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Spoiler alert: It’s a lot of “men’s” stuff.

Essence Gant is a leading beauty, lifestyle and culture journalist and content creator with 15 years of experience.

As someone who prefers a hairless bikini area, free from redness and hyperpigmentation, I was determined to nail down a shave routine that would check all my boxes. Enter Bevel. Yes, the “men’s” grooming brand.

It’s not just hype, as you can see by my clearly used products!

After the innovative company started stirring up buzz for its clean, stubble-free shave, I put the complete shaving kit to the test in 2016. Impressed by my baby soft bikini line with not so much as a sign of irritation, Bevel has been my go-to ever since. I even stopped my wax appointments!

Bevel isn’t the only brand I use to stay free of razor bumps and ingrown hairs, however. Here’s my current shave routine, from start to finish, with some adjustments to my care products.

First, I cleanse and gently exfoliate my body with soap and the exfoliating bath sponge by That Good Good Shea.

Exfoliating the skin lifts the hairs, allowing for a closer shave. I will NEVER skip this step! I use this bathing net because it does the job, but gently so that my skin isn't overworked or irritated. It's easy to clean, too, as I just throw it it the washing machine with the rest of my towels and linens and let it air dry. Even when I'm not shaving, it's a staple in my shower routine. The color I have isn't available on Amazon, but you can buy it in blue, gold or purple.

Next, I apply the rich Barbasol Men's Shaving Cream to my bikini line or whichever area I'm shaving. 

Barbasol is cheaper than a lot of "women's" shave creams, and it works just as well on my skin! When I first tried Bevel, I used their shave cream but didn't see the need to keep paying $12 for four ounces when I could pay less than $3 for10 ounces of this oldie but goodie. I find the thick, creamy formula to feel quite luxe despite the friendly price tag.

The main event is two products: First up, Bevel's men's safety razor!

The brass handle razor comes in three pieces, and it's easy to take apart for cleaning and replacing blades. I hold the razor head and twist the handle counterclockwise until it detaches. Then I pull apart the plate and head, and drop a new Bevel blade onto the head. To put it back together, I just put the plate back on the head, making sure that the big circle outline in the middle of the plate is facing upward. This is where the handle screws back on.

It's weighted, making it easy to hold and control as I shave. I don't have to firmly press or apply a lot of pressure for the razor to glide across my skin. And probably the best part is that it's reusable. I've had mine for nearly a decade now, and it's still going strong!

Get it from Amazon for $44.18+ (available in two colors).

Next, the Bevel blades to get that smooth, close shave that won't agitate my skin or cause pesky ingrown hairs and razor bumps.

This sleek blade design is what gives that precise shave, and cuts the hair so that as it regrows, it's less likely to get trapped under the skin, which causes ingrown hairs. The blades are double-edged so that no matter how you flip the razor, you can get a shave. They're also very sharp, getting that close skin shave leaving behind no hair on the surface. Because they are so sharp, it's important to pay close attention to what you're doing. I've nicked myself a few times before, but nothing ever gruesome or alarming. 

Now, unlike the razor, the blades are not reusable and should be discarded after each shower.  No worries; you can shave your bikini area, under arms, and legs in one use with the same blade. Just throw it out before your next shave. A pack of 20 refillable blades runs you just under $10. 

To keep any unwanted nuisances at bay, I dab a few drops of Tend Skin solution to my newly hairless areas between shaves.

While the razor and blades do the job well, a little reinforcement never hurt. Once I'm out of the shower and fully dry, I squirt some Tend Skin into my hands and dab it where I'm most susceptible to ingrown hairs and razor bumps. This is mainly my bikini line, but I've also applied it to my legs before. I do this every day until the regrowth is substantial and through the skin. I use it a lot more frequently in the summer when I'm shaving on a weekly basis. 

Tend Skin is for outer use only, so if you apply to the bikini area, be sure to only pat it on the external shaved skin. A little goes a long way, so you don't need much. 

Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in three sizes).

My final step is to drop a little non-comedogenic serum or body oil for hydration. Right now, I'm using Aveeno Daily Moisturizing body oil mist.

Tend Skin can be slightly drying, so I always like to follow up with something hydrating. In a rush, I've used the access body lotion on my hands and been totally fine. But I usually drop a touch of body oil or serum to the area. Now, I'm using this jojoba oil-infused mist oil, which I spray in my hand first and then dab on my bikini line. It's lightweight and leaves a glowy finish.