My experience with the Nova One IPL: the first few weeks at home

My name is Helen, the blogger behind Beautyill. I've been writing about beauty and lifestyle there since 2011. For example, I recently shared my comprehensive review of the Laesera Nova One IPL. While I enjoy testing beauty products, daily razor testing isn't my biggest hobby. Especially because I have fair skin with dark hair, stubble quickly becomes visible. I practically have to shave my armpits, legs, and bikini line daily.
Years ago, I had IPL treatments at a salon, and I was very satisfied with them at the time. My hair growth significantly decreased, and I had to shave much less often. Since then, some of that hair growth has returned after two pregnancies, so I was curious how a home IPL device would suit me. My skin falls under Fitzpatrick skin type III. This means my skin is fairly light but tans a bit more easily. Since IPL works best with sufficient contrast between skin and hair, I am a suitable candidate for it.

First impressions

Although I've had IPL treatments before, it felt different to start doing it myself at home. In a salon, you don't really have to think about anything, while at home, you do everything yourself. On the other hand, I liked that I didn't have to make an appointment for anything. I could just treat myself whenever it suited me. What immediately struck me was how comfortably the Nova One fits in the hand. That might sound like a small detail, but when you're treating larger areas like your legs, you quickly notice whether a device works well or not. Fortunately, the device didn't feel heavy, and I could work with it comfortably.
During use, the Nova One does make some noise. I noticed that immediately the first time. Personally, I didn't find it bothersome, but it is something that stuck with me.

The automatic skin sensor

What perhaps appealed to me the most is the automatic skin sensor. I quickly found myself thinking that a higher intensity would also yield a better result. In reality, that's not how it works; you want what's best for your skin, of course. The device first measures your skin tone and automatically adjusts the correct intensity accordingly. This means you have much less to think about yourself, and it also makes the usage feel a lot more accessible.
Ultimately, I found the automatic setting to be the most comfortable. Especially if you don't have much experience with IPL yet, I can imagine this is a great feature.
I didn't really notice the built-in cooling myself. I didn't find that a disadvantage, as the treatment felt perfectly fine for me anyway and wasn't really painful.

What does an IPL treatment feel like?

Many people wonder if IPL hurts. I would describe it more as a small prick when the device flashes. That feeling was perfectly tolerable for me and certainly not something that made me dread the next treatment. Precisely because the device works simply, a treatment also takes less time than I had expected beforehand. That makes it easier to keep it up, because with IPL, it ultimately comes down to regularity.

My experience so far

After a few weeks, I got the idea that I was reaching for my razor a little less often. The hairs were certainly not gone yet, but it seemed as if the hair growth was slowing down a bit. Of course, you don't see big differences overnight. That's exactly how IPL works: you build up the results step by step.
Personally, I don't mind that at all. I prefer a realistic expectation to a device that promises golden mountains and doesn't deliver. Ultimately, IPL simply requires some patience and regularity.

My first impression is positive, in any case. I am particularly impressed by the automatic skin sensor and ease of use. The results, of course, build up over several weeks, but precisely because the device works pleasantly, I notice that I also continue to use it more easily. And ultimately, that's exactly what IPL is all about.

On Beautyill, I regularly share my experiences with beauty products, skincare, and other personal reviews. Take a look there if you're curious about more.