Hair removal has become a big part of our grooming regimes, but let’s be honest, it’s unlikely to be anyone’s favourite beauty task. With the promise of needing to remove unwanted hair far less frequently, it’s easy to see why hair removal methods like IPL and laser are so popular.
As you probably know by now though, the world of IPL can be a minefield. Fear not – we’re here to help! We’ve broken down the key features of some of the most popular IPL systems for you into this handy table, to help you decide exactly which device suits you best.
| SmoothSkin Muse | SmoothSkin Bare | Philips Lumea Prestige | Philips Lumea Essential | Braun Silk Expert | Homedics Duo | Illuminage Me Pro Ultra | Tria 4x | Silk n Glide 300,000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Handheld (mains driven) | Handheld (mains driven) | Handheld (battery driven) | Handheld (mains driven) | Handheld (mains driven) | Handheld (mains driven) | Base with handset | Handheld (battery driven) | Small handheld (mains driven) |
| Energy per Flash (J/cm2) | 3 | 3 | 2.88 | 1.8 | 3 | 1.5 | 2 | 7 | 1.2 |
| Treatment Window Size (cm2) | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3.25 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Time between flashes (seconds) | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1 | 1 | 2.5 | 1 |
| Optical Power (Watts/cm2) | 10 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Automatic Skin Tone Selection | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Lamp Lifetime | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 200,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | Unlimited | 300,000 |
| Skin Tones | 1-5 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 1-6 (plus grey and red hair) | 1-4 | 1-5 |
| Suitable For The Face | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Price (RRP) | £399.00 | £199.00 | £419.00 | £220.00 | £259.99 | £99.99 | £349.00 | £375.00 | £150.00 |
Wondering why we haven’t included No!No! in this list? No!No! does not use IPL technology. Lots of people ask us if our products are similar to No!No!’s, but they’re actually very different.
So, now you’ve got the inside scoop, let’s breakdown exactly what this means in terms of your IPL treatments.
Power is a crucial feature to consider when choosing which IPL system is right for you. Why does power matter? The power, or if we’re going to be technical the intensity, impacts how often you’ll need to use your device, and how long you can go in between treatments.
Of our range, SmoothSkin Muse has the highest power output (or to be technical, fluence) at a maximum of 6J/cm², packing a punch that means once you complete the initial treatment regime you can go 4-8 weeks between top ups.
SmoothSkin Bare has a flat power output of 3J/cm², keeping things safe and simple so you can blast through your treatments. It just means you’ll need to top-up a little more often, usually once every 1-2 weeks.
The less time between each flash, the quicker you’ll be able to complete each treatment session. The quickest of the bunch at just 0.6 seconds, SmoothSkin Bare is the fastest IPL system around meaning you can speed through a full body treatment (that’s legs, underarms, bikini line and face) in less than 10 minutes.
Got a little more time? Spend it wisely. With the extra power of SmoothSkin Muse, you can complete a full body treatment in just 20 minutes.
Whilst going cord-free can make life easier, it can also decrease efficiency by compromising on power. Not only that, there’s always a danger of running out of battery mid-treatment, or even mid-leg!
All the SmoothSkin devices are mains powered (with a nice long cable!). This gives you the maximum power along with the option to find a little more space, without having to settle for reduced output. We think it’s a small price to pay for the most powerful products around.
Most devices these days feature a simple safety sensor that will only treat when it senses a suitable skin tone. Some devices also feature a range of settings, and whilst some products require the user to select their own skin tone using a printed chart, other are a little more sophisticated – including SmoothSkin Muse.
SmoothSkin Muse checks your skin and selects the setting for you, adapting with each flash. SmoothSkin Muse also features a handy gentle mode – useful for first time users or those sensitive areas.
SmoothSkin Bare has only one setting, so you can zap and go in no time.
Number of flashes refers to the number of times the lamp inside the device can fire, or flash, before it will no longer work. Luckily because SmoothSkin Bare and SmoothSkin Muse both feature unlimited flashes, you won’t need to worry about running out or hunting for replacement cartridges.
Of course, the cost of the device could make all the difference. Whether you’re looking to save a few pennies or going all out, we’ve got a solution to suit your pocket, with SmoothSkin Bare for just £199 (RRP) or the latest in IPL technology SmoothSkin Muse at £399 (RRP).
And don’t forget we offer the option to spread the cost of SmoothSkin Muse over 12 months at zero extra cost, with payments working out at just £33.25 a month.
Products also come with an automatic 2-year warranty, and a 90-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk free.
Compare SmoothSkin Muse & SmoothSkin Bare side by side to help decide which device works best for you and your lifestyle.
Or take our quiz and let us do the hard work for you.
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