We are not far away from hot summer days and if you prefer to have a hair-free body, now's the perfect time to start your first treatment.
In my option, an IPL device is the easiest solution when it comes to at-home hair removal experience - and Braun has recently launched their first smart device that learns and adapts to your skin.
It's the app-equipped Skin i·expert IPL (intense pulsed light). Loose Women panellist Frankie Bridge confessed on Instagram and raved about how easy and comfortable it was to use the device. She called it an "at-home beautician" and saved you trips to salon.
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The Braun Smart IPL Skin i·expert allows you to personalise your hair removal treatment and see visible results in three weeks. I got device, which is available to purchase at Braun Online and Boots, in February and have been testing it on my armpits, lower arms and lower legs.
For a disclaimer, I had laser hair removal experience but it was years ago and now the hair grow back and I have only been using a simple shaver and now I have tested the Braun IPL, I wish I started using this earlier.
Connecting the device to the app was easy and once it's paired, the app has a body map for you to click on the body parts you wish to have your hair removed. Then it asked to scan your skin tone to check if you're safe to use the device – the test showed I have "medium light skin tone" – as the sensors automatically read my skin tone 80 times per second to adapt the light power and provide with a comfortable use.
Before the start of a treatment, it was required to do a flash test to see how my skin responded. The flash was definitely stronger than other IPL devices I've tried and I felt a warm sensation as it zapped on my skin, but it wasn't painful.
An expert from Braun's Research and Development team told me: "Our Braun IPL devices have been built with your safety in mind and they are safe for home hair removal.
"The experience will differ from person to person. We recommend all users closely follow the recommended device use guidance – including removing all hair in the treatment area to avoid discomfort."
The app suggested me to switch on "gliding mode" on underarms, lower arms and lower legs and as I put the Skin i·expert on, it also tracked my progress and showed me the percentage as the IPL was performing. I found this feature very useful, especially when I was doing my lower legs session so I didn't miss a spot.
When the automatic flash power adaptation lights up in white, it means the device is ready and safe to use when passing it over your skin. The IPL won't emit a flash if the light turns red.
The app also showed a chart of progress and sent reminders every week prior the next session. After two weeks, I noticed a much slower hair regrowth on my arms and legs. And a month later, my body hair got less dense and I barely needed to shave.
I completed the whole treatment in 10 weeks following the smart app and now I am hair-free and ready for dresses, crop tops and more. A tip to make sure your skin are best treated post-treatment is to use sunscreen with at least SPF15 whenever treated areas may be exposed to the sun.
"We recommend avoiding exposure to artificial light sources, such as tanning booths or solariums," the expert added.
As the brand's latest and best IPL device, the Braun Skin i·expert IPL is not cheap. A bundle with four attachment heads and a Venue shaver is retailed for £999.99; but Boots is offering a limited time half-price discount and you can get it for £500.
Looking for something under £250? Ulike's Air 10 IPL Hair Removal Handset claims to reduce pain with their Sapphire Ice Cooling technology and delivers visible result in one week. The device is now reduced from £369 to £249.
If you prefer to use the device in a pistol grip design, Philips Lumea 9000 Series might be one for you and you can save £110 and buy it at £379.99.
