If you want to see my first post on this click here First post on boots smooth skin hair removal system
Just as a reminder – you can’t use this IPL machine on any tanned skin fake or real, my natural skin is very pale and the only place that is untanned is my bikini line, hence why I am using this on my bikini line! My bikini line hair is black for some weird reason (my hair is naturally dark blonde) and quite fine round the edges but regular in the ‘brazilian line’ type of area. I say ‘bikini line’…I have just been using the machine over my entire ‘area’ lol! Hey I thought it would save time!
The instructions tell you not to treat any areas of skin where either fake tanning or natural tanning have taken place within the last 30 days. So to begin with, Matt had volunteered to use this product on his back and he completed 2 sessions as per the pictures below. Sadly Matt being Matt he said it was too painful and then insisted on tanning himself at every given opportunity so he has now got the tango tan of Nancy Del Olio.
Before any sessions – after 2 sessions
So naughty Matt couldn’t use this any more due to his tanorexic obsession
Obviously you should read all of the instructions on who can use this, the preparation and aftercare. One of the other depressing things is you must not use any other hair removal method other than shaving. Otherwise, too much of the hair will be removed for the device to work properly.
Treatments #1 – 9 (one a week)
The device takes 1 or 2 goes to get the hang of then its really easy once you know what plugs in where and how much gel to apply to the area that is going to be zapped. If you were doing this on your legs I bet you would get through more than the 1 tube they give you free.
I just used this whilst laying on my bed on a towel with some baby wipes to wipe off the gel from the handset and to wipe the gel off of me afterwards. You can keep the gel in the fridge but I was just lazy and kept it in the box with the machine.
Each time I pressed the trigger on the handset it felt warm and like I was being zapped or jabbed with a tiny pin. i.e. it didn’t hurt but it wasn’t like a fun treatment obviously.
Each week I shaved all areas due for treatment, then I applied a thin layer of the activator gel to my skin.
I usually start at one side and then work my way over to the other. You have to have all four of the metal raised bits on the handset in contact with the skin and then when the red light on the handset stays on constantly you press the trigger – then there will be a bright flash of light. Thats that bit done and then you move to another area of the skin to be treated and repeat the process.
Now I do want to state when I say I removed all hair I just mean from the top front bit where a brazilian strip would normally be, you can’t use this on the underneath bit near any sensitive areas. Cover any delicate bits with a white towel. As this was a much smaller area, it only took about 10-15 minutes to treat.
This has never hurt me or left my skin red or uncomfortable or stinging. You could apply aftersun or aloe vera gel or there is a product I have read about called Ice Cream which is sold at ministry of waxing for use specifically after IPL treatments.
So after 9 weekly sessions what progress have I made and what have I found.
Pros
This product is really quick and easy to use and very simple, it’s pretty idiot proof as you just point, zap, point and zap!
My hair has been growing back slightly slower.
My hair has been growing back slighty finer.
This must mean that some follicles have been damaged completely and others must have been weakened.
Other Thoughts
From the leaflet enclosed and what I had heard, most people noticed at least some difference from the first treatment. I felt and saw no real different until the 8th treatment.
Also from what I had heard people had seen hair fall out after using this treatment. It may have done but I certainly didn’t personally see hairs just randomly falling out!
I think I will have to use this product well over the indicated 12 times to rid myself of the hair.
The treatment light window does heat up pretty quickly so on a large area this would probably sting a bit, my bikini line is a fairly small area of hair so it didn’t get time to heat up that much.
Because I can’t wax and have to shave my bikini line I now have so many ingrowing hairs it is hellish. I had to pluck a few of the ingrowing hairs out which obviously means that the laser won’t work on them until they grow a bit longer.
Overall
All in all I am impressed that this works at all as to be honest it is a massive progress in at home treatments. I think they could improve their paperwork so you don’t feel like some sort of hairy freak if after 6 sessions you still have hair. I am by no means super hairy and most hair on my body is blond, my bikini line and armpits are the only place the hair is dark so I am by no means covered in gorilla like hair and this sort of product is probably going to appeal to really really hairy people who can’t afford to get their IPL done in the salon or are really embarassed, so it should be more realistic about the length of time it takes, so people aren’t dissapointed.
Get this product here on the Boots Smooth Skin page of Boots website currently £274.99
Going Forward
I will continue using this once a week every week until I get rid of all of this hair and keep you updated!
Let me know if you have any specific questions and I will do my best to answer them x