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Numbing cream is an absolute lifesaver when it comes to laser hair removal, tattoo, and waxing. Although most experts claim that there is minimal pain with these types of procedures, the reality is that everybody will experience some discomfort…
And for most people, the PAIN is excruciating! I have tried a number of different methods to get rid of the pain. I can truly say that topical numbing cream is the best option for pain relief during tattoo, laser or IPL treatments.
In this post, I am going to review the most effective topical numbing creams for laser hair removal. I will also explain how numbing cream works and the best method of applying it.
Let’s begin!
8 Best Topical Numbing Creams For Laser Hair Removal
Dr. Numb has been a big hit for a number of years within the tattoo industry. The company manufactures its topical numbing creams with the finest quality ingredients, lidocaine, and prilocaine.
Dr. Numb is a non-oily, water-based lidocaine cream which contains 5% Lidocaine. This cream is also certified by Health Canada and approved by the FDA.
I found that Dr. Numb works better on sensitive areas of the body. It numbs the skin well, however, it didn’t last as long as some of the other creams available.
Key Features:
- Over-the-Counter Topical Anesthetic Cream
- For all skin types
- Produces temporary numbness
Specification:
Pros
- Gives temporary pain relief
- Non-greasy and hypoallergenic
- Relieves discomfort due to minor skin irritations
Cons
- May not work on others
- May lead to break out
- May cause rashes
Numb Master uses a whopping 5% Lidocaine within their cream. This makes it one of the strongest over the counter numbing creams for Laser Hair Removal.
Numb Master’s formula combines topical anesthetic with micro needling procedures. Studies have shown that this makes their solution even more effective than other products out there.
Numb Master manufactures its product through the proper FDA channels, ensuring that it meets the highest standards.
This cream does a great a job at reducing the pain. What I noticed about Numb Master is that it lasted a really long time, around one and a half hours.
It was also easy to apply and take off because it wasn’t greasy or cakey.
Key Features:
- Great pre-treatment numbing gel
- Penetrates skin fast
- Numbs after 20-25 minutes after application
Specification:
Pros
- Easily removed with facial cleanser and water
- Numbing lasts up to 1 hour
- Non-oily
Cons
- Not for everybody
3
HUSH
Hush is an FDA-compliant topical anesthetic cream that enhances your home laser hair removal experience by eliminating as much pain as possible.
This American-made product is endorsed by some of the country’s finest tattoo artists and is now helping many people with home laser hair removal treatments.
I like the fact that Hush isn’t tested on animals. However, it wasn’t as effective as some of the other numbing creams that I have reviewed today.
What’s great about Hush:
- Clear gel
- Non-oily
- 4% Lidocaine
- Unique blend of botanical extracts, including aloe
- Cruelty-free
Some people advise wrapping the treatment area with Saran Wrap to strengthen the results.
Some researchers state that this can increase the chance of having a side effect. It can also restrict the use of certain parts of the body.
I also noticed that Hush wore off more quickly than the other creams.
Key Features:
- Numbs for up to 2 hours
- Does not affect any ink
- Does not contain Epinephrine
Specification:
Pros
- No need to break the skin first
- Safe for all skin types
Cons
- Gives that icy hot sensation
Lidocaine Plus is the cheapest product we are reviewing today, so it’s a great solution if you’re on a tight budget.
This topical numbing cream is formulated with aloe vera and a water-soluble base. It contains 4% lidocaine hydrochloride, which is what you want in a numbing solution.
Although this cream is not as effective as some of the more expensive products, it still packs a punch!
I applied it 90 minutes before my treatment and it lasted for about an hour. Ideally, you would like your lidocaine cream to last a bit longer so that you avoid having to top up.
The aloe vera in the cream makes it feel cool on your skin. It also has a nice consistency which makes it easy to rub deep into your skin.
Lidocaine Plus has a fresh minty smell which is quite pleasant.
Key Features:
- Soothes
- Helps skin heal fast
- For temporary relief
Specification:
Pros
- Reaches full strength in 1 hour
- Reduces neuropathy pain
- Works better than prescription
Cons
- Not great for waxing
- Not skin deep anesthetic
Topicaine is distributed within the US. Their new formula contains 4% Lidocaine, which means that it works REALLY well for laser hair removal. The instructions included are easy to follow.
For best results, apply an eighth-of-an-inch thick layer of topical numbing cream over the treatment area and then leave it on until your skin is completely numb.
I left the cream on for about an hour before my laser hair removal, and my skin stayed numb for about an hour and a half. This cream isn’t sticky and smells good.
Topicaine is well priced and easily accessible. The supplier I buy it from always seems to have it in stock.
Key Features:
- Non-oily
- Translucent gel
- Contains Lidocaine 5%
Specification:
Pros
- Soothes pain
- Odorless
- Numbs surface of the skin
Cons
- Little relief from 1 application
- Very thick
LMX 5 is developed by a leading US pharmaceutical firm, called Ferndale Labs.
This company specialises in dermatology innovation.
This product has been designed to work with a whole host of treatments and procedures, but it works especially well for laser hair removal.
Because I bought this product off Amazon, I was a little bit concerned that the packaging might not be up to scratch.
I am pleased to report that this wasn’t the case at all. The tube and box were high quality and in perfect condition.
It even came with clear and easy-to-understand instructions.
This stuff works really well, but you must be patient and let it sit on your skin long enough. The longer you leave it, the less pain you will feel!
I like that LMX 5 is more of a gel. It soaks into your skin nicely, without leaving a residue like some other topical numbing creams I’ve used.
Key Features:
- Effectively relieves pain and itch
- Contains 5% Lidocaine
- Minimize pain before procedures
Specification:
Pros
- Soothes skin irritations
- Numbs the skin before painful treatments
- Fast-acting and long-lasting formula
Cons
- Not good for tattoo removal
- Bad packaging
No Scream Cream is made in the US by Deborah Merhar, who is a licensed aesthetician and waxing expert.
Deborah has over 15 years’ experience in the spa industry and has a number of depilatory products under her belt.
Although this cream was initially developed for waxing, it’s perfect for laser treatments as well because it contains 20% benzocaine.
No Scream is developed with a safe and natural formula that is compatible with all skin types.
When I first tried this skin numbing cream, the results were not very good. The instructions stated that you should not rub the cream into your skin too much and that there should be a layer of cream on the skin.
I thought I would give the cream a second chance. I’m glad I did because the second time around the results was much better!
This time, I rubbed the cream in as much as I could and waited for about 45 minutes.
During my laser hair removal, the cream definitely took the edge off. It wasn’t as effective as some of the other creams I’ve tried, but it worked and it’s also well-priced.
Key Features:
- Suitable for use around the bikini area, underarms and legs
- Non-greasy, soothing texture
- Calms the skin
Specification:
Pros
- Prevents signs of trauma caused by waxing
- Refreshes the skin
- Great for waxing
Cons
- Does not numb skin
- Works as soothing cream after procedure
I found that the best numbing spray option available was GiGi Honee Anesthetic Numbing Spray.
GiGi is a Los Angeles based beauty company that is known for developing GiGi Honee, the number one selling wax in the world.
GiGi’s Anesthetic numbing spray is used to desensitize skin prior to laser hair removal treatment. It’s a topical analgesic spray that contains 4% Lidocaine.
The Lidocaine within the spray penetrates the skin’s surface and numbs the treatment area within only a few minutes.
It works, but you must apply it generously.
This spray doesn’t quite stop the pain, but it certainly takes the edge off and reduces the stinging feeling
The spray smells really nice and it’s very easy to apply. I have also used it before with Gigi hard Brazilian wax, with similar results.
Key Features:
- Temporarily numbs skin
- Soothes skins
- Contains 4% Lidocaine
Specification:
Pros
- Desensitizes skin prior to waxing
- Minimizes discomfort associated with waxing
- Helps ease pain
Cons
- Feels greasy on the skin
- Has that strong and unpleasant door
There you have it. Those were our choices for the best numbing creams for laser hair removal. We hope this post will help your search for the best numbing creams much easier.
I have spoken to so many people who go for treatment after treatment, putting up with the pain, thinking that there is no solution out there which works. Luckily, there is a solution!
We’ve found that skin numbing cream is the most effective way to seriously reduce the pain when you have a laser treatment.
We hope you can find the best cream from our list. When you experience the amazing results yourself, be sure to pass it forward. Let your friends know about it. If not, you can have them read this guide.
Common Questions:
Does Topical Numbing Cream Effect Laser Hair Removal Results?
Many professional laser hair removal salons routinely use numbing cream without any reduction in effectiveness.
“The numbing cream may constrict blood vessels but the lasers used for hair removal target pigment, not blood vessels, so the cream does not affect the results of the laser. Make sure you do not apply numbing cream to large areas since it can be absorbed and cause problems”
Martie Gidon, MD, FRCPC
How Long Does Numbing Cream Take to Work?
Anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the strength of your cream. As a little test before your treatment, I suggest applying a pea-sized amount to your skin to see how long it takes for the cream to kick in. After 30 mins press a pin into your skin to see if you can feel anything. Do this every 10 minutes after that to gauge the length of time it takes for your cream to work.
How Long Does Numbing Cream last?
Anywhere from an hour to several hours. Some topical numbing creams have longer acting agents in them which can cause the numbness to last for a very long period of time. If you become concerned then talk with your doctor.
Can You Buy Numbing Cream Over the Counter?
The really strong numbing creams are only available by prescription. Numbing creams powerful enough to reduce pain during laser hair removal can be purchased over the counter.
How Does Over the Counter Numbing Cream work?
There are a few different types available. Each contains different active ingredients.
The active ingredient within most of the creams we are going to review today is Lidocaine. Lidocaine is the most suitable pain relief solution for these types of procedures.
Benzocaine and tetracaine are other active ingredients within some numbing creams.
Lidocaine, Benzocaine & Tetracaine
Lidocaine
- BuIt works by blocking your nerve endings. When your nerve endings are stimulated, sodium is produced. This causes an electrical signal build-up.
- If this build-up becomes too large, the electrical signals start to travel to the brain, where they are interpreted as pain.
Benzocaine & Tetracaine
- Benzocaine and tetracaine work as a chemical barrier, preventing the electrical signals from building up within your nerve endings.
- This in turn prevents your nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.
The process doesn’t totally eliminate pain, but it does greatly reduce it.
Benzocaine and tetracaine may be used when you’re going to get a laser hair removal, but they are normally used to reduce pain or discomfort caused by minor irritations of the skin, cold sores, toothaches, sunburns or stings.
Numbing creams and numbing sprays are also very effective for laser, waxing and pre-tattoo care because they can help to prevent involuntary flinching.
How Do You Apply Skin Numbing Cream?
I’m going to give you some great hacks for getting the most out of the topical numbing creams being reviewed today.
Follow The Steps Below
For best practice, follow the steps below:
- First, wash the treatment area thoroughly to remove any dead skin, bacteria or dirt.
- Apply the first layer of cream to your skin about 45 minutes to an hour before your treatment.
- Rub the first layer on your skin until it completely soaks in.
- Next, apply a second, thicker layer to the skin. This time, don’t completely rub it in. You want it to sit on top of the treatment area, kind of like icing on a cake.
- Just before your treatment, scrape off the second layer of cream, and rub any of the remaining creams into your skin as much as possible.
Doing this will not tamper with the effectiveness of your laser or IPL treatment.
I tried them all. and Emla is the best numbing cream.
Hi! thank you so much for these suggestions. I was wondering if you have ever tried Greencaine Lidocaine numbing gel? I was doing research on the best and I read that it also really works.
Hey, Greencaine is also very good. They use Aloe vera within the ingredients which helps soothe the pain. The problem is that they have stock issues all the time 🙁
Can you use these for brazilian areas?
I would be cautious because sensitive areas of the body can be prone to irritation or allergic reactions. Patch test the cream on the sensitive area first to make sure you do not have any adverse reactions. One thing that you also need to take into consideration when applying numbing cream to the sensitive areas is that it is hard to judge how hot the laser is. This can cause its own problems because you don’t want to burn yourself there. Maybe use less cream so that you can feel some pain, and also be extra vigilant. If you think something is not right then stop what you are doing.
Great review!
Thank you!!!
Jessie
Thank you. Very helpful. I am considering filler injections around the mouth area but I found them quite painful in the past. Which numbing cream would you suggest ?
Thank you
Hi Suzanne,
Thanks for getting in touch!
Greencaine cream is great for any procedure that involves needlework. This cream contains lidocaine which numbs the pain. It also contains aloe vera and jojoba oil which helps soothe your skin. This combination should make the experience more comfortable. I hope this information helps.
Let me know how you get on.
Thanks
Jess x
Hi! I found your review really helpful. I am thinking of lasering the Brazilian area and I want to buy a good numbing cream because I am so afraid of the pain… Can you give me some information about emla? I have heard that it is very good but the package is very small and I don’t know if the cream will be enough to cover the entire area…
Hi! I am Helen, I asked a question(the one about emla) in the previous comment about a month and a half ago but I didn’t get any reply. Could you give me an answer to my question because it is really important to me?
Thank you
Hey,
So sorry for the late response! Emla is a combination of both lidocaine (2.5%) and prilocaine (2.5%). Unlike Lidocaine 5%, it is only available as a prescription. To be honest I haven’t tried it for this reason. I have always found lidocaine cream like LMX 5 suitable for me. I would seek advice from your doctor about the pro’s and con’s of Elma cream.
I am using a cream that has Benzo/lido/tetra/phenyl/20%/6%/4%/.01%
After having this cream on my legs for 2 hours before my treatments, I still feel every single zap of the laser to where I am in tears and excruciating pain. Some of these things have less of the ingredients than what I am using. I am curious to know if there is any other way to prevent the pain from being so intense. This was only my 3rd treatment on my legs and bikini area. I have a long way to go to finish the treaments.
Being transgender (MTF) I purchased the Tria 4x because laser hair removal is an absolute necessity for those in my situation. I’ve had next to perfect results with my tria but the longer I was on hormonal therapy the less pain tolerance I would have to help me endure the treatments. I’m going to try the LMX 5 you recommended, and I hope I can get back on my hair removal journey again!
Which is best for eyebrow microblading?
Hi Christy,
Numbmaster is great as it keeps working for such a long time so that would probably be my preference, as I know that microblading can take up to 2 hours! Hope you get the brows you’re after, all the best x
Bioclense you order it from Canada it has 6% lidocaine and let me that 1% makes a world of difference, used it for my eyebrow microblading procedure and i didn’t feel a thing, the first time i had it done my tech used something else, definitely not as strong or good as what the second tech used, i would go with Bioclense ???
I have been using LMX4 for years and it has worked great for under nose and chin area. My Daughter has had no relief from 4%. However I was under the impression that 5% put the skin at risk???? your thoughts? Thanks a bunch 🙂
Hi Linda, I am not medically trained so I think it would be best to check with your Doctor if you concerned. Personally I have had no problems with LMX5 and do not know anyone who has. You do of course need to be very careful not to get any in the mouth and also not to use an excessive amount as the body can absorb too much if too much is used. For a small area it should be fine but do speak to your doctor to make 100% sure first. If your daughter is on any medication or has any conditions then you want to make sure that it won’t interfere.
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consists of remarkable and in fact excellent information for visitors.
Jessie, Thank you so much for all of the information!! You provided the best information for me as I proceed with my at-home laser treatment.
Any suggestions for someone allergic to Lidocaine? I would like something before micro needling thank you