Conair - Lumilisse IPL Hair Remover - White

Pros Makes IPL affordable and available at home Good build quality Bulb is designed to last the life of the product Auto calibrates Does reduce the amount of hair growth Offers glide mode to reduce time needed for treatment Makes skin smoother Doesn’t need that much work to use, once a month on maintenance Cons Hard to get it to work in low fat areas Can cause irritation Does not slow down all hair growth but just some follicles Still requires regular shaving Complicated rules and reasons not to use Must avoid unprotected sun exposure during use Doesn’t include eye protection No one really enjoys trimming or shaving hair so the idea of a device that either stops or at least reduces the need to shave sounds like a great idea. Of course, there are creams that can make hair fall off but, in most cases, they cause irritation and they just don’t work for some people at all. There are more permanent professional methods, but they require a lot of money and to be sure you never want it back. A middle ground is what used to be relegated to expensive centers to get laser hair removal. Conair is looking to make it more affordable and bring the technology into your home with the Lumillisse IPL Hair Remover. The question is if they have succeeded. IPL (short for Intense Pulsed Light) technology is like laser treatment and is a bit finicky. For starters, if you have a darker skin tone or lighter hair it won’t work. The reason is it retards hair grown by using light to heat up the dark hair. If you have dark skin, you will zap your skin as well. The reverse is also true that if you don’t have dark enough hair it can’t properly heat it up. Also, the instructions say to avoid long exposure to sunlight for treatment areas so no trips to the beach if you are going to use this. Another consideration is some question the overall health of exposing yourself regularly to light that is so intense you can feel real heat on your skin. So far, the main concern has been around UV exposure, which thankfully, the Lumilisse does not produce. Design The overall design resembles a hair dryer. It is made mostly of plastic but feels sturdy and well built. On the side is a skin sensor that measures the pigment level of your skin to determine the proper intensity level. Depending on your skin type and response there is also a manual option to increase or decrease intensity. The front portion where the light is emitted has two interchangeable tips. One tip is for face and sensitive areas and the other is for larger portions of your body. Beyond a power button and trigger the design keeps the function as simple as possible. This is nice as operation is where things get complicated. Usage Conair has attempted to make the process as simple as possible, but the technology overall comes with lots of rules and caveats. The manual is full of reasons not to use it beyond dark skin or light hair to include if you take certain medications or have certain skin conditions. Assuming you don’t fit any of the criteria to prevent usage and the initial test shows no unfavorable results, you still aren’t out of the woods. You have the option to use it in precision mode which allows full intensity for each treatment with a pause between each. It recommends drawing a grid with a white makeup pencil so as not to miss spots or overtreat spots. If you use glide mode, recommended for large areas like the legs, the intensity is fixed at one but doesn’t say if you can then overlap to improve results or how fast you should move the unit. If you are more toned or have areas with less fat you also might find yourself struggling to get it to fire. There is a safety mechanism that make sure that the device is fully against your skin so the front of your leg and around your knees can preset a challenge as you try to stretch your skin and twist your legs to get it to let you use it. In some places it can occasional still trigger the safety lockout even when it is fully against your skin. This isn’t all bad because if you accidentally get it to fire without full contact you might do eye damage as the flash is extremely bright. In fact, it’s a bit of a surprise that they don’t include eye protection because even when it fires against your skin the flash can be painfully bright even if you are looking away. They instructions recommend you use sunglasses if you have issues, but it seems that some sort of protection included in the box would have been helpful. Over repeated use you might get used to it but it’s questionable if that is really a good idea to let yours eyes get used to such bright light. On large surfaces you are supposed to shave 24 hours prior and it is a good idea to be sure you are thorough in how you do this. If you miss a hair you will know because the “zap” of light will let you know. Overall you should expect some minor discomfort but far less than some other hair control methods. There are some very rare skin types that might get a rash during testing of sensitive areas or even get a spot a little like a sunburn. Unfortunately, during testing the results around the chin caused a mildly painful rash and extremely dry skin so treatment in that area had to be discontinued. If you have PCOS and were hoping this would solve those embarrassing facial hairs just be prepared it might not work out. In fact, it states that for some that hair density could increase temporarily or even shift to a different area. Results Conair is very straightforward about how, even if you follow every rule in the manual, that IPL may still not be the right fit for you. This isn’t the fault of the unit or it’s design but rather the technology just isn’t a cure it all. That said, the “Misses” should have been the literal perfect candidate of the technology with pale skin that doesn’t tan and dark brown, nearly black, hair. Unfortunately, PCOS and sensitive skin didn’t help and overall the results were mixed. Shaving frequency hasn’t been reduce much in nearly 4 months but the hairs are smaller with slower growth and subsequent shaves are resulting in much smoother skin. I was hoping to give it a try as well to use it to reduce shaving and trimming the lower part of the back of the neck. Unfortunately, my hair is too light, and I tan too easily. Also, if you plan to try to use to reduce shaving but might want a beard again someday there is a change you might be out of luck. Some who use it will experience permanent reduced hair growth so think carefully where you use it before trying. If you don’t care if you ever have hair in that area again you should be ok. The big question is if the results are good enough to warranty continued use through the summer while lathering up in extra sunblock to prevent unfavorable results and that question at this point still can’t be answered. If you have skin that tans easily, love the summer sun, and don’t often use sunblock it would be best not to try it. If, like my wife, you don’t tan and must use sunblock all summer it might be ok. Conclusion It is nice that Conair is working to make what was expensive technology more accessible but what they can’t fix is the science behind it. If you are looking for a hair control method just don’t expect the Conair Lumilisse to be the holy grail that solves all your problems and be aware of the limitations and warnings of the technology. If your skin and hair type make a good candidate, it might be worth a try. The only downside in that case is if it doesn’t work for you the results won’t be apparent until well after any return policy allows.

Having gone through professional laser hair removal in the past, my wife and I have been looking forward to this in home option Conair has come up with to potentially save us some time and money. Let me start off by saying the packaging and device itself appear high quality perhaps leading consumers to believe they are getting a high quality product. It was easy for us to understand the instructions and the set up was very simple. It is a plug in device, not wireless, and it comes with two heads, one for your body and one for sensitive areas and your face. If you have ever received laser hair removal from a licensed professional, you know that it can be painful using the high intensity laser; this Lumilisse IPL Hair Remover is not painful at all but does cause a slight tingling sensation when the light flashes which you get used to after using it the first time. After adjusting the button on the side to my skin tone, I started off by using it on my body using the provided attachment and found it a little frustrating because you really need to ensure the device is seated directly on the skin otherwise it will not flash. I found that if you lift it off your skin and put it back down it seems to help with that by perhaps resetting the sensor. One of the other things I found frustrating is that in order to know whether it is properly pressed against the skin and ready to flash, you have to be able to see the green light on the back of the device flash before it will work; the problem is, depending on the area you are trying to use it on, you may not be able to view the green light so it becomes trial and error. One thing that concerns me is the device is made of plastic, understandably so, therefore you have to be careful when using it over a hard surface in the event you drop it, which fortunately I haven't done yet; my concern is that it may break the device or shatter the bulb which I believe you can't replace. Conair claims that the bulb provided should last 300,000 flashes which should last a very long time and you might not ever need to replace it. After using this device for a few weeks and approximately 20 treatments in the same area, my wife and I personally have not noticed much of a change in the amount of hair growth in those areas. Both my wife and I have fair skin and dark hair in the areas we have been using it on. Needless to say, so far we have been unimpressed however we will continue to use it in hopes that it is just a really slow process. If you are looking for immediate results, a better option may be to fork out the additional money and go to a professional with a more powerful laser hair removal machine.

I have had my fair share of trying "new" methods to rid my body hair, praying to last a bit longer than the previous, to always end up with a routine that I had to repeat every few days or a week. I eventually caved and went in for laser hair removal treatments. It was effective but cost hundreds of dollars and the worst part, it took 10+ sessions to see "significant" results. Even then, I was thrilled how low maintenance being hairless has become and have considered doing my legs...BUT per session price was just too ridiculous for me to cave yet again. Then the Conair Lumilisse entered my life and it just may never be the same. It initially feels like a huge investment but unlike the other Laser hair removal systems, it does not have cartridges you have to replace every few uses so once you pay, you have a good while before this thing dies on you. Unfortunately, I can't say how long because I'm still only about 1.5-2months in. In the box, you have the unit, a cord, 1 body and 1 Sensitive heads. Also, a guide, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING. However, in case you wish to forego reading the instruction, here's the jist: 1. Shave the area 24 hours prior to treatment - Like any other laser hair removal treatments, it "works best" when the hair is short. DO NOT PLUCK and DO NOT LEAVE IT LONG. From testing, when the hair was long, this device just fried the long bits curly and produced absolutely no results. 2. You have to be "light skinned" - This is something no one really has a "choice" BUT like most laser hair removal treatments, it's best suited for light skin. The device is equipped to "measure" your skin tone by laying it on its side on to your skin. When the indicator flashes "Red" it is not suitable for that area, stop and do not proceed. If you see the indicator flash green, press the "trigger" to "Set" and start. 3. Put the device flushed against your skin and trigger - The device has a "safety" mechanism and will not operate if the "laser" is not on your skin. When it senses it is touching your skin with no gaps, the indicator located on the back will flash green. Press the trigger to laser. Not going to lie, this was a bit awkward and took some getting used to because even if I pressed it firmly onto my skin, sometimes it would not flash so I had to take the device off my skin and place it again. Also, you may want to wear sunglasses because, even though it's written it's not "harmful" to your eyes, the constant flash may irritate the eyes. 4. After care - It says that you may feel like you have a mild sunburned after. I personally haven't noticed any burning sensation or feel uncomfortable after a session but do use aloe or ointments just in case. My skin did flare up and is still patchy (it's been about a month now) but I'm not entirely sure if it's because it was "burnt" or I just didn't take care of it thoroughly. 5. Repeat every 2 weeks. As mentioned above, it did take a bit of finesse and a whole lot of getting used to but now that I have it down, it takes only about 10 minutes to do both my legs or husband's back. Both of us have used this product about 4-5 times each (every 2 weeks as instructed) and have noticed the hair to be growing in slower and thinner/lighter. I am very hopeful that the hair will eventually be light enough, difficult to see or just not grow back at all. HOPEFUL. In terms of worth, I personally feel we have already got our money's worth due to the number of uses/sessions we have put in. I am also seeing very similar results as going to a laser treatment facility. Overall, I definitely do think this is a good investment if and ONLY IF you can stick to a schedule, put in the effort and be diligent in caring for your skin. Pro: - Easy to use, once you're used to the awkward angles - Virtually painless to mild "heat" - Quick & effective - No cartridges - Convenient, comfort of your home treatment - Safety features Con: - A bit awkward to use in some areas of the body - May irritate certain areas of the skin - Expensive (hefty price but may be considered a worthy investment) - Stiff cord, keeps getting tangled - Packaging is bulky, no bag or anything else provided to put the unit, heads and cord

DISCLAIMER: This product was reviewed by my wife. The Conair Lumilisse IPL Hair Remover is a worthwhile investment for those who are constantly shaving, plucking, or paying for more expensive laser hair removal sessions. It comes with the laser gun, and 2 tips/shields - one for face and one for body. It also comes with an instruction manual which is easy to follow and includes a schedule for how often the device should be used. It is powered by a wall AC outlet (not batteries). I'm only about halfway through the cycle, but after 5 uses, I can already see a change the amount and texture of hair growth after shaving. Hair is slower growing, and the texture is much finer. I expect that when I complete the suggested number of sessions, that hair growth on the areas that I'm treating will be minimal. The device allows for you to choose your skin pigment type, so that the intensity of the laser is adjusted to your skin. It takes a little bit to get used to how to position the tool on your skin. It must be lined up perfectly on your skin, or it won't work. It's also hard to use on areas with less fat, for example, above your lip. The reason is because the entire tip of the laser must be touching skin in order for it to work, so plumper areas are easier to manage. But, after a couple of sessions and little finesse, I was able to figure this out. I'm only doing under arms, a little on the face, and around my bikini line, and the whole process takes less than 10 minutes. To use, you first place the laser gun to your skin for it to determine how intense the laser should be. Once that's done, you just position it over newly shaven skin (must shave at least 24 hours prior to use) and squeeze the trigger. It does produce a bright laser pulse every time you squeeze the trigger, so it's recommended that you don't look directly at it to protect your eyes. You just pulse it one time for each section of skin until the area is finished. You may feel a slight heat sensation with each pulse, but it's not painful at all. I've also not experienced any side effects like sunburn or irritated skin. The user guide suggests to do this every 2 weeks for about 6 weeks, then you switch over to every 3 weeks, and then once per month. I have dark, coarse hair, and after 3 months of use, I'm starting to see a difference. I do still have to shave every day at this point, but I can certainly tell that I'm shaving less and the hair is much finer. The hope is that after another 3 months, I will be able to shave even less in those areas, if at all. Pros ------- * Costs less than professional laser hair removal sessions * Instructions are easy to follow * Machine is easy to use * Doesn't take a lot of time to use, and you only do it about twice per month * Hair is growing back sparser, thinner, and finer after half of the sessions are completed (about 3 months) * No side effects so far (no sunburn, skin irritation, unusual smells, etc) * Can do in the convenience of your home, rather than making an appointment with a professional Cons --------- * Positioning the laser can be a little tricky at first, especially on thinner skinned areas * Could sting a little bit at first, especially if the laser intensity is too high * Doesn't come with a bag or anything to store the product, shields, and cord in. * Expensive, but worth it if you are someone who would invest in professional laser hair treatments * Doesn't come with any eye protection (glasses) to shield from the laser pulses.

Review of Conair Lumilisse IPL Hair Remover (White) This is the second time we used one of these consumer grade hair removal systems. The first unit I purchased at a roadshow at my local membership club. After 3 months of use with no measurable hair reduction or slow regrowth my wife and I returned for full refund. When we received this unit we were happy to see it was portable and lightweight for use (previous unit we had was big and had a base to it). After reading instructions I used skin detector and it said I should use level 1. My pigment looks like the first color choice on the box. My wife in between the 2/3 pigment choice (she was detected at level 2). Shaved and good to go I tried it at level 1. I could feel a little heat during pulses but quickly went away. Used level 1 for the first application in the 2 week recommended interval. I used it on my chest and usually have 5oclock shadow next day when shaved. I noticed my thick hair (but not dense in area) was not visible next day. My wife said it is similar to waxing as it removes hair at the root. At application two (2 weeks later), I noticed hair growth in some areas. I went up to level 2...then to level 3. At level 3 I could feel a little zap (like a rubberband) more in some areas I guess more sensitive. For this review I tried level 4 and 5. Not much of a difference in the zap than level 3 but sometimes at level 5 the zap was much greater but tolerable. My wife said the zap at salon with the machine they use is much more noticeable and painful were this one the sensation immediately goes away. My wife used this at level 3 on her underarm region, back of legs, and bikini region. I have seen noticeable reduction of hair and in some spots no regrowth as of yet. Very happy consumers. One thing to note, in some areas I missed at shaving, this unit zapped the hair right off. The room had a salon smell to it (burnt hair). Peach fuzz did not stand a chance. The unit is connected to a huge wall wart with a cable length of about 5 feet. It is long enough to reach all areas of the body without issue. Make sure to clean every session. I use a microfiber cloth to clean out any hair or dead skin particles (yuck). One thing that slowed down the sessions on first use is the unit wouldn't blink green to initiate a pulse. I had to readjust it on the skin then it worked. Very picky at times and not sure why. The second session I was much better at application. I am hoping that long term I will see permanent hair loss in the application areas with the 2 week application interval. I am happy to see slow regrowth for now and hope this is a sign and success moving forward. My wife and I didn't use the face sensor. We really don't have an issue with facial hair. But it is good to know it is there. Pros: -Lightweight portable -Minimal sensation during session -Vent seems to cool unit quickly -Skin level sensor is nice -changeable head is nice for body and face Negatives: -Wall wart is huge but most likely needed for the power draw -No included storage case (been using the box) -No included microfiber cloth to clean unit -Sometimes the unit is doesn't zap slowing down the session -the skin level sensor when applied blocks the vent (but this is a one time thing)

I had dreams of saving hours of my life by eliminating leg shaving altogether. It may happen with continued use, but after 6 treatments/sessions, here are my results. In order to have a true side-by-side comparison, I treated only one side of my body. I would estimate leg hair has been reduced by 30% & bikini area 10%. For starters, the instructions are well laid out & easy to follow (especially if you’ve never experienced IPL treatment before as I had not). I felt no pain, just an occasional quick, minor tingle. I also had no adverse skin reactions of any kind. After the first full leg treatment, it felt similar to being out in the sun for 30 minutes, but nothing negative. I also haven’t noticed any difference in skin texture. The treatments are not time consuming and you get more efficient with each session. As soon as it’s plugged in & turned on, it’s ready to go. No warmup time required. Just select the intensity level & have at it. I do find it challenging to make sure not to go over the same area more than once. Also, it’s highly recommended not to treat if you’re getting sun exposure. Winter turned out to be the best time to get started in my case. Overall, if you have especially hairy areas that bother you (like forearms that are exposed most of the time), this will definitely reduce the amount of hair & change the appearance for the better. In this case, I would recommend with 4 stars. If you’re looking to eliminate shaving altogether, you’ll be disappointed, & I would not recommend. The package clearly states: “over 75% less hair”; so, there’s no promise of fully eliminating hair. Also, they say the best results will occur after several months of use. I will continue to treat monthly as recommended. With no adverse effects & a huge cost savings vs. professional treatment, I’m going with 4 stars with the expectation that, if I’m at 30% success now, results will continue to improve with further treatments.

When I saw this I thought this is something my wife may like as she has multiple different hair removal devices and shavers. I also helped her out, read through the instructions and found all the information I could find on the net beforehand. She was familiar with laser hair removal treatment at the salons but never had it done due to costs. This device is listed as a class II laser device and should be taken lightly, never look at the light under any circumstances. The unit itself is lightweight and very easy to handle, we found that it does help to have a second person with legs, and it also goes much faster if there is someone else to help. At first you want to use the sensor built into the side of the device to detect your skin type, my wife’s was number one and that’s what she’s been using. I also noticed that while using you can detect just a slight whiff of burnt hair smell, nothing bad mind you, just a very slight odor. Tells me it’s getting the hair itself pretty hot. The rest of this review will be in her words: When I saw the device I thought “how convenient”, no trips to the salon, “I don’t go to those anyway”, and this should save some money in the end compared to the cost of the salon treatments. I liked that the device is lightweight, small, “about the size of a travel hair dryer” and pretty simple to use once you read the instructions and start using it. I wish it had a little longer cord but my husband has a lot of extension cords. It’s also nice that they include a head for doing facial hair, I don’t have any so won’t be trying it there, mainly legs. After I figured out how to use the skin detector it showed I need to start at level one. I have very light skin and was also worried at first because the instructions said you may get a sunburn like feel. I set the level at 1 and started to use it on my legs, and on level 1 I couldn’t feel much of anything just the pop from it going off and the bright flash. It’s sort of difficult to use evenly so I had my husband help, which is about the best way to do it is find someone that can move it around evenly. This does take quite a while to do a treatment, and you have to be patient. I followed the instructions on shaving and washing before starting. On level one I didn’t feel a thing on my legs, just the pop and bright flash, there was a tiny bit of odor like he mentioned but not much. The next day I didn’t have any type of sunburning sensation or anything. After waiting two weeks we did it all over again, on level 1 again with the same results. I haven’t noticed much for hair reduction but the manual states that it takes a few months so will keep trying every two weeks, and I think I’ll have him try level 2 or 3 to see if there’s any difference. Right now it’s hard to tell but over time if this works as advertised it will be a great cost and time saving over going to a salon. The device itself is very well made, it’s easy to use and I’d recommend you try it out and see how it works for you, just remember it takes time to see results.

It’s working…Maybe When I unwrapped this gift I was thrilled. Laser hair removal was something I used to do when I was younger, before kids and work ate up all my time. So the idea of being able to knock it out at home had me super appreciative of this thoughtful gift. Reading through the booklet there were tons of warnings about burning, scarring, etc that it did have me a little freaked out. Especially as a skin cancer survivor, anything that could be dangerous gives me some hesitation. After doing a ton of research I decided to give it a go. The first time was a bit terrifying, since it warned that it may be a little painful. Since I have absolutely no tolerance for pain or discomfort, it took some courage to work up that first trigger pull. To my surprise, I felt absolutely nothing! It really is easy to accomplish, but it does take a lot of time to work large areas. Plus, some areas have a difficult time getting the sensor to make full contact. Under-arms and knees always prove a pain. I’ve been using it since Christmas, gradually increasing the frequency as suggested in the manual. After 3 months I definitely notice the hair comes back in more slowly and isn’t as course as it was before. It says it could take a long time to completely remove the hair, so I’m assuming I haven’t achieved that yet. Since it takes a long time to do, it isn’t as convenient as I first thought. In some says, going to a pro and having them zip through it very quickly makes it much more efficient than consuming a chunk of time on my weekends. All in all, it seems that it is working. Considering the huge price savings over professional laser removal, it is worth trying out. So I’ll stick with it for while more and hopefully it will eventually get rid of all the hair.