Prone to Ingrowns? Meridian Trimmer Might Be Your New Shaving Savior

Welcome to Skimm Tested, where we put products to the test and then give them a report card. (Check out all of our tried-and-tested faves here.)

The assignment…

To find out if The Trimmer ($66.60) from the body-positive personal grooming brand Meridian can clean up my bikini line (and other body parts I prefer hairless) without leaving behind razor bumps, burns, nicks, or ingrown hairs.

What I tested…

• The Trimmer: Meridian’s headlining product, this trimmer ($66.60) is designed to be used anywhere below the neck, plus your face, head, and beard (if you have the latter). It comes with two guide combs that let you customize how short you want to buzz your hair.  

Straight A’s in…

• Gentleness. The trimmer definitely lives up to its promise to be gentle on sensitive skin. The ceramic blades are completely painless. Myself and my coworker, Ali, are prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps, particularly along the bikini line, and neither of us experienced a single one. Nor did we experience razor burn, redness, or any irritation, as is often the case with manual razors. Our bare skin felt soft and smooth. 

• Ease of use. Even for us trimmer-newbies, this option is totally foolproof to use — it turns on and off with a single button, and there aren’t any complicated settings you need to get the hang of. It’s faster than traditional shaving, too, since you can target larger areas at one time and you don’t need to fuss with shaving cream. The guide combs click right into place, if you choose to use them.   

• Material and design. The ergonomic handle feels really nice in your hand. It’s smooth and lightweight, so we felt confident wielding it near sensitive body parts. Since it’s waterproof, you can use it on wet or dry skin, and you can keep it right in your shower for touch-ups. Plus, it looks a lot cuter sitting on your shower ledge than a typical razor does, especially if you pick a bright color, like sky blue or orange.  

• Easy cleaning. It comes with a little cleaning brush for sweeping away tiny hairs caught in the blade, though we found that a simple rinse was enough. It stays cleaner for longer compared to a traditional razor blade, since you don’t need to use shaving cream that can clog up the trimmer.

• Rechargeable battery. No need to dash out to the drugstore to get a physical battery. The trimmer charges with a USB-C cord that’s included with the order. Better yet? The battery comes fully charged. That came in handy when Ali wanted to use it the morning of a pool day and realized she’d be out of luck if it needed to be charged. It also has a decent battery life. A few weeks after opening the box, neither of us has needed to recharge our trimmers. 

Room for growth…

• A super-close shave. Even though there is a lot to recommend about this trimmer, overall, I wasn't overly impressed with its ability to get close to my skin. While it makes touch-ups quick and easy, we both had mixed feelings about its efficacy on larger areas. I felt that it worked better to thin out denser hair (like leg hair after a week or so without shaving — all in the name of science), and didn’t perform as well on shorter, sparser hairs, like those along my underarms and bikini line after a couple days of regrowth. On the other hand, Ali thought it tackled less hair better. She found it to be a good solution for last-minute passes on her underarms. Where we both agreed? To achieve the closest shave possible, we had to resort to an extra pass with our manual razors.

• Guard comb sizes. My boyfriend used the trimmer to clean up his beard and mustache (thanks, Jon), but he couldn’t achieve the exact style he wanted with the two available guard combs. He wished there was another size between the two for a neat-but-not-bare look.       

• Power. Ultimately, all of us felt that the trimmer didn’t have enough power to achieve a super-close shave in a single pass.

Works best for…

• People prone to ingrown hairs, and those with sensitive skin in general.

• Those seeking an easy, fuss-free way to touch up small areas.

• Anyone on the market for a travel-friendly option (though you may want to bring your manual razor along with you, too).

Gets extra credit for…

• Optional replacement blades. The brand recommends replacing your blade every three to four months for best results. You can either buy single blades separately, or add a blade replacement subscription to your order, which’ll be delivered every three months (and you’ll save 10%). 

• Other available products. Meridian offers a small selection of extras that encourage your happiest hair and skin. Some of our faves? A grooming mist that can help mitigate irritation post-hair removal, or freshen up your skin at any time; a nice Dopp kit; and a travel case to take your trimmer on the go.   

How I did my homework…

• Ali and I used the trimmer in lieu of our typical manual razors (when possible) for about a month. We used it on different body parts — including our legs, underarms, and bikini lines — and on both wet and dry skin. We took note of how close a shave the trimmer could achieve compared with our usual razors. We also took special note of whether we experienced ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and irritation after use, without following up with a post-shave treatment. And we recruited the help of my boyfriend to evaluate how it worked on dense facial hair, especially compared to other trimmers.

Footnotes:

• $66.60, Meridian

• Available in six colors

• Also available: The Trimmer Plus, $80.10, The Up-Here Trimmer, $23