Hair removal can often be tedious, painful, or come with the hassle of expensive salon visits. Many epilators promise smooth skin without irritation, but in reality, many models fail to deliver, causing skin irritation or discomfort during use.
That's why we decided to personally test the most popular epilators to find out which models truly provide long-lasting smooth skin—without unnecessary pain or complications.
We tested 24 epilators, including models from Braun, Philips, Panasonic, EpiLuxe, and Remington. Our top 5 picks were evaluated based on the following criteria:
We ranked the top 5 based on the following:
Effectiveness & Long-Lasting Results
A high-quality epilator should remove hair thoroughly and leave skin smooth for weeks. Models that required daily or overly frequent use did not make our top list.
Comfort & Skin Friendliness
Some epilators can be too harsh or aggressive, leading to redness and irritation. We tested each model on different skin types to find the ones that offered the most comfortable experience.
Versatility & Attachments
A good epilator should be suitable for various body areas—from legs and underarms to the bikini line and face. We prioritized models with interchangeable attachments for gentle and precise hair removal.
Battery Life & Ease of Use
An efficient epilator shouldn't need to be charged after every use. We tested battery performance and favored cordless models with long-lasting operation.
After three weeks of intensive testing and analysis, we present the top 5 epilators that truly live up to their promises.
Mivo EpiLuxe is by far our favorite choice on the market.
The first thing that makes it stand out is EpiPlus+ technology with smart sensors for optimal skin contact that doesn't cause any irritations or inflammation. Also, it removes the hair from the root which provides far longer results than many other skin removal treatments.
With 2 adjustable speed levels both made specifically for thick and thinner hair, you can safely use it on any body or facial area.
It's suitable for any skin type, even the most sensitive ones.
No matter your skin type or if you're looking to remove hair around your chin, above your lips, on bikini area, or legs – it will do the job efficiently.
Another thing worth mentioning is 5 attachable heads all made for different purposes. Unlike other epilators that only have one head and claim to be "multifunctional", Mivo EpiLuxe really keeps their promises while including it in your order.
It has an IPX4 waterproof rating.
This means you can use it when wet, so you can even use it in the shower for the most gentle and smooth operation.
Without any doubt, Mivo EpiLuxe deserved #1 place for this year.
Mivo EpiLuxe even offers a 1-year warranty. If you have any kind of concerns, their friendly customer support team will assist you.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
Mivo EpiLuxe is competitively priced for a market leading epilator with an innovative smart technology and adjustable intensity levels. Take advantage of this limited time discount while supplies last. Mivo offers a 1-year warranty and free shipping. EpiLuxe was unanimously voted the best epilator of 2026.
Braun Epilator Silk-épil 9 Epilator earned the second ranking in the epilator test for good reason: It received perfect scores for tweezing hair in one pass, pulling hair without breaking it, not hurting skin, being easy to clean and leaving skin hair-free for at least one week. But the real kicker: the unique flexible head allows you to grab every little hair and reach every hard-to-reach spot. While it's pricey, this all-in-one epilator has proven worth the long-term investment. "This epilator makes quick work of nabbing every last hair — even super short or super fine ones — from legs, underarms, bikini and beyond," "The operation is smooth and snag-free and never pinches, and the light is super useful for uncovering hidden or fine hairs. I love that it comes with so many attachment options, but I primarily stick with the classic head for regular maintenance to keep skin smooth and hair-free. I use it daily!"
Aral also loves this epilator and notes that it's her favorite pick for the bikini area: "The flexible rounded head of this epilator fits perfectly along the bikini line and around the curvatures down there." She advises beginners to use it with the attachment with the small oval window first, as this only exposes a fraction of the entire number of tweezers and the hair is not yanked all at once, making it less painful per pass. "Remember to pull the skin taut, and if hair is not long enough, make sure to press gently against the skin when the attachment is on for effective removal in one pass," she adds.
The biggest drawback is the price as it's more expensive than others, and you have to pay extra for attachments.
Small but mighty, the Philips Satinelle Epilator does much more than just look compact and cute. This pick is one of the more budget-friendly options of the bunch, and does a great job of removing hair all over the body.
"The rounded design is great for the bikini area, and there's an ergonomic grip," says Dr. King. "I like that the epilator head can be detached and washed under running water. Plus, there's an extra cap that can be placed on the epilator head for more gentle epilation in sensitive areas."
While this is a great option for epilating delicate spots like the bikini area, it's not ideal if you aren't close to an outlet (this pick isn't cordless, so you'll need to plug it in while in use).
For anyone with sensitive skin or first-time epilator users, the Braun Epilator Silk-Epil 3 3-270 is your best bet. This pick comes with multiple attachments for a smooth hair removal process, and comes with two-speed options, too.
The Braun Epilator Silk-Epil 3 3-270 is an affordable choice that comes with a shaver and trimmer as well as an epilator. "This product allows you the flexibility to switch hair removal modalities if your skin is showing signs of sensitivities to one," explains Dr. Nava Greenfield, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. "If you develop ingrown hairs or irritation from epilation on certain areas of skin, you can use the shaver or trimmer for those spots and return to epilation for skin that is less sensitive."
One of the downsides of this option is that it is corded and will require an outlet close by to use. Additionally, because the epilator head isn't as wide as some other picks on the market, it might take a bit more time to epilate on larger areas of the body, such as the legs.
If you're someone who loves to switch up their bikini grooming every so often, the Philips Epilator Series 8000 with nine attachments should be your go-to. This pick comes with an epilating head, shaving head, trimming comb, trimming head, bikini comb, body exfoliation brush, pedicure foot file, delicate area cap, optimal contact cap, and a pouch.
"I like the Philips Epilator Series 8000 as it comes with nine accessories like an extra wide head to cover more surface area," explains Dr. Julie Russak, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC. "Plus, it works on wet and dry skin depending on your preference or needs."
With more attachments comes more money, and this pick is definitely on the higher end in terms of cost. If you don't think you'll use all the attachments provided, there is a less expensive option that costs $55 for only three heads.
An epilator is an electrical device used to remove hair by mechanically grasping multiple hairs simultaneously and pulling them out. The way in which epilators pull out hair is similar to waxing, although unlike waxing, they do not remove cells from the epithelium of the epidermis
