Philips Lumea - tips and advice please, if you've used one

[HairyBearGirl]

Name changed as I'm very conscious of this issue. I've really struggled with dark body hair since my teens and after 35 years of long skirts and long sleeves (and now I'm middle aged I seem to have black hairs sprouting in even more places) I'm thinking of investing in a Philips Lumea. Reviews are in general pretty good and I've heard people say they can be life changing. I really hope it will work for me.
Do you have one? What are the pros and cons? What is the difference between the different models apart from price? Does it hurt? Any tips for best use?
One specific question is this: I have white (European) skin and dark brown hair so it should work well but I am quite mole-y and have some thread-veins on my thighs. Is than a problem? I don't know exactly how they work but I do know it's something to do with the light being directed to the darker areas. I don't want to burn myself!

Following with interest, I am basically the same as you op.

I have very pale skin and light brown hair. I use a lumea on my legs, arm pits and bikini line.

Its truly amazing. My bikini line hairs have stopped growing altogether, my armpits have mostly stopped growing except for a little stubborn patch. My legs have been harder, I probably have about a fifth of the hair growing than I used to but they take more upkeep than I'd like.

If you look on facebook/ebay you might find a second hand one, that's how I found mine....

@SirSamuelVimes

Following with interest, I am basically the same as you op.

I've always thought "Nah, too expensive" but I'd spend that much on a weekend away, a big grocery shop when we have friends staying, give it to the kids towards a new phone etc. So why shouldn't I spend it on me?

@RNBrie how long does a "treatment" take?
How often do you need to do it?

following with interest...

Me. Thoroughly recommended. Not sure about moles - if I can find the instructions I'll have a look.

It's not in any way a magic solution but for me its made a really really big difference and there are areas where the hair went within weeks and never came back - toes for example.

I was very strict about following the instructions for the first year, more erratic since.

I bought it years ago. I love it. Got rid of all my hair on my upper lip, underarms, bikini. My tip would be to use it consistently. Go for it.

I have the Prestige. It's worked brilliantly on my legs and armpits. But seems to be taking much longer on my upper lip and neck. I have pale skin and dark hair (plus pcos) not sure why it's not working as well on my face, but will keep persevering

Pale skin. I didn’t shave before hand, and turned it to 5 and did it more regularly, got better results than when i followed the instructions

Is any specific model better than the others?
Are they the same intensity or just different accessories? Does it hurt when you do it?

It doesn't hurt, just a pinprick like sensation on a dark freckle (not painful) otherwise can't feel it.
I got mine on ebay a couple of years ago, brand new still in the moulded plastic but without box and instructions (available online), person was selling quite a few do presumably boxes had been damaged. Cist about £80.
Need to use it regularly and although I have not used it as often as required certainly made a difference. Only used on legs, my armpits were too 'boney' to get a good connection so have not bothered. Probably should try again.
I wish I had got one long ago

I have one of the cheaper models and got one that is plugged into the mains rather than rechargeable after reading on here issues with batteries if you don't keep it charged.

The first few weeks are every 2 weeks then moves to 4 weeks. It doesn't hurt at all, but there might be a pinprick sensation on bikini line area.

You are supposed to avoid moles with it, but I haven't read anything about thread veins.

It has honestly been life changing for me. I also have pale skin with very dark hair, that grows quickly. My legs and underarms are now hair free completely. My bikini line still grows back some, but that is because I got lazy with doing that.

I have bought one direct from phillips with a money back after 90 day guarantee. It was on offer and I signed up as a new customer and got 15% off, i think it ended up costing £180.
I have to say so far I really dislike using it. I am slightly scared of it, each flash makes me jump and the light is really bright. I think I burnt myself the second time I used it. I took the intensity down a notch the third time i used it, 4th time will be this Friday. It does seem to be helping to stop the hairs under my chin, I haven't done it on my legs yet. I feel very ashamed of my unwanted body hair, especially around my face so I have to do the lumea in secret!

I have loads of moles and freckles. The Philips website says you have to go around them, has anyone had experience of this? Seems like a lot of hassle!

I love mine but consistency is key, make sure you keep up with a routine. It definitely works better on darker hair I've noticed (my arm hairs easily sun bleach so I can compare summer months vs winter months)

How can a flash make you jump if you're expecting it, that's literally how it works?

The only part I've noticed more noticeable is armpits, that doesn't hurt though, I just feel it more

@HairyBearGirl No it shouldn't hurt. It just feels warm where it zaps. The only time it pinched slightly is if I've gone over a cut or a spot that I didn't realise was there. But the majority of the time it's pretty painless. Or should be. There are different intensity settings, 1-5, with 1 being the lowest and you can work up or down depending on what is the most comfortable for you

So there's the original, advanced and prestige. Wondering if I buy the original rather than such a big amount on the latest one?

@Mamamamasaurus I don't know! It's like when they do that puff of air in your eye at the opticians, that makes me jump every time too 🤣🤣

I find it really boring to do my legs as it takes a while but it works really well. Agree get one with a cord as even though I charged it regularly the battery no longer holds a charge well (it is about 4 years old).

I'm into month 9 on my legs. Pale skin and dark hair. 30 years of waxing seems to have made my hair seriously tough. It's 80% gone but still needs shaving every few days and fortnightly zapping.
It has paid for itself now though.
It was very sore and the itching kept me up at night sometimes.

I agree with @Velvetscrunchy and @Mamamamasaurus; consistency is key. I used it every two weeks for the first four months, then once or twice a month for about a year. Then every 8ish weeks or as needed.

I have dark hair and pale skin. I bought a prestige Lumea two and a half years ago and it has got rid of probably over 95% of my underarm, bikini, leg and tache! It's brilliant.
I just realised I've not used mine since March so might do a bit of maintenance on my few stragglers tonight.

Amazon seems to have plenty of Philips Lumea products, alongside many other makes at 10% of the price. Are any of the other makes any good? Has anyone tried them? What's the difference?

(Apart from about £300...)

Mine doesn't help my chin/neck as I have PCOS as it's hormonal hair.

It doesn't hurt at all on moles, but fuck me it nearly made me scream when I accidentally did my tattoo.

I don't think hormonal hair makes a difference myself, it's just that the number of follicles on the face and neck is so enormous. But I haven't researched it.

I was thinking that it hadn't made much difference to those areas myself but thinking about it, the hair definitely is less.

I just picked one up second hand from vinted, am really hoping it works! I used to pluck chin hairs then foolishly started shaving them, now I have to do it all the bloody time it's just awful. I'm going to end up a bearded old lady hoping someone shaves me.