Epilators are one method of hair removal that has become more popular with men and women across the UK. Whether it be in or out of the shower, the epilator is a modern go-to hair removal tool. Epilators aren't just for the legs; many people use them for the face, underarms, as well as bikini area for a quick and flawless finish.
However, because epilators can seem like a terrifying concept, we've prepared this buying guide to show you the most important points to think about. After that, we will introduce the best epilators to buy on Amazon, Argos and Boots from brands such as Braun, Panasonic, and Phillips. Moreover, we have partnered with Makeup Artist Marie Dancer for reviewing and fact-checking the article so that we can deliver the best information.
Last updated 27/03/2024
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Table of Contents
- The Benefits of An Epilator
- How to Choose an Epilator in the UK
- 1Decide Where Your Epilator Will Be Used
- 2If You Like To Shave While Wet, Make Sure To Pick Up A Water-Safe Epilator
- 3Features That May Improve Your Experience
- 10 Best Epilators in the UK
- No. 2Braun | Silk-Épil 9 SkinSpa SensoSmart Wet and Dry Epilator|9-980
- No. 3Philips | Satinelle Prestige Epilator |BRE651/00
- 5 more products
- About Specialist Fact-Checked Articles
Fact-Checked & Approved by Makeup Artist Marie Dancer
As a professional makeup artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK, working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all of her clients, she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.
Find out more about Marie and what are her favourite makeup products are through her Instagram! She even shares some industry tips on makeup application too. And if you're interested in getting your makeup done by Marie, you can contact her via her email found at the top of her page.
The Benefits of An Epilator
An epilator is a hand-held appliance that removes hair at the root with a rapidly rotatingset of tweezers. Because hair is removed at the root, like waxing, you will be left with hair-free legs for longer than after shaving, and you won't grow any annoying stubble afterwards. With repeated use, you may even grow less body hair over time!
While there are so many benefits, the main drawback is - you guessed it - the pain. However, some say that the more you use the epilator the less pain you feel, or that, while your skin will hurt at the start, your skin will get used to the pain as you epilate further.
How to Choose an Epilator in the UK
Key Points to Consider
- Select an Epilator Based On Where You Will Use It
- Opt for A Water-Safe Epilatorfor Shower Use
- Consider Additional Features for Further Convenience
1
Decide Where Your Epilator Will Be Used
Wide Head Epilators Are Great for Large Areas Like the Legs
If you are looking for an epilator to tackle large areas, such as your arms or legs, a classic style epilator will work best for you. Thanks to the wide head, you will be able to quickly and efficiently cover a great deal of surface area in a short time.
For Concentrated Areas Smaller Heads Work Best On Delicate Areas
Epilators with smaller heads work great for delicate areas of the body including the pubic area, the face, or underarm. With a smaller head, what you may lose in speed, you gain in control. The process of hair removal isn't always something to write home about, so it pays to invest in the correct epilator to minimise the discomfort that you may feel.
Inter-Changeable Designs Work Best for Those Who Want Convenience
Some epilators come with multiple head attachments, which means they are great for people who like a one-size-fits-all approach to hair removal. If you are often on the move, either for travel or work, we think that an inter-changeable design will fit you best.
Though, for those who like to keep their epilators strictly for one place, you may not enjoy the swapping of heads - or the accidental incorrect use.Some epilator kits also come with a trimmer head attachment, so if you just want to touch up regrowth areas you've previously epilated you can trim back the hair instead of removing it completely.
For even more options if you aren't sure what to commit to why not check out 10 Best Lady Shavers?
2
If You Like To Shave While Wet, Make Sure To Pick Up A Water-Safe Epilator
For those who like to shave while in the shower or bath, we highly recommend you invest in a ‘wet & dry’ epilator, which can be used both on wet and dry skin. Being able to use an epilator as you shower means that you are saving time and can easily fit an additional step into your daily routine. It is also considered to be less painful than dry epilating.
A wet & dry epilator is the perfect choice for those who are used to wet shaving in the shower or bath. This makes it convenient as you complete two tasks at once. Wet epilating is convenient and less painful, although the process can be slower as some hairs may be missed so need multiple goes.
If you’re using an epilator for the first time or have sensitive skin, wet epilating would be a good entry point, especially if you’re not used to feeling pain during hair removal such as regular waxing. However, they can be a bit more expensive than regular epilators.
If you feel that a wet shave is where your heart lies, check out our 10 Best Razors for Women.
3
Features That May Improve Your Experience
Choose an Epilator Between 8 to 48 Tweezers, More Tweezers Mean Efficient Removal
Make sure that you check how many tweezers you would like in an epilator before you choose with us. The more tweezers an epilator has, the quicker all your hairs will be plucked. While great for those who like a fast removal, it will be more painful.
Contrastingly, the pain won't last for as long compared to an epilator with fewer tweezers, so it's up to you to determine which is best for you. To give you an idea of what to look for, the lowest amount of tweezers an epilator has on our list is 8 and the highest is 48.
The number of tweezers will also depend on the area you want to use it on. For large surface areas with more hair to extract, a higher number of tweezers will be best for the job. Some epilators have tweezers that rotate in opposite directions simultaneously for the ultimate quick and efficient removal.
A Light Helps For Precision and Speed Settings Are Great for First Timers
Some epilators have two different speeds to choose from - a slow speed and a fast speed. The slow speed will be great for first timers, as well as sensitive areas where you have to be a bit gentler. The fast setting is good for quicker, efficient hair removal in not-so-sensitive areas that you want to deal with quickly, such as the legs.
You may also want to find an epilator that has a light setting that you can switch on and off. The light setting isn't for using the epilator in the dark but will light up the pathas you epilate, showing any small, hard-to-see hairs that you may miss regularly.
The light is also perfect for those harder to reach places, such as the back of the legs, allowing you to see exactly where you're placing the tool.
Epilators That Can Contour With the Skin Provide Superior Epilation
Investing in a moveable head means that your epilator can provide easier glides as you move up and down your legs or arms. The skin naturally has curves, dips and bumps so using an epilator that will navigate these contours seamlessly mean you’ll achieve the best hair removal.
A moveable head will glide across the skin, conforming to all areas so you won’t need to worry about strays for a quicker experience. If you want to use an epilator on the face, look for the correct attachment as this will be designed to fit in all the nooks and cranny’s verses just a standard shape.
If safety means a lot to you, how about having a quick look at our 10 Best Safety Razors?
Epilators With Low Maintenance Are Perfect for Frequent Travellers
If you are a frequent flyer or find yourself having to epilate more than you would like, we recommend investing in an easy-to-clean and low maintenance epilator. While some epilators work luxuriously with additional features galore, sometimes there is nothing better than an appliance that can just function for all the times you need it.
Look out for cleaning brushes included for maintaining your epilator, it's important to remove all hairs and dead skin which can build up causing bacteria. Cordless options are ideal if you're not sure where plugs will be located during travel, remember to charge it or bring the cable so you're ready to go at all times.
To avoid rust and damage on a wet epilator, make sure you allow it to dry completely before packing it away!
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10 Best Epilators in the UK
mybest UK product recommendations are reviewed and curated by our writers in-house. We focus on in-depth research and analysis of product reviews to carefully select the best products available for the best prices.
Popularity
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Panasonic Wet & Dry Cordless Epilator |ES-ED93 | An All-in-One Product With Speedy, Effortless Results | ||
2 | Braun Silk-Épil 9 SkinSpa SensoSmart Wet and Dry Epilator|9-980 | A Multipurpose Device With Anti-Pressure Technology | ||
3 | Philips Satinelle Prestige Epilator |BRE651/00 | An Ergonomic Epilator With Unique Ceramic Discs for Better Grip | ||
4 | Braun Silk-épil 9 Wet & Dry Epilator|9-561 | A Wet & Dry Epilator for the Whole Body | ||
5 | Panasonic Wet & Dry Cordless Epilator With 4 attachments|ES-ED53 | Wet or Dry All Round Epilation With All the Features | ||
6 | Remington 3-in-1 Epilator |EP7300 | 40 Tweezers for a Smooth Finish Every Time | ||
7 | Braun FaceSpa Pro Facial Epilator |911 | Epilation, Cleansing, and Toning for the Face | ||
8 | Remington Smooth & Silky 7-in-1 Epilator|EP7700 | A 7-in-1 Epilator for a Bargain Price | ||
9 | Philips Satinelle Essential|BRE285/00 | A Basic Epilator With a Handy Massage Cap | ||
10 | Braun Silk-épil 1 | Cheap and Cheerful Epilator That Gets the Job Done |
If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1
PanasonicWet & Dry Cordless Epilator | ES-ED93
Reference price
£80.00
Mid
An All-in-One Product With Speedy, Effortless Results
This beautiful-looking wet & dry epilator by Panasonic is all you will need to epilate your whole body from head-to-toe, shave any areas that need shaving, and even exfoliate your feet! The '60˚ flexible head' follows the contours of your skin to ensure great results in a low amount of time.
With 48 tweezers, it has the most tweezers on this list. Reviewers rave about the speed at which hair is removed and how long the product lasts. A fantastic investment that you will not regret!
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No.2
Braun Silk-Épil 9 SkinSpa SensoSmart Wet and Dry Epilator | 9-980
Source:argos.co.uk
Reference price
£149.99
High Mid
Reference price
£149.99
High Mid
A Multipurpose Device With Anti-Pressure Technology
Braun has created this ingenious wet & dry epilator that uses SensoSmart technology to make sure that you are always using the right amount of pressure for optimal hair removal, by displaying a red light when you push too hard.
It also contains exfoliation brushes to help prevent ingrown hairs, as well as a shaver head and bikini trimmer to help leave your whole body beautifully hair-free. It might be a bit too pricey for epilator newbies, so we recommend it to those who already know that they like epilators and want to commit for the long term.
No.3
Philips Satinelle Prestige Epilator | BRE651/00
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£139.99
High Mid
Reference price
£139.99
High Mid
An Ergonomic Epilator With Unique Ceramic Discs for Better Grip
With its extra-wide epilation head, this epilator is sure to remove all those hard-to-reach hairs. Instead of the typical stainless-steel tweezers, it uses ceramic discs which are hypoallergenic, rust-proof, and will be able to grasp fine hairs too.
A plethora of additional caps means that this epilator will be able to be used for the whole body, and a handy massager will help you to relax after the pain of epilating. It's expensive, but would be a good choice for seasoned epilator-users who want something a bit fancier.
No.4
BraunSilk-épil 9 Wet & Dry Epilator | 9-561
Source:amazon.co.uk
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£164.99
High Mid
Reference price
A Wet & Dry Epilator for the Whole Body
Truly for use on the whole body, Braun has generously given this epilator 6 extra attachments. These include a shaver head and trimmer for shaving, and a facial cap that narrows the surface area for use on sensitive areas.
A whopping 40 tweezers mean that it will perform quickly and efficiently, and being wet & dry, it can be used in the shower or bath too, reducing the amount of pain. Fantastic for those who want an all-purpose epilator!
No.5
PanasonicWet & Dry Cordless Epilator With 4 attachments | ES-ED53
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£59.01
Mid
Reference price
£59.01
Mid
Wet or Dry All Round Epilation With All the Features
This Panasonic epilator is great for those who are looking for a relatively priced option with modern specs, including 48 tweezers - the joint highest amount on our list.
With an LED light, a moveable head, and 4 caps, this epilator is great for anywhere on the body, especiallyfor first-timers and epilator-pros alike.
Reference price
£31.95
Low
40 Tweezers for a Smooth Finish Every Time
This smooth and silky 3-in-1 epilator offers great value for money! It also can be used either dry or wet in the bath or shower since the cord is detachable. And with 40 tweezers, it is as efficient as other more expensive epilators despite being at a bargain price!
On the other hand, while many reviewers love the low price and the epilator's ability to remove short hairs, others claim that it is more painful than more expensive options and doesn't have as nice a finish. But if you are after something cheap, simple, and efficient, this might be the one for you.
No.7
Braun FaceSpa Pro Facial Epilator | 911
Reference price
£76.95
Mid
Reference price
£76.95
Mid
Epilation, Cleansing, and Toning for the Face
FaceSpa Pro by Braun has 3 handy heads to leave your face hairless, cleansed, and moisturised. The mini epilation head is perfect for removing hair from places such as the brow and upper lip, so you don't have to worry about any unsightly hairs any longer.
A facial cleansing brush will help you clean your pores, while a micro-vibration head can be used to gently apply serum or cream. Although just for use on the face, this set is sure to bring out your confidence for that important date, interview, or just day-to-day life.
Reference price
£57.62
Mid
A 7-in-1 Epilator for a Bargain Price
Considering that this Remington epilator is wet & dry, has 40 tweezers, and has as many extra caps as some of the pricier options on this list, at under £60 it's a bargain! However, a few reviewers have said that it's noisier than some other models and can pinch at the skin if not careful - so you get what you pay for in terms of the quality.
On the other hand, many reviewers say that it works like a dream, so if you want an epilator with all the extras but can't afford something expensive, this is the one for you.
Reference price
£57.79
Mid
A Basic Epilator With a Handy Massage Cap
This pretty pink epilator by Philips is a corded, compact epilator that's great for those who just want something nice and simple that will get the job done.
While this particular epilator doesn't have any fancy features, and only has 20 tweezers so won't work as quickly as other options on this list, it comes with a massage cap which will reduce the amount of pain, giving you a more pleasant hair removal experience.
Cheap and Cheerful Epilator That Gets the Job Done
A relatively cheap and convenient option, this one is for those who aren't interested in paying extra for something fancy. It's corded, so can't be used wet, and with only 20 tweezers it's the least-efficient epilator we've chosen.
Although quite basic, it does have an added underarm cap to help you achieve clean, beautiful pits - if you're brave enough. Some have complained that it's also a bit louder than other epilators.
Written and researched by Brigid Bernard
About Specialist Fact-Checked Articles
Makeup Artist
Marie Dancer
We partner with specialists across various fields to proof-read our buying guides to deliver accurate and reliable information. Our specialists do not endorse any products that we recommend.
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Top 5 Epilators
No. 1: Panasonic|Wet & Dry Cordless Epilator |ES-ED93
No. 2: Braun |Silk-Épil 9 SkinSpa SensoSmart Wet and Dry Epilator|9-980
No. 3: Philips |Satinelle Prestige Epilator |BRE651/00
No. 4: Braun|Silk-épil 9 Wet & Dry Epilator|9-561
No. 5: Panasonic|Wet & Dry Cordless Epilator With 4 attachments|ES-ED53
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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