Byrdie has always been more interested in filtering trends than chasing them — sorting the additions to a beauty routine that actually work from the ones better left alone. In that spirit, editor in chief Hallie Gould has a new ritual she thinks is worth your attention: full-face waxing at European Wax Center, which she calls her secret skincare hack for a smoother complexion. I pay attention when an editor in chief calls something her secret weapon, and Gould does not hedge here. The piece is sponsored by European Wax Center, and she is upfront about that from the start — the first step, she says, is simply booking an appointment there.
Below are the five reasons Gould says she loves facial waxing, recommends it, and considers it one of the biggest differences she has seen in the look and feel of her skin — especially in winter.
It instantly smooths my makeup application.
Waxing takes on every kind of facial hair, peach fuzz included, and it exfoliates at the same time. What you are left with, Gould says, is a smooth canvas for makeup and a complexion that looks flawless. Think no pooling, no caking, no flaking of product — and no primer required.
It helps my skin better absorb skincare products.
That same smoothing effect matters for the skincare that comes before makeup, too. Once the dry skin cells are buffed away, the products you spent hours researching — and a good part of your paycheck on — can actually sink in and do their job. In Gould’s words, it supercharges your skincare, and your results with it.
It’s a low-maintenance way to stay hair-free.
There is no better feeling than smooth skin, Gould writes — no stray hairs, no fuzz, nothing standing between you and a face that feels like “dolphin skin” and looks like glass. Waxing pulls hair out from the root, and over time the hair that comes back grows in softer. That means less upkeep than shaving, and less regrowth to deal with.
It makes my skin look brighter and bouncier.
The other half of the payoff is how the skin looks after the exfoliation and the hair removal together: renewed, brighter, bouncier — a real treat in the dry winter months, Gould says. Her own finishing step after a wax is a super hydrating moisturizer layered on top, and she says her skin has never looked better.
It’s an easy, no-pressure decision.
The part that makes it easy to try is the offer: your first wax is always free at European Wax Center. The facial waxing specialists there cover plenty of areas — the upper lip, chin, cheeks, sideburns, hairline and jawline — so you can start wherever you like. Try it out, Gould says, and if you are like her, you will be hooked.
Nothing beats that post-wax feeling, Gould writes — so book an appointment today at European Wax Center.
