Beauty tip

Get a Perfect Bikini Line

You Don't Have to Suffer (So Much) Anymore
A new crop of OTC skin-numbing topical creams and sprays containing lidocaine and benzocaine can take the sting out of wax jobs. (Previously, you needed a prescription to get your hands on them for waxing.) You should apply one 15 to 20 minutes before you're ready to rip — or be ripped. And while it won't leave you as numb as, say, a shot of novocaine, it will significantly reduce the ouch factor. Try GiGi Anesthetic Numbing Spray, $12, and LMX 4%, $47.

Lasers Are Now for Everyone
It used to be that unless you had fair skin and dark hair, you risked scarring and pigmentation problems or, at the very least, poor results from laser hair removal. But lasers like YAG and EpiLight work better on a broader range of complexions and hair hues, says Teresa Battaglia, co-owner of the New York Center for Hair Removal and Skin Rejuvenation. And yes, time with beam machines is still expensive (averaging around $200 a session), but 12 salon waxes a year at $30 each equals $360, which is almost two laser sessions. Plus, just one or two treatments can yield impressive results.

Hair Inhibitors Are Flooding the Market
Last year, soy was the word in the hair inhibitor market. Now people are buzzing about an ingredient called capislow. A slew of new products contain this plant extract, which reduces hair regrowth by slowing down the metabolic activity involved in the hair's anagen growth process. Clinical studies found that it's on par with the results from soy lotions. It won't make you totally hairless, but if applied twice a day for a month, you'll be able to shave or wax less often. New products that contain it: Completely Bare Completely Smooth, $80, and Noxzema Soothe and Smooth 3-in-1 Bikini Area Relief, $6.

Beauty Alert
Going for a superbare Brazilian effect? Steer clear of depilatory creams, says Ava Shamban, an L.A. dermatologist. "They're fine for the outer edges of your bikini line but can give the sensitive inner areas a chemical burn."

If You Decide to Shave


Make sure your blade is sharp and clean. We like the new crop of high-performance tools: Gillette Venus Vibrance razor, $10, stimulates your hair to stand up (like goose bumps) so the blade slices the hair extra close to your skin. Also, Noxzema 4-Blade System Razor, $6, and Schick Quattro, $9, have four blades that leave not a single hair behind.

Try a transparent shaving gel. They allow you to see clearly where you're going. Some options: King of Shaves AlphaGel, $6, and Tend Skin Air Shave Gel, $16.
To reduce irritation, shave in the direction of hair growth. It's also wise to defuzz at the end of your shower so that the steam has softened your hair and skin, says Will King, founder of King of Shaves.

Prevent razor rash by applying a toner with witch hazel or rosemary. Try C.O. Bigelow Dr. Galen Herbal Skin Tonic, $5. If you still get bumps, try the antibiotic ointment Neosporin; your follicles could be infected.

If You Decide to Wax


Doing an at-home bikini wax? Make sure your hair is at least one-quarter-inch long before you start.

Mist on an OTC number or pop an ibuprofen 20 minutes before you start, to minimize the pain. Veet Comfort Waxing Kit, $9, comes with a spray.

Sprinkle on baby powder to remove moisture so the wax adheres to the hair, not your skin, says Iwona Kwansiak, head aesthetician at the Repêchage Spa de Beauté NYC.
Want to go for a Brazilian-style look? Choose a hard wax formula. (It'll say so on the box.) It grabs coarse hair best. Try Sally Hansen All-Over Wax Kit, $10.
After the deed is done, disinfect the area with hydrogen peroxide or an alcohol-free astringent, then ease irritation with an aloe-rich lotion like Clinique Aloe Body Balm, $16.50.

If you're going to a salon or spa, find one that incorporates an anesthetic. Completely Bare in NYC offers a service called Relax Wax in which they numb your skin with LMX 4%.

Down-There Dos
Want to give your guy a racy surprise? Sculpt your nether regions into a saucy shape, like a lightning bolt, a heart, or even his initials. To execute: Buy a bikini-shaping kit that contains stencils. We like Hair Care Down There The Ultimate Shaving Kit, $89, and Surgi-Wax Brazilian Waxing System, $8. Or use a bright lip liner to draw your shape, then wax or shave around it.

Bikini Bumps Begone!
Don't let ugly ingrowns ruin an otherwise stellar bikini line. Here's how to banish them for good:

Ingrown hairs are the bane of every girl's bikini line. These painful red pumps occur when a hair coils up under the skin while it's growing back after you've shaved or waxed, causing a zitlike mound, says Dr. Shamban. To purge the hair from the bump: Exfoliate using a gentle slougher, like Derma-New Crystal Resurfacing Soap, $20 — it will eventually whisk away the skin that's trapping the hair, says Mona Sappenfield, owner of Mona's Spa and Laser Center in Memphis. You can also spot treat it with zit cream. Resist the urge to perform DIY surgery; the bump could get infected.

Salon Visits and STDs?
Q: Can I catch crabs, herpes, or any other icky infection if I get waxed in a salon?
A: You cannot contract any STDs, since they are the result of skin-to-skin contact or an exchange of bodily fluids, says David Kriegel, an NYC dermatologist. But you should be cautious of staph bacteria, which can thrive in a vat of wax that's not hot enough. Find a salon that keeps their wax at 99 to 101 degrees and either uses a new pot of wax per session or doesn't allow double-dipping, says Shobha Tummala, owner of the Shobha salons in NYC.