4.2
The Iluminage Precise Touch is the little sister of the Iluminage Touch, and it's designed for treating small areas like your underarms, bikini line, forearms, chin, upper lip and sideburns. It's clinically proven and cleared by the FDA as both safe for ALL skin tones (including dark and black) and that it works on fair hair too. It's uses extra-caring and safe technology and it's effortless to use. Learn more in the full Iluminage Precise Touch review.
Best Buy for dark and black skin
Best Buy for fair hair (red, blonde, white)
Best Buy for facial treatments
Who should buy it: Buy this if you have darker or black skin tones, fair hair (red, blonde and white / grey) and you want to be hair free on your face and/or small areas like bikini line, tummy, underarms, forearms and face.
Here’s how the overall score breaks down.
What is it?
The Iluminage Precise Touch from Iluminage Beauty Ltd is the rebranded next-generation version of the Me My Elos device (Me Mini). You can use it on both body and face (below cheekbones). It’s designed specifically for using on small areas such as bikini line, underarms, forearms and face.
It works with combined energy of Radio Frequency and Intense Pulsed Light called Elōs energy (learn more in the full review). Professional clinics also use this technology. It slows and reduces hair regrowth after each session, and eventually stops your hair growing back at all. Periodic use keeps you smooth.
This combined energy is much gentler than regular IPL so you can also use it on the darkest skin tones. It’s also clinically proven to work on fair hair. You can learn more in the full review.
You can use it on all skin tones from light to mid to dark brown, brownish black and darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick skin types I to VI).
You can use it on black, dark brown, brown, dark blonde, light blonde and red hair. You’ll need more treatments to see results on blonde and red hair.
Although no white or grey hair was tested in the clinical trials, Iluminage say it will work by the same method of destroying the hair follicle (see what is Elos energy section).
You can use it on freckled skin too, but you can’t use it on very large freckles, birthmarks and moles or over tattoos and varicose veins.
The Precise Touch has CE certification to meet EU safety standards. It has FDA clearance in the USA based on clinical tests proving it’s safe and effective on dark skin and on fair hair. You can buy it in the UK, Europe and the USA. First available in 2015 it’s manufactured by Iluminage Ltd (formerly Syneron Beauty Ltd). Syneron Medical Ltd first developed the technology for professional use in clinics and it’s now adapted for safe use at home.
The Iluminage Precise Touch is clinically proven and FDA cleared for safe and effective hair reduction on ALL skin tones including dark and black, and on fair hair colours including red and blonde . It’s my recommended Best Buy for dark and black skin, Best Buy for treating fair hair (both for small areas and the face) and my Best Buy for facial treatments.
The Precise Touch has a simple, clean design. It’s mains-powered, small and neat, and has a single small treatment window designed for treating smaller body areas and the face. But don’t be fooled by the unassuming design.
It’s special because you can use it if you have dark or black skin, or if you have light hair (blonde, red or white / grey). No other devices have the extra gentle and safe energy to do this. It’s easy and quick to use and online feedback loves it.
The versatile Iluminage Precise Touch wins a few of my Best Buy awards. IT wins Best Buy for dark and black skin, and Best Buy for fair hair to treat your face and smaller areas. It’s also wins my Best Buy for facial treatments.
Learn more in the full review.
In this full Iluminage Precise Touch review:
- How does it work on darker skin and what is Elōs energy?
- Is the Iluminage Precise Touch good value for money?
- What’s it like to use?
- Are the treatment times quick?
- What does permanent really mean?
- What’s the feedback from the online Iluminage Precise Touch reviews?
- The Iluminage Precise Touch vs the Me Chic
- Pros and Cons round-up
- Should I buy the Iluminage Precise Touch?
- Where to buy it
How does it work and what is Elōs energy?
Other home use IPL devices are not safe to use on dark and black skin. They also won’t work on fair hair including blonde, red and white / grey. So how then does the Iluminage Precise Touch work?
It uses advanced technology to create a gentle, safe and effective energy called Elōs.
The Iluminage Precise Touch uses advanced Elōs energy. This combination is clinically proven and FDA cleared for safe and effective use on darker and black skin tones. And unlike other devices it’s also clinically proven to work on fair hair too (light blonde and red). Grey / white hair was not included in the clinical tests but it works to target the hair follicle in the same way.
Elōs energy is safe for dark and black skin
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) energy targets the concentrated dark pigment (melanin) in the hair follicle. Melanin is also present in the skin and there’s more of it in darker skin tones. This makes traditional IPL unsafe to use on darker and black skin tones.
To solve this problem the Iluminage Precise Touch uses a combination of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Radio Frequency (RF) energies called Elōs.
Elōs dual energy: Illustration of the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Radio Frequency (RF) energies used in the Iluminage Touch and Precise Touch. This combination means they use a gentler, lower energy Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) that’s safe and effective for ALL skin tones.
These energies work together to heat the hair shaft and follicle, damaging it and reducing hair growth. This combination means the Iluminage Precise Touch uses a gentler, lower energy intense pulsed light (IPL) that’s safe and effective for all skin tones. Elōs energy reduces to possibility of skin sensitivity and reactions on all skin tones too.
Elōs is effective on fair hair
You can also effectively treat lighter hair colours (blonde, red and white / grey) if you epilate or wax immediately before use. The Elōs energy focuses on the small amount of blood left in the follicle after it’s pulled out, this heats up and then damages the hair follicle.
More treatments are usually required to treat fair hair in this way vs shaving brown and black hair. Keep reading the full review to learn more.
TIP: The lower IPL energy also means the bulb flash repetition is fast, and instead of one flash per area of skin you’ll need 2 or 3.
Is the Iluminage Precise Touch good value?
Yes, but specifically for treating your face and smaller body areas like bikini line, tummy, underarms and forearms.
Two models are available, one with 150,000 flashes and another with 300,000. You must flash each area of skin at least 2 or 3 times. This is because of the gentler, reduced intensity IPL energy. My calculations assume each area is flashed 2.5 times.
So, with the 2 cm² flash window and 150,000 flashes you’ll be able to treat a total body area of 120,000 cm². That’s enough for around 80 complete small area treatments (underarms, bikini line, tummy, forearms and face). 80 treatments completes the start-up phase and up to 5 years of monthly top-up treatments.
With 300,000 flashes you can treat a total body area of 240,000 cm². That’s enough for 150+ complete small area treatments (underarms, bikini line, tummy, forearms and face). This is ample to complete the start-up phase aand 10+ years of monthly top-up treatments.
The Iluminage Precise Touch provides good value for money for face and small area treatments. The big sister machine the Iluminage Touch, is designed for face and full body treatments so try this instead if you want to be fuzz free all over.
The Ilumingae Precise Touch is not the best for treating large areas like your legs or for your full body. You’ll use the flashes very quickly and will need to buy a new machine to maintain your results. It’ll last less than 1 year of full body treatments. Check out its big sister, the Iluminage Touch instead. It’s designed for treating large areas, it’s suitable for dark and black skin tones, and is also effective on fair hair.
N.B. the estimated years of use is based on the bulb life only and doesn’t take into consideration general usage, wear and tear that effect how long the machine keeps working.
What’s the Iluminage Precise Touch like to use?
The Iluminage Precise Touch arrives in a small, attractive, understated white and turquoise box. It’s sealed in cellophane and has all the key information on the outside.
The Iluminage Precise touch comes in a small white and turquoise box sealed in cellophane.
The packaging shows the key information and images of the device. The print is quite small but that’s because this European model is shown in English and French.
The box clearly states it’s suitable for all skin tones and most hair colours. It explains Elos energy, the start-up phase, and some important reasons not to use it. The box uses the words ‘Permanent hair reduction’ prominently, and explains this in the details as a “reduction in hair growth following an initial treatment regimen with or without maintenance when measured at 6,9 and 12 months”. Keep reading the review for more on this.
Opening the box
First I remove the turquoise sleeve to find a neat and sturdy small white box with the Iluminage logo. It’s handy to store the device in.
Once the sleeve is removed there’s a sturdy white neat box remove the lid to find the Iluminage Precise Touch device below resting in a white plastic bed. It sits securely on a lip inside the top of the box.
Lift out the device and below it is the quick start card. At the bottom of the box secured in cardboard is the power cable.
The full content of the box: the power cable and plug, Iluminage Precise Touch device and quick reference guide.
What’s in the box?
- Iluminage Precise Touch device
- Stand for the device
- Power supply
- Quick reference guide or user manual
- Some devices also come with goggles, depending on country
First impressions
The device is clean-white, small and light to hold. It has clean, simple lines with a hint of gloss. I admire its elegance when sat in the pale-blue stand.
It looks good, but in the hand there’s no mistaking the casing is made of good old plastic. The logo feature on one side adds some interest and at first I think it’s a button, but it’s not. More on that later. It’s smooth to the touch with depressions in each side forming a natural grip point. It feels balanced and solid enough.
The Iluminage Precise Touch has elegant lines and a clean white finish. Sat in its pale-blue stand it doesn’t look much like a home IPL device to me.
The device is compact and has a small depression in each side that forms a natural but gentle grip point. This photo shows one depression that also has the Iluminage logo. The other side is a smooth, plain depression.
The controls and power-cord are at one end, safely positioned so you don’t accidentally alter them in use. The treatment window is on the other, and this end is tapered to allow good visibility of where it’s placed.
The flash window is on the tapered end and the controls and power cable on the opposite. It’s comfortable to grip the device in the centre so the controls and power cable are out of the way as you position it. The controls are the power button, Elōs energy level button and 3 ‘star’ indicators to show which Elōs energy level you’ve selected.
It’s easy to position and comfortable to grip. The power-cord is long enough and fits snug in the Precise Touch. It’s a good piece of kit.
The power cable fits snug in the bottom of the device. The cable itself is quite thin so take care not to get it tangled.
First read the user manual
I referenced the copy of the user manual available from IluminageBeauty.
It’s the right size to fit in your hand, hold comfortably and have visibility of the treatment end. You’ll feel no stress or strain because you don’t need to keep pressing a flash button either.
The user manual is very clear and easy to follow. It has helpful diagrams and outlines your skin sensitivity test, how to use it, indicative treatment times, the treatment regimen, cleaning, and storage, replacing the flash cartridge, troubleshooting common problems, warranty and specifications.
Always read the warnings section to check for any reason you shouldn’t use the device such as pregnancy, implants and medicines related to photosensitivity.
There’s no skin tone chart with suggested energy intensity levels. You work out which intensity level to use during your skin test.
Important: Tanning guidelines
As with all home laser and IPL devices it’s important to follow the guidelines on tanning and sun exposure. Unfortunately, the guidelines from Iluminage are very vague. The manual simply says you shouldn’t tan immediately before or after use.
After checking with Iluminage Beauty they advise to stay out of the sun for 2 weeks before a treatment, and to avoid the sun and tanning for 2 weeks after your treatment. There’s more on tanning and sun exposure here.
Follow the user guide instructions for a skin sensitivity test.
Skin sensitivity test
After prepping your skin (see next section), select a small area of skin for each body part you will treat. Start at LOW intensity and flash your skin. If that’s comfortable, move to another spot and flash it at MEDIUM. And if that’s ok, repeat on a new spot at HIGH.
Wait 30 minutes and check for any reaction. If your skin is clear, use the highest level that is comfortable and do your full treatment.
The Iluminage Precise Touch has 3 intensity levels. Press the Elōs button to cycle through the levels, shown by the blue indicator ‘stars’. 1 star is Low, 2 stars is Medium and 3 is High.
Prepping your skin
As with other home IPL devices if you have dark hair shave before your treatments. You’ll need to shave less and less as you progress through your treatments. You can shave between treatments as necessary. But always complete the full treatment regimen.
For fair hair it’s different. For blonde, red and grey / white hair wax, pluck or epilate before your treatments. Waxing and plucking leaves a small bit of blood in the hair follicle. The Elōs energy targets this dark pigmented blood during the first treatment and subsequent treatments. Epilate or wax away any new hair that grows just before each treatment.
Please note: You’ll need more than the advertised 7 weekly treatments to see results on fair hair. Keep reading for more information.
Getting started
It’s really simple to get started.
- Shave if you have darker hair. Wax / epiliate for lighter hair. You can either shave, wax or epilate when treating the face. Make sure your skin is clean and dry.
- Set yourself up. You’ll need to be near a power socket. Try using an extension cable so you can choose the most comfortable area, like your bed or close by to a mirror. Make sure you are in a well-lit room and the flashes won’t seem too bright.
- Attach the power cable and plug it in. Press the power button. The energy level indicators will each blink a blue light.
- Press the Elōs button to move up through the intensity levels, starting at Low. Once you’ve chosen, the cooling fan will start inside the device.
- Place on your skin so the silver RF contact bars have full contact and bright light pulses will flash.
- Slowly glide it over your skin until you have covered the area, it will continue to flash with complete skin contact (no need to press any button!).
- For your face, lift and re-position the window after each flash until you have covered the area.
- Then start again on the same area. Repeat this 2 to 3 times in total.
The flashes are bright but harmless to the eyes. Make sure you’re in a well-lit room (so they won’t seem so intense) and don’t look directly at the flashes.
Some models include goggles, but they provide poor visibility which makes treatments difficult. Try wearing sunglasses if you find the flashes too much.
Comfortable shape
The Iluminage Precise Touch is just slightly bigger than I expected. This is because the bottom is quite wide and square in shape in order to fit the controls. The overall length is good because it keeps the power cable out of the way.
It’s slightly bigger than I expected but the Iluminage Precise Touch is comfortable to hold and it’s a good size for manoeuvring around your face.
Although the Precise Touch doesn’t fit snug in the palm of my hand like other compact devices, I still like it. The small dimples or depressions on the front and back provide a gentle grip and allow you to easily pivot the device in your hand reducing grip-strain.
These photos shoe the dimples on both sides of the device which provide a natural and gentle grip, and a point to pivot the device without too much strain.
I find it intuitive to position the tapered head where I want it and it’s easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to hold. It’s well designed for treating smaller areas and the face.
3 intensity levels
The Iluminage Precise Touch has 3 Elōs energy intensity levels; LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH. Each alters the intense light energy output. You find the best one for you during your skin test (see above).
The selected level is shown in the Elōs energy level ‘star’ indicator lights on the bottom of the device. Press the Elōs button to cycle through then.
In the first photo Elōs level LOW is selected shown by the first blue star. In the second photo Elōs level MEDIUM is selected shown by the second blue star. In the third photo Elōs level HIGH is selected shown by the third blue star.
No skin tone sensor required
There’s no skin tone sensor because the device is safe for all skin tones. Start with the LOW intensity level and only move up if it’s comfortable. This way there’s very little risk of feeling any pain during your treatment.
The Elos energy (combined IPL and RF energies) makes the Iluminage Precise Touch safe and effective for all Fitzpatrick skin types I to VI.
Eye safety
The Iluminage Precise Touch has a safety system to prevent accidental flashes near your eyes.
Two silver RF bars at the top and bottom of the treatment window must be in full contact with your skin before it will flash. The RF bars emit the Radio Frequency energy and control the Intense light flashes This means you can’t accidentally flash into open air anywhere near your eyes.
Two silver RF bars at the top and bottom of the treatment window must be in full contact with your skin before it will flash. So you can’t accidentally flash into open air near your eyes.
The RF bars emit the Radio Frequency energy and also control the mode or continuity of flashes too.
Single or multiple flash – no button!
Unlike all other home use IPL devices, you don’t need to press any button during the treatment. There’s just one mode that reacts based on how you position the device.
For continuous flashes, the RF bars sense your skin and keep the flashes coming. Just glide it over your skin in time with the flashes. This is good for treating areas like your underarms and forearms.
Or lift it off your skin in a stamping action so it flashes each time it touches your skin. This is best for trickier areas like your upper lip, jawline and bikini line.
I find the Iluminage Precise Touch the simplest device to operate and it’s very comfortable. That’s because there’s no strain or repetition from pressing a button.
The RF bars sense your skin and keep the flashes coming. You can glide it for continuous flashes over your skin. Or use a stamping action so it flashes each time it touches your skin.
This operation is unique to Iluminage and it’s very intuitive and comfortable.
You can move it around to get the best position in small awkward areas. The applicator stays active for 30 seconds, so you can use a stamp action that flashes each time there’s contact with your skin. This is easier for areas like the upper lip. It’s simple and intuitive.
The flash window is positioned on the tapered edge of the Precise Touch. The window fits most of the end without a large border around it so it’s easy to get the right amount of overlap between flashes.
The position of the treatment window is easy to gauge because it sits on the tapered-end of the device. And because you cover each area 2 or 3 times you don’t need to worry too much about precise positioning from flash to flash.
TIP: For full coverage on difficult to treat areas (e.g. underarms) move the applicator in two directions; left/right and up/down.
How quick are the treatments?
So you can compare it to other devices, let’s see how quick it is to treat a pair of underarms.
The Iluminage Precise Touch has a 2 cm² treatment window. It flashes every 0.9 to 1.9 seconds, depending on the intensity level used. You flash each area 2 or 3 times so it’ll take you between 2:15 to 4:45 minutes to cover a pair of armpits (an area roughly 120 cm²).
This speed is fine for treating small areas like your underarms, bikini line and face. But for treating large areas like your legs, it’s tedious. There are much better choices for this, including the Iluminage Touch, which is also safe to use on dark skin tones and light hair.
Permanent doesn’t mean forever
There are several uses of the attention-grabbing word ‘permanent’ and ‘permanent hair reduction’ on the Iluminage IPL devices packaging, in the user manual and on the website. I’d like to make sure you have realistic expectations about what this means.
“the only at-home hair removal device to use patented elōs technology that is clinically proven to be safe and effective for all skin tones for permanent results.”
Iluminage Touch user manual
When we see these phrases, we tend to think once we’re finished with the initial treatments we’ll never need it again and we’ll be hair free forever. It’s misleading because it’s not the full picture. Hormonal changes can activate new hair follicles and dormant follicles can start to grow again.
So it’s important to keep going with less frequent top-up treatments that maintain continuous hair-free results. These maintenance treatments will keep hair follicles in a dormant state and prevent new follicles from growing. You can find out more about the permanency of IPL here.
What do the online reviews say?
The overall score is a high 4.2 stars, collated from all the online Iluminage Precise Touch reviews.
On to the negative feedback first.
The bad bits
Several reviewers comment on the bright flashes from the Iluminage Precise Touch. You get goggles with some devices, however most say they have such poor visibility you can’t see what you’re doing! You can try wearing sunglasses instead. Also make sure you use it in a brightly lit room to make the flashes less intense.
A few report it’s not quick on large areas and it takes 20 minutes per leg on high intensity! For this reason, it’s most suited to treating small areas and the face.
We found 3 reports of faults. They were resolved under warranty and the returns period.
Most neutral ratings came from Amazon Vine reviewers. They needed more time than the 30-day review period to see results.
There are a few low rated reviews because the reviewer didn’t experience the expected results. One completed the full 7 treatments and saw no difference. A couple more saw patchy regrowth after this time and another had slower regrowth. But they all hoped for better results in this time.
The majority of reviews are very positive, and report great results.
The best bits
Loads of reviewers mention how pain-free and very easy to use the Iluminage Precise Touch is. They love that it is small and simple, and light to hold.
Iluminage Beauty recommends 7 weekly treatments that take 6 weeks to complete. You can treat your face more regularly, 2 or 3 times a week. They then recommend top-up treatments as required, usually monthly to start then as frequently as you need them.
The advertised regimen is the same for all hair colours but it does take longer to see results on light hair. This was confirmed to me by the Iluminage Beauty support team during my research.
It’s frustrating this information isn’t clear in the user manual or on the website. Iluminage Beauty could do a much better job at setting expectations here. Please be prepared that perseverance and patience is the key to getting good results on fair hair. You may need around double the number of treatments on fair hair.
Several reviewers report it works for them, but they don’t say when their results became obvious or how long they had been using it. Many more left feedback early in their treatment regimen. Some were happy to see results after just 1 or 2 treatments. For others the effects were better and more noticeable after 4 or 5. Some took longer still.
“ive waxed for years and now i no longer need to, after about 6-8 uses i noticed i had less and less hair to remove, after using the product over 10 times im now only using it for touch ups, amazing product and well worth the cost” Boots.com review of the Iluminage Precise Touch
Many noted the speed of results was different by body part. But the reports vary, so there are no hard and fast rules here.
The results include softer, finer regrowth that grows more slowly. Hair gets sparser and thins out, and reports of bald patches are common too. For some the difference is significant and for others it’s more gradual. Reviewers report they don’t need to shave as much as before.
“I have very stubborn hair growth. The kind that is dark and coarse and grows super fast. After not even a full three weeks of consistent use, I’m already seeing smoother skin, slower regrowth, and a finer, softer texture. I use this mainly on my face and the instructions state you can use this 2-3x a week on the facial area. I use it almost every other day and on the highest setting.” Iluminage Precise Touch review from Amazon.com
Good customer support
You get good customer support and a 2 year manufacturer warranty from Iluminage Beauty. Unfortunately they don’t offer the extra reassurance of a money back guarantee period.
You can contact them through an online form, email and via the telephone. I always experience thorough responses to my questions within 24 hours.
On their website, Iluminage Beauty could provide much better pre-sales information, more about Elos energy and set clearer expectations on results for users with fair hair and guidelines around tanning. (I hope I’ve clarified it in this review).
Iluminage Precise Touch vs Me Chic
An alternative to the Iluminage Precise Touch is the Me Chic. This compact, mains-powered device also uses Elōs energy. So, it too is safe for dark and black skin, and effective on fair hair.
Not surprising then that it’s also manufactured and marketed by Iluminage Beauty Ltd. So, how do the Me Chic and Iluminage Precise Touch compare?
Size, Shape & Operation
They’re both mains-powered and about the same size but they have different shapes. The curvier Iluminage Touch has small dimples in the side of the device providing a comfortable grip whereas the Me Chic does not. However, they both have the same small 2 cm2 flash window which is perfect for facial treatments and getting good coverage on small uneven areas.
Iluminage Precise touch vs the Me Chic. the size and shape is slightly different, but they’re both mains-powered and use Elōs energy safe for all skin tones and effective on fair hair as well as dark.
The way they operate is the same too. Select your Elōs level and position the flash window / RF bars on your skin and the flashes start. No need to press a button.
Lamp lifetime
The Me Chic comes with 120,000 flashes. 120,000 flashes cover a total body area of 96,000 cm2. That’s best suited for treating smaller areas and your face because it gives around 60 complete treatments for all these areas. So, it’ll last approximately 3 years of monthly top-ups.
That’s good value but the Iluminage Precise Touch models beat it. Compare them in the table below.
| Device & # of flashes | Total body area | # of complete small area treatments | Years of use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iluminage Precise Touch 300,000 | 240,000 cm2 | 150+ | 10+ |
| Iluminage Precise Touch 150,000 | 120,000 cm2 | 80 | 4+ |
| Me Chic 120,000 | 96,000 cm2 | 60 | 3 |
Online Feedback
The Me Chic scores an overall 2.9 stars out of 5 from all the collated Me Chic reviews. That’s a disappointing score compared to 4.2 stars average score for Iluminage Precise Touch.
The positive 4 and 5-star feedback for the Me Chic (around 45% of the reviews) is almost identical to the Precise Touch. It works by reducing hair growth rate and thins hair until bald patches appear and eventually hair doesn’t grow back at all. Notably, a handful of blonde-haired ladies report it works but don’t say how long they’ve used it.
But the Me Chic has around 40% negative 1 and 2-star ratings vs around 15% for the Precise Touch. So, what do they say?
Legs take ages
A handful leave low ratings because the Me Chic takes ages to treat a full leg. This is true, it does. But I think the Me Chic website is to blame here.
The website states the Me Chic is ‘Perfect for smaller, contoured areas like the bikini, underarm and face, yet as effective on larger areas like legs.’ But because of the small 2 cm2 flash window and 2 to 3 passes over each treatment area, treating legs and other large areas is time consuming.
Compare this to the Precise Touch, where Iluminage clearly say it’s “Perfect for bikini, legs, underarm and face.” This is better and sets much clearer, more realistic directions for usage.
The rest of the negative reviews say it hasn’t worked for them.
Poor results
Looking closer, several review it too early after just a few uses.
A handful more are by blonde-haired users. They’re disappointed after 7 or 8 weeks of use. However, they likely need around 5 more treatments to see results. Neither device’s website mention this. There’s a brief mention in the user manuals, but they don’t explicitly say you need more treatments on fair hair.
Elōs technology is the only one proven effective on fair hair but the online feedback questions this and casts doubt. This is probably because they expect too much too soon. Iluminage must set much clearer expectations here.
Unfortunately, the majority that say it doesn’t work don’t leave much detail or a timeframe that they’ve been using it for. It’s therefore unclear what hair colour they have or if they finished the 7 weekly treatments.
So, based on the user reviews the Iluminage Precise Touch seems to give better results, despite them having an identical IPL and RF energy specification.
So, which should you choose?
For treating smaller areas and / or the face there’s not much between them.
The Iluminage Precise Touch retails at around £240 / $245. The Me Chic at £199 / $199. The lamp lifetime of each accounts for the price difference. Plus the Iluminage branding is slightly more feminine and classy than the Me. The Precise Touch 300,000 is by far the best value for money (and I’ve scored it the highest) because it’ll last for 10+ years when treating just smaller areas and the face. Look out for offers too.
There’s not much difference in the lamp lifetime between the Me Chic 120,000 and Precise Touch 150,000. Check prices for both. But remember they’re both best suited to smaller areas and the face.
If the user feedback does not sway you and you’re not bothered by looks, then there’s really not much between them. Check the number of flashes and prices of each before you decide.
Here’s a quick recap of the pros and cons of the Iluminage Precise Touch to help you decide.
Pros
- Safe and effective on ALL skin tones
- Combined IPL and RF energy is ultra-safe so there’s lower risk of pain or adverse reactions
- Clinically proven to work on fair hair (blonde and red)
- Smaller 2 cm² treatment window is great for the upper lip, jawline and neck
- Fast treatment times on lowest energy levels
- Very easy and comfortable to operate
- Mains-powered so no need to wait for a battery to charge
- No need for a skin tone sensor
- Compact and easy to store
- All the safety and treatment features you expect
- Integrated UV filter
- FDA cleared and CE mark (EU declaration of conformity to meet safety requirements)
- Very good customer service from Iluminage Beauty
Cons
- It takes longer to see results when you epilate first, and that’s necessary for blonde, red, white and grey hair
- Not recommended for treating large areas like legs. Try the Iluminage Touch instead.
- More comprehensive website information would be an improvement
- ‘Permanent results’ isn’t explained adequately and could be misleading. More on this in the full review
Should I buy the Iluminage Precise Touch?
Yes. It’s a great choice if you want to treat small areas like your underarms, bikini line, forearms, chin, upper lip and sideburns.
It’s my recommended Best Buy for face and small area treatments if you have dark and black skin or fair hair. It’s also my recommended Best Buy for facial treatments because it will treat a wider spectrum of hair colours which are common across facial areas.
It boasts unbeaten simplicity of operation and effortless use. The combined IPL and RF technology makes it a safe choice not only for dark skin tones, but for sensitive skin too. Less intense IPL energy reduces the risk of any irritation or reactions.
If you’re treating larger areas, like your legs, try the Iluminage Touch. It’s designed for larger areas with faster coverage and many more treatments needed for full body and large area treatments. It has a facial attachment too.
You can check prices and buy the Iluminage Precise Touch below.
Where to buy the Iluminage Precise Touch
If you found my review helpful and decide to buy, please support WeAreBodyBeautiful.com by shopping through my links (I earn commission for sales but this doesn't increase your price).Please also check for any taxes or customs duties applicable for delivery to your home country.
| Buy the Iluminage Precise Touch Suitable for ALL skin tones and hair colours. Best for face and small area treatments |
Buy from CurrentBody.com: UK & Global shipping. Buy from Sephora.com: Search 'Iluminage', USA orders, Free delivery Buy from Amazon: UK, Europe, USA, Canada & Australia orders with other Global shipping options Buy from Boots.com: UK & International orders, choose country at top of page |
Check prices and buy the Me Chic from IluminageSuitable for ALL skin tones and hair colours. Best for face and small area treatments Buy from Amazon: UK & International orders Buy from Boots.com: UK & International orders |
Still not sure? Check out my recommended Best Buy home laser and IPL hair removal machines here
