Boots smooth skin IPL - V's - Phillips Lumea IPL

[returningstress]

Would be interested to know if you have either of these and if you are happy with the system you have?

I was all set to buy the boots system, then went into boots today and found out that after about 6months you have to replace the bulb which costs £100.

The phillips system is more expensive to start with but you do not need to replace the bulb.

Would like to hear if it works well for others.

Also the phillips system has been out in other countries for about 10years, so I'm thinking I could possibly buy it abroad for cheaper, but not sure if that is wise as need my garentee.

Any advice welcome...

I'm reading this with interest as I've been trying to work out whether or not to buy one of these or break the bank and get laser in a clinic. Does anyone know if the laser in a clinic is more permanent than the results you'd get from a home machine?
Also a few more questions:

1. do you need to protect your eyes doing this at home?
2. how much time would it take you on each session to do your legs?

Ive had the Philips for about 6 wks I think - but to be honest I think the machines are both pretty similar - just the Philips has a few better features which make it much easier to use & store.

Yes I've noticed a huge difference in all areas already. The biggest being under my arms, I've gone from shaving every day and having a permanent dark patch, to not really having anything there at all.

The only downside to the Philips being unattached to the machine is that you've got to charge it up again - so sometimes the battery light will come on before you've finished - as it takes quite a long time to
do your legs. It takes 1.5hrs to charge. So this is something you don't get with the Boots machine as it's just plugged in all the time - but then it's much harder to get round to the backs of your legs/underarms etc with this because the cable is short & stiff! So I've still found the Philips easier even though I've got to do a charge in between doing everything.

To do legs takes quite a long time, maybe 1.5 hrs? Both machines make a whirring noise, but I just do it in front of the tv. At least with the Philips you can just get on with it rather than keep applying the gel like the Boots one....

Sorry, wittering now!

Oops sorry no you don't need to protect your eyes but it is a pretty bright flash so I just look away.

Sorry doing this on my phone & keep missing questions....yes I'm pretty sure the clinic is permanent removal whereas with these machines you have to use them every now and again to keep the hair from coming back. But I still think the price difference is so massive, it's worth spending an hour or so doing it at home - once you've taken into account your time getting to & from the clinic etc....mind you if I was loaded I'd probably get it done at the clinic for a completely permanent result.

Wow, looks like there's been a lot of discussion on here!

I just wanted to answer your question to me Newstart. After up to 12 weeks of treatment, it says you don't need to use Boots Smooth Skin anymore, as this will have been enough to kill the hair follicles. So the Philips one is good that you only use it every 2 weeks instead of 1, but you have to keep on using it forever, which is why it has more shots in it.

I suppose nothing can ever remove all hair forever cos of hormones, but as long as it at least lasts a few months and then goes again with another treatment, then I'm happy.

The Boots one is the strongest treatment, which is what helped me decide to buy it - this is why you can stop using it after a few weeks of treatment, instead of having to use it forever (I couldn't not tan/fake tan forever, can you imagine!

I didn't realise you couldn't replace the bulbs on Philips - madness to have to buy it all over again at £400!

You can use Boots on the face, don't know why you can't with any of the others. Maybe cos the Boots one has been around longer, so it's had time to develop the technology? I wouldn't risk the others on your face, in case of burning or something.

Hope this helps!

Mrsfogi - I had laser done at boots years ago when they did it there professionally. I had it done under my arms and bikini, under my arms the hair stayed away for 3months after having all 6 sessions. Then after that started to grow back slowly, then I would say after about 3-4 months maybe longer was back to normal.

Bikini I cant remember as was quite painful to do so I dont think it was even done properly on that area.

Thats why i want a home device as I do not think any method can garentee to remove hair forever.

berri - do you think both of them are about as painful as each other?

I went to go and buy one in boots today as they sell both phillips and boots smooth skin and the lady who advises you on them was not there, so I chickened out, but might get one tomorrow.

lollipop - I worked it out and if the replacement bulb for the boots one costs £100, then in order to get 40,000 shots you will buy the machine for £300 + 3new bulbs (£300) = £600 for 40,000 shots.

And phillips is only £400 for 40,000 shots.

I'm not really bothered about the price as they are quite similar, the most important thing to me is which one will keep the hair away longer.

Is there anything online which will compare the two machines?

As lollipop said i cannot imagine not tanning forever because i need to use my machine.

the ideal situation for me would be one that you use constantly and then can go for a few months without hair and do not have to use the machine as do not want to be able to go in the sun.

I'm so confused and really want one, i need to decide tonight

Yes they are the same pain level (not much imo) but with the Boots you cannot adjust the level. On the Philips one you can choose up to level 5 which is the most painful but most effective.

ok sounds good. So are you just trying your best to stay out of the sun at the moment so you can use it?

I think with the phillips you can use it after yo have not been in the sun for two weeks instead of 4weeks with the boots one.

Also re the tanning, I think it wouldn't make that much difference unless you were really going very dark - and it would just reduce the efficiency slightly rather than you not being able to use it altogether.

When you're in Boots have a look at both display models - ask her to undo the security cables so you can feel both handsets and see which you prefer holding.

Shame there is not a double points weekend on!!

oh yea that would be lucky if there was, but i just want to buy a machine and get started asap, i'm fed up shaving all the time...

oh berri - just thought of another question for you, they say if you are using these machines ad the hair does grow back it will be lighter in colour and finer. Did you find this to be true?

As I had laser done professionally years ago and the hair is defintly back to normal now.

I'm asking as I'm thinking of doing my whole arms as they are hairy, but dont want them to come back thick and black as are fine at the moment.

Yes definitely - esp under the arms. It feels much less course and the dark patch has now gone so that when I do need to shave, there are just the odd hairs to get so it doesn't get sore or anything like it used to when I shaved every day.

I'm not sure about doing your whole arms - because you have to shave first I think they might be stubbly for a while, while you are doing the treatments for the first few times? Also because the area is bigger, it takes a bit longer to stop shaving in places like arms and legs just because it's hard to make sure you get all the area zapped, so you might find it harder to do.

They are probably not nearly as hairy as you think they are!

no there defintly is as many hairs as i think but they are quite fine and lighter then my body hair, so i prob shouldn't annoy them.

just been looking at phillips website and they said to stay smooth you have to use the machine every two weeks on under arms and bikini and every 4 weeks on legs, once the hair has gone. But i'm wondering if they just say that so you keep using up all the flashes and have to buy a new one.

how long do you think yours will last if you keep using it as often as recommended?

sorry i did say i was going to pick your brains.

No I don't think they're just saying that - considering I've only been using mine for about 6-8 weeks, I already could skip a little while and it wouldn't be a drastic problem. I guess you just need to keep it at bay so it doesn't grow back thick and strong like it did when I stopped using it altogether over the winter.

It's hard to say how long it'll last - I use it for perhaps 2hrs once a fortnight....not sure how many flashes that is??

But 40,000 flashes is so many, I would imagine it'll be maybe 2 or 3 years? Hard to say!

But whichever one you get, I'm sure you won't regret it.

If you'd have said to me that for £400 ish I'd be able to have smooth underarms 24/7 which are the same colour as the rest of my arms, and that I could pop on a swimming cossie or pair of cropped trousers without worrying about stubble and ingrown hairs, then I'd have paid that even if it was just for a year

Your right, it is definly worth it, I think I will go for the phillips, but will update you tomorrow. Thank you for answering all my questions.

I think we should get a progress thread going so that we can all stay updated on how others are doing. I know when i get my machine i will want to talk about it all the time.

I've been lurking with interest as I'm also thinking about buying either the Boots or the Philips.

I've had two courses of salon laser treatment and one of IPL (all several years apart) and while I've been really pleased with the results, the hair did start to grow back after a while so I can't imagine that either model will give permanent results. However, I wouldn't mind if I only had to keep using the machine every now and again - it would be a vast improvement on having to shave my legs every day like I used to.

I've read quite a few rave reviews of the Boots model, but am also a bit wary of any that are too positive as I've heard about people signing up to websites (not MN, I hasten to add) specifically to plug the Smooth Skin model. (I'm sure the same could apply to the Philips too; I just haven't read so many reviews about it.)

There's a comparison of the Boots and Philips models here, which is quite interesting. I had been veering towards buying the Boots, but after reading what berri had to say about the two machines I think I might go for the Philips instead.

Did you buy the Philips today, newstart? I'd definitely be interested in hearing about your experiences with it!

The Boots one can be used on the face, but not with the Phillps, I think.

I'm so excited i bought the phillips one today

I spoke to the lady in boots who advises on both machines, and she said phillips is better.

Also there was a stand in boots with a lady that works for phillips and she told me you can still use the phillips if you have been in the sun, so will not have to stay out of the sun completely, like with normal laser or the boots one.

But if you was doing real sun bathing then leave it a few days, but can still use it...

I'm so happy as was wondering how i would manage to stay out of the sun all the time.

Only prob i have is that dd had a nap today so will more then likly be up late so might not be able to use it tonight.

but cannot wait to give it a go....

Did the woman in Boots say why the Philips one is better, newstart?

well she said she would go for the phillips, and i spoke to a different lady in the same boots store before who also said she would go for the phillips one.

I saw in the paper today that the Boots one is supposedly half price today online.

I like the idea of the Phlips one better if it's not got the gel, more comfortable, has more charges, etc. But the cost puts me off loads. I wonder if the Boots one being half price would make the difference in the decision!

It says it has not been tested for use on the face - do you think that is just covering their backsides, and that they really mean to say 'yes you probably can use it but we've not tested', or do they really mean 'no we haven't tested because it will make you come out in giant boils or something'?

Just thought I'd let you ladies know, I saw on moneysavingexpert.com that Boots are running a competition to win a Boots Smooth Skin.
They've been giving one away every week!

I think you have to join their Facebook page to enter but here is the link for anyone who feels lucky! www.facebook.com/iPulseSmoothSkin

Good luck everyone

do any of use ever experience any pain when using your machines, ive recently just bought the remington i-light ive noticed a few of use saying u use gel but it doesnt say any where on this one to use gel so dnt think thats the prob
i thought the hole point in these is they are painless its not even that painful its just like a pin prikin your skin but i get a fright and automaticaly life it off my skin :( same with every time the red light flashes i get a fright and it comes off my skin so i never get any where with it i no im prob just being a woose lol

i have the phillips one, i was scared to use it at first and tried it on the second to highest setting, after that i have always used it on the highest setting and it is not painfull. only place that is very uncomfortable is bikini area, but its done so quickly and is not sore after.

They say use it when your skin is cool and not when it is time of the month as you will be tender. Last time i used it was my time of the month and i was hot and bothered, an did feel it more but was not painful...