Key takeaways
- At-home IPL works best on dark hair and lighter skin. It reduces hair over 8 to 12 weekly sessions rather than removing it in one go.
- The Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 is our best all-rounder: a skin-tone sensor sets the intensity for you, so there’s little to think about.
- Prices run from around £70 for a basic ice-cooling device up to about £450 for an app-guided Braun. Most people don’t need the top model.
- Corded devices give unlimited flashes for big areas like legs. Cordless ones are easier for underarms, the bikini line and the face.
Searches for at-home hair removal climb every summer, and 2026 is no different. With more skin on show and salon laser costing several hundred pounds a course, IPL devices you use at home have become one of the year’s steady beauty sellers. The kit has moved on too. The newest models from Braun, Philips and Ulike read your skin tone automatically and cool the surface as they flash, which takes most of the guesswork and a lot of the sting out of it.
The catch is that IPL isn’t magic and it isn’t for everyone. Here’s how the current UK line-up compares, who each device suits, and the honest downsides before you spend.
How we picked these
We looked at devices sold on Amazon UK right now, checked each listing’s rating and review count, and weighted the picks towards features that actually change the experience: an automatic skin-tone sensor (so you don’t over- or under-power a flash), some form of skin cooling to reduce pain, a decent flash count so the lamp lasts the course, and a price that matches what the device offers. We’ve spread the list across budgets, from a sub-£100 first device to app-guided flagships, and given each one a specific downside.
One thing worth saying up front: IPL targets the pigment in the hair, so it works best when there’s a clear contrast between dark hair and paler skin. It does little for blonde, red, grey or white hair, and most home devices aren’t cleared for the deepest skin tones because of the burn risk. The NHS notes that light-based hair removal isn’t permanent and needs top-ups to keep results. Check the maker’s skin-tone chart before you buy.
At a glance
| Device | Best for | Skin sensor | Cooling | Around |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 | Best overall | Yes, automatic | No | £346 |
| Philips Lumea 9900 Series | Face and precision | Yes, SenseIQ | No | £345 |
| Braun Smart IPL Skin i-Expert | App-guided treatment | Yes, automatic | No | £450 |
| Ulike Air 10 | Comfort and speed | No | Yes, sapphire ice | £320 |
| Ulike Air 3 | Value under £200 | No | Yes, sapphire ice | £200 |
| Haarlosy IPL | Budget first device | No | Yes, ice cooling | £70 |
The best IPL hair removal devices
Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 (PL5100)
Best overallA safe first choice for most people. The SensoAdapt sensor reads your skin tone ten times a second and sets the flash strength itself, so you’re not squinting at a chart mid-session. It’s fast on legs, has a strong 4.8-star rating on Amazon UK, and Braun’s kit tends to last.
The catch: it comes with a single body attachment and no active cooling, so sensitive spots can nip a little. Newer listing, so review numbers are still building.
Auto skin-tone sensor, corded · around £346
Check price on Amazon ›Philips Lumea 9900 Series (BRI951/01)
Best for face and precisionPhilips’ flagship comes with four shaped attachments for body, face, bikini and underarms, so you can treat fiddly areas properly. The SenseIQ sensor adjusts intensity as you glide, and a SkinAI feature in the app scans your skin to suggest settings. Over 120 UK reviews and a 4.4 rating.
The catch: it’s one of the pricier devices for what is still IPL, and the app step feels like extra faff if you just want to zap and go.
Four attachments, corded or cordless · around £345
Check price on Amazon ›Braun Smart IPL Skin i-Expert (PL7321)
Best app-guided deviceBraun’s top model pairs the automatic skin sensor with an app that maps your body and walks you through a treatment plan, which helps if you’re the type who forgets which leg you did last week. It’s quick, well rated at 4.7 stars, and the most hand-holding option here.
The catch: at around £450 it’s the dearest on the list, and the app-led approach is overkill if you’re comfortable running your own sessions.
App treatment plan, auto sensor · around £450
Check price on Amazon ›Ulike Air 10
Best for comfort and speedUlike built its name on the sapphire ice-cooling window, which chills the skin as it flashes so treatments feel more like a cool tap than a sting. The Air 10 keeps the plate cold through longer sessions and moves quickly over legs. A good pick if pain is what’s put you off before.
The catch: no automatic skin-tone sensor, so you set the level yourself. It’s cordless-only, which means charging between big sessions.
Sapphire ice cooling, cordless · around £320
Check price on Amazon ›Ulike Air 3
Best value under £200The older Air 3 does the important part, sapphire cooling and a painless glide, for a fair bit less than the Air 10. If you want the low-sting Ulike experience without spending over £300, this is the one to grab. It’s the most affordable way into the brand.
The catch: the 4.2-star rating is the lowest of our main picks, and you lose the faster flash speed and extra polish of the newer model.
Sapphire ice cooling, cordless · around £200
Check price on Amazon ›Haarlosy IPL
Best budget first deviceIf you’re not sure IPL will suit you, this is a low-risk way to test the water. It has ice cooling, a high flash count and more than 340 UK reviews at 4.4 stars, all for under £100. Plenty of people run a full leg course on one of these and get on fine.
The catch: no skin-tone sensor and a smaller flash window, so treatments take longer and you carry more of the safety judgement yourself. Build quality won’t match the big brands.
Ice cooling, five power levels · around £70
Check price on Amazon ›Frequently asked questions
Does at-home IPL actually work?
For the right hair and skin combination, yes. It reduces how much hair grows back and slows regrowth, usually after a course of eight to twelve weekly sessions followed by occasional top-ups. It works best on dark hair against paler skin, and does little for blonde, grey, red or white hair.
Is it permanent?
No. Home IPL gives long-term reduction, not permanent removal. Most people need a maintenance flash every few weeks or months to keep areas smooth. The NHS makes the same point about light-based hair removal in general.
Does it hurt?
Most people feel a warm flick like a light elastic band snap. Devices with ice or sapphire cooling, such as the Ulike models, take the edge off. Sensitive areas like the bikini line feel it more, so start on a lower setting.
Can I use IPL on my face?
On the lower face and upper lip, yes, if the device is cleared for facial use and you avoid the area around the eyes. The Philips Lumea 9900 includes a dedicated face attachment. Never flash over the eye socket or on brows.
Corded or cordless?
Corded devices flash without stopping, which suits large areas like legs. Cordless ones are easier to angle for underarms, bikini and face but need charging. Some Philips and Braun models do both.