That first wax of summer can be shock to the system, not to mention to your skin. And if you’re anything like us, you’ve probably left it until the last minute to book your appointment. What to do? Avoid the telltale signs of a freshly waxed pair of legs or bikini line by arming yourself with a few skin-healing heroes. Tried and tested by some of our favourite therapists, this little lot reduce redness, calm rashes, soothe stressed, sore skin and stop ingrown hairs in their tracks. They could be the antidote to all your hair removal woes…
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1 Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream, £2.99
Best for: redness
If this product can calm even the most inflamed, nappy rash prone baby's bottom then just imagine what it can do for your post-wax redness? Yes, you'll find this product in the babycare section of all highstreet pharmacies and supermarkets but it's not just mums who load up on it. Ask any regular waxer and they'll rave about it's ability to take the heat out of angry, just-waxed skin. The secret lies in a particulalry zinc-rich formula and a shot of hypoallergenic lanolin for good measure.
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2 Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturiser Aloe Soothe
Best for: dehydrated skin
If your skin is prone to dryness, waxing can tip it over the edge into dehydration territory. Pop this handy spray moisturiser into your bag and load up on hydration as often as you can throughout the day. The spray is easy to apply and works from any angle – so great on the tube/bus or even on the hoof. With soothing aloe vera to help calm any reddness, it's a brilliant and budget friendly way to kill two birds with one stone. Our go-to 'waxperts' also tell us that it gives a luxurious sheen to legs.
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3 La Roche Posay Citaplast Soothing Repairing Balm, £16
Best for: sore, irritated skin
If you're a sensitive sort you need this product in your life pronto. Waxing has a habit of messing with the skin's natural barrier which, if you're prone to sensitivity can be a real pain, literally. The Vitamin B5 in this gem of a product will help to heal, repair and strengthen the skin's natural barrier. It also has an anti-bacerial action to prevent broken skin from potential infection. Apply it all over or target specific areas after waxing.
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4 Decleor Aroma Epil Post Wax Double Action Gel, £15
Best for: serial waxers
If there's one product every regular waxer should have in their bathroom cabinet it's this; Decleor Aroma Epil Post Wax Double Action Gel is a therapist-approved skin soother and you'll find it in treatment rooms all over the country. Why? Unlike the other SOS products within this edit, think of this as a way to make each wax last longer, as well as nourishing your skin. Used everyday, it slows down hair growth allowing you to leave it longer and longer between waxes.
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5 Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads, £26.50
Best for: ingrown hairs
If you suffer from ingrown hairs we don't need to tell you how annoying they can be. One of the major side effects of waxing, in grown hairs form when the hair grows back incorrectly. It causes ugly, red bumps that can, if left to their own devices, become infected. Nice. Dealing with them is tricky so best to get in before they have chance to pop up with these bad boys. Each Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pad is soaked with witch hazel, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and soothing lavender, all of which exfoliates the skin and prevents in grown hairs.