With the technological breakthroughs in the beauty space, never-before-seen innovations have emerged that help to elevate our at-home beauty routine. One of the tech-powered products that have garnered immense popularity is the IPL hair removal device, which has made shaving and waxing a thing of the past. The term IPL hair removal is often tossed around in the beauty industry, but one of the questions that often lies in the back of everyone’s mind is whether or not IPL hair removal is actually effective.

To answer all of your burning questions, we spoke to Wendy Schoonjans, SmoothSkin’s Global Marketing Director, to get an expert insight on at-home IPL hair removal devices, from the difference between IPL and laser treatment, suitability for skin tone, to the number of treatments needed.

What is an at-home IPL device and why is it effective compared to other hair removal treatments?

IPL uses light to break the hair growth cycle and prevent new hairs from growing. So it is a long-term solution to unwanted hair. Unlike shaving, waxing and epilating where hair returns within a couple of days, IPL prevents hair from returning for months, and also doesn’t cause ingrown hairs or irritation. It’s also virtually painless, so you can do it from the comfort of your own home without discomfort. 

So, does IPL treatment feature the same technology as laser treatment?

Not exactly, the technology is different but it works in a similar way. Laser delivers a specific and narrow wavelength of light to the hair follicle, and IPL delivers a wide wavelength covering a larger area at once. Therefore, IPL treatments are much quicker and cheaper than laser. IPL is not as powerful as laser, but this makes it safe to do at home, and still effective. IPL is considered by users to be less painful than laser.

To summarise, IPL can give the same standard of results as laser treatments, as long as you follow the prescribed treatment regime. In return, you can save time, money and endless trips to the salon, completing your treatments in the comfort of your own home. 

What’s the difference between in-office and at-home IPL devices? With the growing trend of at-home beauty treatments, more people have turned to using at-home IPL devices due to their efficacy. What are your thoughts on it?

Covid has definitely accelerated the growth of at-home beauty devices across the world. At SmoothSkin we are passionate about giving people salon-quality results from home. We actually began by designing salon IPL devices back in 2005, and then created the first ever at-home IPL device in 2009. The great thing about home devices is that everyone has access to them, they are convenient and easy to use. Salon treatments are often more expensive, but you only need to purchase a SmoothSkin device once, because it has unlimited flashes. So you don’t need to worry about recurring costs or trips to the salon.

Despite the surge of brands offering IPL devices in the market, SmoothSkin is the leading brand preferred by the beauty community. Are there any reasons why SmoothSkin is lauded as the leading IPL hair removal expert?

SmoothSkin specialises in IPL devices, and we have done for 40 years. Our in-house team of engineers, scientists, clinical experts and manufacturing invest a lot of time into developing the most advanced technology that is clinically proven to be fast, powerful, safe and effective. We have performed over 5000 clinical treatments on different skin tones and hair colours and comply with international medical safety standards, to ensure our products are always safe and effective. No other brand can attest to our standards. Not only are our devices incredibly sophisticated on the inside, they are also incredibly easy to use, with automated intelligence at the touch of a button. This makes us the number one choice in the market.

Touted as the most powerful IPL device on the market, the SmoothSkin Pure Fit is developed with pioneering features. What sets it apart from other IPL devices, and can you tell us more about its safety features?

SmoothSkin Pure Fit is our most advanced device in the range. It is synchronously fast and powerful, so can deliver excellent results very efficiently. It features our patented smart skin sensing technology which measures the user’s unique skin tone at over 80 times per second, and automatically adapts the energy output to offer a personalized, safe and effective treatment. The device also has three comfort modes to suit the user’s needs; power mode, gentle mode and speed mode. And also comes with a detachable precision head to help treat small areas. As with all SmoothSkin devices, Pure Fit features our 4-point-skin contact system, which ensures the device will not flash unless in full contact with the user’s skin. The device also has a UV filter and dynamic cooling technology to deliver speed and power safely. It has everything you need without the fuss.

For beginners, IPL devices can be quite daunting at first. How easy is the SmoothSkin Pure Fit to use?

Very easy! Some devices on the market boast confusing and unnecessary features, such as different head attachments and multiple user settings. Whilst SmoothSkin Pure Fit features the most advanced technology in the market, it’s designed to be ergonomic and user friendly. Just as a beauty therapist in a salon would ensure you have the best treatment, SmoothSkin Pure Fit optimises the treatment, at just the touch of one button. No need for the user to guess, the device is fully automated to deliver a safe and effective full body treatment. Simply plug in the device and press the power button to start your treatment!

One of the most frequently asked questions is, does it hurt? Are there any side effects or downtime that readers should expect after using SmoothSkin Pure Fit?

Pain threshold is unique to everyone. Users describe a SmoothSkin treatment as a warm flash, which can feel somewhat unusual at first but generally not painful. When tested in clinical trials, on average, users rate the discomfort of a SmoothSkin treatment as just three out of ten (one being no pain and 10 being very painful). 100% of users agree that the discomfort reduces each time as they get used to the treatment. It is much more comfortable than waxing and laser treatments.

How long does it take for the users to see results,and are the results permanent?

Results may vary from person to person, but results from our latest clinical trials found that SmoothSkin Pure Fit can deliver visible results in just two weeks, and up to 99% hair reduction after 12 weeks. After 12 weekly treatments we recommend users to maintain top-up treatments every four to eight weeks to prevent new hairs from growing back. When treatments are maintained you will remain hair-free and smooth! 

As IPL technology operates based on the relation between melanin in skin and hair, is it recommended for everyone?

IPL technology works by targeting melanin in the hair and it is suitable for a wide variety of people. However, IPL can be ineffective for light blonde, red or grey haired users (as the hair doesn’t contain enough melanin to target) and unsafe for deep-skinned users (as the skin is rich in melanin and could absorb more than the safe amount of energy). All SmoothSkin devices feature our unique smart skin sensing technology to ensure the device will only flash when it’s safe.

What’s your advice for someone who is considering getting an at-home IPL device but is a little bit apprehensive about it? 

It’s just another step in your beauty routine! If you are fed up with your hair removal regime and want to try a long-term solution then IPL is the way to go, without committing to expensive salon treatments. It’s easy and quick to do and with just 10 minutes once a week for 12 weeks and the occasional maintenance treatments after that, you’ll be permanently smooth and hair-free!

Purchase The SmoothSkin Pure Fit Now!

Find out more about SmoothSkin on this link. The SmoothSkin Pure Fit is available for purchase on Shopee, Lazada,  Zalora and Insider Mall.

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