I am not exaggerating once I say I’ve tried each potential methodology to eliminate the thick, darkish hairs on my face (f***king hormones)—which is why I really feel assured saying that all of them type of suck. Waxing and threading are painful, tweezing is tedious, shaving rips my dry pores and skin to shreds, Nair smells like rotten eggs, pro-grade lasers are so costly and time-consuming (and likewise painful) that I’ve discovered them to not be value it, and at-home IPL units nearly by no means work.
However, as a result of my facial hair makes me so self-conscious (… I will always remember the time a boy in center faculty referred to as out my “goatee” in entrance of the complete class. To today, I’ve by no means been so embarrassed), I’ve all the time simply type of suffered by way of the elimination course of, which meant testing out all types of various choices within the hopes of discovering one which wasn’t actually horrible.
And at last—lastly!—my search is over because of the Rose Pores and skin Co Lumi IPL Hair Elimination Handset ($189).
Rose Pores and skin Co, Lumi IPL Hair Elimination Handset — $189.00
Initially $229, now $189
- Works shortly and successfully (actual outcomes!)
- Is cheaper than in-office therapy
- Stylish and discreet
- Painless
- Quick and straightforward to make use of
- Isn’t designed with all pores and skin tones in thoughts, which is disappointing
- Takes a pair/few weeks to see outcomes (vs. an answer that’s meant to be instant)
How the Lumi works
IPL—or “intense pulse gentle”—is likely one of the commonest types of at-home and in-office laser hair elimination tech. “It makes use of pulses of sunshine to destroy the hair all the way down to the basis,” says Saime Demirovic, co-founder of Glo Spa in New York Metropolis. It does this by concentrating on and destroying the pigment within the hair follicle. “These laser-light pulses create warmth which damages the hair follicle till it’s completely destroyed. You are exposing the focused hair follicle to a high-energy beam of sunshine with out injuring the encircling pores and skin constructions.”
The Lumi packs all of this into an ergonomic, easy-to-hold system that is mainly the dimensions of my hand. There are six totally different depth ranges (which you’ll be able to regulate with the faucet of a button) and the model recommends beginning on the lowest and rising one step each week.
The one difficulty with IPL is that it really works finest when there is a distinction between your pores and skin and your hair, so when you’ve got gentle pores and skin and lightweight hair or darkish pores and skin and darkish hair, it seemingly will not be as efficient as it will be for somebody with a darkish pores and skin/gentle hair or gentle pores and skin/darkish hair combo. That is, understandably, one of many greatest bones I’ve to choose with the system—I actually want that it might work on all pores and skin tones, and it is irritating to see that the tech is not fairly there but.
How one can use the Rose Pores and skin Co Lumi
To get the very best outcomes from the Rose Pores and skin Co Lumi, you will wish to begin with clear, dry pores and skin, and make certain that no matter hair you wish to take away is totally shaved (this can make it simpler for the IPL to hit it instantly on the root).
While you flip the machine on—which you are able to do with the press of a button—you will hear it begin to whir. From there, you’ll be able to select between three modes: Stamp (which requires you to press the button any time you wish to zap a spot and is finest for smaller, extra focused areas just like the bikini line, face, and underarms), Glide (by which you maintain down the button and the system zaps each half-second, and is beneficial for bigger areas just like the legs and arms), and Auto (which is mainly the identical as Glide, besides you do not have to carry down the button).
How typically you employ the system is solely as much as you, however the model recommends choosing a once-a-week cadence. You need to begin to see outcomes after the primary 3-4 makes use of, and might anticipate to be bald in all the correct locations after 12 periods.
What occurred once I tried it
Given what number of occasions I have been dissatisfied by at-home hair elimination units, my expectations for the Lumi had been very low when it confirmed up on my doorstep two months in the past. However once I pulled it out of the field, I used to be pleasantly stunned by how gosh-darn cute it was—and already determined that it had a leg-up on its rivals merely for the truth that it is sufficiently small to slot in my rest room cupboard (if I’ve to go digging for a tool, there’s a zero p.c probability that I am ever going to make use of it, and consistency is essential with laser hair elimination).
I went forwards and backwards over which space I wished to check the system on, however in the end selected my face—I used to be a little bit bit nervous that it was going to eff up my pores and skin or trigger discoloration (which may occur with IPL), however in the end I figured it will be the quickest space to deal with which meant I would be losing the least period of time if it did not work. Like I stated, I had basement-level hopes for the way nicely this factor would work, regardless of realizing that my olive pores and skin and very darkish hair make me a really perfect candidate.
For my first therapy, I cranked up the ability to a stage 3 (… solely as a result of I am impatient, and figured I would be wonderful as a result of I’ve gotten IPL earlier than), put the system in stamp mode, and set to work. I moved it alongside my freshly-shaved chin, jawline, cheeks, and mustache (… I’ve acquired a lot of facial hair, you guys), and pressed the button each quarter-of-an-inch or so. It did not harm in any respect—it principally simply felt like a fast little zap and flash of sunshine—which was a welcome shock on condition that I needed to bail on a pro-grade program just a few years in the past as a result of it was too painful.
On condition that I would had such unhealthy experiences with at-home laser hair elimination units previously, I actually thought I used to be imagining issues just a few days later when my facial hair appeared to be rising in thinner—usually it takes weeks to see outcomes from these items (that’s in the event that they ever even occur in any respect). However I stored at it with once-a-week therapies at progressively greater energy ranges, and by my sixth session, the hair progress had slowed to almost a halt. For context, I used to need to shave my face each different day—now, after two months with the Lumi, I can get away with an IPL session each different week.
Although the outcomes are technically everlasting, you have nonetheless acquired to maintain them up (which is why I proceed to make use of the system fairly repeatedly). Ultimately, it ought to get to the purpose the place I solely must do touch-ups each few months, however we’re nonetheless a methods away from that.
After seeing such success with my facial hair, I’ve began to make use of the Lumi on different elements of my physique (my legs, underarms, and bikini line), although it hasn’t been lengthy sufficient for any actual outcomes to set in.
For what it is value, I am not the one one who views the Lumi as such a game-changer. The system has a strong five-star ranking on Rose Pores and skin Co’s web site, with a number of customers calling it an ideal funding (and although $189 could appear steep, it is definitely lower than the price of a pro-grade therapy routine and can run you about the identical as 10 $20 mustache wax periods).
“I’ve used my handset thrice to date, and I already see an enormous distinction. I undergo from PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and one of many signs is extra hair. I needed to shave my face each single day for years and I used to be completely fed up it (as any lady can be). The facial hair and shaving every single day is a jab to my self-worth and made me really feel manly to an extent,” writes one reviewer. “Obsessive about the comfort of utilizing this product! The Lumi adjustments the sport for at dwelling hair elimination. It is so fast and straightforward to make use of and never painful in any respect. To date I’ve seen a discount in how shortly my hair grows again! Actually impressed with this system and I am unable to wait to see my outcomes after 12 weeks!'” says one other.
Contemplating I’ve spent a long time knuckling by way of costly, painful, and ineffective therapies for the sake of eliminating my facial hair, it makes me nearly emotional to suppose that I’ve lastly discovered one thing that does not simply *not* suck, however is admittedly fairly dang wonderful.
Our editors independently choose these merchandise. Making a purchase order by way of our hyperlinks could earn Effectively+Good a fee.