Best Epilator For Face: Say Goodbye To Facial Fuzz

Got some extra facial hair that you could do without? You’re certainly not the only one; the New York Times cites a Mintel study showed that 75% of American women remove their hair. While the NYT may have focused on shaving, it has its drawbacks. Shaving has to be a regular process to keep smooth skin, and you deal with prickly stubble when it grows back in.

Thankfully, there are also tons of other reliable ways to remove excess facial hair, and out of all the methods out there, epilation is the cheapest option that lasts the longest.

But what is an epilator?

An epilator is a handheld grooming device that removes hair by grasping the strands and pulling them out by the roots. While the method may be similar to waxing, it doesn’t damage any part of the skin. Epilators do have a sting, but there’s no burning sensation on the skin, so the pain is actually quite bearable.

If you want to try out an epilator to remove your stubborn facial hair but don’t know where to start looking, then you’re in luck. We’ve reviewed several facial epilators on the market today and narrowed down the list to 7 of the best.

7 Best Epilators for Face in 2021

Top 7 Facial Epilators Review

From the high-end to the budget picks, we’ve made sure to get a good range of products for you to choose from, all of them of excellent quality. Make your choice from our list of the best epilators for your face.

Braun Silk-épil 9 SkinSpa

Among all the epilators out there, Braun showcases the widest line of products with their Silk-epil line. First up on their list is the Braun Silk-epil 9 SkinSpa, which they tout as the fastest and most precise epilator ever produced. Braun also labels the Silk-epil 9 as the world’s first smart epilator, which adapts to the smallest pressure applied to allow more hair removal at a faster rate.

The Braun Silk-epil 9 boasts several skin treatments with just one device. This epilator comes with several head attachments to enhance the epilating experience. You not only get to shave and remove hairs, but you can also exfoliate dead skin and give your skin a deep massage to promote blood circulation.

First, it has a deep exfoliation brush that exfoliates six times better than a normal scrubbing brush. The deep exfoliation brush reduces the growth of unsightly ingrown hairs due to its high-performance brushes that are uniquely triangular. It employs sonic exfoliation that thoroughly exfoliates the skin with 3000 micro-vibrations per minute.

Next, it has a gentle exfoliating brush that gives your skin a radiant shine and a refinement that leaves it silky smooth. It’s a high-density brush with 10,000 fine bristles that can remove dead skin cells and stimulate skin generation.

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The Silk-epil 9 also comes with a shaving head attachment. The shaver head turns the epilator into a fully functional shaver if in case you need to shave out hairs from hard-to-reach areas. It even comes with a trimmer head that lets you trim hair from sensitive areas without the redness and irritation.

And lastly, it comes with a deep massage head to improve blood circulation under the skin. It massages skin deeper than a standard body brush and visibly improves the skin.

Let’s talk more about the Silk Epil 9’s epilator heads. We mentioned its versatility through its interchangeable shaver, exfoliator, and massager heads. Compared to the competition, the Silk-epil 9 has a wider head at 31.5 mm, 1.5 mm wider than other epilators. This wider head allows it to capture more hairs at a wider surface area.

The Braun Silk-epil 9 also has MicroGrip technology tweezers that are wider and longer, allowing the Silk-epil 9 to capture and remove hairs that are up 0.55 m in length, hairs that ordinary waxing can’t even capture. You don’t have to wait until your hairs are long enough to have them removed through waxing. With the Silk-epil 9, you can take control and keep your skin smooth and silky 24/7.

Braun Silk-épil 5 Power epilator

With the Silk-epil 5, you can remove any excess hair under pretty much any condition, either wet or dry. If you need to keep your face smooth for weeks, then Braun Silk-epil 5’s performance and power is the one thing that you need.

Braun’s Epil series boasts of its close-grip technology, a feature that allows its 40 epilating heads to catch hairs as small as 0.5 mm, as small as grains of sand. Waxing can catch hairs up to 1.5 mm only so using the Braun Silk-epil 5 means no more waiting days to let the hair grow before you can pluck em out.

You can choose between two speed settings to adapt to any individual skin type and personal beauty routine. As an equally smart epilator as the Silk-epil 9, the Silk-epil 5 has a pivoting head that gently adapts to any contours of your body, giving it a firm grip and contact with any type of skin. With the Silk-epil 5, you not only get a clean and thorough epilation, but you also get a soothing massage. With its high-frequency massage system, the Silk-epil 5 can stimulate your skin for a more comfortable epilating experience.

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In addition to facial epilating, with the additional attachments you can shave and even trim hair on any area of your body with ease. Aside from the shaver head and trimmer cap which transforms the Silk-epil 5 into a fully functional shaver, you also get the precision cap which allows you trim and epilate hair on sensitive areas such as your bikini line. You can also remove hair quickly and efficiently using the efficiency cap which ensures maximum skin contact.

If you need to remove unwanted hair from your face, the Silk-epil 5 also comes with a facial cap and a special Braun facial brush. The facial brush can remove makeup and impurities from the pores 6 times better than any manual cleaning technique. The brush, together with the facial cap, also exfoliates and refines the skin with the help of the Silk-epil 5’s micro-oscillations.

The Braun Silk-epil 5 is completely waterproof and can be used in the bath and under the shower. It’s easy to clean and residual hair can be removed by simply running it under tap water. Aside from the additional accessories, the Braun Silk-epil 5 even has a Smartlight which helps you reveal even the smallest and finest hairs for thorough removal. With the Silk-epil 5, you won’t miss a single hair!

Philips Satinelle Essential Hp6401/50 

Next, we look at the Silk-epil series’ closest competitor, the Philips Satinelle Essential HP6401. While the Silk-epil series is packed with features such as a Smartlight and the ability to transform into a shaver, the Philips Satinelle is a true-blue epilator from the start, stripping away any additional features to create a product that does the bare essentials.

As a result, the Philips Satinelle is one of the most affordable epilators out there, almost 70 percent cheaper than the Silk-epil series. Even with the cheap retail price, the Philips Satinelle does what any epilator is designed for, remove hairs from the roots for smoother and silkier skin. And that is not all—a closer look at this product and you’ll discover a whole lot of features that make it truly unique.

One of the Satinelle’s best features is its ergonomic design. Its small, flat, and semi-round shape makes it easy to handle and comfortable to hold in the palm of your hand. It also has an added grip surface at the back for easy handling, making this perfect for hard-to-reach areas. The Philips Satinelle markets itself to travelers because of its small and light-weight feature. If you need an epilator that you can easily tuck away in the corner of your bag, then the Philips Satinelle is the perfect device for you.

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Like Braun’s Silk-epil 5, Philips’ Satinelle also has two speed settings for different hair types, one setting for fine hair and another one for those with thicker hair. The low setting is recommended for people who are new to epilating because of its gentler speed. Once you are used to the prickly feeling, you can then work your way up to the fast setting.

The Philips Satinelle has only 21 tweezers all in all but even at the slow setting, the Satinelle can deliver 600 tweezes per second. The fast setting delivers even more at 733 tweezes per second. The Philips Satinelle may have the lowest number of tweezers among the other epilators in the market but it sure makes up with its speed and performance.

Emjoi AP-18 Emagine Epilator

While companies like Braun, Philips, and Panasonic produce a diverse range of handheld grooming products, from shavers, toothbrushes, and blow dryers, Emjoi specializes mostly on their epilators and pedicure products. Their one hand in the competitive epilator market is the AP-18 Emagine, a state-of-the-art epilator that boasts of a 72 disc tweezer head.

72 tweezer heads is a lot, especially if you need an epilator that can remove hair quickly and efficiently. Couple that with a 17 mm disc opening and you now have an epilator that can cover a wide area of your skin and take out hairs easily and quickly. Needless to say, 72 tweezers pulling hairs all at the same time means the pain gets multiplied a lot. However, the AP-18 Emagine is also made with a patented Glide technology that makes it glide over skin smoother. If the AP 18 is used under the right conditions and the right methods, it can make the epilating experience a little more pleasant.

The tweezers discs are set in a way which Emjoi calls “dual opposed”. This means that the tweezer discs rotate in opposite directions with each other. When the discs rotate, they gently stretch the skin taut to allow the tweezers to work on a flat surface while also reducing pain and discomfort. It also stretches the surface area to allow smoother and faster epilation.

The Emjoi AP-18 also employs Silver Ion Technology on its components. The hypoallergenic material keeps the skin infection free, making the Emjoi AP-18 the perfect epilator for anyone who has sensitive skin. It’s also noteworthy that the AP-18 Emagine is the first epilator in the world to adopt this technology.

As much we want to highlight the 72 tweezer heads as the AP18 Emagine’s selling point, the number of heads also becomes a detriment for the product. Due to the number of tweezers, the Emagine is very painful to use in pain-sensitive areas such as the armpits. The number of tweezers also puts the Emagine among the expensive epilators at around 70 US dollars but still relatively cheaper compared to Braun’s Silk-epil series.

Panasonic ES-ED90-P Epilator and Shaver

Here is a device that toes the line between being an epilator and a shaver. In fact, some sites advertise this product as a shaver for women. The Panasonic ES-ED90-P banks on the idea that women nowadays live a fast-paced life. Rather than wasting time every morning to shave, the Panasonic ES-ED90-P provides the option of epilating those hairs for semi-permanent removal. Like most epilators, this Panasonic product offers the convenience of epilating at home while serving as a multifunctional shaver.

First off, let’s highlight the one thing that matters in every epilator, the tweezer heads. The Panasonic ES-ED90-P has 48 tweezers that can pull out hair down to the roots. We could say that the number of tweezers is somewhat a middle ground compared to other products we have listed so far but still, the Panasonic ES-ED90-P is offered as a good alternative to expensive salon fees to have your legs waxed. The number of tweezers also makes this epilator less painful compared to other products.

In terms of accessories, the ES-ED90-P has 3 heads: a wide, dual-disc epilator head, a gentle epilation head, and a shaver and trimmer head. The epilator heads work by covering a portion of the tweezers and in the case of the wide epilator head, it reveals all 48 tweezers for a fast and efficient epilation. If you need to remove hairs from sensitive areas, like the bikini line and the underarms, then you’ll have to use the gentle epilation head. Using the shaver head turns the product into a normal electric shaver just in case you decide that epilation is too painful for you.

Sadly, there is one caveat to the Panasonic ES-ED90-P, it can’t be used while being charged. That means, you won’t be able to use the epilator not longer than 30 minutes, after which, you would have to charge it again for an hour. The epilator automatically turns off if it’s plugged to an outlet which is a commendable safety feature.

Braun Silk-épil 9 SensoSmart

Let’s go back to Braun’s iconic Silk-epil series and look at the Braun Silk-epil 9 SensoSmart. What makes this Silk-epil 9 different from the SkinSpa and the other Silk-epil 9 versions? It might sound confusing at first but if you do a little research, the differences lie in the technology used and the attachments and accessories that come with them. In the case of the SensoSmart, it stands out because of two main features: the SensoSmart technology and a head that is 40% wider than other models.

First of all, let’s talk about the SensoSmart feature. In a nutshell, the Braun Silk-epil 9 SensoSmart is touted as smart epilator due to the inclusion of an intelligent sensor. The sensor acts as a guide in applying the right pressure during epilation. If you push too hard, the SensoSmart with alert you with a blinking red light. The SensoSmart feature also adds to a more efficient epilation as applying the right pressure can result in more hairs being removed per stroke. It also lessens the discomfort of epilation especially in the sensitive areas like the face and underarms.

Another major difference of the SensoSmart compared to other Silk-epil 9’s is its epilator head that is 40% wider. 40% may sound like an ordinary number but for an epilator, it means that the SensoSmart can catch two times more hair per stroke. No matter how much technology improves, it can’t change the fact that epilation is a painful process. Having a wider head that captures more hair means that it reduces the duration of the process, including the pain that one has to endure.

Like the SkinSpa version, the SensoSmart version also employs the same MicroGrip Tweezer Technology. The SensoSmart uses only 40 tweezers but they are engineered in a way that they are placed closely to one another at optimal angles. The arrangement of the tweezers allows them to grip closer to the roots, leading to a deeper and more efficient plucking. The tweezers are also built longer and wider, allowing more hairs to be removed per stroke and letting them reach and pluck hairs that are as short as 0.5 mm. Not even waxing can reach that length of hair.

Overall, the SensoSmart boasts features that stand head and shoulders above the rest of the Silk-epil 9 series, making it a worthy choice for anyone looking for a reliable facial epilator.

Braun Silk-épil 3 3-270 Epilator

If you’ve decided to buy a Braun Silk-epil epilator but are still pretty confused on what to choose among the myriad Silk-epils, then why not try the entry-level version, the Braun Silk-epil 3? It may lack some of the features of the other Silk-epil models but the affordable price might be able to convince you otherwise. Also, it still carries the Braun promise of providing an effective epilation, especially if it’s your first time epilating.

First of all, the Braun Silk-epil 3 is as austere as it can get. Upon opening the box, you get the unit itself, a charging adapter, and a cleaning brush. It does come with additional attachment options such as a shaver head and a sensitive cap for epilating sensitive areas such as the underarms and the bikini lines. Being an entry-level epilator, Braun didn’t invest much in its bells and whistles but it still certainly gets the job done. It’s light enough to be carried anywhere and ergonomically shaped with a rounded design for ease of use and straightforward operation.

There’s a reason for the Silk-epil 3’s compactness and simplicity; it only has 20 tweezers in its epilator head. Nevertheless, the number of tweezers doesn’t affect the performance much but it certainly makes it slower compared to its sisters in the Silk-epil line. Being as light as it is, the Silk-epil 3 is the perfect epilator to use on the face, especially around the lip area. It employs SoftLift tips which lift flat-lying hairs and guide them to the tweezers for easier removal.

The Silk-epil 3 may not boast a lot of features but it does have the ones that still get the job done. Like the others in the Silk-epil line, it also has 2 speed settings which allow you to choose between a gentle slow speed epilation, and a high speed, efficient setting. It also comes with massage rollers that can massage and stimulate your skin for a comfortable epilation, although you can’t expect much from its massage power due to the Silk-epil 3’s compact size.

How To Choose The Best Epilator For Your Face

Whether you’ll use it on the go or in the house, on your face or your legs, the right epilator for you will completely depend on your needs. Before you go out to buy one, consider the following factors first.

How To Use An Epilator To Remove Hairs

If it’s your first time to use an epilator, then follow these recommended steps. With a bit of preparation, you can bring out the most of your epilator and maximize the efficiency.

Step 1: Plan Ahead

Timing is everything if you want a good and clean epilation. The best time to epilate any part of your body is at nighttime, before you get started for the next day. Not only are you more relaxed in the evenings, but you will also give your skin ample time to recover after removing the hairs. By morning, all the bumps and the redness left behind by the epilator will be long gone.

Step 2: Exfoliate Before You Epilate

Relax, take a warm shower, and exfoliate your skin to get rid of dead skin cells and prevent the onset of ingrown hairs. You can use either an exfoliating scrub, a mitt, or a dry towel to rub down your skin. You can also use the exfoliating brush that is packaged together with some epilator models, like the one that comes with Braun’s Silk-epil

Step 3: Stay Cool And Calm

Epilation can be an unpleasant experience if not done with proper preparation. Thankfully, some epilators come with accessories such as cooling gloves and massage rollers. These accessories are designed to prepare your skin and soften the hairs for a gentle removal so use them to your advantage whenever you can.

Step 4: Do It In The Shower Or Bathtub

The newest epilators can now be used either wet or dry which means that you can also use them in the shower or bathtub. Before you epilate an area of your skin, run it under warm water first. Warm water promotes the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers. Epilating on wet skin is not only less painful, but it also reduces redness and irritation.

Step 5: Keep It Steady At 90 Degrees

You don’t have to stress too much on how to hold an epilator if it’s your first time to use it. Just feel it in your hand and hold it naturally at a 90-degree angle to your skin. Pull your skin taut using your free hand to give the epilator a smoother surface to work on. You don’t need to press down on the skin too hard. Just press the epilator head lightly against the skin and let the tweezers do the work.

Step 6: Go Slow And With Direction

Take your time in completing each stroke, especially if you’re working on long and wide surfaces such as your legs. When working on your legs, run the entire length from your ankle to your knee by at least 15 seconds. Going too fast may risk breaking the strand which may lead to ingrown hairs. Also, remember to move toward the hair growth to make sure that the hairs are pulled by the roots.

Step 7: Pamper And Repeat

After you’re done epilating, make sure to moisturize the area. Use a nourishing body lotion for the best results. If you’re new to epilating, doing it once a week is enough. You can then increase the frequency of use if you get used to the pain and the discomfort level drops. Eventually, with frequent epilation, the hairs will grow back slower than usual until you won’t need to epilate for 4 to 6 weeks at a time.

How Long Does Epilation Last On The Face? Will The Hair Grow Back Soon?

Most companies advertise that using an epilator can leave your skin smooth for up to 4 weeks. In reality, it completely depends on the area you epilated and genetic factors such as how quickly hair grows on you. In general, hair growth is less noticeable on the first two weeks after epilation and then accelerates by the 3^rd and 4^th week.

Another factor is the hair growth cycle. Every strand of hair grows at different rates. Even after epilating, hair that hasn’t reached the surface may grow after a few days. A regular epilating routine helps in removing as many hairs as possible in one go, letting your skin go smoother for longer periods of time.

Another factor is the food you eat. Foods like salmon, nuts, and eggs have plenty of vitamin C, zinc, biotin, and omega-3 which all promote hair growth. If you eat them a lot, then you’ll have to epilate more.

Can Epilators Remove Facial Hair Permanently?

Epilation may be an affordable alternative to hair removal but the results are not permanent. As mentioned before, an epilator can keep your skin hair-free for about 3 to 6 weeks. The length of time before the hair grows back again also depends on how often you epilate, the food you eat, and your own genes.

Aside from epilators, you can consider getting a laser hair removal treatment. However, this is not as permanent as most people believe. Laser hair removal doesn’t destroy the hair follicles, it merely reduces the hair growth. Still, laser hair removal can stop hair growth for at least 2 years.

If you’re looking for a permanent solution to hair removal, then nothing beats electrolysis. If you have the money and you know a great practitioner, then give electrolysis a try.

Conclusion

If you’re a little self-conscious about excess facial hair, then there’s no better solution than an epilator. When used consistently, an epilator will leave your face hairless and smooth 24/7! No stubble, no razor bumps, and no peach fuzz.

This list features all the best epilators on the market at a wide variety of different price ranges, so you’re bound to find something that’s perfect for you. But before you commit to the purchase make sure you consider the pain factor! Epilating can really hurt and a few additional features can go a long way in making your experience as comfortable as possible.

So what are you waiting for! Once you see what an epilator can do for you, you’ll never look back!