In this article, we will be looking at the best facial epilators and how to choose one.
Here’s a fact.
Nearly all women like it or not have facial hair.
Whether or not it bothers you will be a personal preference.
Some women are okay having it while others will pay for anything to remove their facial hair.
It doesn’t matter if you have thick, coarse hair or not, you shouldn’t be ashamed of it.
Women shouldn’t be hard on themselves if they have more facial hair than usual. This is something that’s out of your control.
Remember that the only reason why you want to remove facial hair is for yourself – you want to look better; that’s it.
When it comes to facial hair removal, you’ll have several options.
The most popular one would be the razor. It’s quick, relatively painless, and you can buy it just about anywhere.
One big issue with using a razor would be the frequency of which you need to use it because only the surface hair is taken off.
Depending on how fast your hair grows, you may need to use it once or twice a week. The side effect of using a razor would be irritation and razor burn.
Waxing is another option with longer-lasting results, but it can be expensive.
An epilator is an option that’s similar to waxing since it pulls hairs from the roots but much cheaper than waxing.
Here’s a quick overview of the best epilators for facial hair.
BEST OVERALL
- Has 18 tweezers: most of all facial epilators
- An excellent option for hair removal on legs
- Comes with various attachments such as an exfoliating brush and trimmer
BEST COMPACT OPTION
- Easy to use because of compact design
- The pen-like design makes it ideal for removing hair from the lip and eyebrow area
- Excellent for eliminating thin hair (up to 0.2mm)
BEST FULL BODY EPILATOR
- An outstanding option for the face and body
- Two-speed settings
- The facial cap works well for plucking facial hair
OUTSIDE THE BOX OPTION
- The simple design is easy to use
- The stainless steel construction will last for years
- There’s no need to recharge
BEST BUDGET OPTION
- Only has 6 tweezers
- Great for traveling since it is so compact
- Cordless convenience
CHEAPER BRAUN ALTERNATIVE
- Has 40 tweezers
- Usable as a corded or cordless epilator
- Waterproof design
Why using an epilator on your face is a good idea?
Before looking at your options, let’s look at the reasons why an epilator is a good option and what to expect.
Razors are great if you’re pressed for time. But if you have to do so every 2 days, it can be time-consuming.
Epilators offer a longer-term solution. Like what I’ve said earlier, an epilator will pull hair from the roots.
So expect similar results as you’ll have from using facial wax strips.
One significant advantage that an epilator has over wax strips is the cost savings.
After buying the facial epilator, the only thing you’ll probably be spending on would be the batteries.
And since there is no need to epilate every other day, you don’t have to replace the batteries often.
The biggest hurdle would be the plucking sensation that you’ll feel.
But once you get used to that, you’ll enjoy a smooth face for weeks on end.
That perhaps is the most significant benefit of using an epilator.
Our Picks for the Best Facial Epilators
Here are some of the best options available for plucking hair off the face.
Best Overall: Emjoi Epi Slim e18
When it comes to facial epilators, Emjoi manufactures some of the best.
And with the Epi Slim e18, expect quality hair plucking performance thanks to the 18 tweezers.
This variant is their latest and has double the number of tweezers from the previous AP-9L that had only 9.
Having more tweezers means quicker epilating on the facial area.
The most significant improvement with the newer e18 would be its ability to remove thinner facial hair.
What this a good option?
- Excellent for sensitive areas: Not only will the Epi Slim E18 pluck facial hair, but it is also handy in other sensitive areas such as bikini and underarms.
- Fewer tweezers: This model is purpose-built for removing facial hair with only 18 tweezers. It won’t hurt as much as something with 72.
- Uses AA batteries: AA batteries are the most common, and you won’t have issues finding these anywhere.
Potential issues
- Still stings: Expect some level of pain using this product because it pulls hair from the roots, but it gets better with time.
It has a feature they call the Skin Glide Technology that uses a three-disc system. Two of those discs stretch the skin, and the other is fixed to provide the best comfort possible.
Comfort doesn’t necessarily mean pain-free. Expect pain when you use this.
Despite the pain, women love this epilator because of the smooth feeling and long-lasting results.
Some even said that it isn’t painful, something’s wrong because it’s supposed to be. An epilator’s job is to pull hair from the root, and that alone will cause a level of pain.
How painful? That would depend on your pain threshold.
Women seem to be okay using this though some did not like that.
If your skin does not react well to wax strips, then this can be an excellent alternative to it.
Some women have used this not just on their faces but in other sensitive areas like the bikini line and underarms, so there is some versatility with this product. The only area you won’t be able to use this on is the legs.
This product comes with a cleaning brush to remove hair residue. But I would recommend rinsing the head from time to time just for hygienic purposes.
Bottom line:
Compact Option: Braun Face 851
If you ask women about Braun epilators, the first thing they’ll probably recommend would be the Silk Epil series and with good reason.
These epilators are one of the best available hair removing tools available.
However, Braun didn’t rest on their laurels here with that.
Braun has a facial epilator with perhaps the sleekest tweezer design available right now.
The Braun Face 851 is the easiest to use because of the unique design.
If you look at the other epilators in this list, you’d have to hold it at almost a 90-degree angle to maximize its effectiveness.
What makes this a good option?
- An excellent option for removing lip hair: The pen-like tip makes this an excellent choice for plucking hair from the upper lip area.
- Comes with an exfoliating brush: It also comes with a brush that’s great for exfoliating dead skin from the face.
Potential issues
- Pricey: Despite the compact size, this epilator is one of the more expensive options in this list.
With the Braun Face 851, it’s different. The tweezers are wrapped around in a narrow the tip of a pen-like contraption. So you can hold this vertically, and it’ll still pluck hair on the lip area.
It’s also compact enough that you can use it in-between your eyebrows.
This variant has 10 tweezers that will remove even the thinnest facial hair (up to 0.2mm).
Having fewer tweezers has a benefit in that it will not hurt as much as options with more. One describes it as “electric shocks” on the face.
Not only will you get the epilator but also a scrubbing brush that’ll exfoliate the skin.
Exfoliating is something you’ll need to do before epilating.
Some folks complained this epilator does go through batteries fast (around 6 months). One workaround would be using rechargeable batteries, so you don’t have to continually replace it.
Bottom line:
Full Body Epilator: Braun Silk Epil 7
When it comes to versatility and hair plucking power, very few epilators can match the Braun Silk Epil 7.
You can use this on your face, legs, arms, and armpit. It is this versatility that makes this more expensive than any other epilator on this list.
The Silk Epil 7 comes with a facial cap that makes this usable on the face.
You can use this to remove hair on the upper lip, chin, and sideburn areas.
A facial cap for those who don’t know is a protective cover that reduces tweezer exposure on the skin.
What makes this a good option?
- More than just for facial use: The Braun Silk Epil 7 is a whole-body epilator that will work on various areas such as the arms, body, armpits, legs, and face.
- Usable even underwater: This product is usable even inside the shower or bathtub, which helps ease the pain.
- Lots of attachments: Depending on the model, there are a lot of tools that come with it. I wound recommend getting the “Expressive 7561“ that comes with the trimmer attachments for the face and bikini area.
- Strong enough even for coarse hair: Unlike the smaller epilators, the Silk Epil 7 will be able to handle even coarse facial hair.
Potential issues
- Expensive: This is one of the more costly alternatives.
You get the best of both works – power and precision. This epilator will have lots of power to remove coarse or thin facial hair.
Remove the facial cap and let loose the 40 tweezers to pluck hair on your leg or armpit area.
None of the epilators available right now come close to this combination.
And the best part is you don’t have to always purchase AA-batteries since this has one built-in.
It will only take an hour to charge, and it’ll run for about 40 minutes!
This also comes with two-speed settings to adjust the power. Obviously, you’ll use the lower setting on the face, but it still has enough power to pull hair out from the roots!
You can use this wet or dry inside the shower or in the comfort of your bedroom.
Bottom line:
Outside the Box: Bellabe Facial Hair Remover
The Bellebe facial hair remover isn’t an epilator per se, but it functions like one in that it also pulls hair from the tips.
It’s tough to fathom how a small piece of spring can actually do it, but reviews say it does the job!
With over 2,000 reviews and counting, it’s hard to argue with its popularity.
What makes this a good option?
- No batteries: There’s no need to worry about charging or bring any plug since this product is basically a spring.
- Portable design: This device is so small and will not take much space in your bag – excellent grooming to bring for traveling.
- Excellent for light hair growth: It will work well for removing light hair grown on the facial area.
Potential issues
- Can’t pluck coarse hair: Don’t expect this tool to remove coarse hair.
How does this thing work?
Using this is pretty simple. Bellebe says that you just bend it on each end then roll it over the face using the handlebars on both sides.
As the spring compresses, it grabs hair and pulls it out from the roots.
The spring itself is made from high-quality stainless steel, so there is minimal risk of it corroding.
Bellebe says that this is strictly a tool exclusively on the areas above the shoulders – upper lip, jaw, cheek, and neck areas. They don’t advise using this on the eyebrow area.
The mechanical aspect of this tool makes it durable, and you don’t have to worry about batteries running out.
If you’re concerned about harming the environment by throwing away batteries, this is a good option.
But since it doesn’t have a motor, it may take a little longer to use this.
Another downside is you can’t use this on coarse hair. This will work best for women with thin facial hair.
Bottom line:
Budget Option: Remington Smooth & Silky EP1050CDN
For women looking for something cheap should have a close look at the Remington Smooth & Silky EP1050CDN.
It has the fewest tweezers of the bunch at just 6. So it’ll take longer to use this.
The low tweezers count also makes this less painful to use.
What makes this a good option?
- Very cheap: The Remington Smooth & Silky EP1050CDN is one of the least expensive facial epilators available.
- Also excellent for the bikini and armpit area: Aside from removing facial hair, it is also usable for plucking hair from the bikini and underarms.
Potential issues
- Not very useful on the eyebrows: The epilating head on this device is too bulky to use on the eyebrow area.
This is also very usable in the bikini and armpit area.
And if you look at the reviews, women actually say that this is less painful to use as let’s say an Emjoi AP-18 with all 72 tweezers!
However, it isn’t as compact as the Braun Face 851, so this is not usable on the eyebrow area.
Unlike the other epilators that use two batteries, this one uses only one.
Cleaning this will not be a problem, thanks to the cleaning brush that comes in the package. But always remember to rinse the epilating head for hygienic purposes.
One potential issue with the low tweezer count is the number of times you need to go over an area to remove hair. This will only be an issue if you have more coarse facial hair. For women with thin and light facial hair, this will do the job.
Bottom line:
Remington EP7030E Smooth Epilator
Another budget option is the Remington EP7030E. However, unlike the EP1050CDN that only has six tweezers, the EP7030E has 40 tweezers – the same number as the Braun Silk Epil 7 and 9.
It is a full-sized epilator for a fraction of the cost. If you don’t want to buy the Braun, this Remington may be able to do the task well enough for your needs.
What makes this a good option?
- Full body use: You can use this epilator not just on the face but the whole body thanks to the efficiency caps.
- Pivoting head: This feature helps maintain tweezer contact on the skin.
- Dual power source: It will function with or without the plug.
- Waterproof: Safe to use even inside the shower.
Some issues
- Can’t use it on eyebrows: The large head makes this task almost impossible.
- The battery loses charge: It uses a Ni-Cad battery that tends to lose charge over time.
This low-cost epilator has some features found in high-end options.
One such feature is the pivoting head that helps maintain skin contact.
The 40 tweezers are more than enough for removing hair even in areas such as the legs. However, the head is too big for working on delicate areas such as the eyebrow.
It also has a “detail light,” which is an LED that helps with visibility.
Bottom line
Things to consider when choosing the best facial epilator
Before clicking that buy button, spend some time to ponder on these points. It can be the difference between being a satisfied consumer and having buyer’s remorse.
1. Facial or body use
Are you using the epilator strictly on the facial area or the whole body?
If it’s just for the facial area, then a compact epilator would suffice. However, if you need something for the whole body, something like a Braun Silk Epil 7 with a multitude of caps is a smart choice.
Answering this question will narrow down options making it easier to make a choice.
2. Size does matter
A bulkier epilator works great on wide-open spaces such as the leg or arms, but terrible on tight confines around the eyebrows.
Do you need to continually remove hair from the eyebrow or lip area? Then consider getting the Braun Face 851 that works excellently in these areas.
3. Quality brand
Like with razors, I suggest opting for a known brand such as a Braun or Emjoi because these products, when poorly designed, will pinch the skin. It’s okay to spend a bit more for an epilator that you know will work and not break down prematurely.
4. Variable speed
Some epilators have a variable speed that helps reduce the pain for women who are just starting out with epilating. Some models have massage rollers that further numb the pain.
5. Number of tweezers
The more tweezers an epilator has, the faster it can pluck out hair, but it will be more painful. Some options like the Emjoi AP-18 have 72, while the Epi Slim E18 only has 18.
So the deciding factors how many tweezers is appropriate are the zones you’ll use it most often and pain tolerance.
6. Placement of tweezers
Almost all epilators come with a skin guard that protects the skin from direct contact with the tweezers. If it doesn’t have one, avoid it as it increases the risk of the tweezer pinching the skin.
7. Accessories
Brands like Remington and Braun are known for throwing in a bunch of accessories such as exfoliating brushes and caps to add value to their product.
This option is an excellent option for women looking for a full-body epilator—it as all the accessories for that purpose.
6 Benefits of using an epilator to remove facial hair
1. Longer lasting results
One reason why epilating is more effective than shaving is it plucks the hair out from the roots. So its hair doesn’t grow long enough to be a visual eyesore for weeks.
It isn’t the case with shaving because it only cuts surface hair, and it has to be done every few days or so depending on how fast the hair grows.
The skin stays smooth longer with no risk of razor burn whatsoever. But the only roadblock is pain tolerance during the epilating process.
2. Excellent for short hair
Epilators work best at removing short hair, unlike waxing, where hair has to grow to visibly unappealing levels before it can be waxed.
As the hair grows to visible levels, it is safe to use an epilator to remove hair. Most epilators can pluck out hair as short as 0.5mm.
This process is done once every 4 to 6 weeks, but it will depend on your hair growth levels.
3. Massaging benefit
A side benefit of using an epilator is the massaging rollers that some brands have to relieve the pain. It may be uncomfortable during the first few times, but you’ll get used to it over time.
Some say that the massaging elements can benefit the skin’s health as it can result in a rosy glow.
4. See results immediately
Epilating will yield almost immediate results versus other more expensive procedures such as laser or electrolysis.
Let’s say you’ve got some unsightly facial hair or underarm hair, an epilator is handy in removing these ugly strands immediately without having to call for an appointment.
Take note that you may experience some swelling, so give the skin time to recover.
5. Less expensive than waxing and laser treatments
Hair removal services can cost a fortune these days – especially permanent procedures that involve laser treatment.
Women who don’t want to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars should consider using an epilator.
Even options that cost less than $50 are quite effective at removing hair.
The low cost and the potential results make epilators an excellent alternative to other more expensive methods such as waxing. And the best part is, you can do it at home.
6. Appropriate for sensitive skin
Using a razor can cause a lot of irritation, especially on women with sensitive skin. An epilator is an excellent alternative to waxing or shaving.
Understand that the tweezers on this device don’t touch the skin. Once it grabs the hair, it pulls it out, so there’s almost no risk of irritation.
Types of Facial Epilators
Let’s quickly go through the different types of epilators for the face.
Spring
The spring type epilator was the first epilator marketed to the public to remove facial hair. This device was a coil spring with a handle on each end to make it easier to bend and capture hair.
The earliest models had a motor that helps the spring to rotate on the skin then capture hair.
Modern spring epilators no longer have a motor and work best for removing facial hair, unlike the earlier variants that were used on the other parts of the body.
Tweezer
Most of the options on this list are tweezer epilators.
Nope, it isn’t the manual tweezer you’re thinking about. It is a set of mechanically driven tweezers attached on a circular metal plate that rotates.
These tweezers work together, open and close in sync to pull out hair from the roots.
It is a much more efficient way of removing hair rather than just using a manual tweezer to pull out hair one strand at a time.
Waterproof
These epilators are similar to the tweezer type, but it’s usable even inside wet conditions (i.e., inside the shower or bathtub). Using an epilator with hot shower running can help numb the pain. So some women prefer using this type. Most of the waterproof models available are cordless.
Guide to Painless Facial Epilating
Using an epilator can be painful since the process itself involves pulling out hair, but there are ways to make it a little more comfortable.
The good news is, it’s only something you’ll once every 4 weeks or so when done correctly.
Following these guidelines will help get the most out of these facial epilators and making the experience more bearable.
1. Prep is an important step
What you do before the epilating is the most important step as far as comfort goes. The best time to epilate is after taking a hot shower where the skin gets a thorough washing and free from any oil, makeup, or lotion that can hinder the tweezers.
If taking a bath isn’t possible, wash the area thoroughly using a gentle soap and exfoliate to remove any dead skin cells.
2. Trim longer strands of hair
Epilators work best, plucking longer strands of hair. Make sure to trim these follicles before epilating.
3. Hold the epilator perpendicular to the face
The optimal angle for most epilators is 90 degrees. This angle gives it maximum contact and moving it against the direction of hair growth.
Some facial epilators are shaped like a pen. So hold it in such a way that the tweezers are perpendicular to the skin.
4. Don’t press too hard
Now it’s the fun part – removing facial hair. One tip to prevent accidental pinching is not to push on too hard. Some brands like Braul have pressure sensors that flash a red light when there’s too much pressure. But others less expensive brands don’t, so it can be a trial and error scenario.
5. Don’t pull the skin
In my wet shaving guide article, I recommend men to pull their skin tout to prevent accidental cuts. It’s the opposite of epilating. Pulling the skin is a bad practice. Doing so can catch hairs under the skin and turning it into ingrown hair.
6. Post epilating care
Once you’re done epilating, there might be swelling and irritation. Don’t worry, that’s normal when using a facial epilator. Applying soothing cream can help ease the pain. Some cosmetologists recommend using a non-comedogenic moisturizer to relieve any irritation and inflammation.
7. Wear loose clothing
Don’t wear skinny jeans or any tight clothing a few days after epilating because it can put pressure on the skin. Wear comfortable and loose clothing to allow hair to grow appropriately and not pushed back under the skin. This is only applicable when epilating the legs, underarms, or arms.
8. Wash the epilator
Clean the epilator immediately after use to remove debris that accumulates on the epilating head.
First, use a brush to dislodge any hair and dead skin. The next step is to rinse the epilating head under running water to rinse it off.
To wrap up
There you go the 6 best facial epilators for the face that’ll help you keep hairs at bay. Technically, just 5 epilators and the Bellabe, but the latter functions like one in terms of effectiveness, so it’s hard not to include it in the list. If you’ve tried any of these options, please share your experience below in the comments section.
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