Makeup and Beauty Blog | Makeup Reviews, Swatches and How-To Makeup

Product: GiGi Sugar Bare Microwave Formula
Use: As a hair remover for legs, bikini, face and underarms.
Price: $9.99 for a 12oz jar.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: D

In order to save a few bucks in my ongoing war against excess body hair I started doing at-home waxing — legs, bikini area and lip. I’ve gotten pretty good with these areas, although I will admit to being totally inept at waxing my armpits (it might have to do with me being *extremely ticklish*). I also can’t wax my brows because I have an irrational fear of hot wax falling into my eye and melting off my cornea. Yeah, yeah … I know I can just close my eyes but STILL.

I’ve used several different waxes and I always like to try new ones, so I was really stoked to find Gigi Sugar Bare Microwave Formula on sale at Sally Beauty Supply. Because sugar waxes are sugar-based they wash off easily with water, so they’re great for beginning at-home waxers.

The first thing I noticed about this product was the groovy handle on the side of the jar. It allows you to easily take the jar out of the microwave. It’s such a small thing, but it makes it easier to get that hot jar out of the microwave. The second thing I noticed was the ingredient list, which contained only one ingredient: Hydrolyzed Corn Starch. Hmmm. So much for the “sugar” part of this wax.

Trust me people – I could wax the shizz out of my shins in a dark room during a major earthquake and still get legs smoother than a baby’s butt. I know what I’m doing. But unfortunately, that knowledge was tested when I tried waxing my lower legs with GiGi Sugar Bare.

I didn’t make it farther than one quarter of my left shin because GiGi Sugar wasn’t baring anything!

Ideally, when you lift off the muslin or cloth strip (rrrrrrrrrrrip!) your legs are left clean without any hairs or residual wax sticking to them. The product removed only 50% of the hair and left huge clumps of wax on my legs. As I sit here typing this, I’m still peeling huge chunks of wax off!

I even tried several different methods to try and make this product work. I’d put a thin layer of wax on, lay down a muslin strip, rub in the direction of the hair, waited and then rrrrrripped. Still only half the hairs removed. Then I’d put a thicker layer on, do the same drill — and I’d still get the same result of half-assed hair removal.

I went back to Sally Beauty Supply today to return this wax. They let me return it without any drama (of course I had my receipt.) I will not be buying this wax again.

Pros:
The only thing that really saves this wax from an F is the nice handle that allows you to pull it out of the microwave easily when it’s hot. Plus, it’s easy to find – I’ve seen it at almost every beauty supply store in Marin County, including Sally Beauty Supply and Pure Beauty. You get a lot of wax in the jar for the money.

Cons:
No smell – I’m used to Parissa waxes, which have nice scents like lavender and honey. The wax only grabbed half of my leg hair and completely refused to grab onto any of the shorter, coarse hairs. Left huge clumps of residual wax on my legs. If you are waxing at home for the first time you may be extremely frustrated by this product.