The best shaving creams, razors, and pro tips for bump-free skin all summer long
Banish bikini bumps
Ingrown hairs are the scourge of a bikini wax. "To prevent them, exfoliate your skin both the night before and the day after you get waxed," says Shays. She recommends using a dry skin brush made of jute or sisal fibers, which may sound intense, but she swears it's the best bump inhibitor. "Sweep it very lightly over dry skin, then wash the area with a 2 percent salicylic-acid shower gel, such as Phisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Wash ($7)." If you still get an ingrown, "Don't pick at it!" says New York City dermatologist Doris Day. Instead, dab it with an over-the-counter cortisone cream twice a day for a week. The good news is that most ingrowns go away on their own over several weeks, "but if a bump becomes inflamed or painful, your dermatologist can get rid of it with a cortisone injection," says Day.
