HAIR REMOVAL FOR EVERY PREFERENCE AND AREA

Today I'm going to talk a little about hair removal. I am lucky that I don’t have facial hair to struggle with, but I still hate the feeling of hairs on my legs, under arms and in the bikini line. And for different areas, I use different types of products…

For my legs, I just cannot go past an epilator, and I have been using one for as long as I can remember, literally decades. And the Braun Silk-epil 9 SkinSpa is my current fave. The Silk Epil 9 is a 4-in-1 model that works both wet and dry, and it has pulsating active vibrations to stimulate the skin for a more gentle epilation. It also has 40 micro-grip tweezers to catch even more hair, even very short hair as short as 0.5mm, while the head of the shaver rotates to adapt to the body's contours. It also comes with two exfoliation brushes, a blue one for deep exfoliation to help avoid those dreaded ingrown hairs, and a purple exfoliation head for more sensitive areas, and for a more refined and silky soft skin.
But that's not all - there's also a standard shaver head, a trimmer cap, a high frequency cap and a sensitive skin contact cap included, a total of 6 extras. The shaver has two speed settings for your personal preference (if you're new to using an epilator, the lower setting may be a little less 'painful", and it takes only 1 hour o fully charge, and then it has up to 40 minutes of battery life, which is more than sufficient to shave both legs.
Compare to other epilators I've used over the past decades, I really love that this one is a wet/dry one, as I find it even quicker and easier to use in the shower, not only can I easily wash away all the small hairs, but I also find that the warm shower helps open the pores in my skin, so it is not only quicker to shave, but also less painful. This really is the ultimate shaver for super-soft hair free skin!

For the bikini line I like using wax - I know I can use the epilator, which also comes with a special cap for sensitive areas, but once upon a time an epilator grabbed my skin as I was shaving, and it hurt like nothing else, which has scared me off, so I always either use an old fashioned blade or wax. Now speaking of wax, I also have to admit that I am not a huge lover of using wax and for the one reason that I've had some pretty bad skin reactions in the past after using it - but luckily that has not been the case with the Marzena, which is also designed for sensitive skin.

The Marzena Large Wax strips are super easy to use. The strips are covered in wax, and you simply warm it up b y pressing your warm hands onto the strips on the skin, and then peel off, and the same time removing all the unwanted hair. The strips are made with aloe vera and essential oils and have a gentle fresh scent, and after the initial slight redness, my skin is left soft and smooth for weeks, and without further irritation or reactions.

Alternatively there's the Marzena Sensitive Hair Remover Lotion, which is my favourite. It is a hair removal lotion intended specifically for sensitive areas, including the face, bikini line, and underarms. It has a gorgeous fresh scent and is also made with aloe vera and vitamin E, as well as it also contains a unique growth inhibitor that helps reduce the reappearance of body hair. To use, you simply apply a generous layer to the clean dry skin, and leave it on for 3 minutes, and check on a small area if it has removed the hair, and if not, leave on for a further 2-3 minutes (but no longer than 6 minutes in total), and clean off with plenty of water. And voila, you're left with the softest, smoothest skin. And this time without any redness, and with no irritation or skin reactions. I am yet to see any reduction in hair growth, but I like how this Hair Remover Lotion make my skin softer and smoother than using a shaving razor, and I find that the re-grown and stubble is less noticeable.

Under my arms, I rarely use anything but the Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment razor. What I really like about this shaver is that shaving head that it comes with, is surrounded by a large block of skin moisturiser infused with coconut milk and sweet almond milk. Often in a rush in the shower, I used to 'dry shave' using shower gel, but since using this razor, the skin in my armpits haven't been healthier. The moisture block makes the shave easier, and prevents the skin from drying out, and also the skin from getting nicks and cuts. The razor also has four blades for a closer shave, and has pivoting head following the contours of the skin, to make it even easier.


Braun Silk-epil 9 SkinSpa - RRP: $299
Available from The Shaver Shop, Harvey Norman, Myer, David Jones and selected national retailers

Marzena Large Wax Strips - RRP: $10.59 / 20 strips
Marzena Sensitive Hair Remover Lotion - RRP: $8.99 /
Available from Priceline, Coles and selected pharmacies

Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment razor - RRP: $12.69 / kit including handle and two replacement blades
Available from Priceline, Variety Stores, Coles, Woolworths and select pharmacies

* Products have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

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PRODUCT REVIEW: BABYLISS PARIS HOMELIGHT COMPACT IPL HAIR REMOVAL

Hair removal is one of those tedious tasks that without a doubt is frustrating many women. Personally I've found myself using an epilator the last many years, simply because, while it does take longer than using a blade, at least you don't have to keep it up every few days, as there is really nothing worse than stubbly legs! And getting it done at a salon with either wax or even more extreme, IPL, is a costly and time consuming affair too. So when I was offered to try the newly launched Babyliss Paris Homelight Compact, I gladly accepted..

 

 

Now, there sheer thought of IPL can be very daunting for most, including me - but Babyliss have you covered, as the IPL device works with your smartphone or table to guide you though every single treatment, every step of the way.

To start you simply download the free BaByliss Homelight App from the App Store or Google Play, and you're ready to start with the help of your Personalised Treatment Buddy! The app allows you to personalise treatments for either your face or body, timing and journaling the length of treatments and scheduling follow-up treatment reminders.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light, and it uses optical energy to stop the growth of hair, by releasing gentle flashes of light that are applied onto the skin’s surface to target the hair follicle’s melanin and root. These light flashes are transformed into heat while the surrounding skin stays cool. This heat from the flash causes hair to go into a resting phase, and thereby ceasing growth, and when the hair re-grows, it is weaker and sheds naturally.

The Babylis Homelight Compact uses a Quartz Technology with 200,000 flashes, with no replacement parts needed. The Homelight Device has a large treatment area able to treat an area of 3cm² to make treatment fast, so you in fact can do both your legs in around 10 - 15 minutes.

Included instruction manuals and skin tone guide

It also has 5 different light intensity settings to make it suitable for all skin types and tones, although it is not suitable for very dark skin or white, grey or blonde hair, which to be honest, I am actually not too sure why that is the case - but with a medium skin tone II or III it is well suited to my skin. The device also has a precision skin contact sensor to make it safe for direct contact with the skin.

It has also been clinically & dermatologically tested for proven effectiveness with a 90% reduction in hair, and it also has two variable controls FAST for a continuous flash mode, with up to 36 flashes per minute, for treatment of the body, legs and arm, as well as a PRECISE mode, which is a manual flash mode to ensure a more precise treatment of smaller and more sensitive areas such as the face, the underarms and the bikini line. 

Babyliss promises that after the first 8 treatment you should start to notice a difference, and now after using the Homelight Compact for about a month and a half now, and I am starting to notice that my hairs are growing out thinner and finer, and also a lt slower than they use to - and that is with very sporadismatic use as my two little boys is taking up a lot of my spare time.

Yes, I admit that the first few treatments were a little scary, but when you realise that it is safe, there is really nothing to worry about.

Agreed, at $399 this is not a cheap device, but if you are considering or are already getting pricey professional treatments, you'll quickly realise that you will in the long run be saving money, and not to mention time too as you can do it in the comfort of your own home, when it's convenient to you. And as it also comes with a 2 year warranty, you're covered for years to come.

Also worth mentioning is that the Homelight Compact comes with a great bonus in the Precision Trimmer that is perfect for fine trimming of the bikini line, eye brows and any facial hair. 


Babyliss Paris Homelight Compact IPL Hair Removal (model No G931A) - RRP: $399

Babyliss Paris is available from Myer, David Jones, Target and The Shave Shop or for more information, visit Babyliss Hair Removal

* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
 

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Product Review: Philips Lumea Precision Plus

I am sure I am not the only female with more body hair than I like…! And we all have our favourite ways of getting rid of this unwanted hair whether it's shaving, depilatory creams, waxing or epilating. Personally I prefer epilating, as I feel I get the same result as waxing, something I have not yet dared try myself, and epilating I can do at home, where and when it suits me.

But although the epilator pulls out the hair by the roots, every 2-3 weeks the hairs keep coming back again, so when I was asked to trial the *Philips Lumea Precision Plus, an at home IPL hair removal system that permanently removes unwanted hair, I happily accepted. Here are my thoughts;

 

 

What they Say:

"Philips Lumea IPL hair removal system works wonders to prevent the reappearance of hair on face as well as body. Gentle pulses of light, applied regularly, keep skin silky-smooth every day".

 

For full information, visit Philips

RRP: $1299 – Available from The Shaver Shop (currently on special for $799)

 

What I Say:

It’s has now been a while since I received the Philips Lumea device, so I have had a good chance to get it to the test. If you have not seen my initial post and thoughts on the Philips Lumea, you can see it here.

The Philips Lumea Device

The actual Philips Lumea Precision Plus looks almost like a hairdryer or a handheld barcode scanner. On the handle you turn it on, and then set the light intensity level according to your skin and hair colour. There are little buttons around the edges that act as a safety switch.

I found the device light and easy to use. A burst of light will not be released unless the applicator is in full contact with your skin and you have to push the trigger. It also has a green ready light on the back of the device which is easy to see and lights up when it is ready to go.

It has five adjustable light energy settings to ensure gentle but effective treatment, across a variety of skin tones and hair colours. Used correctly, Philips Lumea's IPL treatment is safe and gentle to use even on sensitive skin and sensitive body areas.

The device has an integrated UV filter to protect skin from UV light, so no glasses are needed while using it. However, there is a very bright red light that comes with each zap, so my personal advice is still to look away while zapping.

The Philips Lumea Precision Plus comes with two attachments; a large body attachment and a smaller precision attachment which is equipped with an extra integrated light filter and enables a safe and convenient application on the upper lip, chin and sideburns, as well as sensitive areas on the body, such as the underarms, the bikini area and hard-to-reach areas.

I also find that it is a bonus that no replacement parts needed, as it is equipped with a high-performance lamp which does not require replacement. The lamp can generate over 100,000 flashes, which means you can maintain results for more than 5 years.

The unique cordless design means that it is easier to get to difficult to reach areas without having to work around a cord.

It comes very professionally packaged and includes an instruction manual, a cleaning cloth and a travel bag to keep the device safe.

 

 

Suitability

The treatment works best on light skin with dark hair, simply because white reflects light and black absorbs it.
Lumea Precision targets the melanin in the hair, it is not suitable for treatment of light blonde, white, grey or red hair, as the hair simply doesn’t contain sufficient melanin to have any effect. It is also not suitable for those with too dark skin and hair, as the skin and hair may simply absorb too much light and heat that skin reactions may occur.
Consequently it is most suitable for those with light to medium toned skin, and with naturally dark blond through to black hair. Within a few days, the hair will start to fall out and not grow back.
It is also not suitable if you have any skin irritations, diseases, if your skin is sensitive to light, or easily develops a rash or allergic reaction. It is also not suitable for use while pregnant or breast feeding.

 

Treatment

To remove the hairs, the light window is then placed on the surface on your skin and the light is then absorbed by the dark hair and kills the hair off at the root. As hairs are in different stages of growth, and only those in the growing phase are susceptible to the light treatment, for optimal results, the area needs to be treated every two weeks, 4-5 times. And by then, most of the hairs should have fallen out.

I concentrated on treating my underarms and legs and thighs, and found that it took 2 minutes to do both armpits, and around 15-20 minutes to do both my legs and thighs on both legs. And of course the great thing is that you can do it on the couch while watching TV.

Pain

I cannot deny that there will be some pain, and even more so if you are zapping an area with heaps of hair. Generally, the less hair, the less pain it will bring, although treating more sensitive areas will also feel more painful. Treating the legs, I kind of just felt a quick and short warm feeling, while it hurt a little more doing the armpits, probably because the hair there is thicker, and the area is more sensitive too. But all in all, I felt that it is almost like getting waxed, an intense but short sharp pain, which to me was a bearable and also because it only lasts for a second or two.

 

The Risks

The Philips Lumea claims to be very safe for both face and body, but of course skin irritation is concern. After shaving, your skin must be clean and dry, no lotions to be applied. It is also advised not to use any products containing alcohol 24 hours following treatment, as well as avoid sun exposure for 48 hours after the treatment.

 

 

According to the instruction manual, you should start off with the absolute lowest setting suitable for your skin type first, which for me was a 4/5, so I started with 4 being gentler of the two on my legs, just to be safe!

It didn’t hurt but just felt quite warm on my skin, and following the treatment, I did not have any redness or issues.

Disadvantages

Using the Philips Lumea Precision Plus does take both patience and commitment. You have to keep up the treatments from the start, or you will be back square one. And if you have large areas of hair you wish to remove it does take quite some time, which does get a little boring in the end (hence why I have used it in front of the TV!)

The device does have some weight to it, weighing 550gms, so after a while the hand does get a little tired from the weight, as well as from repeatedly squeezing the button at awkward angles trying to reach all areas.

Verdict

I did find that not all hair shed immediately or 100%, so patience is definitely required. I did learn that exfoliating the skin a few days after the treatment helped and encouraged the hair to shed faster.

I started to see the hair shed around the 2nd week of first application, and after 4 sessions on the same areas I estimate that the hair had reduced by about 70%, and after the 5 sessions around 80%. Some hairs haven't grown back but there are still more than I would have thought – but all in all, I definitely have less hairs than when I started out, which is definitely a great bonus.

But as with all laser/light treatment it is recommended to continue with the treatments to prevent hair regrowth. You may be hair-free now, but as there is a chance of the hair growing back eventually, spot treatment can easily be done to maintain results.

Retailing at $1299.95, the Philips Lumea Precision Plus is not exactly cheap, but when you realise that a single IPL treatment at a salon can be around $350, and you also need to have numerous treatments there, you will very quickly save yourself some money by purchasing your own device.

Obviously this will always be a more expensive hair removal system than say a shaver and shaving cream – but that is also completely different ball game, where you will continue having to shave your legs ever few days. And as I have noticed that I considerably less hairs, and as I assume that with a few more treatments, I will have next to no hairs growing back, and hereafter only need follow up treatment now and again, the Philips Lumea Precision Plus is definitely an effective device, which will save me a lot of time not having to remove hair in the future!

*This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

What do you think of IPL hair removal? Would you consider doing it at home? What’s your preferred way of removing hair?

 

Product Review: Philips Lumea Precision Plus – Initial thoughts

As any other female, I have more body hair than I like. While I am so lucky that I am spared for facial hair, I do have hairy legs and armpits, which is constantly driving me crazy.
When I first starting shaving decades ago, I started using the standard scraper, and especially on my legs, I very quickly realised that I absolutely hated the prickly feeling that would come just a few days later when the hairs started to grow out again.

So I purchased an epilator, which I have used ever since – well, I’ve had to get a new epilator every few years, but it has been my preferred method of shaving ever since. Still, a very frustrating task (so happy I’m not male and would have to shave off facial hair every morning, then I’d much rather spend my time playing with makeup!) that although only needing done every 2-3 weeks, the hairs still keep coming back again and again.

So when I was offered to road test the Philips Lumea Precision Plus at-home IPL hair removal device, I was so excited, as this could be the answer to a future with less body hair and less time spent shaving.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light, and describes the use of intense pulses of non-coherent light distributed over a range of wavelengths from 500 nm to 1200 nm, for removal of hair. These light pulses heat up the hair and the root beneath the skin. The melanin in the hair and hair root absorbs the released pulses, which stimulate the hair to go into a resting phase, with consequently less and less hair growing back.

As the Lumea Precision targets the melanin in the hair, it is not suitable for treatment of light blonde, white, grey or red hair, as the hair simply doesn’t contain sufficient melanin to have any effect. It is also not suitable for those with too dark skin and hair, as the skin and hair may simply absorb too much light and heat that skin reactions may occur. Consequently it is most suitable for those with light to medium toned skin, and with naturally dark blonde through to black hair.

 

It is also not suitable for use if you have any skin irritations, diseases, if your skin is sensitive to light, or easily develops a rash or allergic reaction. It is also not suitable for use while pregnant or breast feeding.

As hairs are in different stages of growth, and only those in the growing phase are susceptible to the light treatment, for optimal results, the area needs to be treated every two weeks, 4-5 times.

The Lumea Precision Plus, which looks a little like a futuristic gun, is equipped with a high-performance lamp, which does not require replacement.

The lamp can generate over 100,000 flashes, which means you can maintain results for more than 5 years. The Philips Lumea Precision Plus comes with two attachments; a large body attachment and a smaller precision attachment that is equipped with an extra integrated light filter and enables a safe and convenient application on the upper lip, chin and sideburns, as well as sensitive areas on the body, such as the underarms and the bikini area . 

Philips Lumea has five adjustable light energy settings to ensure gentle but effective treatment, across a variety of skin tones and hair colours. 

Used correctly, Philips Lumea's IPL treatment is safe and gentle to use even on sensitive skin and sensitive body areas.

All in all, I am extremely impressed by how the Lumea Precision Plus is packaged and how professional the device looks. At home IPL treatment may be a little daunting for some, but Philips has made up for it by providing all the necessary information in an easy to understand manner, both on the box, and in the included product manual and quick start guide. If required, Philips also offer support via their website.

As mentioned you need to use the Lumea Precision Plus for four to five fortnightly treatments before you can see the result, so I will return early in the New Year with my final thoughts and full review. But for now I am extremely excited and hopeful of a less hairy future..


RRP: $1,299.95 – Available from the Shaver Shop.

* This product was kindly provided for consideration, and it has been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

Have you ever tried IPL? And what do you think of an at home IPL device?