IPL Hair Removal Test: A Philips Lumea Review from an Influencer

Reading time: 6 mins

IPL. Is it easy to use, does it hurt, and is it effective? What is the best IPL hair removal device? Experts recommend IPL devices for home use and consumers love them, but can they stand the most critical hair removal test? And what is an influencer’s opinion when she tests Philips IPL? Before and after use, is she convinced? We speak to Ricarda from Cats & Dogs about her Philips Lumea results to get some answers.

Man könnte splissige Haare als sanften Appell verstehen, dass der nächste Friseurbesuch ansteht. Aber mal ehrlich: wer mit Apps & Co so gut organisiert ist, kann auf die Erinnerung von Mutter Natur verzichten. Also was tun bei Spliss und vor allem, was hilft wirklich gegen Spliss? Wir geben hier nützliche Tipps gegen Spliss im Haar, wenn er einmal da ist, und sagen dir, wie du mit guter Pflege und entsprechenden Produkten, Spliss vermeiden kannst.

Why have you chosen to try Philips Lumea?

I’m always forgetting my shaver when I travel, and anyways shaving causes some irritation on my skin from time to time. Of course, I’ve tried waxing also, but my sensitive skin doesn’t really like that too much, either. Oh yeah, and I don’t trust those hair removal creams – they’re weird. So, of course, I was really happy when Philips approached me and offered me to try their Philips Lumea Prestige as an at-home hair removal device test.

Same woman sits on bed with smartphone next to a Philips Lumea Prestige on a folded white towel.

What is IPL?

IPL stands for ‘Intense Pulsed Light’ and promises long-lasting hair removal with the help of light. Often, these kinds of treatments are offered in beauty salons, but there are also IPL devices for home use. With Philips Lumea, I can use IPL technology easily and conveniently in my own home.

How easy was the IPL treatment for your test?

The handy thing about the Philips Lumea Prestige is that, in the beginning, I only have to use it every two weeks for about 15 minutes max for a full-body treatment. After that, I only have to do it every three to four weeks. In between, I’ve got peace and quiet. Perfect to keep my head free for the important things!

The woman, an influencer, uses the Philips Lumea Prestige to remove underarm hair while using her phone.

In order not to forget the next treatment time and to keep to the right amount of time between treatments, there is an app for Philips Lumea Prestige. It includes a personalised plan and some tips, and reminds you of your next treatment.

How to use IPL at home?

All the different areas must be shaved or epilated before treatment. And by the way, IPL isn’t suitable for every skin type. If you have, for example, very, very dark skin or very, very light hair, the IPL hair removal doesn’t work. Those who want to do the test themselves should remember – you get the best results with relatively light skin and dark body hair, because the light can then reach the melanin in the hair perfectly. It’s best to avoid plucking and waxing in-between sessions because they hinder the treatment, but it is perfectly okay to shave.

How did you get on with the attachments for the IPL devices during the test?

Philips Lumea Prestige has different attachments for different areas of the body. There is a full-body attachment, which is especially suitable for arms and legs. If you are as inked as I am, take care during the IPL test. The device must not be used over tattooed areas. Also, there’s an attachment which is especially shaped for the bikini and underarm zones and one for the face. So, you can reach any part of the body and the procedure is pretty easy.

Influencer with ice cream tattoo on forearm uses Philips Lumea device to remove bikini line hair.

See below ↓

Does IPL hair removal hurt?

In extensive Philips Lumea research, no woman rated the experience as painful, provided that correct settings were used according to skin tone and hair colour. In the tests, some women did describe 'a warm sensation’, 'prickling' or 'itching' which in most cases disappeared within a few minutes up to one hour.