From the best LED face masks to the best skincare gadgets, beauty tech devices that were once only accessible in clinics or dermatologists are now becoming more and more available to those of us at home. In turn, this has raised a lot of suspicion, mostly to do with their safety and effectiveness. Most of the time, there's absolutely nothing to worry about, but it's still our job to try them out for you.
One type of product that also falls under this is IPL hair removal machines. Once exclusive to clinics, it's now a form of hair removal treatment that anyone can try from the comfort of their bedroom. As IPL is a type of light therapy that uses strong pulses of light to target and reduce hair growth, people will often find themselves going for safer options. However, it's not always the best option, and this latest product will tell you why.
Over the last eight weeks, I've been trying out the new Braun Skin i-Expert. Marketed as the world's first smart IPL system, it's undeniably Braun's most advanced IPL machine yet. As soon as I started using it, I was completely and utterly obsessed, and I can't wait to tell you why. Keep reading to find out my thoughts, and why this should be your new hair removal method as well.
Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387 review: price and availability
There are multiple purchase options when it comes to the Braun Skin i-Expert, bringing a variety of different prices to match whatever budget you may have. I've specifically been testing out the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387which has an RRP of £999.99. It features two precision heads and a luxury vanity case which makes it the premium option out of all the bundles.
However, there's also the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7253 (RRP £899.99) and Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7147 (RRP £859.99). Each purchasing option includes the Braun Skin i-Expert device, but the different prices depend on how many precision heads are included, and what storage option there is to choose from.
It's also important to note that Braun and other retailers often sell their IPL machines for a reduced price. For example, the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7147 is currently priced at £429.99:
Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387 review: unboxing and set up
Unboxing the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387 was a fairly simple process, and if you've used an IPL machine before, you'll have no trouble in understanding what all the components are. I actually gasped when I first opened the box, just because the vanity case and IPL device were so beautiful. I'm a real girly girl when it comes to anything pink, so I fell in love almost immediately.
Within the vanity case is the device itself, a transformer, a transformer power cord and plug, Venus Extra Smooth razor and each of the heads. As mentioned, the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387 is the more premium option, meaning there are four heads in total. These include one standard cap for underarms, one wide cap for larger areas and two precision caps for smaller, sensitive areas.
I loved the way everything had a slot, and the vanity case really pulled the whole look together.
Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387 review: design and features
Before I jump into how impressive the Skin i-Expert Pro 7's features are, let's talk about its design. Just like Braun's other IPL machines, it has a lovely ergonomic design and fits into the hand nicely. If you compare it against other IPLs, such as the Ulike Air 3, you can tell Braun has put a lot of thought into its shape. You might not think it, but this should be a priority with devices you need a steady hand for.
The cord is also long enough to use the Skin i-Expert Pro 7 flexibility. I didn't find myself needing to move furniture or picking an awkward location to use it, so that's always a plus.
As mentioned, I also liked the design of the vanity case and how it stored all the components. This is a far better option than keeping everything stuffed into a drawer, and it looked gorgeous too!
Okay, time for the features. Undoubtedly, the most impressive thing about Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 is its intelligent Skin i-Expert system. The system learns your needs, analyses your skin tone and personalises treatment, meaning its instructions and method is completely unique to you. It's designed to continuously read your skin tone 80 times per second and automatically adapts the intensity level of every flash. With 10 levels of intensity, the device detects even the slightest skin tone difference, meaning it's able to pick up any discrepancies or alert you if the intended skin location changes.
The accompanying app is also extremely impressive, and guides you in real time with simple instructions. It works by connecting to the device via Bluetooth, and tracks your progress over time. It also sends an alert when it's time to complete your session, enabling you to keep on track with treatment.
There's also two sensitive skin modes which adapt the light intensity in sensitive and delicate areas. This is great if you struggle with skin irritation, and is also perfect if you're using an IPL machine for the first time.
The device also comes with 400,000 flashes which is equivalent to 22 years of full body treatments. This is extremely long-lasting for an IPL machine, which is great to see with such a high price tag.
Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387 review: performance
As recommended by the app, I've been following the eight week treatment plan with the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7. As summer is approaching, the main areas I've been wanting to focus on are underarm and legs, especially as the thought of wearing a sundress with a cocktail in hand has been keeping me going. However, one of the great things about the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 is that you can pretty much treat any area on your body. Well, any area that grows hair of course.
After downloading the app and connecting the device, it took a reading of my skin to make sure that I matched the Skin i-Expert Pro 7's requirements. If you didn't know, IPL machines are more effective on certain skin tones and hair colours than others. This is because light therapy targets the hair’s pigment, making it easier to target darker hair follicles against light skin than it is to target grey, blonde and red pigments on darker skin tones. However, the Skin i-Expert Pro 7 is able to cater for a lot more skin tones than other IPL machines, which is great to see. After the results came back, I was good to go.
Before starting treatment, I shaved my skin (using the included Gillette razor) and also carried out a quick skin patch test. This was just to ensure the IPL didn't irritate my skin, and I only had to monitor it for 15 minutes. After that was all clear, I started my underarm treatment. The app advised to me to use the standard head and the 'gliding' method, which involved sliding the machine over my underarms until treatment was complete. This was a really quick process, and it was great to have the guidance on my phone at the same time. I wasn't expecting the device to hurt, it was nice to have this confirmed. It did warm up my skin which was an interesting sensation in such a sensitive area, but there was no pain at all. It took about three minutes in total to treat both underarms, which proved a lot quicker than expected.
I moved onto my legs next, and the app advised me to use the wide cap and again, the gliding method. This obviously took a little longer than my underarms, but the wide cap certainly knocked some time off. Again, there was no pain and it took me about seven minutes in total to treat both legs. Once both sessions were complete, the app logged them for me, and set a reminder for me to see the following week. The app also tells you to discuss your progress after each session, and whilst there wasn't much to report after the first time, it's a useful feature to have.
I was amazed to see a difference in hair growth after the first time I used the device, especially in my underarms. The hair grew back a lot slower and sparser, and I couldn't quite believe it had happened so quickly. By the fifth week, there was hardly any regrowth at all, and I found myself not needing to shave for the first time before treatment. It was also easy to stick to the course, especially as each session was so quick, and the app was simple to use. By the end of the eight weeks, I was obsessed, and it's safe to say I've found my new hair removal method.
Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387 review: verdict
From unboxing the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387 to witnessing its results, I was beyond impressed. Not only does it look incredible and include everything you need for efficient hair removal, but it provides incredibly fast results. I started seeing reduced hair growth after just one session, and was completely obsessed by the end of treatment. Its only let down is the steep price tag, but it is frequently discounted across certain retailers, so this isn't enough to reduce its rating.
Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 PL7387 review: alternatives to consider
One alternative to the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7 would be the Philips Lumea Prestige. It currently holds the top spot in our best IPL machine buying guide, and also received an impressive five stars in our full review. Just like the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7, it offers easy, pain-free at-home hair removal with a number of impressive smart features. Oh, it's also nearly half the price of the Braun Skin i-Expert Pro 7, which is always a good thing.
If you're wanting to stick to the Braun brand, we'd also recommend the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5. It's the Skin i-Expert Pro 7's predecessor, meaning it will have very similar results for a much cheaper price. Whilst it does have the built-in SensoAdapt feature, but there isn't app accessibility, meaning it's not as smart as the new generation.
Interested in more? Check out our IPL machine related articles:
5 mistakes everyone makes with IPL hair removal machines
How to clean an IPL hair removal machine: 3 steps for long-lasting performance
