Braun’s Skin i-expert Smart IPL, Reviewed

Something about effective bullying really sticks with you. There are a few memorable instances from my childhood–let’s say I was an easy target–but one that lives in my head rent-free comes from the seventh grade: “Oh wow, Eden. You finally shaved your legs.” 

I’ve always been a hairy gal, and while in our era of increased self-acceptance (and as a fully grown woman), it doesn’t exactly keep me up at night, there are still a few areas I’m not comfortable with being hirsute. Specifically: My face. So, when I got the opportunity to try out Braun’s Skin i-expert Smart IPL, I leaped on it. A chance to cut back on the face wax, potentially for good? Sign me up. Read on to find out if it delivered. 

About My Hair: Coarse, thick, and plentiful 

If you were to ask my friends to guess my number one beauty-related complaint, I think most would surmise (correctly) that it has to do with my face and body hair. Specifically: I grow lots of it. It’s thick, dark, and coarse in places it shouldn’t be–namely, my face. 

As it was explained to me by a gynecologist, hormonal imbalances exist on something of a spectrum. While I might not quite meet the requirements for full-on polycystic ovarian syndrome (AKA PCOS), I do still share the experience of hirsutism with many of those folks. As such, I’m very used to facial hair wax strips; for years, I would use two or three wax strips on my chin every week. I did, and still do, dermaplane weekly, which takes care of the upper lip and sideburns. 

The Technology: Targeting hair at the follicle 

As with similar devices, the Braun Skin i-expert Smart IPL uses laser technology to target and destroy the melanin in hair follicles. Since the device targets the melanin in the hair shaft and bulb, contrast yields the best results–so it often isn’t the best option for light hair, including blonde or gray, or those with deep or dark skin tones. Essentially, the closer your hair color is to your skin color, the tougher it is for the laser to differentiate between your skin and the hair—so the ideal candidate has thick, dark vellus hair and lighter skin. (There are in-office treatments that use longer wavelengths and are compatible with deep and dark skin tones.) 

A nifty chart on the back of the box gives you an idea of whether or not it will be compatible with your skin and hair combination, and before you can begin a treatment plan the device runs a compatibility test. (A few flashes on your skin.) While this worked out for me and my chosen plan–I’m on the lighter end of Type V on the Fitzpatrick Scale—it could have gone either way, and I’m not going to lie: It would have been super frustrating if I had purchased the device and couldn’t use it. As such, if you’re a Fitzpatrick Type IV or V, I’d recommend researching beforehand and buying from a retailer with a great return policy. There’s also a helpful quiz on the website that can help you decide if it’ll meet your needs. 

Along with the hand-held device, the kit includes four heads: A precision head for the face; a wide head for the upper legs, chest, and back; a standard head for the lower legs, armpits, and arms; and a bikini precision head for—you guessed it—the bikini area.

How to Use: On clean, hairless skin

Before you unbox, you’ll want to download the app–it’ll be crucial on your hair removal journey. After you pair the device with your phone via Bluetooth, you’ll use the app to create a treatment plan. 

For each plan—you can have multiple going at once—you’ll select the body part you want to treat, the hair color in that location, the hair density, and your priority: fast results, skin comfort, or a balance of the two. Then you’ll pick a start date and receive a custom plan. And they do mean custom: Before each session, the device will check in on your progress, including how dense the hair currently is and if your priorities have changed.

Before each treatment, you must remove any visible hair and ensure your skin is clean and dry. Since I chose my face, I opted to wax a few hours to a day before each treatment. I would conduct my treatments in the morning or early afternoon. 

The Results: A significant difference

I performed nine sessions, focusing on my chin and jaw, and I’ll cut to the chase: I was impressed! I stuck with the medium energy (AKA pain) level, and generally found it pretty painless; as I continue, I might ramp things up to three. During each session, I would stamp the device around my chin and jawline for about two minutes. The precision head is a great size for covering this area, and the device fits easily and elegantly in the hand. 

The app is incredibly intuitive and super easy to use, and I appreciate how it reminds you of your upcoming sessions. It can still be tough to keep up—life happens—but little reminders and quick and painless sessions make it much easier.

To keep it 100, I still have more hair than I’d like around my chin. While that’s disheartening on its face (and, well, mine), I noticed something pretty crucial after about a month and a half’s worth of sessions: It was taking way longer for new hair to grow in. While I’d previously waxed my chin hair every week, I was now observing way less hair on the wax strips when I’d prep for weekly sessions. And when I was bad and missed a session (okay sessions), I still wouldn’t feel the need to wax right away. 

At this point, I’d say I can go about a month before the hair is back and really bothering me. Which is about three weeks longer than I could before! I definitely plan on continuing with added sessions to my treatment plan–with diligence, I think your girl really could achieve a hair-free chin. (Or at least a way less hairy one.) 

The Value: An investment 

At $500, the Braun Skin i-expert Smart IPL is no doubt an investment. But when you add up the cost of, say, waxing sessions every four to six weeks, an at-home device quickly becomes the cost-saving option (especially if you remove hair from multiple areas). And of course, with IPL, you will, eventually, be able to go several weeks without removing hair—and possibly even forever. 

The Final Verdict: The gold standard in hair removal 

Between the easy-to-use app, personalized treatment plans, and attachments that allow you to hit all over your body, Braun’s Skin i-expert Smart IPL is a great investment for anyone who can afford the (admittedly steep) up-front price tag. It might cost you a pretty penny, but for potentially decades’ worth of skin-safe hair removal, it’s more than worth it.