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Uneven coverage
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Uncomfortably bright
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Not suitable for all skin tones
Of course, the major question on my mind was: “Does it actually work?” I’ve been duped by beauty gadgets that seem too good to be true in the past, and I wanted to know if this gadget actually delivers the same results as a professional treatment. There was only one way to find out, so I put it to the test over the course of several weeks. Here’s what my experience was like.
About the Lumi Permanent Hair Removal Device
- Size: 134 x 82 x 40 millimeters (approx. 5.8 x 3.2 x 1.6 inches)
- Weight: 186 grams (approx. 0.4 pounds)
- Technology: Intense Pulsed Light (IPS)
- Energy Level: 1.6–3.8 joules/cm2
- Focus Size: 33 x 10 mm2
- Wavelength: 510–1100 nanometer
- Operating Temperature: 41-86 °F
The RoseSkinCo. Lumi is a permanent hair removal device that uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to get rid of body hair. Similar to laser hair removal, this technology destroys hair follicles at the root, and with consistent use, it can stop hair from growing back, reducing the need for shaving or waxing.
The Lumi is FDA-cleared for safe at-home use, and it can be used anywhere on your body below the cheeks, including your bikini line, underarms, or legs. The brand claims that you’ll begin to see results after three or four uses, and complete results after 12 uses.
RoseSkinCo. Lumi Permanent Hair Removal Device
$189.00
The Lumi uses intense pulsed light to permanently remove body hair, although it’ll take consistent use to see long-term results.
BUY NOW (17% off)
Save $40 at RoseSkinCo.
Using the Lumi Permanent Hair Removal Device
The directions for using the Lumi are fairly specific, so it’s a good idea to read the instruction manual before using it. You need to shave the area where you plan to use it, and don’t put on any lotion, deodorant, or other skincare products. I decided to try the Lumi on my legs, so I shaved them before first use.
When you plug in the Lumi and turn it on, you can adjust it to six different intensity levels, indicated by a light on the front of the unit. The brand recommends starting at level one for your first session and working your way up as needed. Thicker hair will generally require a higher intensity level for best results.
To use the Lumi, you simply place its flash window against your skin and press the pulse button. (It has a sensor that detects if it’s in direct contact against your skin, and it won’t flash unless it’s in the right position.) A light will flash, and you can move the Lumi to the next spot. It doesn’t hurt at all, but you shouldn’t go over the same area multiple times, as this can cause skin irritation or burning. That’s really all there is to it, but it can take a while to treat large areas, as the flash window is quite small.
The Lumi does have two other modes to help speed up your treatment. In “Glide” mode, it will flash periodically as long as you hold down the pulse button, and in “Auto” mode, it will flash twice per second without you pressing the pulse button. In these modes, you can simply glide the device across your skin for faster treatments, but it still only works so long as the device is in direct contact with your skin.
In terms of frequency, the brand recommends using the Lumi once per week, and at most, you can use it every 72 hours, if desired.
What we like about the Lumi Permanent Hair Removal Device
It does work if you’re consistent
I tested the Lumi for around six weeks, and I did two treatments per week in hopes of speeding up the results. For the first few weeks, I didn’t see much change in the density or thickness of my leg hair, but it was also hard to tell if the Lumi was working because I had to shave before each treatment session.
Even though I wasn’t overly optimistic about the results, I stuck with it for six weeks, then let my leg hair grow out for several days to see how well it had actually worked. To my surprise, around 50 percent of my hair was gone. The results were a bit patchy and by no means complete, but there is noticeably less hair than when I started. I think if I continued treatments for a few more weeks, I’d be able to skip shaving altogether.
It’s easy to use and doesn’t take very long per session
The first time I used the Lumi to treat my legs, I thought it was going to take a long time—after all, there’s a lot of area to cover and the window is quite small. However, once I got the hang of using the device, it went a lot faster than expected.
I was typically able to treat the lower area of each leg in around three to five minutes, and to do both legs below the knee, it took around 10 minutes total. If you’re treating smaller areas, such as your underarms or bikini line, it would be even faster. I usually did the treatments while I was watching TV at night, and it quickly became a mindless part of my routine, making it easy to stick with it.
It’s much more affordable than laser hair removal
If you’ve ever looked into professional laser hair removal, you may have gotten sticker shock—I know I did! According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of laser hair removal is around $582 per treatment, and you need several treatments to see results. The cost is also higher if you’re treating a large area such as your legs, so at the end of the day, you often end up paying thousands of dollars to get rid of your unwanted hair.
Compared to those costs, the price of the Lumi seems like a steal. At full price, it retails for $229, but it’s often on sale for less than $200—less than half the cost of a single laser hair removal treatment. While you do have to do the work yourself, an at-home device like Lumi will save you a lot of money in the long run, so I think it’s a worthwhile tradeoff. Plus, you’ll be able to keep using the Lumi if you want to treat additional areas or need touch-ups down the road.
What we don’t like about the Lumi Permanent Hair Removal Device
It’s hard to tell where you’ve already covered
While using the Lumi, it was challenging to tell where I had already treated, as it doesn’t leave any marks behind. I usually tried to move the device in straight lines up my leg, but I know that I often missed spots or overlapped on previous passes, which is likely why my initial results were patchy.
This might not be as big of an issue with smaller treatment areas, but for large areas like your legs, it’s definitely tricky. On more than one occasion I told my partner that I wish I could draw guidemarks up my legs to help get more even coverage.
The flashing light is uncomfortably bright
In the instruction manual, it says that you don’t need to wear eye protection while using the Lumi, but I needed it. Even though the window is pressed against your skin, the bright flash of red light is still visible, and as someone with sensitive eyes, it left me seeing spots after just a few flashes.
I took to wearing sunglasses while doing the treatment to protect my eyes, and even then, sometimes I had to look away because the light was uncomfortably bright. If you have sensitive eyes, I’d recommend purchasing a pair of protective glasses to use during treatment—I definitely plan to.
It can’t be used on all skin tones
One of the biggest limitations of the Lumi is that it’s not suitable for all skin tones and hair colors. It can really only be used if you have light skin and dark hair, as IPL targets hair follicles by the contrast in color against your skin. So if you have dark skin or very light hair, the device probably won’t work well.
If you’re unsure if Lumi will work for you, the brand has a quiz on its website that lets you select your skin and hair color, and it provides a recommendation on whether Lumi is a good fit.
Should you buy the Lumi Permanent Hair Removal Device?
Yes, but only if you have the patience to stick with it.
The Lumi permanent hair removal deviceprofessional laser hair removal
As long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort, the tool does work—after treating my legs twice a week for six weeks, I saw around a 50 percent reduction in the amount of hair that grew back, and I’m confident that I could get my legs hair-free with another month or so of treatment. You can also use it virtually anywhere on your body, and I’m looking forward to trying it on my underarms next!
RoseSkinCo. Lumi Permanent Hair Removal Device
$189.00
The Lumi uses intense pulsed light to permanently remove body hair, although it’ll take consistent use to see long-term results.
BUY NOW (17% off)
Save $40 at RoseSkinCo.
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Meet the tester
Camryn Rabideau
Contributor
@CamrynWrites
Camryn Rabideau is a full-time freelance writer and product tester with eight years of experience. She's been lucky enough to test hundreds of products firsthand, and her specialties include bedding and pet products, which often require help from her two dogs, three cats, and flock of rambunctious chickens.
See all of Camryn Rabideau's reviews
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