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Philips Lumea Prestige review: Use
Okay, so how do you actually use the Philips Lumea Prestige?
When you first get the Prestige you'll want to download the Philips Lumea IPL app. This will walk you through using the machine and set up a treatment plan. It's a simple, well-designed app that's easy to use.
Initially, you'll need to IPL your chosen body part/parts every two weeks for eight weeks (four sessions). The app will remind you when a treatment is due.
You can use the device corded or cordless, which is useful if you want to sit comfortably away from a socket, but you can access higher settings when using the Prestige corded.
Once you're ready, simply place the device against your skin and pull the trigger. The bulb won't flash unless there's a seal between your skin and the light window – this is to protect your eyes and to ensure correct placement.
For smaller, trickier areas you can then move the Lumea and pull the trigger again, or, for larger areas such as your legs, you can glide the device slowly along your skin holding the trigger for a continuous run of flashes.
It can take a fairly long time to do your legs (around 15-20 minutes) as the light window area is quite small. I think this is perfectly bearable, especially as you can do it from the comfort of a sofa, armchair, or bed.
Describing the sensation of IPL is quite difficult – it's certainly not painful, but, occasionally, you can feel an odd stinging sensation, like a small insect bite that goes away after a few seconds. It's certainly much less painful than waxing or epilating.
I've found a close shave prior to your IPL treatment is key to minimising these stings.
After the initial phase, you need to complete top-up sessions every six to eight weeks. Again, the app will remind you when a treatment is due.
Philips Lumea Prestige review: ultimate at-home IPL
Looking for a cordless and powerful IPL machine? Read our Philips Lumea Prestige review now!
The Philips Lumea Prestige is the brand's most powerful hair removal device, and is quite simply the best IPL machine on the market. It offers easy, pain-free at-home hair removal, with a number of smart features that make it stand out from the rest.
- - Doesn't work on all skin types (true of all IPL)
- - Quite heavy
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best pricesIf you're looking for smooth, hair-free skin, then the Philips Lumea Prestige is a flagship IPL machine which aims to give you long-lasting results, safely, from your own home.
I've spent the last two years zapping my legs, and other body parts, in order to properly review Philips Lumea Prestige, and these are my thoughts…
- Best IPL machine: effective laser hair removal for men and women
- Find the best Philips Lumea IPL deals
Philips Lumea Prestige review: What is IPL?
IPL stands for 'Intense Pulse Light'. It uses multiple wavelengths of light to heat pigment within the hair – killing the growing cells and stopping the hair from regrowing.
With that in mind, it's a good idea to start your IPL treatment a few months before you need smooth, hair-free skin.
I have pale skin and dark hair – which is ideal when it comes to IPL. These machines are less effective if you have grey hair, red hair or light blonde hair, or if you have a darker skin tone. Below is a graphic from Philips which shows which hair and skin types are compatible with IPL:
It's worth noting that this is an issue with all IPL machines, not just the Philips Lumea Prestige.
Can blondes and redheads use IPL?
IPL works best on those with naturally dark blonde, brown or black hair, but sadly white, grey, light blonde or red hair does not contain enough melanin in the hair follicle for it to absorb the light and therefore IPL simply cannot give the right results. The same limitations apply to skin tone too – IPL is most effective for those with very light to dark brown skin tones, however it is not suitable with those with very dark skin tones (Fitzpatrick skin type VI).
Although on the outside IPL and laser may seem very similar, there are some key differences in not only the technology of these hair removal methods, but also the cost, who can do it and where you can do it.
Let’s start with the technology first! IPL and laser do have some key things in common - their functionalities are based on light pulses, they both are effective treatments in removing and reducing unwanted hair and neither offer permanent hair removal (top-up session and treatments will always be required to keep re-growth at bay).
However, as you look a bit closer, you will notice that the technological details differ. Whilst both use high-energy light (which is absorbed by the melanin in the hair follicle to bring the hair into a resting phase), IPL is made up of a wide spectrum of light – like that of a light bulb – which can treat larger areas of skin, whereas laser technology is based on a single, concentrated wavelength that penetrates the skin point by point.
Now we’re done with the tech differences – lets talk cost and ease.
Both IPL and laser can vary widely in cost depending on the provider, but both are usually considered as investment purchases. However, one of the key differences is that laser can only be conducted at a dermatologist or in a salon which usually comes with a high price tag and the hassle of travel to and from the location. With IPL, this can also be conducted in a salon, but you can also buy an at-home IPL device like the Philips Lumea 9900 series – which allows you to safely remove your hair with IPL, from the comfort of your own home and at a time that suits you.
