At the beginning of this year, I was introduced to the SmoothSkin bare UltraFast IPL Hair Removal Device which I used for a good few months before writing a review about it (here). Right now, I have the newer version, the SmoothSkin Muse Intelligent IPL Hair Removal Device and whilst I have tried it out, it isn't made for my skin tone or hair colour, so I have had a friend of mine using it for a similar amount of time as I used the Muse for.
When it comes to using a device like this, it has to be good enough to keep my attention. I don't want to have to spend an hour zapping my legs when to use a razor every few days is less than a ten-minute job. Equally, I want to see results and not just accept what the tests have to say, we all know that our own hair is different to that of our friends and therefore, we will all get differing results. But, because I was so impressed with SmoothSkin Bare and had continued to use it, I was keen to see what the Muse had to offer.
SmoothSkin Muse is a smart, yet powerful IPL system. Providing a personalised IPL treatment, SmoothSkin Muse delivers treatment that lasts so long you'll never again worry about stubbly legs or prickly underarms!
Firstly, it differs in design completely. The Bare is much smaller and compact and fits into the palm of my hand to use, the Muse is a lot bigger but no heavier. For best results, SmoothSkin Muse should be used every week for 12 weeks to ensure all hair follicles are treated. After the initial 12 treatments, to maintain results and stay silky smooth, you’ll just need to top-up as required, usually once every 4 to 8 weeks. This is exactly what I have done.
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and it refers to the flashes used to deliver hits of intense pulses of light that specifically targets hair and it’s growth and it is suitable for use on the arms, legs, bikini line and face. SmoothSkin Muse IPL Hair Removal device is designed to help break the hair cycle and prevent regrowth, giving permanent hair reduction and it is the word reduction which is important because some people assume that it gets rid of your hair for good and that doesn't always happen, over time, if you continue to use the device regularly, then you do notice the difference in hair reduction and how long it does take to grow back.
There are two different modes of the programme to choose from - Glide and Stamp or you can opt for the dual treatment mode depending upon your preference. The dual treatment mode is ideal for the larger areas you want to treat, then glide mode is perfect for the legs and stamp mode is best used on the underarms or bikini area, but again, it is all about personal preferences.
What I really like about the SmoothSkin Muse is that it scans your skin before each flash and automatically selects the light intensity best suited to your unique skin tone – maximising your results, safely. So, you don't need to guess which one might work the best for you, it does it all for you. But, before it comes to switching your gadget on for the first time, as with most beauty related products, you need to ensure you have prepped in advance and with this, it means doing a patch test (full details are given in the guide) and if there are no adverse reactions, make sure the area is completely hair-free. For best results we recommend shaving, but if you prefer you can also wax or epilate - just be sure to wait 24 hours after waxing or epilating before using your SmoothSkin device. It doesn't hurt or sting to use, it doesn't burn the skin and the heat that you feel from the pulses of light is minimal in comparison to other IPL devices ive used.
This device is designed for people with naturally Brown or Black Hair rather than those with White, Grey, Blonde or Red hair (You need the Bare), but I have Dark Blonde hair and gave it a try and haven't suffered any reaction to it at all. That said, a friend of mine has dark brown, almost black hair and she used it for 3 months and her first words to me were "You ain't getting it back, it is amazing" well I have got it back as I needed to take photos, but her issue with hair removal was how quickly, whether she waxed or shaved, the hair grew back and when shaving on a daily basis has to become part of your routine, you need an alternative treatment, or so she said. So, having used the Muse for 3 months and 2 days it has slowed down the time in which her hair grows back dramatically and if she was to go back to shaving, then it would be everything 3-4 days and not every day, so a worthwhile investment.
This device is available from both Boots and John Lewis for £399 and if you want a deal, Amazon currently has it on offer for £299 here.
*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.