So you're a lady-person that shaves your face...

March 13, 2018 7:02 PM

I think I want to get rid of my peach fuzz, any tips? Should I go forward with it? Will my makeup apply like butter?

I'm a person that tends to be aware of most makeup/face routines -even if I don't do them myself so often.

So I'm in my late 20s and I'm getting more into doing stuff for makeup to be easier and more flawless, especially as I have combination skin and prefer matte foundation finishes.

I also take LOTS of self portraits for social media where I play with makeup and do closeup photos. My peach fuzz has become more and more noticeable lately and I think I want to shave it. (Especially in one of the last Insta photos I posted.)

I did just get to the point where I wax my lip - so much better for lipstick and it had gotten dark over the years.

So, tips? Razors you like? Did it make a dramatic different in makeup application? How often do you find you need a touch up? Anything grow in weird?

I am aware of the types of single blade razors to get but if you have specific recommendations I'm all for it. (In the meantime I have one of those pen-style trimmers I use on my neck fuzz that should do the trick initially.)

I will also likely continue to wax my lip as it made the hairs grow in softer and lighter and then there's no stubble.

posted by Crystalinne to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (25 answers total)

Best answer: I got these Shiseido razors on a whim after seeing something about dermablading, and noticing my own threat of a moustache. I love them -- they do a fantastic job of getting the peach fuzz off, makeup goes on so much better, and they exfoliate as well. I like using them to trim up around my eyebrows and along my hairline too.
posted by Fig at 7:10 PM on March 13, 2018 [4 favorites]

The Finishing Touch shaver that’s been all over beauty blogs, As Seen On TV, the end caps at Walgreens—it’s great and worth every penny and I love it. I have actually nicked myself with the little straight blades for that purpose as linked above, although people who love those love ‘em. I do imagine the blade style provides a degree of exfoliation that the coil-style shaver can’t, so you might benefit from trying the blade first.
posted by padraigin at 7:30 PM on March 13, 2018

Best answer: When I started using retin-a for wrinkles and acne, my nearly hairless face started getting a ton of peachfuzz. (Who knew that was a side effect!?!) Anyways, it made my makeup look not great. So one day I just impulsively decided to shave my cheeks and used my normal leg razor. Really it's way way less of a big deal than I had thought. It doesn't grow back weird either, which is good since I only remember to do it maybe once a month. Keep in mind though that I am a fair skinned, light haired person who isn't all that hairy to start with. You might be working with different variables.

In conclusion, just use a regular old razor with a fresh blade and normal face wash.
posted by KMoney at 7:33 PM on March 13, 2018 [3 favorites]

Best answer: I also have the Shiseido razors. They work really well, but I didn't notice a huge difference in makeup application -- not enough to continue shaving my whole face, anyway. Like Fig I still use it around my brows and hairline, and on my upper lip. I was definitely worried about the hair growing back in weird, but everything seems exactly the same as before.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 7:37 PM on March 13, 2018

I think the texture and colour of your hair makes a difference here, as well as your ethnicity. If you have the kind of coarse or dark hair that would make you a poor candidate for laser hair removal, shaving may result in stubble and you may be better off waxing. There is no part of your face you cannot wax.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:12 PM on March 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I started doing this this year with those cheap (CHEAP) eyebrow razors. I find that they last a really long time before going dull - maybe a dozen uses? I shave when i notice fuzz, which is not coarse or thick or anything unpleasant, since shaving it. Maybe once every two weeks, upper lip a little more frequently.

This and finding the right moisturizers are probably the best things I've done for my skin in years. Shaving exfoliates! My foundation does indeed glide on. I've nicked myself once and it was minor. Other than that, no bad results. Recommended!!

For reference, I'm 41, white, with dark hair that was noticeable as peach fuzz, though i wouldn't call it coarse.

I learned the dry shaving method i use from YouTube, like i learn everything else.
posted by jessicapierce at 8:16 PM on March 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

I have a Frieda Khalo type mustache in my natural state and I use an epilator. It stings a little at first but is totally worth it.
posted by selfmedicating at 8:17 PM on March 13, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I just use regular men’s razors and face soap and take care of it in the shower. It’s easy and simple and not a big deal at all. Just go slow and gentle and use your fingers to feel where the hair is.
posted by bleep at 8:20 PM on March 13, 2018 [4 favorites]

Best answer: I use those little purpose-built face things like the ones linked above, maybe once a month. My body/face hair is very very light and thin, only noticeable in the sun or at specific angles even when I do nothing to it, but it still makes me feel self conscious, and the 5 minutes it takes to remove it every few weeks is worth it to me. It's really no big deal.
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 9:01 PM on March 13, 2018

I use a Dollar Shave Club razor but I'm not necessarily too fussy about that; their shave butter, though, is the one thing that's proven to be face-compatible for me in the way of not making me break out because my face is more sensitive than my legs.
posted by Sequence at 9:18 PM on March 13, 2018

> If you have the kind of coarse or dark hair that would make you a poor candidate for laser hair removal

Laser hair removal works REALLY well on dark hair, so if that's you, it may also be worth considering.

I've always been nervous about shaving peach fuzz- I find depilating cremes like Nair work well.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:27 PM on March 13, 2018 [3 favorites]

The smoothest my face has ever been is when I get the whole thing threaded. It lasts longer than using a razor, but the pain level is certainly higher.
posted by fireandthud at 10:40 PM on March 13, 2018 [2 favorites]

I like a Venus razor and a foaming cleanser. It makes your makeup look great.
posted by quince at 11:06 PM on March 13, 2018

I use a Mach 3 or equivalent on my face. I've tried a lot of different razors over the last 20+ years I've been shaving my face, and it's the one I like the best. Not too light, not too heavy. I can't speak to makeup application with vs without hair; I didn't start wearing makeup until I was 26, and I've been shaving since I was 18. I'll often wash my face, then shave the lather off, or do the same with my microdermabrasion, always in the shower for messlessness.
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 12:48 AM on March 14, 2018

Best answer: Seconding little face razors, which not only remove peach fuzz but also nicely exfoliate. I use Tinkle brand (though on review I ought to switch to the Dorcos for the great name).
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 4:31 AM on March 14, 2018

I have a peach fuzz unibrow and I use a regular men's razor for that (carefully) otherwise it does look a bit weird when foundation is on top of it.
posted by mippy at 5:53 AM on March 14, 2018

(can someone recommend a good tutorial for these little facial razors...? I keep trying them but it hurts and scrapes so I am obvs doing it wrong...)
posted by tristeza at 6:50 AM on March 14, 2018

Best answer: I use this little guy

I was/am a huge proponent of shaving off the peach fuzz (and the odd perimenopausal black hair in my case), makes my face look younger & my make up go on smoother.

The blade like face razors were my go to for many years but lead to too many small cuts on my face thanks to cheap amazon knock offs. Tried the above linked shaver and it works like a charm. I have 2 so I can keep one in my bag, the battery lasts for ages (just take the head off & clean it once in a while) and while the advert very carefully doesn't say it shaves, it totally shaves. I can just run it all over my face in small circles, no nicks, no cuts no techniques to learn. Bam no peach fuzz.

Also it's damn near impossible now days to get original Tinkle razors on Amazon & you end up with cheap knock offs that cut you and the lovely shiesido blades are going the same way, if you get the originals they work great too.
posted by wwax at 8:11 AM on March 14, 2018 [1 favorite]

The responses here surprise me! Maybe it's because of my race (I'm brown) but I was trained to never ever ever shave my face (or anywhere else if I could help it). Waxing is where it's at.

Look for wax strips or a pot of meltable wax. I use Sally Hansen. It saves time (waxed hair takes 2-3 weeks to grow back) and it makes hair growth lighter in frequently waxed areas. Shaving causes both my skin and regrown hair to become coarse.
posted by MiraK at 10:15 AM on March 14, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: You've gotten good answers. I just have a data point. I used Tinkle for years. Then Sephora had their house-branded ones and I got those because I'm weak. THEY ARE NOT GOOD. The angle of the handle or blade or something just did not work well for me. So I went back to Tinkle. Silly name, but inexpensive and very useful.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 10:58 AM on March 14, 2018 [2 favorites]

I recently came across a recommendation for this manual epilating spring from someone who, like me, hates stubble. Haven't tried it yet, so can't personally vouch for it.
posted by Lexica at 3:33 PM on March 14, 2018

Oddball answer, but I got a cut-throat shave from the barber one time that included around my face where a beard would normally be and it felt AMAZING. Can't speak to the makeup part, but my face did feel very refreshed.
posted by divabat at 8:03 PM on March 14, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks all so much! So far I used my little electric pen style trimmer to get the main fuzz off because of impatience. I then touched up with a store-brand one marketed for eyebrows. I ordered some with good reviews on Amazon and I'll look into the brands you all recommended too. (Some of the big brands seem to have a counterfeit problem...)

And yes, I have VERY fine hair. Literally peach fuzz. Soft wispy white-ish hairs but makeup would cling to it.

I took a photo of the remnants for my husband. A soft little tuft of fuzz in my hand. He said, "OH MY GOD IT'S SO CUTE!" So apparently my shaved fluffy hair fuzz ball is... dare I say.. cute?

I'll see for makeup tomorrow and what techniques work for my sensitive and combination skin.
posted by Crystalinne at 2:26 AM on March 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

I used my regular leg razor to shave off my peach fuzz once, and broke out HORRIBLY. Zits everywhere I had shaved. It was awful. I switched to those little Tinkle-style ones, though, and they work fine. (I also have pale peach fuzz, along with a few longer, darker hairs that just appear out of nowhere from time to time.)
posted by sarcasticah at 5:19 PM on March 15, 2018

Response by poster: Update for future users. I got the Feather Flamingo folding razors on Amazon (good reviews and less counterfeit problems.) I love them. I shaved for the second time and my face feels super smooth. Some mild itching at first but now my face feels pretty used to it (I had similar irritation as my skin got used to waxing in the past.) Overall I'm excited to see how this goes! Thank you all!
posted by Crystalinne at 2:48 AM on March 31, 2018 [1 favorite]