The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 uses intense pulsed light energy (IPL) to damage and disable your hair follicle, slowing and preventing hair regrowth. Periodic top-up treatments keep your skin smooth. Learn more about how home IPL works here.
First impressions
The packaging is professional, informative, attractive, compact and neat. It’s sturdy and economical too. I like that there’s very little plastic because the storage pouch keeps everything covered, clean and together.
What’s in the box?
Braun silk-expert Pro 5 IPL with body attachment
Fixed power cord and base station pack
Power lead and plugs (UK & Australia)
Precision attachment (some models)
Wide attachment (some models)
Venus razor and blade (differs per model)
User guide
The white and gold IPL device is sophisticated and refined. I like the clean lines, subtle curves and gold accents. It’s compact and lightweight, but feels solid, quality – exactly what you expect from Braun.
Before you start
Before you start zapping away, first read the user manual and do a skin sensitivity test.
The user manual is a quick and easy read. It’s well organised and spaced-out, with helpful diagrams. You’ll find the safe skin tone and hair colour chart, a diagram of the IPL device, a brief explanation of how IPL works, contraindications and warnings, how to use it, about your skin patch test, the treatment plan, cleaning and storage, possible side effects and a troubleshooting guide.
Spend time checking the important safety information, warnings and reasons you should not use the Braun Silk-expert Pro 5. These include being pregnant, having epilepsy, taking photosensitising medications, skin conditions, on tattoos or after skin peels. Learn more about IPL contraindications here to ensure it’s safe for you.
You must follow the guidelines on tanning and sun exposure too, to keep your skin safe and avoid side effects. Braun advise:
✔️ DO
Wait 7 days after sunbathing before treatments, or wait for your tan to fade
After your treatments, avoid the sun for 7 days
Cover up and use a sunscreen of SPF 15+ after your treatments to avoid unprotected sun exposure
❌ DON’T
Don’t use the Braun IPL on recently tanned or sunburned skin, including artificial tans.
Don’t use tanning booths or solariums during your treatments
In short, during your start-up treatments it’s best to avoid tanning altogether. Both by sunlight and artificially with light or creams. There’s more on tanning and sun exposure here.
Wait 48 hours after your skin sensitivity test. If your skin is normal, crack on with your first session (but avoid the test patch until your next weekly session).
Here’s a quick summary on how to use the Braun Pro 5, and there’s loads more detail in the following sections.
Just follow these steps:
Shave before every treatment (unless there’s no hair left!)
Plug in and press the flash or feather button. The 3 small intensity mode buttons shine white and you’ll hear the fan start up inside
Select your intensity mode by pressing the feather button. 3 lights mean high, 2 gentle, and 1 extra-gentle.
Position flat on your skin at a 90-degree angle and press the flash button.
Slide to the next spot and repeat. Cover your skin in adjoining flashes avoiding overlap.
When you’re done, unplug from the mains and the Braun IPL powers down.
For this review I tested the Braun Pro 5 IPL on my full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face. And boy is it simple, straightforward and ultrafast. It’s the fastest, safest, high-power home IPL you can buy. Here’s my feedback.
Quality & design
The Braun silk expert is a compact and elegant shape. And despite being lightweight at 285g, it feels solid and well-balanced with no creaks or cracks.
Even the 2 metre-long power cord feels premium. It’s fixed into the base of the device with the power pack at the other end. So, unlike the earlier models, the weight of the power pack won’t pull the cable out mid-use. There’s also a smaller 90cm cord that connects the power pack to the mains so you get the full 2-metre supple cable to play with. Use an extension cable for more flexibility.
The IPL lamp gives 400,000 flashes. That’s more than enough for over 200 full-body treatments of full legs, bikini line, underarms and face. So, you’ll get over 15 years’ worth of monthly full body sessions. Braun actually say the flashes should last for around 22 years. It’s superb value, you’ll never run out of flashes. You get a good 2-year manufacturer warranty too.
It’s very easy to handle around all your body, even if you have small hands. The large flash button is easy to press with fingers or thumb. And it works in a few different grips. Here’s the first:
Flash windows
With all models, you get the standard matt-gold body flash window attachment. It measures 1cm by 3cm, so that’s a total flash area of 3 cm2. It’s an excellent multi-purpose window for legs, body, underarms and bikini line. But sometimes awkward to get a flash on your tache and jawline.
Luckily, with all models (excluding the PL5014) you also get a smaller white precision attachment. This flash window is 1.1cm wide by 1.5cm long with a total flash area of 1.65 cm2. It’s a particularly good fit on the upper lip and around the jawline. And works well on fingers and toes too. Some of the Braun Pro 5 models come with an extra precision attachment so you can use one for your face and the other for areas around your body.
And finally, with the most expensive models, you also get a white wide flash window. This measures around 4 cm2 and covers a bigger surface area with each flash, so it’s faster to zap your torso and upper legs.
The flash bulb is part of the device and not the attachments. The attachments click into place over the top. They can feel a bit stubborn to remove at first until you get used to the pressure needed.
Power, eye & skin safety
The Braun Pro 5 IPL has 10 intensity levels and it operates at high IPL intensities, the maximum on level 10 being 6 J/cm2. This is one of the most powerful home-use devices (along with the Smoothskin Pure and the Lumea Prestige). This means, if you have light skin and use the higher levels, you’ll get longer-lasting results than less powerful devices. The lower intensities are for darker skin.
Rest assured, the Braun Pro 5 is clinically tested safe for home-use and it passes the necessary European manufacturing and safety standards for the CE mark. It’s FDA-cleared in the US too.
So, how does it protect your eyes and skin?
You must hold the flash window flush against your skin so the two skin sensors are covered. If not it won’t flash. This means you can’t accidentally flash it into open-air anywhere near your eyes.
The Pro 5 also has reassuring independent accreditation from Skin Health Alliance because it’s skin-safe.
There’s an inbuilt UV filter. And the advanced skin tone sensor stops IPL flashes hurting your skin too. It’s also the reason why the Braun Pro 5 IPL is so darn simple and straightforward to use. Here’s what it does:
This means it chooses the most powerful intensity that’s still safe for your skin tone. And from 10 increments versus 5 as with other IPL machines. This means a more precise match to your skin tone and the best possible results in the shortest time.
This clever tech takes all the faff and guesswork out of which intensity level to choose. Just plug-it-in and start zapping!
But what if it smarts too much?
Gentle modes for sensitive bits
IPL can smart a bit on more sensitive body areas like your bikini line and underarms. Luckily, Braun IPL has 2 additional comfort modes to adjust the intensity. They’re simple to activate.
1 light means extra gentle mode. This chooses the lowest IPL intensity level 1.
2 lights mean gentle mode. This reduces the intensity so you’ll see fewer white indicator lights illuminated.
3 lights mean standard mode. The Braun IPL balances maximum power and safety for your skin tone.
Extra gentle mode adds further reassurance if you have darker skin. However, if safety and comfort for darker skin are your concern, you should consider my recommended devices for dark and black skin.
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TIP: Braun suggest use the gentle mode for your first few sessions to get used to the treatments, but bear in mind you’ll get faster results in standard mode with the higher energy intensity levels.
It’s fast
The Braun Pro 5 IPL is one of the fastest high-power home IPLs you can buy. The flash rate is very fast at every 0.6 to 1.2 seconds, fastest on the lowest intensities. Keep the flash button pressed for continuous flashes in glide mode. After each flash glide the handset 1cm along your skin to the next position.
You’ll appreciate how the compact and lightweight design is easy to handle at speed. It’s not quite a fluid motion – but it’s fast and manageable.
Braun say you can do both lower legs in 5 mins on the lowest intensity level. For me, it selected the higher intensities and one lower leg took just over 3.5 minutes. A meticulous full leg took me around 9 minutes.
I did my full body in just under 28 mins (full legs, extended bikini, underarms and face). That’s one of the fastest high-power IPLs I’ve tested. It’s beaten only by the Smoothskin Pure. So, if you don’t have much time to spare and speed is what you need most, this is a solid choice.
Treatment App
For this updated Pro there’s a newer, rebranded App called ‘Braun Silk-expert Pro’.
It has all the product information and ‘how to’ videos
available on the Braun website. And the most helpful bit is where you schedule your
sessions and reminders. The App even lets you change the frequency of your
sessions to accommodate the switch to your top-up maintenance.
It helps a lot to remember and stick to your treatment plan so you get the best possible results.
You’ll hear the cooling fan whirring inside the device. And
you’ll hear each flash ‘pop’.
The flashes are bright, but harmless to your eyes. You don’t need to buy specialist goggles or glasses. Use it in a well-lit room so the flashes don’t seem so intense. Sunglasses can help ease any irritation you might feel.
It feels warm and tingly against your skin. Some more sensitive areas, like ankles, thighs, bikini line and underarms can smart a bit. Hair is generally thicker and denser on the bikini line and underarms so these areas can be uncomfortable. Simply select gentle or extra gentle mode if it feels too intense. Sometimes starting with the more sensitive areas is easier.
It’s really fast so you won’t
get bored. But it still demands concentration because you must remember which
areas you’ve flashed. This avoids too much overlap and missed hairy bits.
Skin redness is a common skin reaction to IPL. Your skin may also feel a bit hot and tingly. It’s normal and should wear off within 24 hours. You can cover it with a cool facecloth or ice pack. Cooling water sprays are good too, Aloe Vera gel or a non-scented moisturiser.
After your treatment, avoid things that could irritate the
skin you’ve flashed. For example, using hot tubs and saunas, spanking, wearing
tight-fitting clothing, using bleaching creams and perfumed or exfoliation
products.
Avoid tanning and wear a SPF, 30+ ideally, if exposed to the sun! If you don’t you risk experiencing some of the rare home IPL side effects.
Schedule, effort & results
Home laser and IPL devices demand effort and commitment. There’s a start-up routine to get you to smooth, and then top-up sessions maintain your results. Your overall effort depends on the number of start-up sessions and how fast each session is. Therefore, I’ve calculated this effort based on my controlled tests, so you can compare and decide if the Braun Pro 5 is right for you.
Braun say you need between 4 to 12 weekly sessions to get to smooth and hairless skin. You may get there before 12 sessions but most people see significant results after 6. A whole body sessions takes around 30 mins. Therefore, over the start-up you’ll spend between 3 to 6 hours zapping.
No. of sessions (start-up)
Time per session
Total effort during start-up
6 sessions over 5 weeks up to 12 sessions over 11 weeks
30 minutes
3 hours to 6 hours
Once you’re there, switch to less frequent top-ups. These could be every 1 or even 2 months. After several top-ups, you’ll likely need them even less frequently. The Braun Pro asks for such a small amount of your time and effort for excellent results. It’s one of the bestso easier to fit around your busy life.
What results can you expect?
Shave before every treatment, and /or between sessions as
you need.
Our tester’s experience matches the advertised results. They 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.
Once smooth, do top-ups as you need them. Shave if you need to before these. Try spacing some a month apart, and eventually increase the gap to 2 months and even further.
So far our tester says…
“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!”
p
TIP:Top-up sessions are vital with all home IPL and laser devices. Studies show the more top-ups you do, the longer-lasting your results. So, over time you need top-ups even less frequently.
The negatives
Just a few not-so-big negatives to report.
First, as mentioned earlier, the Braun Pro 5 is fast and magic on large areas like legs. However, sometimes the flash rate is unpredictable so you can glide it too far, or not far enough in between the flashes. I think this is because of how the sensors scan your skin and select the IPL intensity before each flash. Try to keep close contact to your skin to keep it consistent. It takes a little practise to find your technique and rhythm (especially if you’re used to a slower IPL device).
And next, it’s a bit pricey at full RRP. But offers around £300 and even lower are common. Check prices of the different models because they fluctuate. If it’s over £300, check out the Smoothskin Pure as a cheaper but very worthy alternative.
The Braun Pro 5 IPL is a super choice for silky-smooth skin on your face and small or large body areas. The clever tech matches the powerful IPL to your skin tone so it’s super simple and safe, with a gentle mode too. It’s top quality, easy, fast and gives excellent results too. You can try it with a UK 100-day money back guarantee.
Here’s a quick recap of my test results and pros and cons of the Braun Pro 5 IPL:
Lamp lifetime
⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
One of the best with IPL flashes lasting 15+ years of monthly use. More than you’ll ever need.
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍👍
Mains-powered, fast, light-weight & nimble. Perfectly balanced safety & power in every flash. Easy flashes with small window for face & tricky areas, and wide window for faster coverage on legs.
Effort & Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Silky skin after 4 to 12 weekly sessions, then top-ups every month or so to stay smooth. One of the lowest effort home IPLs.
Pros
Foolproof, super-safe plug-and-go operation
Compact, lightweight, robust & elegant
Fast sessions – one of the best
Powerful IPL adjusts to your skin tone before every flash
Gentle & extra gentle mode for stingy bits!
Very easy to flash all round your body
Precision attachment for tricky upper lip
Wide attachment for fast coverage on legs
Easy flashes on knees, shins & ankles
Clinically proven, CE certification & FDA-cleared
UK 100-day money back guarantee
Cons
Variable speed flashes aren’t always steady
Expensive at full RRP, but offers are common
Buy Braun Pro 5 IPL 🏷
When you shop via my links I earn a small commission (but your price stays the same). And I really appreciate your support 🙏!
Choose from various Braun Pro 5 models. Each has a nice storage case, Venus razor, standard and precision flash window (excluding PL5014). Some then have additional flash windows too. See the options below👇.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) hair removal slows and reduces hair regrowth after each treatment. Eventually, hair stops growing and periodic use will keep you fuzz and stubble free. Learn more about how home IPL works here.
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IMPORTANT: Silk’n in the US and Canada don’t promote the Infinity safe for the darkest and black skin tones. That’s because it’s FDA-cleared for Fitzpatrick types I to V, but NOT the darkest type VI. However, in Europe – where the FDA has no jurisdiction it’s advertiused safe for the darkest skin tones with a small study as evidence.
First impressions
The Silk’n Infinity comes in a neat, hot pink and white box. It shows all the key info including skin colour and hair colour chart, body areas you can treat, and a diagram explaining eHPL (galvanic and IPL energies).
Slide off the information sleeve and underneath is a strong pink and white cardboard box.
Everything is neat and in its place. The storage case is a super extra from Silk’n. The full contents inside the storage case are shown below:
What’s in the box?
Silk’n Infinity 400,000 device
Mains adaptor with UK, europe and US plugs
User manual
Warranty card
Hard zip-up storage case
Cleaning cloth
Before you start
Before you start zapping away, first read the user manual and do a skin sensitivity test.
The Silk’n Infinity user manual is an easy but slightly dry read. It has helpful photos and diagrams to help get you acquainted with the device and is presented in a logical order. It describes the possible side effects, clinical study results, how to use it and what to expect during your treatments.
Read the important warnings and reasons the Infinity may not be safe or suitable for you. Such contraindications include being pregnant, having epilepsy, taking photosensitising medications, skin conditions, on tattoos or after skin peels plus more. Learn more about general contraindications for home IPL. You can download the user manual from silkn.eu.
There’s also some important tanning advice in the user manual too. There’s more on tanning and sun exposure here. You must:
✔️ Wait at least 4 weeks since sun exposure or sunbathing before using the device
✔️ Cover-up and avoid sun exposure on treated areas for at least 2 weeks after your treatment.
✔️ Apply SPF 30+ sun protection for the duration of your regimen
However, Silk’n UK and Europe advise you can use the Infinity after sun bathing and sun exposure, but only on intensity level 1. This means you can keep using the Infinity in Summer months for top-ups to keep your skin smooth. Then, in the winter months, use your usual intensity level again.
PLEASE NOTE: Silk’n.com US and Canada DON’T say you can use level 1 on suntanned skin because it’s not FDA cleared as such.
The skin tone chart at the start of the manual recommends which intensity levels are safe for your skin tone.
The user manual says to do skin patch tests starting at level 1 and at each higher level that’s noted safe for your skin tone, or that you find comfortable. Do this for each individual body area. Wait 1 hour and if it’s all clear you can select your preferred level and start with your full treatment.
Here’s a quick summary on how to use the Silk’n Infinity, and there’s loads more detail in the following sections.
Just follow these steps:
Shave before every treatment (unless there’s no hair left!)
Plug in and press the power button. You’ll hear the fan start up inside, the level one intensity light illumiates and then the ready light flashes
Select your intensity level by pressing the power button to cycle through the levels
Position flat on your skin at a 90-degree angle, and with your thumb or fingers on the silver base plate, press the large flash button.
Slide to the next spot and repeat. Cover your skin in adjoining flashes avoiding overlap.
When you’re done, unplug from the mains and the Infinity powers down.
p
TIP:Galvanic current opens your pores making your skin is extra absorbent, so apply a body moisturiser immediately after for super-soft skin!
For this review I tested the Silk’n Infinity on my full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face. It’s gentle, simple and fast. Here’s my feedback.
Shape & design
The Infinity device is slightly bigger than expected, but still compact compared to other devices. The design is simple, clean and functional with a large flash button. It’s light-weight (228g), feels good to hold and is very easy to manoeuvre. The simple controls and a secure mains-power cable are tucked away on the curvy base.
The Infinity has one 2.7 cm2 multi-use flash window. This is a decent size for larger body areas. However, the end of the device is quite bulky, so it’s difficult to position and flash on the upper lip and jawline. It takes a bit of practise – puffing your cheeks helps to get good skin contact on the upper lip.
It runs on mains-power only with a decent 180cm cord. But use an extension cable so you can sit anywhere and not put strain on the cord e.g. next to a full-length mirror or on your bed.
You get 3 inter-changeable plug adaptors; a UK, European and US adaptor. They’re easy to change, handy if you’re travelling and all fit neatly in the storage case.
The design is clean and simple, there’s no fancy ergonomic grip, but it’s comfortable to maneouvre around your body like a smooth and lightweight electric shaver or epilator. And it’s good quality too. you get 400,000 or 500,000 flashes from the IPL bulb (depending on the model). That’s enough for more than 200 full body treatments (full legs, bikini line, underarms and face). So, the lamp lifetime is excellent and the flashes will last 15+ years of monthly use.
N.B. I’ve used only the bulb life to calculate the years of use. General usage and wear and tear can also affect how long the machine keeps working.
p
TIP:Connect your Infinity device to the App via Bluetooth and you can see how many flashes you’ve used per treatment, overall and how many are left!
The App also lets you lock the device, preventing use by any little monsters or curious big kids.
Gentle & galvanic circulation
Like most other home IPL devices, the Silk’n Infinity has 5 intensity levels. But it’s different to other home IPL devices because it’s boosted with galvanic energy too. Galvanic energy is a very low electrical current passed through the skin. It’s widely used in cosmetic treatments for a few decades now.
The Infinity has silver-coloured electrodes around the flash window and on the base. With the window against your skin and your fingers on the base this completes a galvanic circuit and the energy circulates through your skin.
You won’t see the current (the’re certainly no sparks!) and you won’t feel it, but it temporarily opens your pores. And wider-open pores uncovers more of the hair, which then absorbs extra IPL energy. Therefore, the Infinity can use gentler, less intense IPL energy and still get similar results as more powerful devices.
This gentle IPL means not only are the lower IPL levels safe for dark and black skin, but sessions are more comfortable for everyone with less risk of any side effects. If you’re looking for a gentle home IPL, this is the one.
And don’t forget, since your pores open with the galvanic current, body lotion penetrates deeply for softer, well moisturised skin. So don’t forget to apply some afterwards!
Eye & skin safety
The Silk’n Infinity is clinically proven safe for home-use. It passes the necessary European manufacturing and safety standards for the CE mark. It’s FDA-cleared in the US too (but not for skin type VI).
There’s an in-built safety feature to protect your eyes. It only flashes if your skin completely covers the galvanic flash window electrode. Therefore, you can’t accidentally flash it in open air and potentially harm your eyes.
It also protects your skin with an inbuilt IPL filter blocking UV light wavelengths. And, as described above, it uses gentler IPL than you’ll find in other machines. This reduces the risk of side effects and discomfort during your sessions.
However, there’s also a skin tone sensor to protect the darkest skin tones. It’s clever because it checks the intensity level you’ve chosen is safe for your tone.
If your tone and intensity level is safe, the Infinity flashes.
However, if the level is too intense for your tone, the Infinity won’t flash. Instead, the indicator light between intensities 1 and 5 flashes blue. You must then lower the intensity to a safe level. And only those intensity levels safe for your skin tone are activated. So, simply select one of these lower levels and start your treatment.
Intensity levels 1 and 2 are safe for the darkest skin tones Fitzpatrick types V and VI.
Although the skin tone sensor doesn’t automatically choose the best intensity level for you, I do think it’s a neat little safety feature that keeps darker skin tones safe.
It’s fast
The Infinity’s flash rate is quick, between 1 to 2 seconds. It’s fastest on the lower intensities. Keep the flash button pressed for continuous flashes in glide mode. After each flash slide the handset 1cm along your skin (the height of the flash window) to the next position. It’s not quite a smooth continuous motion, but it’s fast enough and you’ll pick up a good rhythm with a little practise.
And it’s quick to finish a session.
Silk’n say you can cover a full leg in 8 minutes. In my tests, I can meticulously cover a full leg in 12 minutes. Silk’n also say you can cover your full body in 20 mins. That also is a little optimistic. It took me just over 40 minutes for a whole-body (full legs, extended bikini, underarms and face).
You get easy and fast sessions with the Silk’n Infinity. It’s just a little slower than most of the fastest – and more expensive – premium devices.
What does it feel like?
You’ll hear the quiet whirring of the cooling fan. Each flash makes a clicking sound. It’s louder on the higher intensities, and louder than most rivals (which make a gentle ‘pop’ sound).
The flashes are bright white too. But against your skin they’re harmless to your eyes. However, they can seem annoyingly bright. Use in a well-lit room (so they don’t appear so intense). And wear sunglasses to help ease the glare.
The flashes feel warm but don’t smart. Our tester (medium skin tone), felt no stinging sensation on those sensitive areas where other IPL devices sting, such as underarms, bikini line and ankles. The soft sensation is because of the gentle IPL pulses.
However, the device does heat up on larger areas like legs. Therefore, it’s a good idea to start with smaller more sensitive areas if you’re treating your whole-body or multiple areas.
p
TIP:As with all home devices, make sure you get a good clean shave. This reduces any heat on your skin surface and makes the IPL energy more effective down in the follicle.
It takes concentration to remember where you’ve zapped, especially on curvy legs. But after a session or two you’ll work out the best way to cover your skin.
A common reaction to the IPL is slight skin pinkness around the hair. It’s normal and should fade quickly within 24 hours. Silk’n recommend moisturising after your session. Not only is this soothing, but remember your skin is extra absorbent because the galvanic current opens your pores! So, get extra-soft and hydrated skin from your favourite body moisturiser.
And cover up and/or wear a high SPF 30+ in the sun. This helps protect your skin from sunburn and reduces the risk of developing any of the rare home IPL side effects.
Schedule, effort & results
All home laser and IPL devices demand effort and commitment. There’s a start-up routine to get you to smooth, and then top-up sessions maintain your results. This schedule is longer if you have darker skin and will use the lower IPL intensities.
On lighter skin tones using the higher intensities, it’s easy and one of the least effort home IPL devices. You need around 4 sessions, 1 every 2 weeks. A whole-body session takes around 40 minutes. Continue these every 2 weeks until smooth. Then, once smooth, do monthly sessions. After around 3 monthly sessions you’ll likely be able to go longer between these top-ups. Do them as frequently as you feel you need.
However, on darker skin tones using the lower intensity levels, it’s more effort. To get smooth, you needaround 12 sessions, 1 every 2 weeks. It’s the same 40 minutes for a full body session . So you must commit this time and effort for a little longer to see your best results. Then, do top-up sessions as often as you need them (typically monthly) to keep you smooth.
Therefore, for darker skin tones, it’s important to have realistic expectations about the effort required. You must have patience and commitment to the cause. Stay strong!
p
TIP: If you can’t fit in the full 40 minutes for your whole body, you can zap different body areas on alternate days. Just remember to keep track of what you’ve done!
What results can you expect?
The following outlines results on lighter skin tones using the higher intensity levels. For darker skin tones, the results appear slower and more gradually during the 12 sessions.
Hairs still grow during the first few weeks. However, the rate slows. Shave before your next sessions.
A few sessions in you’ll notice fewer hairs growing. They’ll
be softer, finer and lighter too. And much easier to shave. Around this stage,
you may not need to shave in between sessions.
After 4 or 5 sessions you should be smooth, or have just a few patches of hair remainig. You can continue treatments every 2 weeks until you have totally smooth skin, or switch to monthly sessions to manage the stragglers.
Keep going with monthly sessions as you need them i.e. if soft growth appears. You can eventually increase the time between these top-ups to 6 or even 8 weeks. But keep doing them. Because if you don’t the hair will grow back! And the more you do the longer lasting your results become. Learn more about the importance of top-ups here.
The negatives
There are just a few negatives with the Infinity device. And
then a few more with how Silk’n advertise it.
First up, the Infinity device.
A bit bulky
The business-end of the Infinity is a bit bulky compared to the size of the flash window. This makes it tricky to position and flash on awkward areas like your upper-lip and jawline.
Face-pulling helps. Puff-out your cheeks and flatten your lips for a ‘flashable’ surface. It takes a bit of practise, but still works.
Next, the skin tone sensor baffles a few dark skin tone users because it won’t flash on the higher intensities. Silk’n do explain it activates just the safe intensities for your tone, but they do this only very briefly in the user manual. It’s easy to miss and thus cause confusion and frustration. So, Silk’n should make it much clearer (I hope it’s clear in this review 🧐).
If you want a more sophisticated design with improved comfort, better flash windows, and sensors that automatically select your best IPL intensity, then try the Lumea Prestige, Smoothskin Pure or Braun Pro 5. But if your skin is dark, or affordable simplicity is what you need, then you can’t beat the Infinity.
Silk’n niggles
Next, a few niggles with how Silk’n promote the Infinity.
First, the guidance on safe skin tones differs in the US. In the UK and Europe, Silk’n promote it safe for types I to VI. But in the USA the range is I to V. It’s confusing, but there is a simple reason. It’s because of the FDA-clearance required for home IPL devices in the USA. Learn more about Silk’n Infinity and FDA-clearance here.
Second, Silk’n do a very poor job explaining what to expect on darker skin tones. It takes much longer to see results when using the lower intensities safe for dark skin, compared to lighter skin using the highest intensities. You’ll also need more regular sessions to stay smooth. This isn’t a defect with the Infinity, it’s just how the science works. But Silk’n don’t mention this anywhere in the user manual or in their sales materials. Learn more about it in the Silk’n study results on skin type V and VI.
And finally, if you live in the UK or Europe, you don’t get a money back guarantee with the Infinity. Boo. However, buy from Silkn.com in the US or Silkn.ca in Canada, and you get a 60-day money back guarantee. Hurrah! So, you can buy and try without risk on fair hair or dark skin to see if it works for you.
Silk’n Infinity Review Summary
Yup, the Infinity is rather special because sessions are quick, and the clever, combined technology means it’s gentle and safe for dark skin tones too. It’s well-made, comfortable to hold, and easy to manoeuvre. And whilst not the easiest to flash on more awkward areas, it just takes a bit of practise to get right.
Here’s a summary of my Silk’n Infinity test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide:
Lamp lifetime
⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
It’s well-made and super value with flashes to last 15+ years of use. One of the best.
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍
Simple, light-weight & comfy, corded design. Clever skin tone sensor detects darker tones and activates only the lower, safe intensities.
Effort & Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gentle to medium power IPL. Get smooth with 4 treatments, 1 every 2 weeks, then switch to one per month to stay smooth. However, it takes longer on dark skin using the lower intensties.
The Philips Lumea Prestige uses Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) that’s safe for use on the body and face. It slows and reduces hair regrowth after each treatment. Eventually hair stops growing and periodic use will keep you fuzz and stubble free. Learn more about how home IPL works here.
First impressions
The Philips Lumea Prestige box is compact, robust, pink and well-designed to show all the key information in a concise and clear way. There’s no chance of anything moving around in transit. And it’s surprisingly heavy!
And I’m happy because nowhere do I see the word ‘permanent’. Instead, Philips say, “Prevent hair growth to feel continuously hair-free”. This still needs further explanation but it certainly doesn’t set misleading expectations like other brands do.
The device is bigger and heavier than I expect. I instantly recognise the same quality materials I love from the Advanced and older Prestige models. It’s solid. Nothing creaks or cracks when you squeeze it. It feels good to hold.
Before you start
Before you start, read the user manual and do a skin test.
The manual is a comprehensive, rather dry but easy read. You’ll find helpful diagrams, skin tone and hair colour charts, information on how IPL works, what to expect from your Lumea, instruction for your skin test, how to use it and aftercare guidance.
There’s a long list of warnings and reasons you may be unsuitable to use home IPL. These contraindications range from pregnancy, epilepsy, diabetes, and medical conditions and medications which make you more sensitive to the light.Learn more about IPL contraindications here to ensure it’s safe for you.
You must also follow the guidelines on tanning and sun exposure to avoid side effects. Philips advise you to:
✔️ Avoid the sun for 2 weeks before a treatment
✔️ Avoid the sun / tanning for 48 hours after your treatment.
✔️ Use a sunscreen of SPF 30+ on your treated skin for 2 weeks after your treatments, or cover up when in the sun.
❌ Don’t use self-tanning creams or gels as this darkens your skin.
It’s best to avoid tanning altogether, both sunlight and artificially, during your start-up treatments. There’s more on tanning and sun exposure here.
Wait 24 hours after your skin test and if there’s no reaction, you’re good to go. And it’s very easy.
Here’s a quick summary on how to use the Prestige, and there’s loads more detail in the following sections.
Shave before every treatment (unless there’s no hair left!)
Plug-in and press the power button. The buttons light-up white and you’ll hear the cooling fan whir.
Select your intensity level either manually, or use the Smartskin sensor
Position on your skin at a 90-degree angle and press the trigger button.
After the flash, slide to the next spot and repeat. Cover your skin in flashes avoiding overlap.
When finished, press and hold the power button for 2 seconds to switch it off.
For this review, I treated my full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face. And I’m impressed with the thoughtful features and technology to make sessions faster and easier than other choices. Here’s my feedback.
Shape & design
I love the Prestige’s gun-shape and futuristic yet elegant design. It oozes style and superb build quality.
I find the gun-shape more intuitive and comfortable than other designs. It feels relaxed with a secure grip on the long, tapered handle where your finger rests naturally on the trigger. Press it comfortably with your index or middle finger, or your thumb if you rotate your grip for face and underarms.
It’s easy to change the flash windows too. You get different shape and sizes for specific body areas. And, from most angles, you can easily see the edges of them, so it’s precise to position for perfect coverage and no gaps.
The 2-metre long tangle-free power cord is quality. It’s thick and supple, and mostly stays out the way thanks to the long-tapered handle. The cord offers enough slack working close to a power socket, or use an extension cable for more flexibility.
The only down-side in the design is the Prestige is bigger and heavier than other brands. It weighs 560g. A few online reviewers find it too heavy and bulky for longer periods of use. However, I don’t notice it so much. It’s balanced so I can rotate and pivot my wrist without any strain, it’s easy to manoeuvre throughout and sessions are fast so it’s not tiring.
The weight comes from the rechargeable battery inside which you need to use it cordless. This is a handy feature, but if the weight worries you and you’re happy with just mains-power, try the lightweight Braun Pro 5 IPL instead.
It’s a quality, robust bit of kit from Philips that’ll last years. You also get a 2-year warranty and the lamp promises more flashes than you’ll ever need.
IPL Lamp Lifetime
There’s no need to worry about running out of flashes.
Using a standardised formula, we’ve calculated the lamp lifetime of flashes for all the devices we test. And the Prestige is one of the best.
With the 250,000 flashes and 4.1 cm² body attachment you can cover a humongous 1,025,000 cm² of body area. We calculate that’s 200+ full body treatments (full legs, bikini line, underarms and face) or over 15 years of monthly top-up treatments. That’s more than enough because the more top-ups you do, the less frequently you need them. So, eventually you can go months and months between top-ups.
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TIP: The latest Prestige 9000 series (BRI955) give up to 450,000 IPL flashes which is a total body area of 1,845,000 cm². Woah. It may as well say unlimited flashes because with that many you’ll never run out.
It’s superb value and an excellent choice for treating your full body. You could share it and still get decades of use.
N.B. 15+ years of use is based on the bulb life only and doesn’t take into consideration general usage, battery care and wear and tear that effect how long the machine keeps working. Philips advertise a lamp lifetime of 20 years (BRI954 & BRI953 – the BRI955 is even longer!).
Power, eye & skin safety
The Prestige has 5 intensity levels and operates at higher IPL power than other devices (from 2.4 to 6.5 J/cm²). This means if you have fair skin and can use the higher intensities, it gives you longer lasting results than less powerful choices. The lower intensities are safe for darker skin.
It’s clinically-proven safe for home use and it passes the necessary European manufacturing and safety standards. It does this with some impressive safety features to protect our skin and eyes.
To protect your eyes, you must hold the device completely against your skin at a 90-degree angle. Sensors around the flash window mean it only flashes if your skin fully covers it. Therefore, you can’t accidentally flash into open space, and potentially near your eyes.
There’s also a UV filter in the IPL flash bulb to stop UV light hitting your skin. And the skin tone sensor protects your skin too. Like most other devices, it won’t flash if your skin is too dark.
And Philips have enhanced the sensor to ensure you use the correct intensity level. Activate it and it tells you the best intensity for your skin tone in 3 simple steps.
Press the sensor button and place the window against your skin
The 5 intensity level indicators light up in sequence as it detects your skin tone
Press the check button to choose the intensity level.
It’s a reassuring safety check which takes away the stress of choosing the right intensity level. And this is especially good for you if your skin tone varies by body area or changes with the seasons.
But what I really like is that you can then adjust the suggested setting. You can’t set it any higher so your skin is always safe. But you can take it down just a notch if it stings. This is helpful on sensitive areas like the bikini line. Other devices with advanced sensors don’t have this level of precise control.
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TIP:You don’t have to use the skin tone sensor. You can manually set the intensity using the up / down controls. The sensor still checks for a safe skin tone for the level.
Mains-power & cordless
The Prestige is the only device to work both on mains-power and cordless. I love this freedom to use it wherever you want.
It’s best to use corded for most of your body because the flashes are fast (every 2 seconds) and you won’t need to stop and recharge. This gets your pins done as quick as possible. And it’s no bother because the long handle keeps the cord out of your way as you work around your body.
Then, simply remove the cord for smaller or hard to reach areas where the cord restricts you. I love this flexibility because you can nip into the privacy of your bathroom to zap your tache and other lady-bits. But note, the flashes are 2x slower (every 3.5 seconds) and the battery lasts around 30 minutes (or 130 flashes at light intensity 5). A full charge takes 1:40 hours. Therefore, cordless operation is no good for legs or a whole-body session. But it’s fine for smaller areas like the face and bikini line where you need fewer and slow precise flashes.
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IMPORTANT: You must care for the battery, fully charging it every couple of months. If the battery does degrade over time, you can still use it corded.
Curved flash windows & fast
Sessions with Prestige are easy, precise and fast. It’s one of the fastest high-power IPL devices.
Used corded, the Prestige flashes every 2 seconds. Keep the flash trigger pressed and glide the large body window over your skin. The inward-curve hugs your skin for close contact and easy flashes on legs, arms and torso. There is a faster device, but I really like the steadygliding flash rate combined with the curved body attachment. It feels accurate, and it’s easy to get into a good rhythm. I don’t get bored, or lose my place because it’s fast.
Philips suggest a full leg takes 7 mins when used corded (and around 11.5 minutes cordless). It takes me about 10 mins per meticulously-covered full leg used corded. On my bikini line I go slower without gliding. I use the body attachment for my underarms with no problems. And the face attachment for my upper lip and chin. I can finish my whole body in 40 mins.
And I do think the curved windows make a difference. They give closer contact on curvy areas so it’s easier to get a flash. The Prestige is the only device with such curved flash windows.
The body flash window
The body attachment (all models) is a large 4.1 cm2 curved–inwards window, to fit the contours of your legs, arms and tummy / top of bikini area. By laying my legs out flat, I get a nice close contact even on my knobbly-knees, without rotating the device, stretching my skin and other general faff! The curve makes it easier to ‘glide’ over my skin too. I like this a lot, but it’s not fool proof. As with other devices, it’s still tricky to cover ankles and shins perfectly.
The precision flash window
The precision attachment(with the BRI953/4 & 9000 models) is a medium-size 3 cm2 curved-out window, which fits the contours of your bikini line where it joins your leg and the indents in your underarms. It has an extra transparent filter for increased comfort on coarse stubborn hairs.
N.B. The BRI956 and one of the 9000 series models has a separate bikini window (pictured above) and underarm attachment. The other Philips models combine these into the precision window with both a bikini and underarm icon. All are equally effective.
The face flash window
The face attachment (all models) is a small 2 cm2 flat window for precise positioning, with a red filter for safe facial use. A curved surface won’t help here, but the smaller size certainly does. I still need to pull a few faces when doing my upper lip, but it’s easy by treatment #2.
Around the tops of my inner legs / bum, I use the body and precision windows for a thorough, ‘no follicle missed’ application! The face and precision windows are easier on feet, toes and fingers (squish them together to make a larger surface). And I find the body attachment works fine on my underarms too (and as it’s bigger is a bit quicker).
Note: Some online reviewers think they’re missing glass from their body attachments. However, they’re actually designed this way.
The body window has NO glass filter across the flash window.
The precision window has a clear glass filter across the flash window.
The facial window has a red glass filter across the flash window.
The different Prestige models
There are a dew different Prestige models available. They’re the same except for the colour, number of IPL flashes, number of flash windows you get with each and the price. Read this short Prestige model comparison for more information and to help you choose.
What does it feel like?
You’ll hear the whirring of the fan and a soft popping sound with each flash.
Like most reviewers, I found it pain-free with just a slight, occasional sting. But it’s no way as painful as waxing, epilating or threading!
The flashes mostly feel warm against your skin. But some areas, like ankles, thighs, bikini line and underarms can smart more because they’re more sensitive. And you may feel increased heat on your bikini line and underarms where your hair is thicker and denser.
A handful of online reviewers with darker type V skin say it hurts even on the intensity suggested by the sensor. If it is uncomfortable, simply drop the intensity level just a notch or try a gentler device designed for the darkest skin.
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IMPORTANT: It can hurt a lot if your skin isn’t hair free, if the light’s too intense for your tone, if you flash the same area more than once,orif you flash an open wound, infection, tattoo etc. So, stay alert!
The flashes are bright, but harmless to your eyes. You don’t need to buy specialist goggles or glasses. Use it in a well-lit room so the flashes don’t seem so intense. Try not to look directly at the flashing end (that’s difficult I know, because you need to get good coverage!) and wear sunglasses to ease the irritation.
It takes a bit of concentration so you don’t miss any areas. And note, Philips say DON’T mark off areas you’ve done with a pen or pencil as this can cause a skin reaction.
After your IPL session, your skin may feel warm and slightly red, and prickle or tingle. It may feel dry and itch a bit too. This is normal and it wears off after a short while. Try using an ice pack or a wet face cloth to soothe it. Cooling water sprays are good too, aloe vera gel or a non-scented moisturiser. Side effects are rare but can occur (especially if you expose your skin to the sun).
Helpful App
The App is helpful too. Schedule your first treatments and it reminds you when the next are due. It’s clever enough to plan treatments for several body areas on different days, and to time these first sessions 2 weeks apart. Put simply, it takes away the hassle of having to remember when to do what.
Once you start the maintenance phase, do a top-up monthly, or if you notice any hair growth. You can steadily reduce them to 6 weeks, 2 months etc. At this point the App may not be so useful.
Effort & results
Home laser and IPL devices demand effort and commitment. There’s a start-up routine to get you to smooth, and then top-up sessions maintain your results. Your overall effort depends on the number of start-up sessions and how fast each session is. Therefore, I’ve calculated this effort based on my controlled tests, so you can compare and decide if the Prestige is right for you.
Philips say you’ll need about 4 to 5 treatments, 1 every 2 weeks (taking 8 weeks), to see significant hair reduction results. A whole-body session takes approx. 40 minutes. So, over the start-up phase you’ll spend around 3 hours 20 mins zapping.
No. of sessions (start-up)
Time per session
Total effort during start-up
5 sessions over 8 weeks
40 minutes
3 hours 20 mins
Then, you’ll need touch-ups sessions every 4 to 8 weeks. After several top-ups, you’ll likely need them even less frequently. I found the Lumea Prestige is one of the lowest effort home IPL machines you can choose.
So, what results can you expect?
Philips say it takes 1 to 2 weeks for treated hairs to fall out. You’ll still see hair growth in these early weeks. They’re likely hairs from new, growing follicles or hairs your zaps missed. Shave before your next treatments, and/or in between sessions as you need to.
2 to 3 sessions in (4 weeks),you should see a noticeable hair reduction. This means less and finer, lighter hairs. You must keep going and complete the full start-up phase. Shaving before your next treatments is easier as it’s finer and sparse, so no more razor bumps or rash! Ingrown hairs disappear too.
After 4 or 5 sessions (8 weeks) your hair reduction should be significant and at best, you’ll be totally smooth! This matches our tester’s results and most of the online feedback too. Learn more about results here.
The touch-ups are very important because hair eventually grows back without them. Philips also say:
“After just 8 touch-up treatments you can be hair-free for 6 months”.
Here, they’re saying you can get long-term hair reduction with around 8 touch-ups. But, my advice: don’t get complacent and stop! Keep going so the hair doesn’t reappear. Everyone is different, so do them as you need. You may need them frequently or be able to space them as much as a few months apart.
Negatives of the Lumea Prestige
There are just a few noteworthy negatives and a few niggles with the Prestige.
As mentioned earlier, it’s weighty (560g) because of the rechargeable battery inside. But sessions are fast so it doesn’t get tiresome. If you want a fast and lightweight device (but without cordless operation) try the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 IPL instead.
And despite the curved flash windows, it’s still tricky to get a flash on bony areas like ankles and shins. Unfortunately, this is so with most other IPL devices too.
Some online reviewers feel the storage pouch should be more luxurious for the price. But this doesn’t bother me. It’s good enough to keep the device and windows clean and dust-free. Keep and store everything in the original box to keep it together and protect it from knocks.
The Prestige is not yet FDA-cleared in the United States. However, it is clinically-proven. Philips are a respected top-notch brand and it 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.
And finally, the Prestige is pricey at full RRP, but offers are common around £300. Prices fluctuate and it’s worth comparing with the Braun Pro 5 and Smoothskin Pure to see which is cheaper. If it’s too much, the Silk’n Infinity is a cheaper but more basic alternative, still with fast sessions.
Philips Lumea Prestige Review Summary
If it’s in your budget range, I highly recommend the quality Prestige for fast and easy sessions. It’s such a good all-rounder for both small and large areas, but especially legs and whole-body hair removal sessions. It’s packed with helpful features unmatched by its rivals. You also get a long UK money back guarantee from Philips so you can try it risk free for 100 days. It’s my overall favourite.
Here’s a summary of my Lumea Prestige test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide:
Lamp lifetime
⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
More flashes than you’ll ever need, lasting 15+ years of use. It’s one of the best.
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍👍
Very intuitive, and the most comfortable and precise home IPL I’ve tested, if a little heavy. Easy flashes with the curved windows. Use it fast on mains-power or cordless on small areas in your bathroom.
Effort & Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Long-lasting smooth after 4 to 5 sessions (1 every 2 weeks), plus top-ups every month or so. A low effort device.
Pros
Superb quailty
Most comfy gun-shape
Easy-flash precise curved windows hug your skin
Corded for fast but precise legs
Cordless for small tricky areas
Powerful, safe & fast
Clinically-proven & CE certification
UK 100-day money back guarantee
Cons
It’s quite big & heavy
Expensive at full RRP
Not yet FDA-cleared in US
Philips Lumea Prestige deals
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The Iluminage Precise Touch and Me Chic are both small handheld, mains-power devices which use Elōs technology. Both are safe for ALL skin tones and work on fair hair as well as dark. Their branding and looks are slightly different, but they work in exactly the same way.
TIP:For this review I tested the Iluminage Precise Touch device by Iluminage Beauty. The Me Chic device is an alternative brand choice from the same manufacturer, with identical technology, indications and ease of use.
The Precise Touch and Me Chic are safe for ALL skin tones because they use much gentler IPL than other devices, and combines it with Radio Frequency (RF) current. The two energies work together making the IPL energy more efficient. Therefore, they can use much gentler (but still effective) IPL, that’s safe for dark and black skin too. The combined IPL and RF energy is called Elōs. Learn more about this FDA-cleared technology for dark and black skin here.
After each session your hair growth slows and is softer. Eventually it stops growing altogether and periodic use keeps your skin silky smooth.
Safe for ALL skin tones
The devices from Iluminage are safe for dark and black skin, as well as light and medium. They’re safe because they use IPL combined with Radio Frequency. The two energies work together creating more heat around your hair follicles, right where it’s needed, to cause damage which stunts your hair growth.
So, this means the Precise Touch and Me Chic use much gentler IPL that usually wouldn’t work, and that’s safe for dark skin tones. Both the devices are clinically proven and FDA-cleared safe and effective on all skin tones. The technology is called Elōs (electro-optical synergy) and you can learn more about how Elōs works here.
Quality & lamp lifetime
The mains powered Precise Touch is simple glossy-white and good quality. The boxy shape and finishing lack the refinement of other rivals, but at 285g, it doesn’t feel fragile or flimsy. The 175cm power cable is long enough to work next to a power outlet or with an extension cable. It’s thin compared to rivals, but is durable enough. You also get a 2-year warranty for peace of mind.
Based on our standardised calculations, the 300,000 flashes from the IPL bulb last 10+ years of monthly use, for face and smaller body areas (bikini line and underarms). It’s excellent value. But on legs, you’ll use too many flashes from the small flash window, plus it’ll take ages to cover such large areas.
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TIP: The Me Chic comes with less flashes than the Iluminage Precise Touch. You get 120,000 flashes from the IPL bulb. This is still a good amount for treating your face and small body areas. It’s enough to get to hair-free and stay that way for years. And, because it has less flashes, the Me Chic is often cheaper than the Iluminage Precise Touch.
Design & speed
Despite the bulky design, it’s comfortable to grip with your fingers and thumb resting in the top and underside dimples. And because the shape tapers to the small flash window, it’s also easy to see where you’re flashing. The device’s long length helps keep the power cord out of your way too.
It’s simple to operate. There’s no faff with skin tone sensors either because the Precise Touch is safe for all skin tones. So, there’s just the power button and Elōs button to control it. The Elōs button cycles up through the three intensity levels shown by the star icons. Be sure to start on LOW and work up to MEDIUM and HIGH levels only if it’s comfortable.
There’s no flash button to press either. The flashes come automatically when the two silver RF contact bars are against your skin, creating the RF circuit. Slowly glide it along your skin for continuous flashes. Or, stamp the applicator against your skin for single, precise flashes.
The RF contact bars double as an eye safety mechanism too, because you can’t accidentally flash into open air anywhere near your eyes.
The Precise Touch flashes every 0.9 to 1.9 seconds. It’s fastest on LOW level. Cover your skin in adjacent flashes, then repeat for a total of 2 or 3 times. You can cover your skin in up/down flashes, then rotate the window 90 and do left/right flashes for no hairs missed coverage! Zapping your face and smaller areas takes only minutes.
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TIP: The Me Chic has a slightly different shape but the same size flash window and operation as the Iluminage Precise Touch.
For dark & fair hair
For fastest, longest lasting results on dark hair you must shave before your sessions.
And if you’ll be zapping facial or neck hairs I recommend dermaplaning as an alternative to shaving. Learn more about dermaplaning here and there are buy links at the end of this review.
However, the Precise Touch is also clinically proven effective on fair hair (blonde and red) if you pluck, wax or epilate immediately before your sessions too.
This helps the IPL work on hair colours without the melanin pigment found in dark hair. Instead, the IPL energy targets the small blood droplets left behind in the follicle after it’s pulled out.
Although the Iluminage clinical tests don’t include grey/white hair, it should be effective in precisely the same way as blonde and red hair.
You can also pluck darker hairs on the face if you suffer with fast, daily growth and don’t want to shave. But, for both fair and dark hair you pluck, you’ll need more than 7 weekly sessions to see results. More on this next.
Results
Treat weekly for seven sessions to get smooth. You may use the device more frequently on facial hair if needed – up to 2 to 3 times per week. Then switch to monthly top-ups.
Seven weekly sessions is usually enough to get smooth. But on darker skin using the low intensity level you may need a few more sessions. And some people may need slightly more frequent top-up sessions to maintain smooth, fuzz-free skin.
For fair hair, be prepared you may need over double the recommended sessions. So, around 14+ weekly sessions. That’s because, to be effective, the IPL relies on just a micro dot of blood in the follicle. Therefore, hairs must be waxed/epilated and zapped several times to be effective. Also, your reduction in growth rate and hair thickness is not as obvious as it is on shaved hairs. Therefore, it may seem like it’s not working. Please be prepared for the extra commitment!
The negatives
There are a few negatives with the Precise Touch.
First, not so much a negative as an FYI. Don’t buy the Precise Touch (or Me Chic) if you want fuzz free legs. The small flash window talks ages to zap larger areas and you’ll use up all the flashes. Instead, check out the Iluminage Touch.
Next, on fair hair you’ll need several more sessions than advertised. So, be prepared for significant weekly commitment and effort. Unfortunately, there are no clinically proven alternatives to try for fair hair.
And finally, there’s no money back guarantee and the Precise Touch is pricey compared to rival compact models. You’ll pay a premium precisely because it’s FDA-cleared safe and effective for both dark/black skin and for fair hair. You could consider the cheaper Silk’n Infinity for dark skin. But for fair hair, it’s the only option clinically proven to work.
Precise Touch Summary
The Iluminage Precise Touch (& Me Chic) is a top choice especially for facial and small areas hair removal. The clever combined IPL & RF mean it’s gentle and safe for all skin tones, including the very darkest. And it works on fair and grey hairs if you pluck before hand. But note, it takes longer to work on fair hair.
Lamp lifetime
⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
The flashes last for 10+ years of monthly sessions for face & smaller body areas (bikini line & underarms). That’s more flashes than you’ll need for decades of smooth skin.
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍
Decent quality, simple, precise, comfortable & fast to use on your face & small areas. Gentle, no stinging sensation. For fair hair removal, pluck/epilate/wax before zapping.
Effort & Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Medium & gentle power IPL. Seven weekly sessions for smooth skin, then top-ups every month or so to stay that way. But results take weeks longer on fair hair!
Pros
Clinically proven & FDA cleared for ALL skin tones
Clinicall proven on blonde & red hair as well as dark hair
Decent quality & comfy
Small accurate flash window & easy flashes
Decades of flashes for face & small areas
Works even if your dark facial hairs turn grey
Can pluck, wax, or epilate hairs before sessions
FDA-cleared & CE certification
Cons
It’s expensive at full RRP
No money back guarantee
Several more sessions than advertised for fair hair users
Not suited to large areas & legs
No longer available in the UK
View Iluminage Precise Touch & Me Chic deals
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The Smoothskin Pure Fit uses 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.
First impressions
I love this small and neat, understated, classy black and gold box. Keep the sturdy cardboard box because it’s perfect to store and protect the Pure. It fits in a standard-size draw or looks good on a shelf.
The packaging is majority recyclable cardboard ♻ with just a few small protective plastic bags.
What’s in the box?
Pure Fit device
Precision window
Power cable
Quick start guide
Before you start
Before you start, read the user manual and do a skin sensitivity test.
The Pure Fit comes with a concise 9-step quick start guide with just the basics. So, you must download the full user manual here. It’s a comprehensive but easy read with helpful diagrams. It explains how the Pure works and what to expect, potential side effects, details of the clinical study, how to use it, skin sensitivity test, features and modes, maintenance, troubleshooting and technical specs.
Please pay close attention to the contraindications and other safety warnings because there are several reasons you could be unsuitable to use home IPL. These include being pregnant, having epilepsy, taking photosensitising medications, having skin conditions, over tattoos or after skin peels. Learn more about home IPL contraindications here and read the manual too!
Take care with sun exposure too. It increases your skin’s sensitivity. To avoid sunburn after your treatments and reduce the risk of burns, blisters and discolouring during your treatments, Smoothskin advise:
DO
✔️ Wait 7 days after sunbathing before treatments, or wait for your tan to fade
✔️ After your treatments, avoid the sun for 7 days
✔️ Cover up and use a sunscreen of SPF 15+ after your treatments to avoid unprotected sun exposure
DON’T
❌ Don’t use the Pure Fit on recently tanned or sunburned skin, including artificial tans
Therefore, during your start-up treatments, it’s best to avoid tanning altogether. Both by sunlight and artificially with light or creams. There’s more on tanning and sun exposure here.
To check your skin sensitivity, test each area you intend to treat with a few test zaps! Wait 24 hours and if your skin is normal, crack on with your first session (but avoid the test patch until your next weekly session).
Here’s a quick summary of how to use the Pure, and there are loads more details in the following sections.
Just follow these steps:
Shave before every treatment (unless there’s no hair left!)
Plug in, the sensor shines blue and you’ll hear the fan start up inside
Select your mode; power, gentle or speed
Position flat on your skin so the power bars light up and press the flash button
Slide to the next spot and repeat. Cover your skin in adjoining flashes avoiding overlap.
When you’re done, unplug from the mains and the Pure powers down. The Pure goes into standby mode after 10 minutes if you don’t press any buttons. Just press the power mode button to bring it back to life!
I tested the Pure on my full legs, extended bikini line, underarms and face. Here’s my feedback.
Quality & design
I love the stand-out glossy-black design with classy gold trim. The simple controls and power bars blend in seamlessly with the clean, sleek and sexy look.
The Pure Fit is lightweight at 270g but feels sturdy and solid with no creaks or cracks. The IPL bulb gives unlimited flashes too. So, no need to worry about ever running out. The power cable is fixed into the handle for extra durability too. It’s a quality device, built to last and will keep going for decades of smooth skin. You get a 2-year warranty and Smoothskin says it’ll run for a minimum of 10 years when used as directed.
There’s even a strong black elastic band looped through the power cable so you can’t lose it. Simply wind up the cable and slip the band around it to keep everything neat and tidy. I love this simple attention to detail.
Compact & comfortable
The Pure Fit measures 18cm long, 7cm wide and 4cm deep. The precise curves and compact dimensions fit comfortably in hand in a few different grips. And the angled handle keeps the power cord out of the way too.
In the Smoothskin videos and photos you’ll see the lovely model holding the Pure like this:
I find this hold tires my wrist because you must bend it downwards to position the flash window flat on your skin. It’s especially uncomfortable zapping legs. Instead, I prefer to grip the device from the side with either my thumb or fingers on the flash button. There’s much less strain on your wrist and arm.
However, with these grips, it’s easy to obscure the side power bars with your hand. So sometimes you can’t tell if the red lights are on. It takes just a bit of practice to master and you soon find the most comfortable way.
Multi-purpose flash window
The business end tapers gently to the flash window, so it’s precise to position and easy to see where you’re flashing. The flash window. is multi-purpose It’s a very versatile shape, good for most body areas. But some areas are trickier. Try holding the Pure Fit side wards or diagonally to flash knees, bony ankles and shins.
But rather surprisingly, my upper lip is easy to flash too. Not so with some rivals which require funny faces to get a flash. So, what’s different? It’s the shape. The zapping end of the Pure fits perfectly on either side of my top lip under my nose. You can also feel the edge of the flash window on your skin so you know where you’re flashing. And it flashes first time. Woohoo! No faff on my jawline or chin too. Finally! 🥳
Precision window
Personally, I didn’t feel the need for a smaller flash window because it’s very easy to flash in most areas without it. However, you do also get a smaller precision window. This clips over the main window and covers the ends so there’s a smaller opening.
Powerful & clever skin tone sensor
The Pure Fit is one of the most powerful home IPLs with IPL energy ranging from 3 to 6 J/cm2. The highest intensities are safe for lighter skin tones and give longer-lasting results than less powerful IPL. The lower intensities still work and are safe for darker tones up to type V.
Rest assured, the Pure Fit is clinically tested safe for home use and it passes the necessary UKCA and European manufacturing and safety standards. It’s FDA-cleared in the US too. And it has some neat, super-safe sensor tech inside.
The powerful IPL is controlled in ten small intensity increments, which is double that of most rivals. This means you get a more precise match to your individual skin tone. But there’s no guesswork in choosing your best intensity because the clever skin tone sensor does all the hard work for you. It works like this…
The blue sensor light above the flash widow scans your skin and if your skin tone is too dark, it won’t flash.
You’ll also see these red lights if you don’t have good skin contact when you flash. The skin contact sensor runs around the flash window. It won’t flash unless your skin covers it and so prevents accidental flashes into open space anywhere near your peepers!
If you have good skin contact and your skin tone is safe, the power bars light-up white. The lights show the strongest and safest intensity matching your skin tone.
My skin is fair so I get all 10 lights on full power. The sensor does this before every single flash so you don’t need to stop and check. Therefore, it’s the safest and easiest choice if you have varied skin tones across your body parts!
NOTE: Smoothskin says the Pure Fit is the most powerful home IPL with “20 Watts of hair-stopping power”. This is confusing because scientists don’t use Watts to measure the strength of IPL energy flashes. They measure it in joules per centimetre squared (J/cm2). Confusion aside, along with the Lumea Prestige and Braun Pro 5 IPL, the Pure is still the most powerful home IPL you can buy.
Gentle mode too
But with all this power, what if it stings?!?! I hear ya. Fret not.
The Pure Fit has a gentle mode. Just press the small mode button once and the feather icon shows white. This reduces the intensity of the IPL flashes. So, you’ll see fewer white lights on the power bar and feel less owie in sensitive areas like the bikini line and underarms.
But the product designers over at Smoothskin HQ were not yet content with this 🤓📋.
Zooooom!
They also gave the Pure Fit a speed mode.
Press the mode button again for ultrafast flashes in speed mode. Keep the flash button pressed and glide the Pure along your skin 1cm between flashes. It makes zapping large areas like your legs ultrafast. Smoothskin says you get up to 130 flashes per minute. That’s roughly a flash every 0.45 seconds and is the fastest flash rate of all home IPLs 🥇.
To flash so fast in speed mode, it drops the IPL intensity to the lowest setting. For light skin tones that’s at 4 J/cm2, and for darker tones in increments down to 3 J/cm2. In my tests, the flashes start ultrafast with a smooth, quick glide along your leg. Then, after half a leg they slow just a bit to a very fast and steady pace. A very meticulous full leg takes an average of 7 minutes. That’s the fastest, smoothest and most controlled glide we’ve tested on all home devices. So, if you have more important things to do and speed is what you need most, this is the bestestest choice.
How fast are the sessions?
Smoothskin says you can zap your whole body in 10 minutes. That’s a tad optimistic, even on speed mode. That’s because ankles, shins, knees, backs of legs etc slow you down.
However, my whole-body session – using speed mode on my legs and power mode on my face, bikini line and underarms – took a rather impressive 19 minutes. That knocks the previous champ Braun Pro 5 IPL off its throne and is simply the fastest home IPL you can buy 👑.
Sessions take a little longer on gentle or power mode because the flashes are slower. But even then, it’s still one of the fastest! On gentle mode, the flashes start every 0.5 seconds then, after about 30 seconds, slow to just under a second. On power mode, the flashes start as fast then slow to a flash every second or so. It takes around 9 minutes for a full leg zapping on gentle and power modes.
But because the option is there – and mainly because I’m lazy – I choose to zap my legs on speed mode and save myself a few precious minutes.
What does it feel like?
You hear the cooling fan whir and a soft pop with each flash.
The flashes are bright but harmless. However, they can get a bit irritating. To help, use the Pure in a well-lit room (this lessens the glare), or wear sunglasses if it’s too much 😎. (You don’t need protective goggles!)
The flashes feel warm and tingly against your skin. And on power mode, they get hot and can smart on sensitive areas. This is generally where hair is thicker and denser like your bikini line and underarms. I also find ankles and tops of my thighs sting a bit too. If it’s too much simply use gentle mode to reduce the heat and intensity.
The Pure is fast so you’re done before getting bored or tired. And once the flashes settle to a consistent pace it’s easy to time the gliding for accurate coverage. Bony and uneven areas take a bit more time and precision but are easy enough after a few sessions.
Skin redness is a common skin reaction to IPL. Your skin may also feel a bit hot and tingly. It’s normal and should wear off within 24 hours. Cool it with a damp facecloth or ice pack. Cooling water sprays are good too, as is Aloe Vera gel or a non-scented moisturiser.
Cover up and avoid tanning and sun exposure after your session. If you don’t there’s a higher risk you’ll experience the rare home IPL side effects.
Schedule, effort & results
Home laser and IPL devices demand effort and commitment. There’s a start-up routine to get you to smooth, and then top-up sessions maintain your results.
For start-up, do 12 weekly sessions with the Pure Fit. This catches all hairs actively growing and gives you your longest-lasting results from the start. A whole-body session takes around 20 minutes so it’s easy to fit in. Most people see noticeable results within 4 weeks, and significant results after 6 sessions.
Once you’ve finished the start-up, switch to less frequent top-ups to maintain your results. Smoothskin suggests every 1 month, but you may be able to stretch up to 2 months. That’s because your hairs get a larger dose of hair-stunting IPL from the 12 session start-up stage. After several top-ups, you’ll likely need them even less frequently. The Pure Fit gives excellent smooth skin results.
What results can you expect with the Pure Fit?
Shave before every treatment, and/or between sessions as you need.
Our user trial reports excellent results. Hair growth slows and softens after around 3 sessions. It gets even softer and lighter over the next few sessions until large bald patches appear. Shaving is much easier and without irritation and after 6 sessions skin is smooth. There are just a few tiny patches to shave before the next sessions. And by session 11 there’s nothing to shave anymore. Smooth and silky, and no ingrown hairs too!
Results are a little slower on legs using speed mode versus power mode on bikini and underarms. That’s because the IPL intensity on speed mode is less. It still works, and I love the option for faster sessions. But you can still use power mode if you prefer.
Once smooth, do top-ups as you need them. Shave if you need to before these. Do a few at one-month intervals then see if you can stretch to two, three and even further.
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TIP:Top-up sessions are vital with all home IPL and laser devices. Studies show the more top-ups you do, the longer-lasting your results. So, over time you need top-ups even less frequently.
The Smoothskin Pure Fit Negatives
I found just a few minor negatives with the Pure Fit.
First, as mentioned earlier, it’s 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.
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 extra hard, the device to heat up and the flashes to slow down. It’s simple to avoid this issue though. Just rest it on its back or side, or place it 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.
You also don’t get a fancy storage pouch or case with the Pure Fit. But who cares because the box it comes in does the same job! It also means there’s less waste. 🌎😇
And finally, the Pure Fit is expensive. But less so than the other premium models Braun Pro 5 and Philips Lumea Prestige. I think it’s well worth it for the fastest and easiest sessions with a quality device. Oh, and there’s a discount code below, just for you.
Here’s a quick summary of the scores and a round-up of the pros & cons to help you decide if the Pure is right for you.
Smoothskin Pure Fit review summary with pros & cons
The easiest & fastest, best value premium at-home IPL
This handsome and nimble zapper is so sleek and straightforward to use. That’s thanks to the powerful point-and-zap tech, with a gentle mode for extra control. In my tests, it’s the quickest to zap a whole-body too. A top choice for any body area, you get a WORLDWIDE 90-day money back guarantee too, so you can try it risk free. It’s ace.
4.9 / 5
Face, small bits, legs & large areas
💰💰💰
Here’s a quick recap of my test results and pros and cons of the Smoothskin Pure Fit:
Lamp lifetime
⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Excellent quality & build. Unlimited IPL flashes so you’ll never run out. Get smooth and stay that way for years to come. With a 2-year warranty. The best of the best for value.
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍👍
Auto-adjusts the IPL to match your skin tone before every flash. Light-weight & handy, with power, gentle & speed modes for extra control. And a small precision window for easy flashes everywhere. Full leg takes from 7 mins (speed mode). The fastest and easiest high-power home IPL for no-faff sessions, done in a jiffy.
Effort & results
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Do 12 weekly sessions. Hair growth slows & softens after 3+ sessions, then stops for hair-free skin after 6+ sessions. Finish all 12 sessions for your longest-lasting results. Then, do top-ups every 4 to 8 weeks. After several you’ll can get months of smoothness between top-up sessions. Excellent, quick results.
Pros
Excellent quality
Handsome, handy, lightweight & comfy
Powerful IPL auto-adjusts to your skin tone – fool proof & super-safe
Gentle mode for stingy bits
Fastest sessions, with speed mode for legs
Easy flashes with a precision window for tricky areas
Clinically-proven
UKCA & CE certified, & FDA cleared
The only WORLDWIDE money-back guarantee (90-days)
Cons
Easy to accidentally cover the air vents
Shows fingerprints & smudges
Expensive (but best value of the premium choices!)
SmoothSkin Pure Fit deals 🏷
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NOTE:The Iluminage Touch and Me Sleek are both mains-power devices which use Elōs technology. Both are safe for ALL skin tones and work on fair hair as well as dark. Their branding and looks are slightly different, but they work in exactly the same way.
TIP:For this review I tested the Iluminage Touch device by Iluminage Beauty. The Me Sleek device is an alternative brand choice from the same manufacturer, with identical technology, indications and ease of use.
The Iluminage Touch is safe for ALL skin tones because it uses much gentler IPL than other devices, and combines it with Radio Frequency current. The Radio Frequency travels through your skin down to the hair root creating gentle resistance and so heat. This gives the IPL flashes easier passage through our skin by following the path of the RF. Therefore, it can use much gentler (but still effective) IPL, that’s safe for dark and black skin too. The combined IPL and RF energy is called Elōs. Learn more about this FDA-cleared technology here.
Your hair growth slows after each session until it’s greatly reduced. Eventually it stops growing altogether and periodic use keeps your skin silky smooth. Learn more about how home IPL works here.
Safe for ALL skin tones
The devices from Iluminage and Me are safe for dark and black skin, as well as light and medium. They’re safe because they use IPL combined with Radio Frequency. The two energies work together creating more heat around your hair follicles, right where it’s needed, to cause damage which stunts your hair growth.
So, this means the Touch and Me Sleek use much gentler IPL that usually wouldn’t work, and that’s safe for dark skin tones. Both the devices are clinically proven and FDA-cleared safe and effective on all skin tones. The technology is called Elōs (electro-optical synergy) and you can learn more about how Elōs works here.
Quality & lamp lifetime
There are two Touch models; one with 120,000 and the other with 300,000 flashes. The first lasts around 2 years of monthly whole-body sessions and so is probably best for just face and small areas. The latter lasts for around 5 years of monthly whole-body sessions. It’s enough to get you smooth and keep you that way for many years. But, depending on how frequently you need top-up sessions, you may eventually run out of flashes.
These models aren’t as good value as the Silk’n Infinity (also safe for all skin tones), but it’s decent enough. Replacement flash cartridges are available (but quite expensive).
The Me Sleek model gives unlimited flashes!
The mains-powered base unit and corded applicator is now a slightly out-dated design. But despite that, the materials feel quality, the build is sturdy and the applicator cord is flexible and robust. It feels durable and long-lasting. You get a good 1 or 2-year warranty depending on where you buy it. Unfortunately, there’s no money back guarantee.
Design & speed
The device is easy to operate with simple controls and three intensity levels. The advantage of the applicator is it’s small, lightweight, and familiar, just like an electric shaver. Therefore, it’s very comfortable to hold and intuitive to position around your body.
And it’s even easier than other rivals because there’s no flash button to press. It flashes automatically when the two RF contact bars are against your skin. So, you’ll feel no strain as you zap away! It also means you can’t accidentally flash anywhere near your eyes. Simply stamp the applicator against your skin for single, precise flashes.
There’s no faff with skin tone sensors either because it’s safe for all skin tones. But, be sure to start on LOW and work up the levels only if it’s comfortable.
The Touch flashes every 0.9 to 1.9 seconds. It’s fastest on LOW level. You must cover your skin in flashes 2 or 3 times. Iluminage suggest it takes around 10 minutes per full leg. We find it closer to 15 minutes on the lowest level. It therefore takes even longer on the higher intensity levels.
For dark & fair hair
For fastest, longest lasting results on dark hair you must shave before your sessions.
And if you’ll be zapping fatcial or neck hairs I recommend dermaplaning as an alternative to shaving. There are dermaplane tool deals at the end of this review.
However, the Precise Touch is also clinically proven effective on fair hair (blonde and red) if you pluck, wax or epilate immediately before your sessions too.
This helps the IPL work on hair colours without the melanin pigment found in dark hair. Instead, the IPL energy targets the small blood droplets left behind in the follicle after it’s pulled out.
Although the Iluminage clinical tests don’t include grey/white hair, it should be effective in precisely the same way as blonde and red hair.
The Iluminage Touch also comes with an epilator attachment, to speed up sessions for fair hair users. The attachment sits in front of the flash window so you can pluch and zap together. Your hair thickness and density determines if this is a sensible approach for you. If not, you can wax or epilate first, then zap with the Touch.
(Note: the Me Sleek does not have an epilator attachment.)
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TIP: You should shave dark hair before using the Touch for faster and longer lasting results.
You can also wax or epilate if you have dark hair. Or pluck darker facial hairs if you suffer with fast, daily growth and don’t want to shave. But, for both fair and dark hair that you pluck, you’ll need more than 7 weekly sessions to see results. More on this next.
Results
Treat weekly for seven sessions to get smooth. You may use the device more frequently on facial hair if needed – up to 2 to 3 times per week. Then switch to monthly top-ups.
Seven weekly sessions is usually enough to get smooth. But on darker skin using the low intensity level you may need a few more sessions. And some people may need slightly more frequent top-up sessions to maintain smooth, fuzz-free skin. Learn more about home IPL results here.
And for fair hair, be prepared you may need over double the recommended sessions. So, around 14+ weekly sessions. That’s because, to be effective, the IPL relies on just a micro dot of blood in the follicle. Therefore, hairs may need to be waxed/epilated and zapped several times to be effective. Also, your reduction in growth rate and hair thickness is not as obvious as it is on shaved hairs. Therefore, it may seem like it’s not working. Be prepared for the extra commitment!
Negatives
There are rather a few negatives to consider with the Iluminage Touch. Here goes…
First, unlike other IPL devices you must cover your skin with multiple flashes. And passing over each area 2 or 3 times is more time consuming. You won’t notice it so much on small areas like face, bikini line and underarms, but you’ll really feel it on legs. Especially on the high intensity levels. Therefore, the Touch is a lot of time and effort for whole body or legs sessions. Try the Silk’n Infinity for much faster sessions. It’s safe for dark and black skin too.
Second, on fair hair you’ll need several more sessions than advertised. So, be prepared for significant weekly commitment and effort. Unfortunately, there are no clinically proven alternatives to try for fair hair.
And finally, there’s no money back guarantee and the Touch is pricey. It’s expensive because it’s a premium device that’s FDA-cleared for both dark skin and fair hair. But if the price tag still makes your nose bleed, try the Silk’n Infinity instead. It’s a cheaper alternative for darker skin and gives faster zapping sessions too.
Iluminage Touch & Me Sleek Review Summary
The Iluminage Touch (and Me Sleek) are easy to use and quality devices. But they really stand out because the clever combined IPL & RF mean it’s gentle and safe for all skin tones, including the very darkest. And it works on fair and grey hairs if you pluck before hand. They’re the only devices clinically proven to do so.
Here’s a summary of my test scores, and pros and cons for the Iluminage Touch to help you decide:
Lamp lifetime
⚡⚡⚡⚡
The Touch’s flashes last around 5 years of monthly whole-body sessions. That’s long enough to get you smooth and stay so for many years. Very good value. Or choose the Me Sleek with unlimited flashes!
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍
Simple to use with a lightweight corded applicator. Flashes with skin contact, no button to press. Very comfortable to use, average speed sessions and gentle on the skin. Wax or use with the epilator for fair hair removal.
Effort & Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Medium & gentle power IPL. Seven weekly sessions for smooth skin, then top-ups every month or so to stay that way. But it takes twice as long on fair hair!
Pros
Nimble applicator, robust & easy to use
Flashes on skin contact, no button to press!
Use low intensity for dark skin, gives fastest sessions
Me Sleek gives unlimited flashes
Clinically proven on ALL skin tones including the darkest black
Clinically proven to work on fair hair (blonde & red)
FDA-cleared & CE certification
Cons
It’s expensive at full RRP
No money back guarantee
Slow & time consuming sessions vs rivals
Longer than advertised results for fair hair users
Some models give fewer flashes (but you can buy replacement cartridges)
View Iluminage Touch & Me Sleek deals
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The Smoothskin Bare home-use IPL hair removal device uses Intense Pulsed Light to slow hair regrowth on your body and face, and with continued use keeps your skin silky-smooth. Learn more about how home IPL works here.
First available in late 2016, the Bare is the smaller and less expensive cousin of the Smoothskin Gold, Muse and the latest and best Smoothskin Pure. There’s a choice of colours; white and black, all-black and a summer collection in nude, pink and blue. The Bare+ now replaces this older model, but you’ll still find the Bare in some online stores.
The Bare is unique. It emits IPL at just one low intensity of 3 J/cm2. This has 3 stand-out benefits.
#1 Firstly, if you have a darker skin tone (types IV or V) you can use only lower, safe intensity levels. Therefore, the Bare is perfectly suited to you.
#2 Secondly, it’s simply foolproof to use because it needs just one button to operate it.
#3 And finally, the low energy recharges in just 0.6 seconds between flashes. That’s incredibly fast. You can zap a full leg in around 4 minutes.
So, if you thought IPL was too boring and tedious, think again. The Smoothskin Bare makes it easier to commit to regular, fast treatments that keeps your stubble away.
But does the low intensity compromise results? Find out in the full review and decide if it’s a game-changing choice for you.
First impressions
The Bare comes in a teeny box that’s 18 cm long, 12.5 cm wide and 16 cm high. The black box is top-quality, robust, and with a bright blue and black sleeve. You’ll find all the important information about the SS Bare on it.
The black and blue info sleeve concisely describes the key benefits of the SS Bare; it’s ultrafast, has a skin tone sensor, has unlimited flashes and gets results. It explains how IPL works, what to expect and who it’s suitable for.
Even the underside of the sleeve has more information. It claims your legs, underarms and bikini line ‘are done and dusted’ in under 10 mins. There’s also a brief overview of ‘Your first treatment’ and ‘Staying smooth’ with regular use.
The packaging promises ‘long-lasting silky smooth skin’. There’s not a single mention of attention-grabbing ‘permanent’. It also puts emphasis on sticking with the treatment regimen to maintain your results. I think it’s honest and clear, and although you need to read the user manual to fully understand everything, it doesn’t set misleading expectations. Thank you SmoothSkin!
The thought and effort SmoothSkin have put in has definitely paid off. I’m impressed right from the outset. I can’t wait to see what’s inside!
What’s in the box?
Smoothskin Bare IPL device
Powerpack
Country-specific mains plug
User manual booklet
Support programme invitation card
TIP: Keep the compact small black box to protect and store it.
The Bare device
The Bare is no-frills, but the design, build, and quality of materials is great. There’s superb attention to detail from the black silicone grip to the neat, tapered treatment window. It’s light-weight but not flimsy. It feels superb in my hand.
And there are no controls or dials. So, with just the flash activation button in the centre, it’s inviting and familiar.
Before you start
First, get aquainted with the user manual. You must check it for any reasons you shouldn’t use the Bare. And guidelines around when and how to use it. It explains how to do a skin patch test first too.
You’ll also need to get yourself set up. Learn more in the next sections.
Start with the user manual
I like this user manual. It’s like a very small book. And it doesn’t feel like your reading a user manual. It’s easy to read, concise and conversational. It sounds like a flesh-and-blood human is talking you through it all. It’s honest and straight-forward.
Carefully read the warnings, precautions, contraindications and eye safety guidelines to check there’s nothing preventing you from using the Bare.
Then, get acquainted with the design and learn how it works.
Smoothskin have done a super job with this, as they do with the Muse too. The guide is well laid-out, logical and beautifully designed with clear headings and diagrams. But most of all the tone of voice is friendly and conversational. It’s clear, concise and easy to absorb. Top job.
Important: Tanning guidelines
Please pay attention to the tanning guidelines in the user manual.
Your skin is extra sensitive after tanning, which increases the risk of IPL side effects such as burns, blisters, discolouration and scarring. Your skin is more sensitive after your IPL treatments too so there’s a higher risk of sunburn if you go out in the sun. There’s more here.
Smoothskin say:
After your treatments, you should cover up and use a sunscreen of SPF 15+ to avoid unprotected sun exposure
Avoid the sun for at least 7 days before and after your treatments
DON’T use the Bare on recently tanned skin, including artificial tans.
Do a skin test
The user manual tells you to do a skin sensitivity test on each body area you’ll treat.
Do two side-by-side flashes (3 cm x 2 cm) on freshly shaven and clean skin. If after 24 hours you experience no reactions, you can continue with your full treatment.
Shave it!
Shave your treatment areas immediately before your treatment.
They must be totally smooth with no hair above your skin. If there is, it can sting when zapped by the IPL!
Also, you want your hair follicle (the bit below your skin) to absorb all the IPL energy. It’s where IPL works to give you hair reduction.
Once shaven, dry your skin. Nomoisturisers or deodorant please!
Use a good, sharp razor
Use shaving cream for a close shave. Try using hair conditioner – it does the job (but can leave the tub a bit slippery!)
Take your time to get a close shave without any nicks!
TIP: Smoothskin say don’t wax or epilate because you need hair in the follicle for IPL to be most effective.
Choose a comfy place
Next, choose a comfortable and private spot to do your treatment.
Some people set up in the living room and watch TV. Others choose a private bathroom or their bedroom. Whilst it depends on which body areas you’re treating, there are a few tips to help you get started.
In front of a mirror: I like to have a full length mirror. This is very helpful for a thorough bikini line, underarms and backs of legs
A mains extension cable: the Bare has a 2m long power cord, but an extension cable from the mains gives you more flexibility on where you situate yourself. If you’re treating large areas you’ll want to use it corded because it’s faster.
Find privacy: back to the bikini line again! It’s far from elegant and not something you’ll want to share with housemates, kids, window cleaner etc.
Choose the right time: you don’t want to be rushed or interrupted, so choose a time when kids are tucked up in bed.
Sorted? Ready, steady, go!
Is it easy to use?
It couldn’t be any easier.
Shave before every treatment (unless you’re smooooth).
Plug it in. The fan starts and the skin tone sensor illuminates blue.
Press it 90 degrees firmly against your skin. Lights around the flash button show white to tell you your skin tone is safe.
Press and hold the flash button.
Smoothly slide over your skin as it flashes. Cover your skin in flashes avoiding overlap.
Design & comfort
It’s no-frills, so don’t expect a fancy ergonomic shape or extra treatment attachments. Nonetheless, the basic curvy shape is comfortable to hold. It’s light (just 185g) and intuitive, just like an electric shaver or epilator.
The tapered end makes it easier to position than other compact models. The 3cm² flash window gives good coverage on large flat-ish areas like legs. It takes a bit more manoeuvring on trickier areas like your small upper lip and bones on your ankles.
There are no controls other than the flash activation button on the side. So it’s incredibly simple.
There’s one low intensity level that’s safe for all skin tones of Fitzpatrick types I to V.
Long power cord
The cord attached to the Bare is super quality. It’s thick and supple so it can’t get twisted or tied up in knots. A small thing which makes a big difference.
The cord is 2 metres long from the bottom of the device to the power pack. The mains plug adaptor is around 50 cm long. This means the power pack sits on the floor just next to the socket. So you get the length of the cord itself because it’s not weighed down by the power pack. That’s super attention to detail to give you excellent freedom of movement.
Just one intensity level
The Bare is different to all others because it has just one low energy intensity level of 3 J/cm². This means application is fast because it takes less time to recharge between flashes.
No dials or extra buttons. It’s safe for light to dark skin (Fitzpatrick skin types I to V). Just plug-it-in and happy zapping.
The low intensity level means it’s a super choice for darker skin tones i.e. type IV or V. That’s because you can safely use only lower intensities on your skin anyway. Therefore the Bare is a good match. No need to shell-out for a more expensive device with a range of intensities. Because you can’t use them anyway!
How long will it last?
The Bare comes with unlimited flashes!
So, you get unlimited full body treatments or small area treatments. The flashes keep coming as long as the device doesn’t break. So, you don’t need to worry about running out.
TIP: As with all other machines, it’s guaranteed to work for at least as long as the manufacturer’s warranty (2 years). No devices will last forever but you should get decades of use from it. General usage and wear and tear can also affect how long the machine keeps working.
Is the Smoothskin Bare safe?
Yes. The Bare is clinically tested and proven safe and effective for home use. It adheres to the relevant European and International electronic and manufacturing standards too. It has CE conformity and has extra reassurance of FDA-clearance.
The Bare has in-built UV filters in the flash window to protect your skin. It has other features to keep you safe too.
Eye safety
The Bare only flashes when your skin fully covers the skin tone sensors. This protects your eyes by preventing accidental flashes directed into the open air near your eyes.
the light you see from each flash is bright, but harmless when covered by your skin. you don’t need spacial glasses, but can wear sunglasses if it’s uncomfortable.
Safe & simple skin tone sensor
There’s a small skin tone sensor just next to the flash window. It glows blue and checks for a valid skin tone before each flash. If your skin is too dark, it protects you against harm by preventing any flashes.
Stamp & ultra-fast glide!
You get the standard treatment modes of continuous glide and a single stamping action.
For Stamp, press and release the flash button, then re-position and repeat. This is best for small and uneven areas like your face and bikini line.
For Glide, keep the button pressed and slide it over your skin at a consistent speed to cover each position in time with the flashes.
Most devices have a ‘slide-and-pause’ motion, because the flashes aren’t fast enough to make it fluid. But with the Bare, the flashes come every 0.6 seconds. Therefore it really is a smooth continuous motion over large areas like legs and torso. It’s easy and very quick.
So, how fast is it to cover your skin?
How quick are the treatments?
It’s fast. Really fast. The flashes come every 0.6 seconds. Wow.
Smoothskin say you can treat a whole body (full legs, bikini line and underarms) in less than 10 minutes. However, realistically it can take between 10 to 20 minutes. That’s because you must slow down to zap uneven or awkward surfaces. Or just have a bit of a breather.
With the stamping mode, it’s ready to flash as soon as positioned properly. And with Glide mode you can cover large areas quickly. There’s no tedious waiting for flashes.
Smoothskin say it’s ultra-fast. I agree.
How quick are results?
To get speed, the Bare compromises on IPL energy intensity.
It gives low energy intensity flashes of 3J/cm2. This means application is fast because it takes less time to recharge between flashes. The low intensity is also gentle so it’s safe for medium to darker skin tones as well as light. But does this lower intensity affect your hair reduction results?
Let’s consider the guidance given with other IPL devices. Most have 5 intensity levels ranging up to around 6 J/cm2. Using the highest level that’s safe for your skin tone gives the best results.
That’s not to say the lower levels don’t work. They do. But, studies show they can take longer to get to smooth. And then more regular sessions to stay that way versus using a higher, but still safe, intensity level.
It’s not easy to say how much results differ. Smoothskin give the simple advice that you’ll need “Weekly treatments until desired results are seen”, but they don’t put a time limit on it. Some people see results within a few weeks, but for others it takes a little longer. That’s because everyone experiences a different rate and quantity of hair reduction with IPL.
You’ll also need maintenance sessions every 2 to 3 weeks to stay smooth.
Is it right for you?
So, how do you decide if the Bare is right for you?
If it’s in budget and you’re happy to trade higher intensity levels for more but-very-fast treatments, then the speed and simplicity suits you well
If you have medium to dark skin tones (Fitzpatrick types IV to V) you’ll need a lower intensity level anyway so it’s a superb, more-affordable choice.
However, if you have lighter skin and want to initially dedicate a bit more time to get the best possible results, check out the Smoothskin Pure or Braun Pro 5 IPL.
The Smoothskin Bare is an attractive and affordable option. The lower IPL power means the flashes are fast so it’s a top choice if you’re short on time. The low IPL intensity also matches medium and dark skin to type V – you can’t use higher IPL intensities in more expensive devices. The Bare+ replaces the Bare model – check out the review here.
Lamp lifetime
⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡
Unlimited IPL flashes so you’ll never run out. Superb value.
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍
No-frills but exeptionally comfortable, handy, uncomplicated & ultra-fast, thanks to one low intensity level. Won’t flash if skin’s too dark.
Effort & Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Use it weekly until smooth, then as needed to maintain results e.g every 2 to 3 weeks. More regular sessions but super-quick!
Pros
Lasts forever with unlimited flashes
Compact & no-frills, but fast, easy & comfortable
Low intensity suits darker skin tones
Plug-and-zap, one-button simplicity
Cute!
FDA cleared & CE certified
Beautifully packaged, a perfect gift
Worldwide 90-day money back guarantee
Cons
The one low intensity level gets results, but you’ll get faster and longer lasting results on light skin with a more powerful device – try the Pure instead
You can check prices or buy the Smoothskin Bare using the links below.
Smoothskin Bare deals 🛒
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