9 Best Bikini Line Exfoliators to Prevent Ingrown Hair and Razor Bumps
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As much as I adore swimsuit season, seemingly every time I wax or shave my bikini area, I wind up with ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and irritated skin. The best bikini line exfoliators are meant to combat this nightmare—because inevitably, I reach for whatever rough body scrub I have on hand, then wonder why my bikini line looks like it has chicken pox. This summer, I decided to talk to dermatologists to find out the ingrown hair products I should actually use. Below, find the best exfoliators for your bikini line (plus answers to your burning questions about how to use them). So we can all, you know, get back to focusing on the beach—and not our itchy crotches.
TL;DR: Dermatologists’ top pick is the First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA, $20 (a single-use wipe). My personal top choice is the European Wax Center Face & Body Exfoliator, $40 (a rinse-off gel).
The best bikini line exfoliators, at a glance
- Best Bikini Exfoliator Overall: First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA, $20
- Best Chemical Exfoliant: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $35
- Best Budget: Gillette Venus Intimate Grooming Daily Soothing Serum, $9
- Best for Ingrown Hair: European Wax Center Face & Body Exfoliator, $40
- Best Exfoliating Scrub: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, $20
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Topicals High Roller Ingrown Hair Tonic, $26
Your bikini line exfoliator questions, answered
- 1/14
First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA
Two derms that I spoke to listed these single-use pads as the best bikini exfoliator on the market, because they’re easy to use and gentle enough for sensitive skin. Each wipe contains glycolic acid (an alpha hydroxy acid known as an AHA) and salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid known as BHA). These ingredients slough away dead skin cells without any sort of scrubbing, which can cut up the bikini line, while witch hazel soothes. “The acids help to prevent razor bumps and reduce subsequent blemishing,” says Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City. Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care in Beverly Hills, recommends using the wipes no more than one to two times per week.
- Type: Chemical exfoliator
- Form: Single-use pads
- Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid
- How to use: A day after shaving or wiping, swipe a pad over clean, dry skin along the bikini line and anyplace else that you remove hair, such as the underarms or legs. If the product is too drying, rinse it off after 10 minutes and layer it with a moisturizer. Limit your sun exposure and apply SPF following product use for at least a week.
Pros & ConsPros- Gently exfoliates without scrubbing
- Soothes with witch hazel
- Easy to use
Cons- Pricey
- 2/14
Gillette Venus Intimate Grooming Daily Soothing Serum
Gillette’s serum contains lactic acid, an AHA that very gently exfoliates and reduces ingrown hair. The skin barrier is then moisturized and protected by jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil, and glycerin, says Dr. Shainhouse. Its formula is best for calming itching from dry skin along the bikini line. Though it’s perhaps not as effective as some of the stronger chemical exfoliants, it’s an easy-to-apply, less than $10 option you can grab from the drugstore.
- Type: Chemical exfoliator
- Form: Moisturizing serum
- Key ingredients: Lactic acid, jojoba oil, coconut oil, glycerin
- How to use: Apply a pump on your skin after and between shaves.
Pros & ConsPros- Super gentle
- Reduces itchiness
- Under $10
Cons- Not the strongest exfoliant
- 3/14
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
We awarded Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant a Glamour Beauty Award for its how it smooths and clears rough facial skin without disrupting its skin barrier. Did you know it's great for the bikini line, too? “It contains salicylic acid at a concentration of 2%, which is excellent for preventing razor bumps,” says Rachel Westbay, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical in New York City. “This low of an amount rarely causes irritation or dryness in a cleanser but can often be more drying if left on the skin in a cream. However, the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid mitigates this by way of containing green tea, an antioxidant that soothes and minimizes irritation.” The company makes a leave-on lotion version of the toner as well, which Dr. Chang recommends.
- Type: Chemical exfoliator
- Form: Liquid toner
- Key ingredients: 2% salicylic acid, green tea, chamomile
- How to use: Pat a small amount of the toner onto a cotton ball and then onto clean skin all over or as a spot treatment. Apply it in tandem with a moisturizer and follow with sunscreen.
Pros & ConsPros- Clears clogged pores
- Soothes with green tea and chamomile
Cons- May be too drying for sensitive skin
- 4/14
European Wax Center Face & Body Exfoliator
I went through a phase of waxing my bikini line (and suffering terrible ingrown hairs) and bought this product at the spa. Eventually, the Brazilian bikini waxing turned into occasional shaving, and still, I use this. What’s different about it is that you apply it to dry not wet skin. It has a slightly gel-like consistency and features fruit enzymes instead of chemicals. “These enzymes can help separate the overlying dead skin cells that clog and dull from the fresh, newer, healthy cells beneath,” says Dr. Shainhouse. I let the gel sit for a minute or so, and then rub it in circles. The dead skin satisfyingly rolls up and dissolves away—and there’s none of the burning or abrasion that I’ve experienced with other exfoliators.
- Type: Enyzyme exfoliator
- Form: Nonabrasive gel
- Key ingredients: Pineapple extract, aloe, willow bark extract, coconut oil
- How to use: Apply a thin layer on clean, dry (important) skin, let sit for a minute, then massage it in circles, and rinse. Use before waxing and after two to three times per week.
Pros & ConsPros- Exfoliates with non-abrasive fruit enzymes
- No need to use sunscreen
Cons- Contains fragrance
- 5/14
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
I started using this exfoliating scrub on the recommendation of a facialist because all others tended to tear up my face—and I have kept using it for years. Its rice-based particles are so, so fine and turn into a frothy paste when you add water. I was excited to learn from Dr. Westbay that it's delicate enough to make for a suitable bikini scrub that doesn't irritate the bikini line. Its green tea, gingko, and colloidal oatmeal tone down redness and razor burn, and I usually follow with a light moisturizer like Fur’s Pubic Hair Treatment Oil for hydration.
- Type: Physical exfoliator
- Form: Micro-scrub cleanser
- Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, green tea, colloidal oatmeal
- How to use: Mix a half teaspoon of the powder into a paste with wet hands, then apply in circular motions along the bikini line for a minute. Rinse and apply a light, unscented moisturizer (see above).
Pros & ConsPros- Brightens discoloration
- Works for face too
Cons- A little drying
- Pricey
- 6/14
Topicals High Roller Ingrown Hair Tonic
Similar to deodorant, this lightweight, nonsticky topical serum glides onto skin through its rollerball—there’s no need to touch the formula at all. “It’s simple to apply and contains multiple AHAs and BHAs (salicylic acid, gylcolic acid, willow bark) that exfoliate the skin,” says Dr. Shainhouse. Meanwhile, niacinamide, centella, and allantoin bring down swelling and inflammation from body hair removal—great for especially sensitive skin.
- Type: Chemical exfoliator
- Form: Topical roll-on serum
- Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, niacinamide, green tea
- How to use: Roll onto clean, dry skin that’s been waxed or shaved two to three times per week and allow it to fully dry. Use with sunscreen.
Pros & ConsPros- Targets dark spots and acne
- Reduces discoloration
- Easy to use
Cons- Pricey
- May leak in heat
- 7/14
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub
First Aid Beauty’s scrub is acts like the combination of a chemical peel and physical exfoliator in one. “It contains pumice buffing beads, as well as glycolic and lactic acids, that exfoliate chemically and physically,” says Dr. Westbay. “It's gentle yet effective for sensitive areas.” Dr. Chang likes it because its 10% AHAs also hydrate the skin, so you’re less likely to have blemishes—and it can help as a treatment for keratosis pilaris (KP), the small, hard bumps sometimes found along the bikini line.
- Type: Chemical exfoliator, physical scrub
- Form: Scrub cleanser
- Key ingredients: Glycolic and lactic acids
- How to use: Massage into wet skin two to three times a week and follow with a moisturizer.
Pros & ConsPros- Uses AHAs and microbeads to exfoliate
- Treats KP
Cons- Suitable for body only, not face
- May not be suitable for sensitive skin
- 8/14
Glytone Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Lotion
Dermatologists recommend this lotion (in conjunction with its accompanying body wash) for anyone with KP. It’s packed with 17.5% glycolic acid, which exfoliates dry, dead skin. It can help smooth bumpy skin all over the body, brighten, and prevent ingrowns, says Dr. Shainhouse.
- Type: Chemical exfoliator
- Form: Body lotion
- Key ingredients: Glycolic acid
- How to use: Use the Glytone exfoliating body wash, then massage the lotion onto any part of your body that needs hydration.
Pros & ConsPros- Smooths skin texture
- Excellent for KP
- Hydrating
Cons- Ideally is paired with its companion body wash
- Pricey
- 9/14
Skinfix Azelaic Acid AHA/BHA Cleanser
If you struggle with discoloration around your bikini line, consider Skinfix’s face cleanser. Dr. Westbay calls it a “powerhouse” because its formula of BHAs and AHAs combat hyperpigmentation (PIH) and minimize excess sebum. Niacinamide reduce redness and inflammation, and azelaic acid fades PIH and post-acne scars.
- Type: Chemical exfoliator
- Form: Face wash
- Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid
- How to use: Lather a pea-size amount with wet hands, massage in circular motions into areas that are oily and breakout-prone, rinse.
Pros & ConsPros- Fades scarring and discoloration
- Reduces acne
Cons- A little drying
- 10/14
What are ingrown hairs and razor bumps?
Ingrown hairs occur after waxing or shaving because individual hairs don’t grow back along their normal paths, curving instead to penetrate and irritate the skin, or winding up stuck beneath it. Razor bumps, meanwhile, can technically be anything from ingrowns to folliculitis, which is the inflammation of your hair follicles. They look like little red pimples and they're often quite itchy and painful.
- 11/14
How to prevent ingrown hair and razor bumps
In a nutshell: exfoliate regularly. Here’s a more in-depth explainer:
- Exfoliate before and after shaving or waxing in order to eliminate the dead skin cell build-up that can trap hairs.
- How to shave: Soak your bikini area in warm water, use a sharp, clean razor and shaving cream to shave in short strokes in the direction that your hair is growing, rinse with cool water to close the pores, and apply an alcohol-free moisturizer or aftershave balm.
- Avoid picking or squeezing your ingrowns—or risk scarring and blemishing.
- Apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone 1% cream as an aftershave to prevent inflammation.
- 12/14
What type of exfoliators are best for your bikini area?
Proper exfoliation is a must for keeping your bikini line (and anywhere you remove hair) smooth and preventing pesky ingrown hairs, razor bumps, plugged-up pores, acne, and inflammation. You may be tempted to use any exfoliator you already have on hand (like a pumice stone, say, or a big-beaded face scrub), but dermatologists advise treading carefully because your skin down there is super sensitive. “When exfoliating the bikini area, it’s crucial that you choose gentle products to avoid irritation,” says Dr. Chang. Here are the types of exfoliators for bikini lines you’ll most encounter:
- Chemical exfoliators: These products include alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid and lactic acid and/or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid. “These acids help to remove dead skin cells without the need for physical scrubbing, which can reduce the risk of irritation and ingrown hairs,” says Dr. Westbay. They also reduce hyperpigmentation and clear out clogged pores.
- Physical exfoliants: These scrub away dead skin from the surface—and are, importantly, made of very fine particles to avoid causing micro-tears in the skin (like sugar scrubs).
- Enzyme exfoliants: Enzymes from fruits like papaya or pineapple dissolve dead skin cells without the abrasiveness of a scrub or the intensity of chemicals.
- Exfoliating gloves, washcloths, and mitts: There are soft exfoliating clothes and mitts on the mark that can be used to exfoliate your skin, but dermatologists I spoke to say they’re not their top choice because they’re prone to bacteria if they aren’t dried properly (and are often quite harsh to use). For this reason, I didn’t include any in my list.
- 13/14
How to exfoliate your bikini line
Exfoliate a day preshave or wax, and then wait one to two days after hair removal before exfoliating again. If you’re trying a new product, perform a patch test on your skin for a few days to make sure you don’t have any sort of allergic reaction or irritation to it. Then, clean the bikini line with warm water, apply the exfoliant gently in circular motions, and finish with a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizer to calm and repair the skin. You should pause exfoliating if there are any signs of redness, itching, burning, or irritation.
- 14/14
Meet the experts
- Y. Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City
- Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care in Beverly Hills, California]
- Rachel Westbay, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical in New York City
- Malia Griggs, Glamour commerce editor, who’s tried dozens of hair-removal products and treatments (bikini trimmers, razors, waxes, laser hair removal, hair removal creams, threading, you name it)