NEW Boots Smooth Skin PLUS

You may remember I mentioned that there was due to be a new improved Boots Smooth Skin PLUS....Well after a slight delay it is finally here and I was kindly sent one to review so I can let you know whether this product is a HIT or a MISS before you shell out a big wedge of cash.

I am not always a bit fan of home hair removal, the No! No! hair removal machine in particular being totally and completely pointless especially. The original ipulse did have some issues that I didn't like such as it taking ages between zaps and the fact that it looked a bit...cheap given the pricetag. I also found that as soon as I stopped using the ipulse on my bikini line the hair (slowly) started to grow back, even though I doubled the amount of suggested times I used it. BUT I found out why that was as I shall explain below.


After having a play about with the new mark 2 of the ipulse I was pleased to see that the designers had taken on board the feedback about the design and had made it look and work a lot better. I also learnt why my bikini line hair had grown back when I attended the launch party at the end of last year so I have decided to test the product on my underarms this time for a better indication of result.

The Boots Smooth Skin iPulse is an IPL that offers clinically proven, permanent hair reduction. The suggested usage is once a week for 12 weeks, at which point hair growth should be significantly reduced, and a top-up session is then required every three months or so.

What I completely hadn't realised when first using the iPulse is that once results are achieved you still need to keep the device for top-up treatments every few months as while the regrowth becomes less over time until the point that it's barely visible it doesn't all go after 12 sessions. I do think they should have made this more obvious in the first place as then you have realistic expectations. I mean obvious as in BIG letters, as it completely bypassed me and I was trying to review it!


So what's changed?
The new model has 20,000 shots of power which is double the old machine
There is less time between zaps so it doesn't take as long
There is a cooling system so it won't get so hot
The handset and overall machine look much more professional
There is a new skin tone sensor which means you don't have to guess your skintone as it will tell you
There is 1 extra skin type setting
There is a much longer handset cord which was a massive bugbear of the first machine
The cost has also increased from £281.90 to £399.99


Reasons why you wouldn't use the iPulse
If your skin is too dark
If your hair is very pale
If your hair is very fine
If you have a tan
If you have a fake tan
If you have blond hair
If you have grey hair
If you are on thyroid or homone medication
If you're pregnant


Why does IPL work better on some areas of hair than others?
Not all hair was created the same:
TERMINAL hair which is visible and pigmented, such as your eyebrows or armpit hair - this is the best type of hair to remove via IPL treatments

FINE hair which is barely visible and not pigmented such as your face or tummy - this hair is hard to remove as the hair is not pigmented the IPL will not pick up the pigment in the hair so won't zap it properly (oh so technical ..not ;P )

Ambisexual hair - armpits etc - works well if the hair is dark

Sexual hair - facial for example if you have PCOS - doesn't work that well and the treatment will have to be continuously topped up, this is because the hair is stimulated by the male hormone and is very very slow to respond to IPL and new hairs will be growing as they are being stimulated by the hormone.

Now from the info provided it says that IPL will achieve the best results on ambisexual hair such as the bikini line, well I did not find that at all last time. So I am going to try the armpit hair this time.

So stay tuned to see my lovely armpits! Buy Boots Smooth Skin PLUS from Boots.com iPulse website: www.ipulse.co.uk