Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow — Keep Your Complexion Hair-Free With The Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Remover

When stars like Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Madonna started posing on Instagram with bushy armpits dyed bright turquoise and neon pink, it felt like we’d conquered a new frontier in regards to beauty taboos. Sure, I never even contemplated discarding my razor (much less dyeing any hair that grew out), but that’s besides the point — women were finally addressing the double-standard regarding body hair, how women are expected to keep every inch of their bodies smooth and hair-free while men can roam the Earth looking like Chewbacca clones without raising an eyebrow. But there was still one beauty taboo that few dared to address: facial hair. Then, in a March 2016 interview, Adele mentioned that, while pregnant, she had so much testosterone pumping through her body that she actually grew out a beard, adding that she had jokingly named it Larry. The story went viral and women chimed in about their own pregnancy-related beauty changes, but it didn’t quite lead to the type of dialogue I’d anticipated in terms of women openly discussing how they grappled with their facial hair. Were women still afraid to admit that they waxed, tweezed, or laser treated their chins and upper lips? Why the stigma?

The truth is I’m not quite sure why female facial hair remains a taboo subject, but it does. Think about it: when’s the last time a pop star, fashion model, or actress listed Nad’s facial wax strips or the Silk’n Flash & Go Hair Removal Device as their must-have beauty devices? Can you recall an IG trend that involved women showing off their stray chin hairs? Exactly.

Now, I won’t pretend that I’d ever grow out any hair on my face beyond my brows. In fact, I’m obsessive about making sure my jawline, chin, upper lip, and neck are completely hair-free, but still: the possibility exists that, if I ever stopped primping, I might just have a full-on Magnum P.I. mustache. Yes, ladies, I have facial hair — not just a little blonde peach fuzz on my cheeks, but unruly and stubby curly hairs that pop up on my chin and pesky dark fuzz along my upper lip.

Over the years, I’ve tried every imaginable coping method. As a tween, I shaved my mustache after being teased about it in school, which only led to the hair coming back thicker. Next, I bleached my upper-lip fuzz with Jolen, which only made the hairs more noticeable (particularly when I had a tan). In my twenties, I began to wax the area — first, with at-home hot wax kits and adhesive strips, both of which led to me ripping off layers of skin and screaming in agony, and later at salons and spas, which often resulted in me receiving curious and unwanted stares as I walked down the street with a visibly swollen and beet red patch of skin above my mouth. In my late 20s, I discovered the Olay Smooth Finish Hair Removal Duo and found it was gentle and mild enough to remove unwanted hair without causing much irritation.  Until now, that’s been my go-to hair removal system (which I’ve now complemented with at-home laser hair removal treatments so as to eradicate new facial hair regrowth in the future). And while I don’t have any major complaints about the Olay Smooth Finish system, it’s not without its faults. First, you have to completely cover the area with the barrier cream or you’ll wind up with red and burning patches of skin. Second, the cream takes 10 minutes to work its magic, which seems like an eternity at times. And third, if hairs are stubborn, they might survive the whole session, forcing you to whip out some tweezers. But, until now, it was the best alternative for me.

Then, of course, came the Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Remover ($19.99 at Ulta.com, Target.com, and FinishingTouchFlawless.com), a dermatologist-approved, pocket-sized, battery-operated device that removes facial hair easily and — wait for it — painlessly. When I first read about this gadget, I was decidedly skeptical. How could hair removal be painless? I wondered. After years of having my upper lip waxed, plucked, and threaded, I couldn’t quite comprehend the notion. But, sure enough, after trying the Finishing Touch Flawless, I was mystified. Any fuzz above my lip was gone, and I’d felt nothing at all — not even a slight pinch. Running my finger along my skin, I was amazed at how smooth it felt. Still, I wondered whether my hair would grow back thicker and, in turn, lead to unsightly red bumps. Again, nothing. No redness, no thick stubble, no bumps. Where had this magic device been all my life?! To think of all the waxing mishaps I could’ve avoided if this product had been on the market in the early aughts! Still, it’s here now — and gals, you need this in your life.

The Finishing Touch Flawless is ideal for removing hair that’s 1/4″ in length or less, so it’s ideal for the upper lip, chin, jawline, and even the neck area. To prepare the unit for use, you simply insert a single AA battery inside the tube’s chamber, then remove the sleek white cap to reveal the 18k gold-plated neck and 18k gold-plated grooved head.

Once you’re ready, you can slide the switch located at the center of the unit (the switch has a rose gold-toned vertical bar shape that pops against the pearly white color of the cylindrical device) to the “On” position. At that point, a light will be emitted by the device. This light allows you to get a closer look at any teeny hairs that might otherwise go unseen. Once the device is on, you’ll notice that the round head, which features a grooved perimeter, will begin to oscillate. When pressed flat against the skin, then, the head will remove any unwanted hair.

Ideally, you’ll want to place the device’s head flat against the skin then, using small circular motions, treat the desired area. When your session is complete, you can remove the top cap by twisting it counter-clockwise and lifting it off, then reach for the enclosed brush to sweep off any debris inside the cap and to remove any hair and debris inside the body of the unit (the tube itself). Once clean, you place the cap back onto the device, twist it clockwise until it’s securely in place, and store it until your next hair removal session. Simple enough, right?

Obviously, this device isn’t meant to tackle long hairs nor is it meant to prevent future hair growth, but it’s great for regular upkeep. Also, the unit is about the size of a perfume atomizer, and it’s modern and sleek, so you can even pack it in your purse or weekender bag if you’re heading somewhere for the weekend and fear you might need a quick touch-up.

No more waxing, tweezing, or threading? Need I say more?