Surgi-Wax Facial Wax Strips (Pack of 3)

I have thick course black hair with sensitive skin. It's not easy to find a waxing program that doesn't completely ruin my skin. I do get my face fully waxed once a month at the local spa but I still need something to do touch-ups in-between sessions, especially around my mouth and chin. (EDIT 4/5/11 - I no longer get my face waxed by a professional, because I can do a much better, and precise, job with these strips.)After two weeks I've got embarrassing hair showing-up around my upper and lower lip. Surgi's Maple Honey Strips are so gentle on my face and super easy to use! There's nothing to mix or heat! I'm so happy I've found something I can easily and, most importantly, effectively use between professional sessions.Make sure your skin is clean and free of any oil. Don't take a hot shower right before using this product otherwise it could irritate your skin.Vigorously rub the strip between your hands, until they get hot, to get the wax warm, then apply the strip to the face and continue to rub the strip in the direction the hair grows. I usually rub my hands for 30-seconds and then rub it on my face for another 30-seconds.Make sure the strip is securely attached to the skin and hair. If the strip is moving around that means you have some type of oil on your skin, the strip will not work correctly. I use a 12x mirror to help me see where I'm placing the strip and to help me navigate around my face. I want to verify I'm not going over an area twice.When I'm ready to rip the strip from my face, I hold the skin extremely taut and pull in the OPPOSITE direction that the hair grows. This step is key! Hold the skin taut in one direction and pull the strip in the other direction, quickly. Also, when you pull the strip off your face, do so by pulling it closer to you rather than lifting up and away. When you pull the strip taut and low, you really get the most effective use of the strip.Don't be scared, it's not going to hurt (that much). If you're pulling the surface area of your skin taut, you'll experience a lot less pain, especially if you do it in a quick-n-low motion.Do not reuse strips on new areas. The used strip has dead skin cells and hair on it, gross (just look at a used strip in a magnified mirror). You want to apply a clean strip to the new area so you don't run the risk of embedding bacteria back into your skin.Try not to re-wax any areas you just waxed. You've just pulled a layer of skin off your face and re-waxing an area over could possibly cause irritation. If you wax correctly the first time you won't have to go over the same area twice. Instead of re-waxing stray hairs just puck them out. They'll come out easier because you've already tried to wax them out. You've loosened the hair, so it will more than likely slide-out easily with good quality tweezers.I use Neutrogena cleansing towelettes, in the purple night-calming packet because they don't have alcohol, to gently dab up the excess wax / hair off my face. Don't rub the towelette over the freshly waxed area because it could cause irritate to the skin, just gently dab. (EDIT 4/5/11 - I now use Garnier's Nutri-Pure Oil-Free Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes.)Afterward, to help further calm my face I use a HYDRATING mask to ease any redness. Hey, you've just ripped skin and hair off your face, you're going to get some type of irritation. The hydrating mask, don't use a clay mask because it will draw all the moisture from your face and possibly cause irritation, will rehydrate your skin with needed moisture.I use Aveda's hydrating mask but you can find hydrating masks at the drugstore. Surgi includes a soothing gel. I like my hydrating mask better, because it's thick and I can feel it repairing the damage to my face. The hydrating mask makes my face feel comfortably warm with a gentle sensation. It has the same effect as aloe. I bet an aloe mask would work just as well.Also, don't do anything for the rest of the day that's going to make your face sweat. The sweat will cause irritation, and possibly cause a rash or a whitehead outbreak. Don't take a hot shower right before or after you use the strips, that can cause irritation. Also, don't go out and lay in the sun afterward, that could cause irritation as well.It's really best to wax before bed then your skin has time to recuperate. You want your skin to be in a state of calm before you use the strips. I feel that's when I get the best results. I leave the mask on overnight. The mask is absorbed by your skin so there's only a thin of residue in the morning.If for some reason you have continued irritation, even after doing every correctly, apply some maximum strength Cortizone-10 to your skin. You can find that over the counter at the drugstore. That has aloe and medication. Why the irritation? Maybe your skin wasn't in a healthy state? If you have sun damage, don't wax. Don't wax pimples or existing rashes. Wax only healthy skin. Otherwise, you'll probably experience a negative reaction to your already damaged skin.I'm probably much more cautious than most when waxing, but my skin is extremely sensitive. It's taken me a long time to figure out how to effectively remove hair from my face. It's an embarrassing distraction for a woman, to me, to have unattractive dark facial hair. These strips are a godsend to my sensitive skin!Anyhow, take your time, it's worth it because you'll have a super smooth pretty face for weeks. Half a box will do my whole face, for me each box has two full applications. Happy waxing! :)

Product works great

I use wax strips a lot between salon threadings on brows and other facial areas. Pre-made wax strips are not created equal. These irritate my skin and I won't purchase again.What I like:* These strips do not take much to warm up in your hands or fingers. Just rub together gently a few times. Be careful, the wax becomes soft quickly and you may notice the strips sliding apart right away.* You know the wax is ready because it becomes translucent. That is a nice feature.* These are practically pain or sting-free.* They remove most visible hair.What I don't like:* These strips are very small. Sometimes I prefer a slightly larger strip that you can cut to your prefer size. That can be cost effective as well.* They leave a lot of hair that you don't notice immediately. Use your magnifying mirror and a strong light. Oh! There they are, darn it.* These strips are SUPER irritating to your skin. They feel fine when you are using them; not much discomfort, if any. It is many hours later and over the next few days when you have a superficial scab somewhere on your face that you will regret using these strips. If you also have adult acne-prone skin like I do, be careful that this does not lead to a breakout.So... some advice if you will still purchase this item - do not heat the wax too much with your fingers. Just enough to make it translucent. When you apply the strip to any sentitive area, such as your face, do not continue smoothing it on over-and-over to ensure good contact. That is encouraging the sugar crystals in the honey to irritate your skin and cause tiny abrasions and burns when you remove the strip. Do not go over any area a second time the same day. Keep your skin clean and moisturized after. Consider using a mild hydrocortisone cream (OTC) on irritated areas after to help healing and reduce swelling and redness. Be thankful for a good aesthetician.

For many years i have used the Sally Hansen version of this product and then for about 6 months i used the Nads version. In my opinion this product if better then both. first of all the wax is never hard, making it easy to apply, peel the strips apart, easy to remove and since the wax does not harden it does not sting as much during hire removal. the amount of strips included in the box is the most i have ever seen and they come in 2 different sizes, which is handy since i often had to cut strips smaller with other products.i cannot think of any cons to this product since it is affordable, easy to use and works!One disclosure: i do not have much hair on my face and what i have is very fine. i am not sure that this product (being so pliable) will work as well with course hair.

Formerly I used a Sally Hansen microwaveable wax, which I could spread on thickly, and it did the job in one pull, and lasted about 2 weeks. But the microwave is in the kitchen, of course, and we have a lot of windows and are in a fairly public area. Often I'd have to carry the melted wax, strips, mirror and spatula into a closet to do my waxing just so I could be sure nobody would see me. With these Surgi-Wax strips, the wax on the strip is rather thinly applied. Sometimes I have to use 2-3 strips on one area to feel that the area has been satisfactorily waxed. But I can do this in the master bathroom, now, with a lot more privacy, and so I feel the trade-off is well worth it. This too lasts about 2 weeks. I'll stick with it.