In recent years, at-home IPL hair removal has become increasingly popular, thanks to the convenience and relative affordability of IPL hair removal devices. Even though these devices are safe and designed to be comfortable on the skin, some people may still find it uncomfortable and slightly irritating for the skin. To get the most out of IPL technology, it’s important to understand how it works and why we need to prepare the skin before the IPL treatment.
How Does IPL Hair Removal Work?
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a treatment that uses strong yet gentle pulses of light to offer long-term, visible hair removal. The light pulses force the root of the hair to go into a resting phase – which means the hair you have in the treated area falls out, and over time, your body gradually grows less hair there.
The light pulses are absorbed by the pigment in the hair (called melanin). When this happens, the energy buildup converts to heat – similar to a black T-shirt on a sunny day. As the heat travels down the hair, it causes heat damage to the hair follicle and disables the cells that produce new hairs, resulting in smooth, hair-free skin for you.
Do You Need a Cooling Gel With IPL Hair Removal?
If you want to get the most out of your IPL experience (better results and comfort), then yes, you should use a cooling gel with your IPL hair removal device. Here are the most important benefits of using a cooling gel with IPL hair removal:
1. Ensures optimal light transmission
The gel acts as a conductor for the IPL light. When applied to the treatment area, it helps create a barrier between your skin and the IPL device. This barrier ensures that the light energy is evenly distributed and effectively reaches the hair follicles. Without the gel, the light may disperse or reflect off the skin's surface, reducing the treatment's effectiveness.
2. Protects your skin
IPL devices produce a significant amount of heat during the treatment process. The gel provides a cooling and protective layer between the intense light and your skin and thus helps prevent discomfort, burns, or skin damage that may occur if the IPL device is applied directly to dry skin.
3. Enhances the glide
The gel allows the IPL device to glide smoothly across your skin, ensuring consistent coverage and reducing the chances of missing spots. This is especially important for achieving uniform results and avoiding patchy hair removal.
4. Hydrates the skin
Cooling gels usually contain moisturizing ingredients that hydrate and nourish your skin, which is especially important because IPL treatment may temporarily dry out your skin. Hydrated skin heals faster and feels more comfortable after treatment.
IPL Experience Is Even Safer With a Cooling Gel
Not only that cooling gel improves your IPL session, but it also helps to protect the surface of the skin. Namely, a cooling gel will provide lubrication for the device so that it glides more smoothly over the skin, reducing the risk of burning. It also helps to reduce redness and inflammation. The gel also cools down the treatment area and prevents direct contact between your skin and the device, reducing the chance of irritation or burns. In that way, cooling gel maximizes the safety and results of your IPL hair removal.
Be sure to moisturize the skin after the IPL hair removal treatment.
Hair Removal Prep and Aftercare With FOREO PEACH™ Cooling Prep Gel
Designed to cool and calm skin during your treatment, PEACH™ Cooling Prep Gel is the perfect way to prep your skin for the most comfortable IPL hair removal treatments. This moisturizing gel-to-toner texture formulated with centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera enables PEACH™ IPL hair removal devices to glide effortlessly over skin - for flawless body and facial hair removal.
Before treatment
PEACH™ Cooling Prep Gel contains 17 plant extracts to help deeply hydrate skin, combating dryness and irritation caused by shaving pre-treatment and enabling your PEACH™ device to glide smoothly on skin.
During treatment
The formula combines the cooling benefits of aloe vera and peppermint to calm and soothe skin for optimal comfort during your hair removal treatment. The gel is designed to work with the 360° skin cooling system in PEACH™ devices to cool the treated skin even more quickly and preemptively cool the skin you are going to treat next.
After treatment
You can also reapply PEACH™ Cooling Prep Gel post-treatment to alleviate sensitivity-induced redness by combining the hydrating and repairing benefits of Panthenol and Vitamin E - leaving skin soft and smooth to the touch.
Get PEACH™ Cooling Prep Gel
PEACH ™ Cooling Prep Gel is dermatologically tested and suitable for all skin types. It’s vegan and cruelty-free and formulated with 97% ingredients of natural origin. The formula is clean, without Fragrance, Alcohol, Sulfates, Parabens, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde-releasing Agents, Phthalates, Mineral Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Oxybenzone, Coal Tar, Hydroquinone, Triclosan & Triclocarban.
PEACH™ Cooling Prep Gel will not only prepare your skin for the IPL hair removal but also calm your skin after the treatment
