This Philips Lumea IPL Device Is The Ultimate Money-Saving Hair Removal Hack

Removing body hair might be my least favorite part of my beauty routine. My go-to method is shaving — which, while the simplest option, comes with a host of undesirable side effects if not done perfectly, from bumps to razor burn. Not to mention, my hair grows back just a couple of days later.

I could outsource the job, but services like waxing and laser hair removal cost more, require travel, and involve a stranger, so I’ve always stuck with shaving. That changed once I got my hands on the Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Pro. It’s an at-home Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) device that lets you enjoy five years of smooth-feeling skin.*

This high-tech tool is, of course, a stark difference from my humble razor. Not only am I a newbie to IPL, but I’ve never even gotten laser hair removal, which is similar in that it uses light (albeit a different form) to reduce hair growth. In other words: I was quite intimidated — until I learned the Lumea IPL 9900 Pro is Philips’ most advanced IPL device yet. It’s the first IPL that talks to you** with real-time audio feedback and motion guidance, so you can feel more confident you’re doing it properly. Perfect for a first-timer like me.

Read on for the lowdown on my experience using the tool, plus how it works.

Fast Facts

• Price: $699.95
• Best for: Beginners who want to try at-home IPL hair removal because they want skin that feels smoother for longer than with traditional hair removal methods.
• Rating: 4.8/5
• What I like: It offers guidance on every step, so it’s easy (and comfortable!) to use.
• What I don’t like: It can take a while, depending on the body part you’re working on, so it’s not something you’d rely on if you’re in a hurry.

The Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Pro

The Philips Lumea IPL 9900 Pro is basically like an IPL device with a built-in coach. It uses gentle light pulses to stimulate hair follicles in the growth phase to enter a resting phase, resulting in a gradual reduction of growth over time with regular use. But the coaching features through their app are what make it really stand out.

The device can detect whether you’re moving too quickly or missing areas as you use it, allowing it to guide you in real time. It also analyzes your skin tone to help you find the most appropriate intensity setting for you, something I found especially reassuring on more sensitive spots. Meanwhile, smart progress tracking can compare body hair changes between treatments based on photos — operating as a sort of photo diary.

That emphasis on personalization and guidance is part of a broader shift in the way we approach beauty routines. According to Dr. Aamna Adel, Philips’ consultant dermatologist, "Personalized guidance is becoming an increasingly important part of the beauty experience. When people receive clear, evidence-based support throughout their journey, they're more likely to build confidence, develop empowering rituals, and achieve the results they're looking for."

Beyond the smart functions, the Lumea IPL 9900 Pro is designed to make at-home IPL as easy as possible. The device and corresponding app work together to provide real-time audio and visual guidance as you treat, including feedback on your technique and reminders to keep up with your treatment schedule. After each session, the app also tracks your progress and offers recommendations based on your results.

Lumea IPL 9900 Pro has both FDA and EU-MDR clearance, and it’s been tested for both effectiveness and safety for at-home use. When you follow the recommended protocol for each area of body hair, the brand says you should experience more than 90% hair reduction in just three treatments.***

The device comes with a carrying case and four different contoured attachments designed for different curves of your body: one for the body, one for the bikini area, one for the face, and one for the underarms.

How To Use

When you get the Lumea IPL 9900 Pro, you’ll want to download the corresponding app before using. Once it connects to your device, you’ll be able to choose which area you’d like to treat. From there, you simply select the area, then choose whether it’s your first time treating it or you’ve done it before. If it’s your first time using the device on that particular area, you’ll be asked to select the color of your hair and skin in that area, then to perform a test to determine your highest comfortable setting and to make sure you don’t have any adverse reactions. You’ll have to wait 24 hours before doing the actual treatment for this reason.

If you’ve already performed a skin test, you’ll be taken to a page that shows you how-to tips on what to do before, during, and after the treatment, as well as videos that walk you through the entire thing. With your device in hand, you’ll then make sure it has the proper attachment, then place it against your skin in the area you’re treating and hit the button on the handle to flash. You’ll then glide it down in either horizontal or vertical lines — never going over the same area twice — until you’ve covered the entire area. The app tracks your flashes and tells you when to perform your next treatment for that area.

My Review

Before I received my Lumea IPL 9900 Pro, I was nervous about trying IPL at home — alone — as someone who’s never experienced the technology before. Once I got my device and the app set up, though, I felt much more confident.

The device is surprisingly light and easy to hold. It feels kind of like a blowdryer or a grocery scanner — which is good, considering I’d be maneuvering it into different nooks and crannies in my body hair removal expedition. Once I watched the how-to videos on the app, it didn’t seem all that intimidating after all. I performed the skin test on the areas I planned to treat then waited a full 24 hours before doing the treatments.

I started with my underarms, figuring the smaller surface area would be a manageable test. I found the lighting on the device to be super useful: when the attachment is placed against your skin with good skin contact, it turns white to indicate it’s good to go or turns a precautionary orange if the area is too dark to treat. When I first hit the button to flash the light, I winced, thinking I’d feel a little spice — but I barely felt anything. Just a whisper of heat, nothing painful at all. It took me about two minutes to treat both underarms after which I started feeling pretty cocky about my newfound capabilities.

I decided to tackle my lower legs next. I swapped in the appropriate attachment, and as I glided the tool along my shins, ankles, and calf muscles, I appreciated how much more comfortable it was to do this versus shaving in the shower. I was sitting on my rug with easy access to my limbs — a far cry from the ungodly positions I get into when using my razor (for reference, I have a tub-less shower). It took 11 minutes to treat both legs — way less than I thought it would.

The last area I treated was my upper lip. Surprisingly, I found this to be the most difficult. While it’s the smallest section I zapped, it was harder to make sure I didn’t flash the same rectangles twice.

I have quite a vast collection of beauty tools, and many of them have corresponding apps — none of which I really use. The Lumea IPL app, though, is essential. I love how personalized it is, and how it tracks each treatment, complete with how long it takes, how many flashes you did, and when you’re due for the next session in each area.

The Verdict

For someone who’s sworn by a decidedly lo-fi approach to hair removal my entire life, I’m genuinely impressed by the Lumea IPL 9900 Pro. It’s advanced without feeling intimidating, and the real-time audio guidance makes it especially approachable for an IPL newbie like me. After using it, I can see why I’d reach for this over my razor when I have the time: it’s comfortable, easy to use, and takes the guesswork out of staying on top of treatments.

And let’s address where we began: the “money-saving” part of it all. The price tag can certainly feel like a lot at first, but think of it as a cost-effective investment in long-term hair removal. With monthly touch-ups, Philips says your results can last up to five years*, which changes the math entirely when you compare it to paying per session at a salon. Just don’t expect it to be a last-minute solution when you realize you have leg hair to deal with before heading out the door. For me, though, I’ll happily keep it in my everything-shower routine as a souped-up part of my self-care sesh.

*Up to 5 years of smooth-feeling skin with monthly touch-ups. Based on a consumer perception study. Individual results may vary.

**Based on at home IPL devices in market

***Median results on legs.