I’m sure I’ve mentioned this in past beauty reviews, but I’m a real sucker for toiletries. If there’s something new, I want to try it regardless of how ridiculously overpriced or outrageous its claims are.

I was a pioneer on the laser hair removal front. Soon after I graduated college and got my first real job, I took my first real paycheck to the dermatologist’s office for some laser hair removal treatments.

I gave up on it after only two sessions because I noticed some hyper-pigmentation on the treated areas. I was so bummed. Not  because of the $800 I’d just dropped, which was salt on the wound at that point, but mostly because it didn’t work. I was already dreaming of shaveless days and frolicking around in my new ultra-smooth bikini line and underarms.

I was so disappointed, I pretty much wrote off laser hair removal all together.

Fast forward a few years and few hundred razor blades later and I fallen for it again. This time it was Sephora’s Silk’n SensEpil, an at-home laser hair removal device.

Cost: $500. Effectiveness: Zero (at least on me).  I actually returned this product two weeks after receiving it. It was very difficult to use (even after thoroughly reading through the entire instructions booklet). It was also really loud and felt really chintzy for something that costs half a grand. I confess I didn’t watch the DVD.

I guess you can say I completed one session. I saw no results whatsoever, unlike those who have left comments on Sephora.com.

The product reviews on the Sephora homepage are really convincing. Out of 13 comments, only 1 person had something really negative to say about the product’s performance. Take these comments with a grain of salt.

Ironically, a few other users mention the treatment is a little painful. I didn’t find the process the least bit painful.

I don’t know if it’s determination or delusion that even after being disappointed twice before drove me to try the no!no!, another at-home hair removal device. Unlike the Silk’n SensEpil, the no!no! makes no promise of permanent hair removal. The description merely states, “Achieve hair density reduction at home, with no mess, no cuts, no burns, and no noise.” I think the no noise part is what got me.

Cost: $125. Effectiveness: Some. Where there was once no hope there is now some, but this device is NOT a quick fix my friends. Properly performing a complete session on one leg (ankle to thigh) takes about one hour. And it does hurt a tiny bit, definitely not as bad as the smell hurts your nostrils though. Be prepared for the smell of burning hair.

I got really tired and bored after doing one leg, so I stopped. While I wouldn’t recommend doing this, it did give me a good opportunity to compare the hair growth of the treated leg to that of the untreated leg. Guess what? There was an oh-so-slight, but noticeable reduction in hair growth on the treated leg. Woohoo!

Now the only problem is getting myself motivated enough to continue using it. Shaving is so much quicker. If only it were like the Ped-Egg and had a little egg to catch the stubble. Then I could at least watch TV and do it.

Until next time,

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