheat the wax beads and use a high-quality wax product, such as hard wax on the face to avoid damage when the hairs are ripped off."

How to wax your face at home

The process of waxing your face is fairly easy to do, particularly at home. You can wax using two methods: waxing facial strips or hard wax. We've included some tutorials from our favourite YouTube channels to give you a demonstration of how to wax your face at home.

Using face waxing strips

Face waxing strips are an affordable and convenient option for waxing your face. These usually take the form of cold, soft wax, which is already prepared for you on the strip. Here's a video from Rosemarie showing you how to wax with face waxing strips.

1. Prepare your skin. Exfoliate to remove dead skin from the area. Using a cotton pad, apply cleanser or pre-wax treatment to remove any oils from the face. This gives the strips a better chance of sticking and removing fine hairs.

2. Apply your waxing strip. Remove the film, exposing the wax on the inside. Place the wax strip face down onto the chosen area of your face. Press it in to ensure all of the hairs are covered.

3. Remove the waxing strip. In a sharp motion, pull the waxing strip from your face. This should have taken off the fine hairs, although sometimes it may take more than one attempt.

4. Treat the area. Afterwards, you may want to apply a soothing balm, lotion or oil to calm the area. Aloe vera gel will offer some relief from any discomfort. Creams with anti-inflammatory properties are also a good choice.

Using hard wax

This method may take slightly longer as you need to wait for the wax to heat up, but hard wax is generally the better and less painful option when it comes to waxing the face. We've included this video from DaquanaWhite showing you how to use warm and hard wax to remove hairs on the face. You can also use hard wax to effectively remove hair around your bikini line, creating looks such as a Brazilian wax.

1. Prepare your skin. Exfoliate to remove dead skin from the area. Using a cotton pad, apply cleanser or pre-wax treatment to remove any oils from the face. This gives the strips a better chance of sticking and removing fine hairs.

2. Heat the wax. Most hard waxes will require heating, as this allows the wax to soften for application and harden for removal. You can heat your wax in a wax warmer. It will need to reach a temperature of around 55 degrees.

3. Apply the wax. Once the wax has reached this temperature, use a waxing spatula to apply the wax onto the face. Try to get a generous and even layer on the area. You'll notice the wax will begin to harden as it cools.

4. Remove the wax. Allow a few minutes for the wax to cool. Once it's hard enough, pull the wax away from your face in a swift motion. This should have taken off the fine hairs, although sometimes it may take more than one attempt.

5. Treat the area. Afterwards, you may want to apply a soothing balm, lotion or oil to calm the area. Aloe vera gel will offer some relief from any discomfort. Creams with anti-inflammatory properties are also a good choice.

This article contains expert advice from Dr Hiba Injibar, Consultant Dermatologist at Dermasurge.

Samantha Price is a contributing Commercial Content Writer at Yours. She's currently part of the Fashion, & Beauty team, covering content on fashion, beauty and wellness.