PHILIPSLumea Series 8000, IPL Hair Removal Device, with SenseIQ Technology, 4 Attachments for Body, Face, Bikini and Underarms, Satin Compact Pen Trimmer, Model BRI949/00

44 years old, with lots of dark body hair that seems to grow at breakneck speed, and a long time sufferer of ingrown hairs and 'strawberry skin'. No matter what hair removal method I have used, hair returned after a few days and no amount of consistency has thinned out the hair or slowed regrowth down, and my legs are never smooth, even after a wax. I have wanted to invest in laser treatment for years but the cost was just restrictive. After reading the numerous positive reviews of the Philips Lumea I decided to take advantage of a Black Friday deal, with the vain hope of finally having smooth legs this summer.I knew before it arrived that I would need to commit to an initial 10 week cycle of treatment which I was prepared to do, especially if it really did deliver results. I also made sure that I read the instructions and tips carefully before I started the treatments, even a 24hour skin test (something that I often don't). I was determined to do this right.My commitment has paid off, I am so happy with the result. I have treated my legs, underarm, bikini line and upper lip and am about to complete the 10 week treatment. Bikini line and underarm hair all but gone (never been so neat and tidy) and, save a couple of patches which I have clearly missed during the treatment, my legs are hair free. My upper lip hair had gone after three treatments. I can not believe how successful this has been and would definitely recommend. Considering the price of professional treatment, there is no competition over what is the better value, if you are prepared to put in the work and ensure that you stick to the treatment regime.The treatment itself is largely pain free, it feels like a sharp prick. When you do your first treatment you do a test to measure the recommended light level (1-5), and if it's comfortable to do so you can increase this up to level 5. Different body parts can take different levels, on my legs I could crank it right up to 5 but my underarm could only take a 3.There is also an App, which I have found really helpful to track my treatments, light levels and remind me when my next treatment is due. It also has videos offering tips, which I have only just watched but wish I had done earlier - if you can seek out the video giving tips on how not to miss spots on your legs, it would have been great if it had been part of the intro when you download it.All I can add is, if you're not sure whether to invest - DO IT. THIS WORKS!!! Really very impressed and delighted with the results and looking forward to finally having smooth legs this summer.

I used amazon brand IPL before which didn’t give much results. This product is a different story!It’s more expensive but worth it - I can already see the results after few months of using. My favourite part to compare with other brands is the frequency of treatments. With Lumea the treatment starts with sessions every two weeks. Other brands recommend 3 treatments per week…This product is easy to use, feels comfortable in hand. It needs to be plugged in so you always need to be next to the power outlet.It comes with a few endings for different body areas - in my opinion it covers all you would need.It came nicely packed in a box with accessories such as pouch for storage and a tissue for cleaning.I have been using it for legs and under arms areas. The hair didn’t disappear completely but I can notice slower growth and thinner hair which is great so far.During treatment it’s quite easy to miss the spot so you need pay attention on each move. The lower power, the quicker it gets to load to the next light shot.Overall, it’s a great product!

I had bought an IPL machine twice before from Braun and never really stuck with using them. I found it a faff with all the gels, how long it took to do an area, how hard it was sometimes to get the right contact with the skin so the flash would actually go off, etc. so I got frustrated with the unit and gave up. I was keen to try a different brand and Philips makes good products so I thought I'd give this a go and I also liked that no gels were needed with this.I went for the corded version as anything with a battery in it has a limited lifespan dependent on the battery (ultimately this does too but it will run out when the flashes run out instead of when the battery has gone through all of its possible charge-recharge cycles). Although I did go for corded, it was easier to wield than the Braun ones as I just have to move the actual head instead of having a base unit as well which it's wired into.The different attachments work well. I didn't quite understand why I needed them so wasn't willing to pay more for them but I read this was to get optimal contact in the areas they are meant to treat and ensure the flash goes off and I can say they definitely do their job well. I haven't had anywhere near the kind of nightmare I had with Braun devices not flashing because it wasn't happy with the contact with the skin.I am a wuss when it comes to pain so I want something as pain free as possible (otherwise I'd just wax or something). This doesn't really hurt on most areas e.g. arm, face, etc. but it does hurt a bit where hair is thicker e.g. armpit/bikini. The pain is bearable and just like a snap with a rubber band and a quick flash of warmth, it's a lot more comfortable than the Braun IPL so I prefer it; but, ideally I want zero pain.This time I decided rather than focusing on an entire limb, to focus on small areas I knew I could stick to and keep up with the every 2-4 week routine so e.g. do half an arm instead of a whole one, don't attempt arms and legs at the same time, don't attempt the entire bikini region at the same time as it hurts a bit. This approach has worked well and I've stuck to the routine and now am hair free in many of the areas treated. Note that armpit and bikini areas will take a lot more treatments to become hair free because hair is thicker.Another feature that helps is the slide and flash for quick and easy treatment of larger areas.Overall whilst this is expensive, this is a great product that works well and is worth the time and effort to be hair free and the freedom and confidence that comes with that. It's also a product where a lot more thought has gone into the design and features than Braun so I'd happily buy another Philips IPL machine if this one runs out of flashes before I'm finished with my treatments.