SmoothSkin Gold - Intro

So, welcome to the blog guys. I’m going to be doing a 12 week trial of the SmoothSkin Gold, which is a home IPL machine. I’ll be using it on my legs, my arms and my…lady nether region. Why this machine? Because it got awesome reviews way before newer ones came out and it was what I could afford at the time.

I aim to exfoliate on Friday evenings, shave on Saturday nights and use the machine on Sunday afternoons for twelve weeks straight as is recommended. Just so you know, I have an Indian/Spanish background, have medium-toned skin and very thick, dark hair. I am one hairy mofo. Pictures will surface at some point for posterity, and to see if this device actually makes a difference (cringe).

I really hope this works, as I live in Hong Kong and they currently quote me about USD $10,000 for 6 treatments and a years’ worth of follow ups if I want to do this in a salon. If I had money to burn, I’d pay these people to shave me and laser me…but I don’t.

Now, I understand that IPL does not work as well as laser hair removal. I’m currently having laser hair removal on my upper-lip and under-arms, so that’s been about 2 years (!) and it’s going well. Growth has thinned, but the hairs are still dark. I also have a low, low pain tolerance, so I reckon that’s why it’s taking so long.

Here’s how I’ve prepared for these twelve weeks.

1. SmoothSkin Gold IPL Machine (bought it from Boots on my last trip into London)
2. EMLA cream (5%) – it’s basically topical lidocaine. Apply a thin layer, cover in cling film, remove an hour later and laser away. I don’t expect to use this but you never know. Also, holy shit this stuff is expensive. Cost me about USD $130 for 25g. Hong Kong seriously sucks sometimes.
3. A Gillette Fusion razor. I need to be as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Also, my dad uses the same model, so I can just steal replacement heads from him when I need them.
4. Schick Hydro Sensitive Shaving Gel. Because baby bottoms don’t like razor burn.
5. A pair of laser goggles. I believe the one I bought off of Amazon is a pair of dark green ones by the brand/seller laserpair. I feel like this is overkill, but with my shitty eyesight, better safe than sorry.
6. Some exfoliatey stuff from the Body Shop. Use whatever you like. I think mine is mojito scented.

Just so you know, I’m not sponsored by any of the brands above. I’m just a very hairy Mary and I’ve decided it’s time I do something about it before I fork over $10,000 for a professional to do it for me. Plus I bought the machine, so I might as well use it, right?