Best home IPL laser hair removal round-up

I tested the Smoothskin Pure on my whole-body (full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face) over several months. It's my number 1 recommendations because it’s handsome, powerful, and the easiest and fastest device I’ve tested. For me, it’s the best value premium home IPL you can buy today (check out the discount code below!)

There’s a bit more info below.

Striking good looks & stamina

I love the stand-out glossy-black design with classy gold trim. And the simple controls that blend in with the understated styling. It’s compact, lightweight, and balanced. The curves fit comfortably in hand with a couple intuitive grips depending on which body area you’re zapping. And the rounded, angled handle keeps the power cord out of the way as you work.

It’s sturdy and well-made with smooth joins. The 2-metre-long thick and durable power cable is fixed into the handle for extra durability. And it’s the only high-power home IPL to give you unlimited flashes from the IPL bulb. I love this superb value because you’ll never run out for decades of smooth results.

Powerful & clever

The Pure is one of the most powerful home devices. So, it combines this power with clever sensor technology and three treatments modes. It’s very simple and safe to use. It works like this…

It won’t flash if your skin is too dark. But on safe tones in power mode it auto-adjusts the strongest and safest intensity level for your skin. It does this before EVERY flash so you don’t have to stop and check. It’s fool-proof across body areas with varied skin tones.

The IPL intensity range is 3 to 6 J/cm² in small increments. The higher intensities are safe for fair skin, and the lower intensities for darker tones. And with 10 intensity levels (double most other rival IPL devices) each IPL flash more precisely matches to your skin tone. But if the flashes sting, just press the mode button once for softer IPL flashes in gentle mode. This helps on bikini line and other sensitive areas.

The fasetst device I’ve tested

And, of course you don’t want to spend ages zapping your pins, right? No worries, speed mode has the fastest flash rate of all home IPLs for a smooth glide over your skin. I love speed mode for lmy legs ⚡🦵❤ – it takes just 7 minutes per full leg!

And I can zap my whole body (full legs, underarms, bikini line and face) in just 19 minutes. I use standard or gentle mode for more stubborn hair on the chin, bikini line and underarms. The Pure gets sessions done before you get bored or tired. Top marks.

Negatives with the Pure

Just some minor criticisms with the Pure. Here goes.

First, although I find the shape easy to get a flash on my upper lip, it is a bit faffy to get a flash on knees, ankles, shins and toes. It’s the same with most rival devices too. I find rotating the flash window 90° or 45° helps better line-up along the contours in these areas.

The Pure Fit model comes with an additional smaller precision attachment which makes flashes easier on uneven surfaces.

Second, the air vents on the underside sometimes have breathing difficulties. If you rest the Pure on a soft surface like a carpet or bed, it blocks the vents. This causes the fan to work hard, the Pure to heat up and the flashes slow down. It’s simple to avoid this issue though. Just rest the device on its back or side or place on a hard surface.

And then I get a bit clammy during sessions 😅. This obviously isn’t the Pure’s fault, but his delicious glossy exterior shows every single grubby fingerprint I leave on it. So, remember to rub him down with a cloth when you’re done, so he looks pretty for next time.

And of course, it’s pricey. But it is the cheapest and best value of the premium models. I think it’s a steal. However, if it’s a bit too pricey, try the affordable Silk’n Infinity instead.

Super-smooth results & guaranteed

Shave immediately before each session, unless there’s no hair left. And try dermaplaning if you don’t want to shave your face.

Smoothskin guidelines say do a treatment once a week for up to 12 sessions. Then switch to top-ups every 4 to 8 weeks. Results can vary by individual. Find out why and how here.

Most people notice slower and softer growing hair after two or three sessions. Then, significant hair reduction results after six sessions. Complete all twelve sessions so each session keeps you smoother for longer. And don’t forget your top-ups! They’re as important as the start-up stage for long lasting smooth skin!

The Pure also comes with a 90-day money back guarantee. Try it and return it if you don’t love it. I ❤ this extra reassurance that only a few brands offer. But Smoothskin's is awesome because it's the only Worldwide money back guarantee. Well done Smoothskin.

You can learn more about the Pure here. Or see how the Pure compares to the very popular Braun Pro 5 IPL. But if you’re sold, you can try it with a 90-day money back guarantee by shopping through my links. I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. Oh, and there’s a special discount code too, just for you.

I tested the Lumea Prestige on my whole-body (full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face) over several months. It’s my favourite home IPL device because it’s superb quality, fast and easy, and the most precise and comfy device I’ve tested. Here’s a bit more!

Intuitive, refined & long-lasting

The Philips Lumea Prestige is good-looking, sturdy, solid and refined. And although fairly large and weighty, the ergonomic gun-shape is easy to manoeuvre, intuitive to position and very comfortable to hold. Only a few rivals come close to this exceptional build and feel.

The flashes last for 15+ years of monthly full body sessions. That’s way more then you’ll need to get and stay smooth. It’s one of the best and a super long-lasting investment.

Powerful, safe & total control

The Prestige has 5 intensity levels and it operates at higher IPL power than other devices (from 2.5 to 6 .5 J/cm²). The low intensities are safe for darker and the higher for light skin tones. This means if you can safely use the higher intensities, it gives you longer-lasting results than less powerful choices.

This power is balanced with a clever skin tone sensor to keep you safe. It checks then suggests the highest and safest intensity setting for your skin. You can still adjust it down a notch if you need.

And for smaller or harder to reach areas, switch to cordless operation. Simply remove the cord and use it on your face (or more intimate areas) in the privacy of your bathroom. The battery lasts for around 30 minutes.

Curved windows & fast

The Prestige is one of the fastest high-power home IPL devices. I can finish a full leg in under 10 minutes and a full body in around 40 minutes (and I am incredibly thorough). The flash repetition rate is perfect to glide over your skin but still get precise coverage.

And, in combination with the curved flash windows, gliding over your full body is a doddle.

The different curves snuggly fit the contours of your curvy bikini line, underarms and legs. This reduces faff trying to get close contact on bumpy or awkward surfaces. It’s easy to get a flash and perfect coverage with no missed bits as you glide over your skin. I love these attachments, especially on legs and torso.

The flash windows you get are different by Prestige model – learn more here.

Negatives of Lumea Prestige

There’s not much to dislike about the Philips Lumea Prestige. As mentioned above, it’s weighty (560g) because of the rechargeable battery inside. But sessions are fast so it doesn’t get tiresome.

It’s not yet FDA-cleared in the United States. However, it is clinically -proven safe and effective for home use. It also meets all the European safety and manufacturing standards, and some voluntary standards too. It’s CE certified, so rest assured it’s safe and it works.

The price tag may put some off. If that’s the case and you can forego the cordless operation and curved flash windows, the Smoothskin Pure is a cheaper premium option. 

Superb smooth results

Shave immediately before each session, unless there’s no hair left. And try dermaplaning if you don’t want to shave your face.

Philips say you’ll need 4 to 5 treatments once every 2 weeks to see significant hair reduction. Then less frequent touch-up sessions keep your skin smooth. Most online feedback supports this as did our trial, but results do vary by individual.

In my test, hair grew slower after just the first use. With the second session hair was softer and finer with bald patches. These increased after the third and by the fourth treatment skin was smooth almost all over.

I then did top-ups religiously every 4 weeks. After about 8 in total, I reduced them to every 8 weeks. I now do one every 3 months and I’m still perfectly smooth on legs, bikini and underarms. And with no painful ingrown hairs!

You also get a UK 100-day money back guarantee from Philips too. This is the longest manufacturer guarantee around and superb peace of mind.

If you need more info, check out the full Lumea Prestige review. But if you’ve found this review helpful and are ready to buy, please support my reviews and shop via my links. I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support 🙏!

I tested the Braun Pro 5 IPL on my whole-body (full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face) over several sessions. It’s a top choice I recommend because it’s excellent quality, fast and straight-forward for no-faff sessions. Learn more about it below.

Quality, compact & lightweight

The elegant Braun Pro 5 IPL feels quality and robust. It’s small and lightweight so fits perfectly in your hand. Once you find your most comfortable grips it’s easy to manoeuvre with no strain as you zap away. The thick, bendy 2-metre power cord gives loads of slack and the curved handle keeps it out of the way.

The flashes last more than 15+ years of monthly full body sessions. That’s way more than you’ll ever need to get and stay smooth.

Powerful, super-safe & simple

The Pro 5 is powerful, with intensities ranging from 3 to 6 J/cm^2. So, if you’ve got fair skin and can safely use the higher intensities, you’ll get longer-lasting hair reduction results compared to less powerful rivals. The lower intensities are safe for darker skin tones up to type V.

So, with this powerful IPL it’s crucial you select a safe intensity for your skin tone. But Braun have that covered with a super-safe & foolproof automatic skin tone sensor. First, it scans your skin and won’t flash if it’s too dark. Then, if it’s safe, it selects the most powerful and safe intensity before every flash. So, you can’t make a mistake.

It also chooses from 10 IPL increments, that’s double that of most rival devices. So, each pulse is perfectly balanced and more precisely matches your skin tone.  It’s ace if you’ve got varied tones across body parts. No need to stop, faff and check! Just plug it in and off you go.

And if it stings a bit on your bikini or underarms, press the feather button to reduce the intensity in gentle and extra gentle mode.

Fast & precision for face

The flash bulb is supercharged so the flashes are fast.

The light-weight, compact and easy to manoeuvre design works very well with the speed. On the higher intensities I can flash a full leg in around 9 minutes. And my full body in around 28 minutes. It’s one of the fastest high-power home IPLs I’ve tested.

Getting a flash on smaller, curvy areas like your upperlip and jawline is a bit tricky. So, there’s a smaller precision flash window too which makes it easier to flash. It’s perfect for other awkward areas like fingers, toes, and ankles too. (N.B. the PL5014 model doesn’t have the precision attachment).

The Braun Pro 5 IPL negatives

Just a few niggles from me. I love the fast flashes but sometime the flash rate is unpredictable. It depends on how close the sensors are to your skin and the higher or lower intensity level it flashes. So, you can either glide it too far or not far enough in between flashes. It takes just a bit of getting used to, especially if you’re used to a slower IPL machine.

And finally, the Braun Pro 5 IPL is expensive. It’s worth comparing prices with the similar but slightly cheaper Smoothskin Pure. Both are high-power IPL choices and solid investments for decades of smooth skin.

Excellent silky results

Shave immediately before each session, unless there’s no hair left. And try dermaplaning if you don’t want to shave your face.

Braun guidelines say you’ll need between 4 to 12 weekly treatments to see significant hair reduction. Once you’re smooth do less frequent top-ups every 1 or 2 months. The majority online feedback supports this as did our trial, but results do vary by individual.

Our tester noticed slower leg hair growth after 2 sessions. It got softer and lighter after session 3. They had big, smooth hairless patches after 5 sessions which made shaving super quick and without ouchie razor bumps. After 6 sessions there was very little hair left.

So far they say...

“I’ve now done 6 sessions and 3 top-ups 1 month apart. At first, I’d notice some hairs around tops of my ankles. So, I shaved and flashed them and now they’re no more. I’ll keep going and try dropping the top ups to every 6 weeks. I’m smooth and shaving-rash free in time for Summer. I can’t wait to get my legs out!”

If you want more photos and information on the Braun Pro 5 IPL, check out the full review here. Or see how the Pro 5 compares to the Lumea Prestige. But if you’ve decided on the Pro 5, awesome choice 👊! Money back guarantees are available in the UK and Australia. Please support these reviews and shop via my links. I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same.

I tested the Silk’n Infinity on my whole-body (full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face) over several sessions. It’s an affordable choice that’s fast (just a tad slower than the premium models), and also safe for all tones, including dark and black tones. Keep reading for more!

Long-lasting simple design

The Infinity models boast 15+ years of monthly whole-body sessions from the IPL bulb. That’s more than you’ll ever need. And Silk’n encourage you to share it too. One model even comes with a hygienic cleansing stand so it’s safe to share with friends and family.

The build and materials are decent too, with a 180cm power cable that fits snug in the device. The design is simple and curvy, like a large pebble. It’s comfortable to grip as you press the large flash button. And lightweight too, so it’s easy enough to manoeuvre around your body. The controls are simple and intuitive, tucked away on the bottom of the device.

The design is basic so don’t expect multiple flash windows or a fancy ergonomic shape. But don’t underestimate it either. Because there’s some clever tech inside.

Safe for dark & black skin

The Infinity is safe for dark and black skin because it uses much gentler IPL than other devices, and combines it with Galvanic current.

The Galvanic current is painless and flows through your skin opening your pores. Therefore, your hair is more exposed and so absorbs increased IPL energy for super-efficient follicle zapping power. This means it can use much gentler (but still effective) IPL, that reduces the risk of stinging and side effects, and is safe for dark and black skin too. Learn more here including the Infinity clinical test data and important differences in the US.

The Infinity has 5 intensity levels. Levels 3 to 5 are more intense (up to 4 J/cm²) and safe for light/medium skin. And levels 1 & 2 are gentle IPL (3 J/cm2) safe for dark and black skin. And to make sure you choose the right intensity the clever skin tone sensor checks your tone and activates only the safe intensity levels.

Fast sessions

I can finish a full leg on intensity 5 in around 12 minutes (it’s slightly faster on the lower intensities 1 and 2). The glide rate is steady, and sessions are quick. Therefore, it’s super for both small areas and full-body treatments or large areas done in one session.

Negatives

First, the business-end of the Infinity is a bit bulky compared to the size of the flash window.

This means it’s not as precise as say the Lumea Prestige or Smoothskin Pure. Therefore, it’s a bit awkward on the upper lip and around the jaw line. It takes a bit of practise to get a flash but you get the hang of it soon enough.

Next, the guidance on safe skin tones differs in the US which is a bit confusing. That’s because it’s FDA cleared for skin tones up to type V, but not VI. Learn more about the Infinity and FDA clearance here.

Silk’n Europe previously said the Infinity works on fair hair colours including blonde, red and grey (if the skin/hair colour contrast is big enough). However, they gave no explanation on how it works. This claim is no longer prominent on their website. Silk’n US say it may work on fair hair, if there’s enough dark pigment. So, it’s a bit of a gamble.

Light to medium skin tones results

Shave immediately before each session, and inbetween as you need, unless there’s no hair left. And try dermaplaning if you don’t want to shave your face.

For lighter skin tones using the higher intensities (4 and 5) do four sessions, one every 2 weeks (6 weeks total). You should then be smooth so switch to monthly sessions and keep going until you can reduce the frequency even more. Most online feedback supports this as did our trial, but results do vary by individual.

In our test (on light skin), leg hair grew slower after the second session. After three, there was less hair. And it felt softer, finer and lighter. Large bald spots appeared until after 4 sessions there were just a few patches of hair left. Our tester did another 5^th session after 2 weeks and then was totally smooth. They then switched to sessions every 4 weeks.

They’ve now done x5 monthly top-up sessions. They share...

“An occasional soft hair appears until zapped, then disappears. So, my legs are fuzz-free and smooth. The top-ups are no bother because they’re quick, and are worth it to stay smooth. I’ll try doing them every 6 or 8 weeks after I’ve finished a few more”.

Dark skin tones results

For dark and black skin tones using lower intensities (1 to 3) a Silk’n study shows you’ll need many more sessions. Silk’n recommend up to 12 sessions at 2-week intervals to get smooth (around 5 months). Then, switch to top-ups as you need them. So, on the lower intensity levels it’s important you have realistic expectations about the effort, patience and commitment needed to get results.

If you live in the US or Canada, you can try it for 60 days with their money back guarantee. Yay. I love this extra reassurance. But if you live in the UK or Europe, no such luck because they don’t offer a money back guarantee. Boo.

If you demand the best and have a bit more to spend, check out the Lumea Prestige, Smoothskin Pure and Braun Pro 5 IPL. These devices are top quality with premium features, safe for skin tones I to V. But if they’re out of your budget don’t worry. The Infinity is a super-value choice from a trusted brand, with regular offers around £200.

If you want even more info and photos check out the full Infinity review here. But if you’ve found this review helpful and are ready to buy, please support my reviews and shop via my links. I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support 🙏!

I tested the Smoothskin Bare+ on my whole-body (full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face) over several months. And what a little beauty! It’s a quality bit of kit. And I love the speed and simplicity of this little badger – he rivals some of the premium choices. Here’s more about him…

Simplicity, safety & speed

Don’t let the affordable, simple and compact Smoothskin Bare+ fool you. It’s got a lot going for it, and I think it rivals even the premium alternatives.

First, it gives unlimited IPL flashes. Therefore, no worries about running out or buying expensive refills. It’ll give decades of silky-smooth skin and is exceptional value.

Second, it’s a handy little thing. The cute, curvy shape is light (197g) and fits perfectly in your hand. It’s the most compact device we’ve tested. Yet it also feels quality and robust, like its more expensive rivals. The 2-metre power cord is thick, bendy and gives plenty of slack.

Next, there are no dials, no charts, it’s so simple to use. It has one medium power intensity level (4 J/cm²) for long-lasting smooth skin. And there’s just a single, large flash button. So, it’s incredibly straight-forward. Simply plugin, position and zap! It’s safe for light to medium skin tones, with a skin tone sensor that won’t flash if skin’s too dark.

You may need slightly more frequent top-ups to start than with more powerful rivals. But that’ll hardly matter because the sessions are so darn fast! In our tests, a full leg takes about 11 minutes and a whole-body just under 30 minutes. It’s one of the fastest home devices, so easier to squeeze in your busy schedule.

Negatives of the Bare+

There are just a few small negatives with the Bare+.

First, I find it tricky to flash on shins, ankles and upper-lip. Other devices share this problem too, and take just a bit of practise to work out the best way.

Next, the power cord is thick and supple, and very good quality. However, it sometimes gets in the way, especially when flashing legs. Try to avoid the cord crossing over your body or, simply hold it out the way with your other hand.

And finally, I find the safe skin tone guidance a bit vague on the box. There’s a big leap between the medium safe tone and non-safe dark tone. Check out the charts above to be sure. However, rest assured it won’t flash if your skin’s too dark. Plus, you also get a reassuring 90-day money back guarantee. So, you can return it for a refund if it’s not right for you.

Quick smooth results

Shave immediately before each session, and inbetween as you need, unless there’s no hair left. And try dermaplaning if you don’t want to shave your face.

Treat weekly for noticeable results after 4 weeks. Keep going and complete 12 weekly sessions. Then switch to top-ups every 2 to 4 weeks. With the best possible results, you’ll need top-ups even less frequently over time. You may match this guide or need more sessions because results vary by individual.

Find more Bare+ info and photos here. Or see how the Smoothskin Bare+ and Pure compare here. But if you think the Bare+ is perfect for you, please shop via my links. I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate the support 🙏!