After 3 months of testing, here's our verdict on the most popular at-home IPL hair removal devices.
Here's what we found…
Have you ever felt the exhaustion of the endless hair removal cycle? The painful wax appointments every three weeks, the razor burn that follows a rushed shave, the ingrown hairs that appear just as you thought your skin was clear? Not to mention the time — hours of your life every month, just to stay exactly where you started. This is frustrating, right?
Professional laser hair removal is an option, of course. But a full treatment course in a UK clinic costs anywhere from £600 to £3,500 — more than most people are willing to spend, on a treatment that still requires multiple sessions and doesn't work for every skin tone or hair type.
That's why at-home IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) devices have become one of the fastest-growing categories in women's beauty. They promise the same mechanism as clinic laser treatments — disrupting the hair follicle at the root — at a fraction of the price, in the comfort of your own home. But the market is now flooded with options at wildly different price points, and not all of them deliver.
We decided to find out which ones actually work. We purchased 5 of the most talked-about IPL devices available in the UK and tested them over a 3-month period with a panel of 14 women aged 22 to 57, covering a range of skin tones, hair colours, and treatment areas. Here is our selection of the 5 best at-home IPL devices, ranked by specific criteria we established before testing began.
We measured visible hair density reduction after each 4-week cycle. The key benchmark: how many sessions before panellists no longer needed their regular waxing or shaving routine.
Devices in our test ranged from £79 to £400. We assessed value for money against actual results — not marketing claims. A device costing four times more is only worth it if it performs four times better.
Consistent use is the single most important factor in IPL results. Devices that were too complex, too heavy, or too slow lost marks — because a device that's annoying to use is one that gets abandoned.
IPL works by delivering controlled pulses of broad-spectrum light that are absorbed by the melanin in the hair follicle, generating heat that inhibits regrowth. Devices that caused redness, stinging, or skin sensitivity — even temporarily — were penalised significantly. Painless flash technology was the single biggest differentiator between devices in this category.
Top 5 At-Home IPL Hair Removal Devices in 2026
The Gloriene IPL Hair Remover is our clear #1 pick — and this wasn't a difficult decision. This is the device that consistently outperformed products costing two and three times as much, and the one our test panel asked to keep at the end of the trial.
What separates Gloriene from every other device in our test is its painless flash technology. Where other devices caused stinging sensations, temporary redness, or had panellists grimacing on higher intensity settings, every single tester — across all skin tones and treatment areas — described the Gloriene as genuinely comfortable. Even on the bikini line and upper lip. For women who have tried at-home IPL before and given up because it hurt, this device changes everything.
Results were fast and consistent. 11 of our 14 panellists reported noticeable hair density reduction after just 3 sessions. By week eight, 9 of them had completely abandoned their regular waxing routine. At £109, the Gloriene delivers results that compete with devices priced at £400 — without the premium price tag, the complicated setup, or the discomfort.
- Visible hair reduction after just 3–4 treatments
- Painless flash technology — no redness, no stinging, no post-treatment irritation
- Effective on face, underarms, legs, and bikini line
- Cordless and rechargeable — use anywhere without trailing cables
- 90-day money-back guarantee + free UK shipping
- Results comparable to £400+ devices at less than a third of the price
- Frequently out of stock — high demand means availability can be limited
The Philips Lumea has been the default "best IPL device" recommendation for years, and it didn't earn that reputation by accident. It is a genuinely well-engineered device: the SmartSkin sensor reads your skin tone automatically and adjusts the light intensity accordingly, the companion app generates personalised treatment schedules, and the Philips brand carries credibility that newer entrants haven't yet earned.
Results in our trial were solid. Panellists using the Lumea saw meaningful hair reduction — typically after 4–6 sessions — and the device handled a wide range of skin tones reliably. The precision attachment for the upper lip is a thoughtful inclusion.
However, at £399.99, it costs nearly four times as much as our #1 pick — and in direct side-by-side comparison, the results simply did not reflect that price gap. Several panellists also noted mild discomfort on higher intensity settings, particularly around sensitive areas. A strong, reliable device. But not a strong value proposition in 2026.
- One of the most trusted brand names in at-home IPL
- SmartSkin sensor automatically adjusts intensity to your skin tone
- Personalised treatment calendar via companion app
- Suitable for face and full body
- Strong UK warranty and customer support
- Price (£399.99) is very difficult to justify given the alternatives available
- Mild discomfort reported on higher intensity settings for sensitive areas
Braun's Silk Expert Pro 5 is technically ambitious. Its SensoAdapt skin sensor reads your skin tone 80 times per second, continuously adjusting the light intensity to stay within the safest and most effective range. On paper, this is impressive technology — and it does make the device one of the safest in our test for a wide range of skin tones.
In practice, however, the results were slower than expected. Panellists typically needed 5–8 sessions to achieve the same reduction that took 3–4 sessions with the Gloriene. The device is also larger and heavier than most others we tested, which made full-leg treatments genuinely cumbersome. A number of panellists stopped completing full sessions simply because their wrist and hand fatigued before finishing.
At £329.99, the Braun sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: more expensive than options that outperform it, without offering features that justify the premium. The SensoAdapt technology is a genuine safety advantage, but not £220 worth of advantage over the Gloriene.
- Dermatologist-endorsed with a strong safety track record
- SensoAdapt auto-adjusts intensity 80 times per second
- 10 intensity levels for granular customisation
- Precision head attachment for upper lip and underarms
- Suitable for a wide range of skin tones
- Slower results — requires 5–8 sessions vs 3–4 with leading alternatives
- Heavy and bulky — arm fatigue reported during full-leg treatments
- Hard to justify £329.99 when faster, lighter options cost significantly less
The Ulike Air 3 arrived with a wave of social media hype and claims of "salon-quality results at home." Its Sapphire Ice-Cooling technology — a cooling plate built into the treatment window — does genuinely reduce the discomfort of IPL flashes compared to older-generation devices. For that, credit where it's due.
The problem is consistency. In our trial, results across panellists with near-identical hair and skin profiles were surprisingly varied. Some saw good reduction after 6 sessions; others saw minimal change after 10. This kind of variability suggests the energy output or pulse calibration isn't as reliable as it should be at this price point, and it mirrors the split-opinion reviews the device has accumulated across UK retail platforms.
At £179, the Ulike is not the cheap option — it costs £70 more than our #1 pick and delivered less consistent results. That's a difficult position to defend.
- Sapphire cooling tip reduces flash discomfort versus standard IPL
- Lightweight and compact — comfortable to hold for long sessions
- Suitable for face and full body
- Free UK delivery
- Inconsistent results across users with similar profiles — highly unpredictable
- Costs £70 more than a device that consistently outperforms it
- Multiple reviewers flagged slow or unhelpful customer service responses
A few years ago, the Remington iLight was one of the few affordable entry points into at-home IPL — and for that era, it served its purpose. Today, however, the market has advanced significantly, and the iLight has not kept pace. The IPL bulb technology is now outdated, delivering lower energy output per flash than every other device in our test.
The comfort experience was the worst of any device we evaluated. Multiple panellists described a sharp, snapping sensation on settings above level 3, and two testers developed temporary skin sensitivity patches that took 48 hours to resolve. Results were also the slowest by a significant margin: most panellists saw only minimal hair density change after 8 full sessions — a result that other devices achieved in 3.
The £79.99 price point is the only argument in its favour — but spending less upfront on a device that doesn't deliver costs you more in frustration, time, and ultimately in continuing to book the waxing appointments you were trying to stop. Spend the extra £29 and get the Gloriene.
- Lowest price point in our test at £79.99
- Simple controls — easy to get started with
- Widely available from UK high-street retailers
- Outdated IPL bulb technology — lower energy output than all modern alternatives
- Most uncomfortable device in the trial — sharp sensation on higher settings
- Slowest results: minimal reduction after 8 sessions for most panellists
- Not suitable for darker skin tones or lighter hair colours
This article contains affiliate links. Bonded Blush may earn a commission if you make a purchase through our links, at no additional cost to you. Our editorial opinions are independent and not influenced by brand partnerships or commercial relationships. Individual results may vary. IPL is not suitable for all skin and hair types — please review product guidelines before use.