Smoothskin Pure vs Bare+ comparison review

The Smoothskin Pure and Bare+ use intense pulsed light energy (IPL) to damage and disable your hair follicles, slowing and then stopping hair regrowth. Periodic top-up treatments keep your skin smooth. Learn more about how home IPL works here.

Quality

The Smoothskin devices are top quality, long-lasting choices designed with your ease in mind. They’re beautifully presented without being wasteful, and they’re a joy to open too.

Both devices give unlimited flashes from the IPL bulb, so there’s no worry about ever running out! They’re excellent value and the only home IPL devices to offer this. They also come with a reassuring 2-year warranty. Oh, and extra peace of mind with a worldwide 90-day money back guarantee. Top job.

Shape & design

The white rim around the flash windows is the skin contact sensor on each. This is to stop accidental flashes near your eyes. Your skin must be touching all along the sensor or else the device will not flash. There’s more on safety and power next.

Safety & power

Here’s a quick spec and features comparison for safety and power.

Both devices protect skin that’s too dark with a skin tone sensor.

The Pure has a low to high IPL intensity range of 3 to 6 J/cm². Dark skin tones can use the low intensities and fair skin the higher ones. It keeps your skin safe because, before every flash, the sensor auto-adjusts the IPL level to match your skin tone. There are 10 intensity level shown on the power bars.

Using the high IPL levels on fair skin gives faster and longer-lasting results. This means with the Pure you can get smooth faster and stay smooth for longer between top-ups than with a lower power device. So, if you have lighter skin, the Pure’s powerful IPL may appeal more than the Bare+.

That’s because, in contrast, the Bare+ has just one medium IPL intensity of 4 J/cm². It’s safe for light to dark tones. The medium IPL still works on fair skin, but you may need more sessions and more frequent top-ups to stay smooth. If you have a medium skin tone, the Bare+’s medium strength IPL is your perfect match.

However, if your skin is dark type V, the Pure offers more control then the Bare+ for the comfiest sessions. That’s because, if you find the IPL too hot, you have an optional gentle mode to lower the intensity below 4 J/cm², and down to 3 J/cm². 

How to use them

Smoothskin recommend shaving immediately before your sessions. If you don’t want to shave your face, try dermaplaning instead.

Then, once you’ve found a comfy, well-lit spot you’re good to start a’zappin!

Both devices give you plug-in-&-go simple operation.

Simply plug them into the mains. They start up immediately. Then, place the flash window flush against your skin and press flash. After each flash, move to an adjacent spot and repeat. You can keep the flash button pressed and glide over your skin for continuous flashes. Or press and release for single flashes where you need more precision and control e.g., on the face, bikini line etc.

Remember: If your skin tone is too dark or it’s not flush against your skin, you’ll see red lights.

And that’s it for the Bare+. Fast, no-faff and super-simple!

But you get more control with the Pure.

First, if you find the flashes sting a bit, press the mode button once. This lowers the IPL intensity a notch or two in gentle mode, so it’s less hot. It’s comfier for darker skin tones and for sensitive areas like bikini line.

Next, there’s speed mode. Press the mode button again and you see the speedy stopwatch icon. This lowers the IPL intensity to 4 J/cm^2. And this is good because the IPL bulb recharges faster in between flashes versus on the higher IPL intensities. So, the flashes are quicker and you can cover your skin much faster. I love this mode for zapping my legs.

Which is easiest & fastest to use?

Both devices are fast, simple, and comfortable to use. But the Pure is more sophisticated, a little easier and faster. Let’s compare them now.

The grips are similar and comfy with both devices, and it’s quick to find the easiest way. You hold them directly over the flash button between your fingers and thumb. They fit comfy in your hand without strain, and are intuitive and handy to manoeuvre around your body.

However, the Pure’s shape is slightly easier because the handle keeps the cord out of the way. With the Bare+ you must move the cord frequently, especially along your legs. However, it’s easy after a little practise. Both cords are very long giving plenty of slack if you’re near a mains outlet.

I also find it easier to gauge where the flash window is with the Pure. That’s because the shape of the treatment head moulds around the flash window better. So, it’s easier and more accurate to position. The shape is a perfect fit with easy flashes on my upper lip too.

Both devices have the same features on the treatment head. However, the Pure’s blue skin tone sensor is slightly further from the flash window. And the skin sensor (white rim around the flash window) looks slightly wider and is more sensitive on the Pure. Therefore, it’s easier to flash on uneven surfaces.

However, with both devices it’s still a little tricky to flash small or uneven, bony surfaces, such as shins and ankles. It helps to rotate the flash window, angling it along the bone. It’s easy once you know how, but because the Pure is a little easier to flash than the Bare+, its sessions are faster.

In my speed tests the Pure comes out on top. It’s not just about the advertised flash rate – the shape, comfort, manoeuvrability, consistency, and ease of flashes all play a vital role. Here’s how the Pure and Bare+ compare in my speed tests. I tested both on myself over several sessions and took the average times.

What do they feel like?

With both models you’ll hear the cooling fan whir and a small pop with each flash. The flashes are bright but harmless to your eyes. You can wear sunglasses to ease any irritation.

The Bare+ feels mostly gentle and warm on medium and fair skin tones. On darker skin the medium IPL intensity may feel hot, and you can’t lower the intensity any. So, it may not be the best choice for you. However, you can test it and see and return it within 90-days if it’s not for you.

The Pure feels warm to hot depending on your skin tone and sensitivity of your treatment area. If it stings or feels too much, use gentle mode. It’s good to have this extra control for darker skin tones.

Treatment schedules & results

The start-up schedule is the same for both the Pure and Bare+. Treat weekly for 12 weeks. You’ll typically see noticeable to significant results after 6+ weeks.

During your start-up phase, you’ll notice hairs grow slower, softer, finer and lighter after a few sessions. Shaving is easier without vicious stubble, rash or ingrown hairs. Eventually bald patches appear and get bigger. You may see these results very quickly, or slower and more gradually over 12 weeks.

Smoothskin recommend you complete all 12 sessions so you catch all hairs during an active growth cycle. It also means you can go longer in between top-up sessions from the start. You’ll typically need top-up sessions every month or two with the Pure, and between 2 to 4 weeks with the Bare+ (because it’s slightly less powerful). However, for most people, once you’ve done several top-ups you can usually wait even longer between them.

Related: learn why top-ups are crucial & more about long term results

Comparison summary: Which should I buy?

Both the Pure and Bare+ are excellent choices, and top choices in my best allrounder devices round-up, especially for whole-body sessions. The Pure outperforms the Bare+, so if you’ve got the cash, go for it! But if you need something more affordable for medium to light skin tones, rest assured the Bare+ is a fast, quality choice too.

Here’s a quick summary comparison table of the spec, test and performance data for the Pure and Bare+ to help you decide:

Everything comparison

Pure

Bare+



Face, small bits, legs & large areas



Face, small bits, legs & large areas



💰💰💰



💰💰



Clinically proven
CE certified
FDA-cleared



Clinically proven
CE certified
FDA-cleared



2-year warranty



2-year warranty



Worldwide 90-day money back guarantee



Worldwide 90-day money back guarantee



Mains-power



Mains-power



Optional precision flash window with Pure Fit model



Optional precision flash window with Bare+ Fit model



270g



200g



Unlimited flashes!



Unlimited flashes!



3 to 6 J/cm²
10 energy increments



4 J/cm²
Just 1 energy level



Skin tone sensor



Skin tone sensor



Won’t flash if your skin’s too dark

Matches every flash to your skin tone



Won’t flash if your skin’s too dark

Flashes the same intensity each time

g

3x Modes: Power (default), Gentle, Speed

g

1x standard mode
(❌ gentle mode)



Feels warm to hot.
Use gentle mode if it stings!



Feels warm.
No gentle mode for dark skin tones.



7 mins per full leg

19 mins for full body



11 mins per full leg

30 mins for full body



12 weekly sessions, then top-ups 4 to 8 weeks.

Faster & longer lasting results on the high power levels/light skin tones.



12 weekly sessions, then top-ups 2 to 4 weeks.

More sessions / top-ups needed.



Excellent quality
Simple
Very comfy
Easier
Faster



Excellent quality
Simple
Handy
Fairly easy flashes
Fast



Takes practise on shins & ankles

Easy to accidentally cover the air vents

Shows grubby finger prints!



Cord sometimes gets in the way

Takes practise on shins & ankles

No gentle mode for dark skin tones

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