Pros:
- Affordable
- Low pain
- Results appear quickly
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Not permanent or long-term
- Requires three months to get full results
We’ve all been there: You’re on a spontaneous beach day or decided to wear shorts, and hair gets in the way. Hair removal can be a hassle no matter which route you take. Shaving or waxing can be high-maintenance and time-consuming, and laser hair removal seems daunting and, not to mention, expensive. So when I had the opportunity to test an allegedly painless at-home hair removal device (sans ingrown hairs or razor bumps), I jumped at the chance.
Without getting too much into my relationship with body hair, shaving was (at least) a weekly ritual that I did not enjoy. Not to mention the occasional ingrown hair. I debated getting laser hair removal, but the timing never seemed right, and I was unsure about my pain tolerance. My only experience with laser hair removal was with electrolysis on small areas. Upon finding out that the SmoothSkin Pure Fit IPL device could mimic in-office results in as little as four weeks, I had to investigate and see exactly how the IPL process worked.
SmoothSkin Pure Fit IPL Hair Removal Device
SmoothSkin Pure Fit IPL Hair Removal Device
Now 15% Off
How does IPL work?
IPL (intense pulsed light) emits multiple wavelengths of light, which is converted into heat, to destroy the hair follicle. What sets IPL apart from other hair removal lasers is that it uses multiple wavelengths—as opposed to other lasers that use a single wavelength—to select the pigment of the hair follicle only to minimize damage of the surrounding skin. "Since laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment of the hair follicle, dark hairs tend to respond the best to laser hair removal," Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D. previously told BAZAAR.com.
Before diving into the full experience, I spot-tested the laser on one part of my leg to ensure I was sensitized to the laser. Before any SmoothSkin session, you have to remove the hair and create a clean canvas for the laser to work on. My preferred method is shaving, so I shaved my legs and underarms, which is where I tested the device.
Is the SmoothSkin Pure Fit easy to use?
Though the SmoothSkin Pure Fit IPL device comes with a smaller tip for precision areas like above the lip, I started with the bigger tip for my legs. It's very user-friendly: It will never zap light or heat without perfect skin contact (dots on the side light up white when there’s good contact and red when there is poor contact). I loved this feature, because no matter which direction I was going in, it took the guesswork out of trying to get the laser in the right spot to work. The only downside to the dot indicators was that it can be tricky to get skin contact in some areas (like the shins or knees). I found I had to rotate the laser vertically or horizontally in some spots to get the right contact. To use the device on my legs and underarm area, it took me about 20 minutes each time.
Is it painful?
At first, I was hesitant to start using the device, because I thought it would give a burning or painful sensation. But, much to my surprise, the multiple wavelengths made the pain level relatively low. You feel a warming sensation and a feeling similar to rubber bands snapping. The pain was so minimal that the heat felt nice. During my first use, my pain level was a two or three out of 10. Part of my legs hurt slightly more (near my shins or ankles where there’s more prevalent bone), and my underarm area hurt more than my legs overall.
SkinSmooth says that after three to four weeks, you start to see noticeable lack of regrowth, and that was definitely the case for me. I didn’t believe the technology would work that quickly, but after three weeks, hair started to grow back slower in some areas. By the fifth week, I went about nine days without needing to shave. In fact, I went to Europe for a week halfway through this eight-week trial, forgot a razor, and didn’t even need to make an emergency pharmacy run to get one.
After using the SmoothSkin device once a week for eight weeks, I had very minimal hair growth at all. The brand recommends continuing weekly sessions for 12 weeks, but I am amazed at the results 75 percent of the way in. Of course, there’s a catch: Due to the low pain level and affordable price compared to in-office laser treatments, touch-ups will have to be done every few weeks to keep the regrowth at bay.
As someone who spent 20 minutes a week lasering my hair off with the SmoothSkin, I picked up a few tricks. First, if you’re shaving, I recommend waiting about 10 minutes after showering to use the device since slightly damp skin makes the device hurt more. Also, just because it doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean it’s not working; I occasionally went over areas more than once, and it didn’t add any value.
Final Rating: 5/5
I am still in awe of how this low-pain device zapped nearly all of my body hair. For the price and ease of use, I’m giving the device a perfect score. The only downside, I’ll say, is that it’s not as permanent as laser hair removal—but I never expected it to be, so I am very satisfied with these results.
SmoothSkin Pure Fit is on sale for $303 (regularly $379) online at currentbody.com.
FAQs
It works as it is described and I saw hair reduction after 3-4 sessions. The problem is that by the 5th session, it would only work sporadically. Sometimes when I would push the button, nothing would happen. I cleaned the device exactly like the handbook describes as well.
Why is my smooth skin pure not working? ›
I can't get my SmoothSkin Pure Mini device to work? Make sure the power supply is plugged in. Ensure the Skin Tone Sensor is fully pressed against the skin. SmoothSkin Pure Mini will not activate if it detects an unsafe skin tone.
How effective is the IPL hair removal device? ›
IPL treatments, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology, show that people get 83.3% less hair growth after one month and 78.1% less after three months. Results can last for years or even permanently. This makes IPL an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy long-lasting smoothness.
Does at home IPL actually work? ›
IPL isn't going to make every single hair on your legs (or bikini line, or wherever) permanently vanish, but both in-office treatments and many quality at-home IPL devices are FDA-approved for permanent hair reduction. You may need a few sessions to see results, though, and IPL treatments aren't for everyone.
Is smooth skin achievable? ›
Exfoliation is an incredibly effective way to achieve smooth skin, and the results are often noticeable immediately. Exfoliating helps to unclog pores and remove dead skin cells, residual makeup particles, and other environmental pollutants that build up naturally each day.
Is smooth skin good? ›
Smooth skin is a sign of healthy skin. Learn more about what causes skin to take on an uneven texture and what you can do to achieve smooth skin.
Can you use IPL on pubic hair? ›
IPL hair removal is a progressive treatment that offers full body hair removal - but you can use IPL to treat separate areas, such as your arms, legs, or pubic area, depending on your individual needs. When using IPL, you'll hold a flashgun device that delivers a spectrum of light to the skin.
How long does IPL take to permanently remove hair? ›
After completing a session of 12 weeks, the hair growth will reduce completely, providing you with silky, smooth skin for a longer time. However, you may have to continue touch-ups as needed. It is most effective on darker coloured body hair, as the melanin absorbs the light.
Is IPL or laser better for hair removal? ›
Laser hair removal is more aggressive than IPL hair removal. The former penetrates deeper into the pores resulting in a more optimal effect. You may only have to go for fewer top-ups to achieve the desired outcome.
Why am I not seeing results with IPL? ›
If you've been doing IPL for a long time but had long gaps in between treatments, that might make it so you don't see results as quickly. What to try: Consistency is how to make IPL more effective. Plan on consistently using IPL once or twice a week for a few weeks and see if that makes a difference in results.
Why do hairs 'grow' after treatment? Contrary to other treatments, hairs are not vaporised by IPL treatment. The hair follicles are killed by the heat but the hairs remain in the skin and often become attached to the epidermis.
Do brown spots come back after IPL? ›
Sometimes a specific brown spot that resolved with IPL treatment may come back months or years later. This does not mean the treatment did not work, but rather, the treatment worked and the spot returned due to aging and lifestyle factors, and it should respond well to another treatment.
What is the strongest at home IPL device? ›
Most powerful: SmoothSkin Pure Fit IPL Hair Removal Device
The Pure Fit is an easy to use IPL device that achieves up to 99% hair reduction in 12 weeks, and visible results in just 2 weeks. It stands out as one of the most fast and powerful hair removal devices on the market.
Which brand of IPL hair removal is best? ›
Best IPL hair removal device: Philips Lumea Prestige IPL BRI954/00. Joint runner-up IPL hair removal device: Philips Lumea BRI921/00 Advanced IPL For Face & Body. Joint runner-up IPL hair removal device: Philips Lumea 9000. Joint runner-up IPL hair removal device: JOVS Venus Pro Skin Rejuventation Device.
Is it OK to do IPL everyday? ›
You can overuse at-home IPL. If you use your device too often, you won't speed up your hair removal treatments and could set yourself up for side effects. Like nearly everything in life, IPL works best when following the recommended treatment plans. That's typically twice a week over 8 weeks, for starters.
Why is my skin clear but not smooth? ›
Uneven skin texture can be caused by a variety of different things, including: A build-up of dead skin cells, which can make skin feel rough and look dull. Damage from the sun, which can hinder your skin cells' ability to support smooth skin. Aging, which can lead to a loss of moisture and skin smoothness over time.
Why is my face not smooth anymore? ›
It's often the result of enlarged pores, acne, or acne scarring. It's impossible to achieve completely flat, smooth skin because to do so would mean having no pores - and pores play a vital role in keeping skin healthy. However, there are ways to prevent and minimise the appearance of textured skin.
How long does smooth skin last? ›
SmoothSkin devices will prevent hair regrowth as long as you keep treating it regularly. After the initial 12-week regime, you will need to do 'top up' treatments every 4-8 weeks depending on your hair growth rate.
