New conclusion: iPulse’s follow-up SmoothSkin is the best device you can buy in my opinion. It’s the fastest device, has permanent hair removal effects, is more portable (smaller body, but the same treating area), includes 120,000 light impulses and doesn’t need gel anymore! The lamp’s position is higher so the glass doesn’t touch the skin anymore (good bye, skin heating). I use it and I love it! Additionally there’s a skin tone sensor which detects your skin tone the moment you put the device on your skin. Immediately it selects a fitting light impulse intensity so you never burn your skin. SmoothSkin is the winner! It’s more expensive than the prior device and Remington but definitely worth it – unless the hair is too persistent, then Tria it is. If you’re tight on money the winners are Braun Gillette Venus Naked Skin
(alias iPulse) and Remington I-Light IPL6000.
Old conclusion: “Braun Gillette Venus Naked Skin
” (former “iPulse” by Boots [follow-up: SmoothSkin [x]) and recently Remington I-Light IPL6000 have the best cost-benefit ratio in my opinion. As for me I tested Braun (when there wasn’t the new Remington version) and I am very happy with it. Remington provides a face and bikini area cap which I miss in Braun. Furthermore one needs to change the whole Braun device after 50,000 light impulses – it’s possible to change the device for a service fee though – while Remington (provides 65,000 light impulses) has changeable bulbs (each 24€). Therefore it’s cheaper to choose Braun and it’s a little stronger than Remington. But in case your bulb breaks, Remington is the better choice. Both reach permanent hair removal effects and both have the same relevant dimensions (3cm²). The bigger the dimensions of the flashing area, the faster you’re done. Also both don’t work on battery and use a cable instead -> a cable is nice if you don’t want to charge the device.
Comparisons of others:
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A laser has a stable wave length (and therefore is way stronger than IPL on the adjusted wave length) while IPL’s wave length is variable with a filter which makes it less effective but also less painful. If the device is too weak or the skin too dark (you might burn your dark skin), the result won’t be permanent and the hair will go into a “sleep mode” which means you’ll have to repeat using IPL again and again since the hair roots didn’t get destroyed. That’s why you shouldn’t use IPL after sunbathing because you won’t be able to set IPL settings on the highest and most effective level.
Even with IPL there are permanent results
“Permanent” results are possible for people who use devices which provide at least flashes with 7-8 Joule/cm² (only possible with light skin color). Cosmetician do have such strong devices but only a few home devices reach that number, too. To treat a single area (e.g. lower leg) at a cosmetician usually costs about 150€. Since every hair can be in a different growth mode you’ll have to flash every skin area about 4-6 times.
IPL home devices
Some devices provide enough energy to get permanent results. Most devices cost 200-400€ and their lifetime can be be limited. While there are such which have bulbs that can flash 50,000 times and don’t have changeable bulbs (you have to replace the whole device after its lifetime), others have bulbs which endure 10,000 flashes and can be replaced for low or high costs. I read a review which said 10,000 flashes are enough for half a year if one uses the device every two weeks. Braun mentioned the bulb (50,000 flashes) will have a lifetime of 5 years (and can be replaced for a service fee), if one uses the device on legs, underarms, bikini area and armpits. This means Braun expects a usage of 10,000 flashes per year.
Lumea is the most popular device but has less power than e.g. Braun. Result: the hair goes into sleep mode.
Based on:
Comparison study (p.8) | more (p.3) | other studies
Comparison presentation (p.6-7 prices | p. 3-15 results), bulbs chart
and whenever I asked manufactures. My summary of the nicest
combination: [positive | negative]
 |
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Intensity [J/cm²]
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5-19
|
10
|
9
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2,5-6,5 [x]
|
|
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Result
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permanent
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permanent
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permanent
|
permanent
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sleep mode
|
|
Treatment area
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0,8 cm²
Diode Laser, battery |
3 cm²
|
3 cm²
doesn’t need gel, fastest |
3 cm²
+ face cap 2cm² |
4 cm²
+ cap: 2 cm², battery |
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Flashes
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?
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50,000
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120,000
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65.000
|
140.000
|
|
Bulb [price]
|
–
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–
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–
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–
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|
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Price
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|
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Reviews
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tria, Amaz | UK | UK | UK | US | UK | US |
Additional: IPL gel | protective glasses
Continue reading Let body hair disappear forever: devices comparison