They say that tattoos are addictive… I don’t have any of those but I’m here to tell you that you can add hair-removal and Foxes Coconut Crinkles to the list of things that “Lipglossiping got herself addicted to” in 2010.
The question is, will I have a single hair left on my body come Christmas? Will I get carried away with it’s fabulosity and start chasing the neighbour’s Persian moggy round the block once I’m done with Mr. L’s hairy back?
The Boots Smooth Skin by iPulse IPL System arrived last week for me to try and report back on, and being the hairy Mary that I am… I honestly couldn’t think of a better candidate.
Until I read this:
I was all of an “OHMYGOD, I CAN’T USE IT!” I may even have squeezed out a couple of tears… and then a few more for the benefit of Mr. L (who missed them the first time round) after he looked up from Micro Mart to determine whether the wailing was coming from me or the baby.
After some email to-ing and fro-ing with the people behind the device, I learned that they’re actually in the process RIGHT NOW of updating the UK manual for the machine. Infact, here it is in black and white from the rep:
…I have managed to get you the most up to date info on the suitability of Boots Smooth Skin for PCOS sufferers.
As you know, in the UK manual, it states that Boots Smooth Skin is not suitable for PCOS sufferers.
We are in the process of updating the UK manual with Boots to give a better explanation of the considerations when using Smooth Skin with PCOS. We know many PCOS sufferers have found good results with Smooth Skin and some have posted their positive reviews on boots.com.
As you will know, in essence, PCOS is related to a hormonal imbalance. Hormone changes may cause dormant hair stem cells to grow into new hair follicles. So it is likely to take longer to be hair-free and require you to top up.
But we also know and understand what a huge comfort it is to PCOS sufferers not to have the extra hair that the condition causes to be so visible…
…We want to do the right thing by our consumers, and while we go through the final rounds of approvals with Boots we would love to give you the chance to get ahead of the UK change.
So there you go. You heard it here first (maybe).
In all honesty as a PCOS lady, this device wouldn’t be my first stop for hair removal. Not for my face anyway, which is precisely why I don’t already own one.
I’ve looked at this particular device many times in the past (it’s one of the few that claim PERMANENT results) and I’ve never been confident enough in it’s claims to go to Boots and lay my debit card down on the counter. I think it’s important that you know this, and that I tell you why.
Regardless of whether there’s any substance to my opinion, as someone with a “proper” problem with excess hair, I knew that I was always going to opt for something that I perceive to be stronger. I want FULL ON peeow peeow laser beams blasting my face yano? I want someone with a clipboard to be operating a machine that takes up at least 10sq foot of floor space and puts a minor dent in the national grid everytime it’s fired up.
I won’t be using this on my face or my chest. I don’t want it to interfere with the results that I may or may not get from the SK:N treatment that I’m currently undergoing.
Instead, you get to see my gorgeous hairy pins. You lucked out. Don’t worry though… I’m not showing them today, your appetite is safe for now.
Check out this instead:
It’s all very neat and compact… slotting into it’s own little vanity case that has been discretely designed without the words LASER HAIR REMOVAL emblazoned all over it. In other words, you can totally leave the IPL stuff behind and take the case on a dirty weekend filled with furry handcuffs and the like. Or if you’re me, Minstrels.
So, the plan is to do one leg. Just the one. Don’t worry, I’m still gonna shave the other one… but I think that doing it this way will leave me under no illusions by the end of 12 weeks whether I’m actually seeing concrete results from the Boots Smooth Skin. I’m also going to pin down Mr. L (he really does have a hairy back and this is the only home IPL system suitable for men) – he’s gonna. love. it.
Much, much later on… god knows if you’ll still be here with me or even care, but I’ll put phase two of the hair-blasting attack into action. I’ll use the Boots Smooth Skin on my face to maintain whatever results I achieve from my SK:N treatment once it’s finished.
For the purposes of the trial and for you ladies with PCOS, I wish I could do that bit NOW – but bad timing forces my hand and I simply can’t. It’s pretty common for hirsute women with a hormonal imbalance to need extra professional laser sessions. Sometimes as many as a couple of times a year to maintain completely smooth skin. I’ve made peace with that, but for me… that would mean £220 for each topup session. The Boots Smooth Skin currently retails at £274.99. It makes economical sense for me to purchase one of these for maintenance and I would (despite my cautious attitude towards it’s claims) be confident enough in the device’s abilities to lay down my cash in an effort to maintain an area that’s already been treated.
Anyway, I’ll introduce you to the more technical aspects of the machine next week when I’m confident that my tan has completely faded (you can’t use the device on fake-tanned skin).
*glances up* Jesus, I can’t half go on.
Wow, there’s a lot of rules regarding who can and can’t use this! That definitely scares me… Does it state the reason for not being able to use it whilst on anti depressants?
Regardless of all of those rules, I do look forward to seeing your results
Good for them that they took your query seriously.
I’m sure some of these warnings are OTT.
Don’t drink the water and don’t breathe the air and you should be alright….
FULL ON peeow peeow laser beams = haha
for now, it seems a lot of faff. I can’t wait for your next post about what it’s supposed to do, and how you should use it. For now, I am a bit lost and all I remember from reading the post is minstrels, coconut, handcuffs, hotel room, Mr L, and peow peow laser breams
I read another review about it and it looked promising but then the thing about the PCOS, which I have, wasn’t pointed out so thank you for being a darling and pointing stuff like thsi out, I probably wouldn’t have looked at it properly if I were to buy it. That said, I also have Thyroid problems, so it’s obviously not meant to be.
Good luck with using this, I’ve read a few reviews and I’m following them with interest as I am considering getting one of these.
good luck! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and I didn’t know you had PCOS. It’s nice to see a woman have it and actually talk about it a little. I was just diagnosed with it in December and you made me feel a little less alone. Thank you. 🙂
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I have just bought this and am hoping to cover the bits missed by salon treatments and keep going on the facial hair, as well as start on private areas. The reason you cant use it if youre on anti depressants is because some medications cause your skin to become highly photosensitive, which means it will be very sensitive to the laser light and will most likely cause your skin to burn.
I would advise you all to DO NOT BUY THE I-PULSE MACHINE FROM BOOTS. I’m really disappointed with everything about this machine. First of all the 12 weeks effectiveness it’s unreal. It might be real for hairless woman but for thick hair it probably takes way longer. My point is: The 10.000 flashes lasted only 5 months, I don’t know how some people managed to use for one year without replacement, I have to say I was really surprised when the bulb was finished. I was doing my bikini line,underarm, half legs and upper lip it was bad enough that it lasted so little, but my nightmare started when I tried to get the replacement handset that costs more than half price of the whole machine or just the bulb that is also very expensive a 100 pounds. In store they’ve got no information about it, and they also gave me 3 weeks to get replaced wich means I would have to stop the treatment for 3 weeks. Before you buy it any of this machines reserch a lot ( not only boots website ).Is just a piece of advice from someone that really needs hair removal and had a bad experience after spending more than 300 pounds in one machine that doesn’t really do what it says.I left to my fiance who speaks English as a first language to deal with them over the phone because the firts time I called them the guy at the store was laughing at me, I took as he was probably laughing at my accent. But it didn’t bother me as much as I have to wait for 6 weeks, they actualy changed from 3 weeks to 6 now and I’m getting married in 8 weeks. How nice is that? Thanks and good luck with you choices girls, hope it works better than worked for me.
Hi, I have thyroid problem and I had ipl done professionally and I have
Seen amazing results. I hardly have any hair on my legs apart from a small patch that you
Cant really see unless you look closeup. I had dark thick hair before. It also worked well on my arms and underams. I haven’t had a treatment for around 6 years and wax the patches once every few months.
I think they are probably being a bit cautious and stating its not suitable. Im sure the machine that they
Used on me was strongest than the home ipl machine.