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Always wanted to choose the brains of a beauty editor? Or get beauty product recommendations from someone who’s tried them all? You have come to the right place. In our weekly series, Ask a Beauty Editor, Beauty Editor Hana Hong answers your biggest skincare, hair, and makeup questions, all submitted by readers of Real Simple. Tune in every Tuesday and submit your own burning beauty questions here for a chance to be featured.
Reader’s Question: I suffer from ingrown hairs on my face which have left brown spots. What can I use for both problems? – Claire Jean
Since my first razor in college, I have had a love-hate relationship with shaving. One minute you have smooth, hairless skin, and the next you see raised, red bumps ruining the landscape of your otherwise flawless complexion.
Aesthetically unpleasant, painful, and strangely defying the laws of gravity, ingrown hairs are what happens when hair begins to grow outward (as hair normally would), but then coils under itself and begin to push inward. This inward growth creates a pimple-like bump.
So why do ingrown hairs occur? It’s going to go against everything the company has taught you, but your hair isn’t really meant to be shaved. (Shocker, right?) It’s there for an evolutionary reason, so when you shave it makes your hair follicle angry (read: inflamed) as a defense mechanism.
To avoid ingrown hairs, be sure to shave in the direction of the hair with a new blade; the duller the blade, the more you scratch the skin, which increases the risk of irritation and ingrown growth. And whatever you do, avoid breaking out or plucking an ingrown hair as this increases the risk of infection and is not a guaranteed way to remove hair.
Patience is a virtue when it comes to body hair removal, but the right products can speed up the process. Here are the best (and most forgiving) oils, exfoliators, and elixirs for all of your ingrown hair needs.
Ideal for ingrown hairs overall: concentrate of ingrown fur
Fur’s signature formula works as a spot treatment for your existing ingrowns; However, with daily use, it can also be used to prevent future irritation, thanks to the soothing blend of castor oil, grape seed, coconut, lavender, and jojoba. What’s also great about this pick is that it comes with a small dropper bottle and textured fabric glove, a combo that lets you control the pressure as you exfoliate.
Best Ingrown Hair Treatment: Bushbalm Dark Spot Treatment
As you’ve noticed, ingrown hairs often introduce an even bigger problem into the mix, and that’s pigmentation. Bushbalm’s flagship product (it sells for over five units per hour with hundreds of five-star reviews, depending on the brand) harnesses six natural ingredients that work together to break down the melanin pigments that cause dark spots and skin tones. unequal.
Best ingrown hair serum: European Wax Center Smooth Me ingrown hair serum
The iconic spa brand knows a thing or two about hair removal, so you know their deal is the real deal. Not only is it pH balanced and non-comedogenic, but ingredients like glycolic acid, tea tree oil, and lavender oil soften the skin to coax trapped hair.
Best Exfoliator for Ingrown Hair: SweetSpot Labs Buff & Brighten Body Scrub Pads
Regardless of your hair removal method, regular exfoliation is a sure-fire way to speed up skin cell renewal, in turn removing pigmentation. Slide-on pads make daily exfoliation easier and faster than ever before – just rub on the bikini area, legs and armpits three to four times a week.
Best scrub for ingrown hair: First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub 10% AHA
For bump-free skin after the shower, treat yourself to a good massage with this scrub from First Aid Beauty. It contains a blend of chemical and physical exfoliators for healthier looking skin: pumice polishing beads and glycolic and lactic acids at a combined 10% level to soften the top layer of skin. During this time, bisabolol works overtime to reverse the irritation.
Best Cream for Ingrown Hair: Malin + Goetz Cream for Ingrown Hair
This herbal formula synthesizes natural herbs like allantoin and chamomile to calm angry pores, while a blend of glycolic and salicylic acid exfoliates pigmentation. The ultra-soft, residue-free formula means it’s great for post-shaving, even if you shave every day.
