I included this product in my 2016 beauty favourites, and I had so many of my females friends asking me questions afterwards, I wanted to write a full review about the product. This post is in no way sponsored. I bought this product myself, and I recommend it 100%.
If you don’t want to read about body hair and stuff, click off this now.
Here’s how it looks and sounds…
Just a quick demo of what it does, what it sounds like (kinda like a quiet hair dryer) and what it looks like. It’s quite heavy in your hand, but well balanced and well made. The little light pulse won’t go off until completely pressed against your skin and sealed – so there’s no chance of doing in your eyes by accident, or of kids flashing themselves, etc.
It does get a bit hot after 10-15 minutes of use, but the same kind of heat that your laptop battery gets, not like GHD straighteners.
Oh, and you don’t need science glasses or anything to do it.
Why did I buy it?
I have very dark and very thick hair. The curse of being a brunette I guess. In the summer (if I’m in dresses and skirts) I would have to shave DAILY. I know some blonde friends who shaved once a week, and it made me green with envy. And it’s not just about legs, it’s having dark hair on your face, under your arms, and for me my forearms (an area I’ve always been really self-conscious about since school).
I’ve tried waxing (pay your beautician £45 to torture you for an hour).
I’ve tried shaving (waste 30 minutes of your day, every day, and waste money constantly on razors).
I’ve tried hair removal cream (Gag. That smell).
Of all those options, the Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal is the best thing I have ever done to remove my body hair. It actually amazed me how many of my friends asked me about it when I mentioned it. I think you always assume you struggle through body issues on your own – but we’re all in it together.
This device has hands down made me 100% more confident in myself. Hair is such an annoying thing, and it amazed me how simply reducing it and getting rid of it, could transform how I felt about myself so drastically.
Did it work, and how fast did it work?
To start with, YES it worked.
You follow a programme when you first start using it. You do it every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. I went all out and did everywhere I would usually shave or wax. It’s quite time consuming when you’re doing so many places – but the results are worth it and it’s not like you’re in the shower doing it (racking up a water bill the size of your arm), you can sit in front of the TV and do it. Which makes it way less boring.
After the 8 weeks, you then only need to do it every month. But you do need to keep at it, and remember. Otherwise the hair follicle repairs itself and the hair grows back eventually.
This isn’t permanent laser hair removal though.
It’s IPL. It’s an at-home version of hair removal, similar to, but not identical to laser hair removal. Laser hair removal can last years – but the Lumea IPL last for 4 – 8 weeks. So essentially, you’re not getting a hair-free body from the Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal, you’re getting considerably reduced hair, hair free in some place, and hair that grows super slow and super fine compared to what it used to be. That was my experience anyway. And that, for me, was amazing.
It might be a good stepping stone to getting proper laser hair removal (which is much more expensive). If this works for you, maybe you’d want to look into paying around £2000 for proper laser hair removal in larger areas like legs and arms.
For me, it wasn’t just about being hair-free, I also noticed how much better the skin on my face, legs and arms looked (and people also commented on it). It looks smoother, healthier and clearer (because you couldn’t see little hairs under the skin anymore) and there was no issues with in-grown hairs (another reason to ditch shaving and waxing).
These are my legs right now as I type this. Maybe TMI – but I haven’t shaved them in 10 days. They look fine. I could happily go out in a dress right now, and not worry. There’s a little bit of regrowth, but I used to see regrowth like this after 10 hours, not 10 days.
Did you still have to shave?
Yes. You do. But way less often, and only really if you want to be silky silky smooth.
I can go a week to ten days now without shaving my legs (and arms, bikini and underarms) and without the hair being visible or noticeable. However, I might have a night out after 5 days (when a tiny bit of regrowth has come through) – so I’ll shave just to make them super soft and silky again.
Shaving doesn’t hinder the process, you actually have to be freshly shaved each time you zap yourself with it anyway (for best results).
How long does it take?
On average time wise, for me…
Each leg, from ankle to mid-thigh: 10 minutes (so 20 in total)
Each forearm, from wrist to elbow: 6 minutes (so 12 in total)
Both underarms: 5 minutes
Face: 5 minutes
Bikini area: 5 minutes
Does it hurt?
Not at all. The only area I found a little painful (and even then, barely enough to make me flinch) was the bikini area. The key I think is making sure you have the right power setting for your skin.
My skin is olive and my hair is dark brown, so I can use the highest setting. However, if you’re light brown hair, or pale, you might only go for the low or medium setting.
I don’t really know what to compare it to – but it’s nothing like the pain of waxing (heavenly compared to that). A few review I read compared it to an elastic bad flicking you. I get this comparison, but I think an elastic band is pretty painful, and I don’t find the Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal painful at all.
So it must vary from person to person. But my experience is, no it doesn’t hurt.
If I will happily sit and do it on a relaxing Sunday afternoon whilst watching TV (in front of my husband) it can’t be that painful.
Who does it work best on?
Obviously I can only speak for my own skin-type, but it has worked like a dream on me. I have medium olive skin, and very dark brown hair. I found I noticed results on my legs, arms and face after 2-3 weeks. My bikini area and underarms, I noticed results after a few days.
This is the guide on the Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal website:
How much is it?
It’s quite pricey, and that’s the only draw-back. But it’s an investment and if you already spend money on waxing and razors, then it’s a no-brainer for me.
There are several different models (older ones and new ones) and I think you could pick up an older model for around £150 – £200. Personally, I bought this model of thePhilips Lumea IPL Hair Removal from Amazon. It’s actually reduced at the moment, so that’s good!
