BEAUTY COUNTER Get beach ready with some DIY

the instructions completely and allocate enough time. And always remember to carry out a patch-test 24 hours before.”

Try it at home with: women wanting to cover up during this awkward in-between stage. The Braun range captures hairs as short as a grain of sand (0.5mm).”

Is it expensive? “While the purchase of an epilator is an initial expense, this should be seen as an investment purchase to last for countless hair-removal treatments. A recent survey by Braun found that by conducting hair-removal treatments at home, women in the UK can save up on average £567 per year.”

Any other tips for beginners? “Exfoliate first, to lift hairs that may be hiding under dry skin, avoiding the risk of ingrown hairs and ensuring every hair is captured. And don’t apply products straight after.”

Try it at home with: IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. In terms of hair removal, a flash of light is absorbed by the pigment in a hair, which then ‘zaps’ the growing cells beneath it.

“We don’t recommend it for very dark skin, or very light body hair,” says Leah Richards, director of clinical affairs at SmoothSkin. “This is because very dark skin has a considerable amount of pigment and will absorb more light than the skin can handle, therefore it can potentially burn, discolour or scar your skin. Very light body hair is the opposite, as in this instance, there isn’t enough pigment in the hair shaft, which IPL heavily relies on. We don’t recommend that you use IPL over your tattoos, as it can burn and blister the skin.”

How long does it last? “One treatment won’t last forever. You will need to keep treating the hairs every once in a while to avoid hair growth starting. Treat it once a week until you start seeing the desired results, and then top up when and if you need them.”

Does it hurt? “IPL doesn’t hurt. Granted, you’ll feel a slight sensation, perhaps a tingling feeling, but it won’t be painful. However, the sensation varies from person to person.”

Is it expensive? “At first thought, IPL might seem like an expensive way to de-fuzz, but we’ve done the maths, and over time you can make a huge saving compared to other more conventional hair-removal methods. The average razor blade lasts just a month – if you include shaves, blades and foam, you could soon be spending around £8 per month. For a one-off payment of just £199, SmoothSkin Bare offers unlimited flashes so it will last a lifetime.”

Any other tips for beginners? “Always do a quick patch-test before getting started. This will help you get used to the sensation of IPL, as well as finding out if you have the right skin tone ahead of using.”

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