2012 Beauty Breakthroughs

Photo by: David Cook

Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo for Medium to Coarse Hair

The saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" applies to beauty as well as grade school. Last year, Olay came up with a game changer intended for women with unwanted fine facial hair whose skin turns red from depilatories. Instead of using soothing creams to lessen irritation after treatment, chemists asked, why not prevent it in the first ... more 

Photo by: David Cook

Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo for Medium to Coarse Hair

The saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" applies to beauty as well as grade school. Last year, Olay came up with a game changer intended for women with unwanted fine facial hair whose skin turns red from depilatories. Instead of using soothing creams to lessen irritation after treatment, chemists asked, why not prevent it in the first place with a balm that creates a barrier between the skin and the harsh hair-zapping ingredients? The only problem: The original version wasn't strong enough to dissolve coarser facial hair. This year, Olay added some muscle to the depilatory, and now it's a powerhouse.

HOW IT WORKS: When you swipe the balm along your upper lip or jawline, the blend of waxes, oils (linseed and canola extract), and emollients (soy and cottonseed esters) creates a water-resistant barrier over the skin that protects against irritation. The improved depilatory cream goes on top. It penetrates the hair shaft and breaks the disulfide bonds that make up the cortex. Ten minutes later, both layers-and your unwanted hair-can be wiped away. An added bonus: The formula smells pleasantly fresh (not rotten-egg-y).

WHAT AN EXPERT SAYS: "When Olay first launched their facial depilatory with a skin-guarding balm, they addressed one of the biggest problems with hair-removal creams-that they can be highly irritating," says cosmeti less