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Jun 09, 2023

10 Best Exfoliators for Ingrown Hair to Get Smooth And Bump

The best exfoliator for ingrown hair is one that combines the benefits of gentle yet effective exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid along with other nourishing properties.

The best exfoliator for ingrown hair is one that combines the benefits of gentle yet effective exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid along with other nourishing properties. Ingrown hair is a common skin condition that happens when hair, instead of rising out of the follicles, grows back or curls into the skin. It can happen in various areas, such as the bikini area, underarms, or legs. It is mostly a result of improper hair removal techniques like shaving or waxing. When hair gets trapped under the skin, it can lead to the formation of small, rough bumps, inflammation, and redness. If these are not treated properly, the ingrown hair can cause discomfort, itching, and even infections. Exfoliation plays a crucial role in treating and preventing ingrown hair. It removes dead skin cells and unclogs the hair follicles, thereby reducing their growth and chances of recurrence. It will also help make the skin feel much smoother. Our team did a lot of research and found these amazing exfoliators that work wonders to treat razor bumps.

Apart from exfoliating, the 4-in-1 formula of this Dead Sea Salt Body Scrub also cleanses, nourishes, and moisturizes your skin, leaving it looking silky, soft, and radiantly healthy. The fine grains of 100% pure Dead Sea salt gently but powerfully remove dead cells while also working on ingrown hair. Skin-loving organic jojoba, argan, and sweet almond oils work side-by-side to keep your skin smooth. It is enriched with geranium, carrot seed essential oils, vitamin E, and avocado oil. The light and refreshing aroma of lemongrass will calm and soothe your senses.

When your concern areas are specifically your bikini bumps and ingrown hair, this bikini bump exfoliator from completely bare is the solution for both. If you have been shaving the bikini area, this works exceptionally well to prevent burns and bumps. With the dynamic combination of salicylic acid and glycolic acid, these convenient pre-moistened pads work effectively to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and promote cell regeneration, resulting in incredibly smooth, radiant, and healthy skin. Witch hazel, a natural and gentle astringent, provides cleansing benefits and helps balance skin tone (1).

This leave-on ingrown hair exfoliator from Paula's Choice with 2% BHA (commonly known as salicylic acid) gently exfoliates the built-up layers of dead skin to reveal smoother, softer, and bump-free skin hiding underneath. It is infused with chamomile extract, green tea, and willow herb, which are supposed to soothe sensitivity, redness, and irritation (. The exfoliator opens stubbornly clogged pores and hard bumps and visibly improves sun damage. It also contains vitamin E, which is known to replenish your skin and protect it against environmental damage.

This pre and post-skin smoothing exfoliator from GiGi combat both ingrown hairs and razor burns. With salicylic acid as one of the main ingredients, this scrub for ingrown hair removes dead skin cells and works to clean pores. It also serves as an anti-inflammatory agent, bringing relief to irritated skin. Enriched with various other ingredients like rice bran wax, Chamomile, willow bark, algae extract, and sea buckthorn, the exfoliator prevents the formation of white and blackheads, reduces excess oil, hydrates, soothes, and allows the skin to retain moisture. This scrub is suitable for all skin types and can be used by people with sensitive and easily irritated skin.

This non-messy and super easy-to-use exfoliating solution from First Aid Beauty tackles razor burns, prevents ingrown hairs, and soothes skin irritation. With a specially formulated blend of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, witch hazel, glycerin, and some natural leaf extracts like aloe vera, these pads work wonders in gently exfoliating the skin, sloughing away dead skin cells, and preventing new ingrown hairs from popping up. They also provide relief from redness and inflammation, thereby leaving behind visibly smoother and clearer skin. These are free from any harmful and harsh chemicals, artificial colors, alcohol, unnatural fragrance, sulfates, etc., which makes them suitable to be used on all skin types.

As a true multi-tasker, this solution from Jack Black can help with everything – from ingrown hairs to razor bumps, burns, and body acne. The combination of salicylic acid and lactic acid gently exfoliates the top layer of dead skin cells, thereby releasing the skin-trapped curly hair that can turn out to be ingrown hairs or bumps (2). It provides hydration and soothing properties to safeguard the skin against dryness and irritation. Ingredients like green tea extract, glycerin, chamomile flower extract, aloe vera, etc. are known to calm and moisturize your skin. This exfoliator dissolves pore-clogging facial oils that can cause blackheads and acne.

This body scrub from Vigority makes it simple to handle ingrown hairs and body bumps. With its special blend of exfoliating ingredients, this body scrub gently buffs away dead skin cells, clears out those pesky clogged pores, and reveals a healthier and more vibrant skin surface. The walnut shell powder promises to help in reducing redness and bumps, while jojoba seed oil and shea butter moisturize and improve dry and dehydrated skin. This ingrown hair body scrub is an all-in-one solution for ingrown hair, razor bumps, strawberry leg treatment, and keratosis pilaris treatment. Plus, the delightful strawberry scent adds a little extra sweetness to your shower routine. It's like a spa treatment right in your own bathroom!

When it comes to reducing razor bumps, ingrown hair, and uneven skin tone, this bump eraser scrub from AZANI saves the day. It is a little gem that is packed with powerful ingredients like 5% glycolic acid and 5% lactic acid and works on dead skin, ingrown hair, razor bumps, and any annoying rough patches. It cleans pores from the inside, thereby reducing the occurrence of ingrown body hair. It hydrates and nourishes your skin, reduces redness, deals with dry patches, and treats the skin to be lighter, smoother, and healthier. Enriched with green tea and walnuts, it gently exfoliates and reduces the chances of the appearance of ingrown hair while also reducing inflammation and soothing irritated skin.

The Bump Eraser Body Scrub from Lupure is specifically designed for people who are seeking relief from ingrown hair, effective exfoliation, and smoother, healthier-looking skin. Crafted with 10% Lactic Acid, this scrub helps to gently exfoliate old dead skin cells, clean the pores, and promote blood flow. It works to remove buildup, unclog pores, and prevent the formation of ingrown hairs. It is enriched with natural ingredients like aloe leaf extract, and shea butter. The body scrub nourishes and hydrates the skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and revitalized. It also helps soothe irritated skin, reduce redness, and bring relief from tiny bumps.

Power-packed with rich antioxidants and natural ingredients, this ingrown hair scrub from PROOT is formulated to target specific concerns like acne, cellulite, ingrown hair, bikini lines, and razor bumps. It is infused with various natural ingredients such as rosemary, centella asiatica, etc., which work together to give the skin a clearer and smoother look. Its unique formula effectively removes dead skin cells on the outer layer and penetrates deep into your skin to open pores and get rid of ingrown hair. It also contains essential oils that help reduce blemishes and dark spots. The scrub is concentrated with AHA and BHA complexes to clear skin texture and protect from inflammation.

The right exfoliator will surely help you treat and prevent ingrown hair. Let’s find out what factors you must consider before making a purchase.

Gentle Yet Effective Ingredients:

The most important thing to look for in an exfoliator is the ingredients. The products must contain gentle yet effective ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid. These ingredients help to remove dead skin cells, thereby opening clogged pores (3) (4). You must also check that the exfoliator does not contain any harsh substances, chemicals like dye, parabens, sulfates, etc. that could be potentially harmful to your skin.

Nourishing Formulation:

The exfoliator must be infused or formulated with nourishing ingredients. These essential oils and plant extracts may help keep the skin hydrated and reduce irritation. These ingredients also promote overall skin health and maintain a smooth complexion.

Non-abrasive Texture:

It is important that the exfoliator is not very abrasive. This ensures that the exfoliation process is gentle on the skin, minimizing the risk of any further aggravation to the already irritated skin. The product must offer a balance between effective exfoliation and a skin-friendly texture.

Suitable for Your Skin Type:

To get the desired results, consider your skin type and specific needs when choosing an exfoliator. Whether you have dry, oily, sensitive, or combination skin, selecting one suitable for your skin type will ensure that all your concerns are effectively addressed and you get smooth and healthy skin.

Target Area And Usage

Always consider the product's usage when selecting the exfoliator. While the above factors will ensure that you get a good exfoliator if you want to use the product specifically for ingrown hair in the bikini area, pick a product that is suitable for sensitive skin. You can easily find a specifically designed ingrown hair scrub for the pubic area to avoid any potential redness, bumps, or irritation.

Now that you know about the best products on the market and how to effectively select the perfect exfoliator, we will share some tips on how to remove ingrown hair.

The following tips will help you remove ingrown hair:

Gentle Exfoliation: Regularly exfoliate the affected area using a gentle scrub or exfoliating mitt. This will remove dead skin cells, loosen the hair, and unclog the pores.

Warm Compress: Apply a warm compress to the affected area. This will provide relief to the irritated area and help calm the skin and any inflammation.

Stop Hair Removal: Avoid further hair removal through any methods, including tweezing, waxing, or shaving the affected area until the ingrown hair has healed. This will let the hair grow naturally and reduce the risk of additional ingrown hair.

Seek Professional Help: If ingrown hairs persist, become painful, or show signs of infection, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist, who will provide medical treatments and advice as per your specific condition.

It is also important to ensure that the ingredients of the exfoliator meet your preferences and requirements and can effectively target and prevent ingrown hair. Find out about some of the important ones.

Salicylic Acid: This is one of the main ingredients in any gentle exfoliator, it helps in exfoliation, unclogging pores, and reducing inflammation (3).

Glycolic Acid: It promotes cell regeneration and prevents hair from getting trapped under the outer layer of the skin, thereby reducing the chances of the reoccurrence of ingrown hair (4).

Tea Tree Oil: With its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, tea tree oil may help soothe the skin, reduce redness, and prevent skin infections associated with ingrown hair (5).

Aloe Vera: This natural ingredient has soothing and moisturizing properties that can alleviate irritation and promote healing of the skin affected by ingrown hair (6).

Willow Bark Extract: Derived from the willow tree, this extract contains salicylates that provide gentle exfoliation and help unclog hair follicles (2).

By choosing exfoliators with these ingredients, you can effectively address ingrown hair concerns and promote smoother, healthier-looking skin.

Ingrown hair can cause pain, itching, and unsightly bumps on the skin. They may also cause inflammation and infection and need to be treated as soon as they appear. That is where the best exfoliators for ingrown hair come in. Exfoliating on a regular basis works effectively to deal with these issues. The exfoliator needs to be selected considering your specific needs and target areas. Infused with essential oils and active ingredients like salicylic acid and glycolic acid, exfoliators open and unclog pores, calm the skin, and also prevent the reappearance of ingrown hair. The active ingredients in them also help moisturize and calm irritated skin. Consider all the factors mentioned above to select the best one that is suitable for your skin and the target area.

Anoushka is a certified skincare expert and is a mass media (journalism) graduate from Mumbai University. As an experienced writer, she is an advocate of sustainability in skincare, haircare, fashion, and lifestyle. She swears by this list of exfoliators for ingrown hair – they slough off dead skin cells from the skin’s surface and are the key to lowering the risk of ingrown hairs. You can start by using them one or two times a week and slowly increase the frequency as your skin gets used to them

Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

1. Efficacy of a twice-daily, 3-step, over-the-counter skincare regimen for the treatment of acne vulgaris

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5221538/

2. Willow bark extract--effects and effectiveness

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12244878/

3. Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554394/

4. Glycolic acid adjusted to pH 4 stimulates collagen production and epidermal renewal ---

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7891644/

5. Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/

6. ALOE VERA: A SHORT REVIEW

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/

Anoushka is certified in Professional Skincare and is a Mass Media (Journalism) graduate from Mumbai University. As a More

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