Target ingrowns and discoloration in one step

A new-ish brand worth knowing about, Topicals is on a roll.

I first learned about TendSkin when I started getting regular Brazilian waxes back in my NYC days. (My, how life has changed.) It was recommended at my very first appointment, and it became a long-running staple in my maintenance between torture sessions. It definitely helped keep ingrowns at bay, but I came to discover it was even more useful for the backs of my thighs.

As luck would have it, my hairs back there grow in a bazillion different directions, so it’s impossible to shave in the direction of growth—which means that even if my skin feels smooth to the touch, you can actually still see some hairs lingering just beneath the skin. The exfoliating salicylic acid found in TendSkin helped “free” the hairs that had a mind of their own so I could get a better shave (and BTW, this ingredient is responsible for preventing the redness and swelling associated with ingrowns as well).

Fast-forward 20+ years, and Topicals’ new High Roller Ingrown Tonic has made TendSkin feel like a relic. Sure you still get the ingrown- and razor bump-preventing benefits of salicylic acid, but that’s just the beginning. There’s also exfoliating glycolic acid, soothing niacinamide and inflammation-fighting zinc PCA, all in a scent-free, easy-to-apply roll-on.

The addition of niacinamide and zinc PCA is significant because all types of hair removal can cause inflammation that leads to skin discoloration, especially in those with darker skin tones. Particularly common under the arms, along the bikini line and on men’s faces (High Roller is gender-neutral), this discoloration is a lot easier to prevent with an easy-peasy roll-on, but you can expect to see improvement in existing discoloration thanks to the exfoliating acids after using this tonic for a bit of time.

Unfortunately the ongoing need to remove excess hair isn’t going anywhere anytime soon (unless you decide to call it quits—and it’s OK if you do), but High Roller will definitely be taking TendSkin’s place in my medicine cabinet. If you hop over to the Topical site, be sure to check out their other innovative serums, masks and sprays that make tackling your biggest skincare concerns just a wee bit more fun.