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Original poster

Anyone using a Philips Lumea?

76 replies

GammonAndEgg · 24/05/2015 14:13

I'm considering it but it's such a lot of money! Is it worth it?

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Looking for advice before buying an at-home IPL device? You’ve come to the right place. Check out our guide to buying and using a Philips Lumea - complete with FAQS, tips, and recommendations from the most discerning shoppers out there: Mumsnetters. MNHQ.

OP posts:
jjwhite · 28/05/2015 20:48

I use the philips lumea and it's bloody amazing. It's by no means permanent - i.e. you have to do a zapping session every couple of weeks- month, but it is SOOO good. No ingrown hairs, no grow back, genuinely stops 95-99% of hair growth. Such a massive fan - and I had high high hopes cos I'd usually never dream of spending 300 pounds on this kind of thing. The results are amazing, the only downside is that you do have to stick at it and it's quite boring having to dedicate an hour to hair removing (shaving is definitely quicker!) But worth it... Only place it hasn't worked completely is my upper lip - not sure why but the hair seems more stubborn there - I'm also annoyed because I would never usually dream of shaving my lip but you have to in order to use the lumea there...

PotteryLottery · 28/05/2015 22:36

I thread or epistick my upper lip then use Lumea Compact and have had great results there. I wouldn't shave upper lip.

Libitina · 29/05/2015 14:38

Mine arrived today and is currently on charge.

BehindEveryCloud · 29/05/2015 14:49

babyiwantabump thanks, that's interesting to know... I may order one!

jjwhite · 29/05/2015 15:06

PotteryLottery I don't know how threading/epistick works but basically you can't use any hair removal method that takes the hair out at the roots (i.e. waxing, epilating) or otherwise the Lumea won't work apparently. I don't know the technicalities of it but going by the guidance on Philips website/the manual you basically need to shave prior to zapping, and they discourage using other methods of hair removal like waxing.

That said, if you find that it's working for you I might try waxing beforehand instead and see if it gets the same results... Shaving my lip is so unpleasant (I've also cut myself twice now!)

Libitina · 29/05/2015 17:39

Top tip, do your 'delicate' areas first. It gets hot with use Shock

I was surprised by how long the charge lasted, much longer than I expected after reading the reviews on Amazon.

PotteryLottery · 29/05/2015 21:31

jjwhite

The Compact manual says you can use methods other than shaving - see

www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/cpindex.pl?ctn=SC1981/00&dct=QAD&faqview=1&mid=Link_FAQs&refnr=0108585&scy=GB&slg=ENG&view=aa12_view_partial.html

jjwhite · 29/05/2015 22:33

PotteryLottery that's good to know that you can wax with the Compact... That said, I think my version is the Precision Plus and in the handbook it definitely says you can't wax - so maybe it differs from model to model? Although tbh I can't really see why there'd be a difference if it works for the compact... In any case I'm going to give it a go with the waxing cos shaving is really unpleasant!

OliveCane · 29/05/2015 22:36

Wow you can wax with the compact one?! That is amazing!

My greatest fear is of shaving my face!

OliveCane · 29/05/2015 22:37

jjwhite, can you let me know please how it goes with the waxing.

jjwhite · 29/05/2015 22:41

P.S. i just looked up the model that (I think!) I have online and in the FAQs it says the same thing that PotteryLottery linked to about how shaving is preferred but if necessary you can wax also (although results not guaranteed to be as good). So yeah - maybe waxing is on the cards after all! (Bizarre cos for some reason I definitely had it in my head that you had to shave - also loads of people all over the internet saying you can't wax...) Anyway - great news we can all put our razors away now!

HellKitty · 29/05/2015 22:43

Haven't RTFT! Used mine three times, two weeks in between. Hair has slowed right down, armpits have gone, foof is really slow growing back. Went away for three days and didn't have to worry about stubble or razors.

jjwhite · 29/05/2015 22:43

Also I second Libitina's comment about doing the sensitive (underarms/bikini line) first as it definitely does heat up as you go along...

Someone was talking about battery life - I find the battery lasts for me to do underarms, bikini line and one leg but I then (annoyingly) have to charge it for half an hour or so before doing the second leg... Bit of a faff but not the end of the world.

PotteryLottery · 29/05/2015 22:44

I have been waxing my full arms, not pits, and then using Compact. No adverse affects but too early to tell of results yet.

barbidou · 30/05/2015 15:55

Argh had a major panic - dropped my Lumea (on my toe - ouch) - and it wouldn't turn on... thought I had broken it but thankfully just out of charge.

Good tip about doing sensitive areas first - I usually start on my shins and work my way up so bikini area and armpits tend to be last, and they are the bits that hurt for me.

I had it in my head that you couldn't shave because you want the follicle to stay beneath the skin, as the pigment in the follicle will then absorb the light from the Lumea and be damaged. So thought waxing / epilating would be out for that reason. But seems that isn't the case!

OliveCane · 30/05/2015 21:56

Jjwhite, which model do you have? I don't want a compact one but want one that I can wax with.

Libitina · 31/05/2015 20:29

Any tips for a bikini line that is currently itching like buggery after shaving it on Friday??

Libitina · 06/06/2015 16:59

Itching went after a day or so, and there is already a noticable difference on the bikini line. Legs haven't been shaved for a week and have a few patches of stubble, whereas I'd normally shave them a minimum of every other day when not epilating. Not much difference yet on the pits though, still shaving the every other day atm.

StatisticallyChallenged · 06/06/2015 19:15

My pits and bikini took longer but I reckon another couple of treatments and they'll be bald! Legs only have a handful of hairs

HappenstanceMarmite · 07/06/2015 11:08

I've asked for my thread in AIBU to be moved to this Forum. In the meantime, can anyone help please?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2396241-to-expect-my-Philips-Lumea-IPL-to-just-get-on-with-it-and-not-keep-switching-off

PotteryLottery · 07/06/2015 21:27

I have been using the Compact since Feb without any cutting out problems so I would phone their helpline.

I imagine it has some sort of warranty.

Really pleased with results on upper lip and legs, no effect on my armpits but still trying...

HappenstanceMarmite · 07/06/2015 22:44

Thanks Pottery. So can you increase the intensity level from the start without it switching off?

PotteryLottery · 08/06/2015 15:32

Yep

HappenstanceMarmite · 08/06/2015 19:35

Thanks Pottery. I called the Helpline (thanks to a PP pointing out there was such a thing) and chap said it shouldn't do that. Taking it back to Boots for an exchange.