There’s no two ways about it: silky-smooth, butter-soft skin is a veritable luxury.
It requires the luxury of time to indulge in that 45-minute everything shower, which includes dry brushing, exfoliation, shaving and full-body moisturisation. For those who prefer longer-lasting forms of hair removal, it necessitates the luxury of enough monthly disposable income to pop to the salon every four weeks for sugaring, waxing, or whatever new (hopefully pain-free) treatment tickles your fancy.
Though at-home hair removal devices like the humble IPL don’t exactly come cheap, they may potentially offer a worthwhile investment in significant hair reduction. The first IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy device was developed in the late 1990s and the first laser hair removal device approved for public use was developed in the same decade. But what exactly is the difference between the two?
While both use intense light to heat the hair follicle and prevent regrowth, they do so in quite different ways. IPLs produce flashes of light which contain a wide range of wavelengths, while laser devices produce a singular, monochromatic coherent light source. This makes the far pricier laser hair removal more precise and potentially more effective.
Nevertheless, IPL has a myriad of benefits – especially for the novice at-home beautician. For one, the broad spectrum of light with its multiple wavelengths makes treatments quicker and easier, as the devices tend to have a larger treatment window than traditional lasers. While it can cause some discomfort, IPL is also largely considered to be far less painful than laser.
When used regularly to ensure the device can target hair follicles during their anagen phase (otherwise known as the re-growth phase), IPL has been known to deliver exceptional, long-lasting hair removal results.
In the crowded world of beauty tech where every launch promises to revolutionise your routine, and most devices look like they belong in a sci-fi reboot, Foreo has quietly become one of the industry’s most trusted names.
Known for marrying sleek Scandinavian design with genuinely effective skincare tools, the brand has a loyal following and a track record of making beauty gadgets you’ll actually use more than once. Its latest release, the Foreo Peach 2 Pro Max, is yet another powerful IPL tool that delivers upgraded tech, a glossier finish, and a name that wouldn’t be out of place in an Apple keynote.
Foreo first dipped a toe into the world of IPL with the original Peach, a device that brought salon-grade hair removal into the home sans clinical vibes and the daunting price tag. Compact and effective, the follow-up, the Peach 2 and Peach 2 Go, built on that success, with each iteration delivering smarter features and a little more muscle, all while staying true to Foreo’s now-familiar formula: user-friendly, stylish, portable and clever.
The Peach 2 Pro Max is the brand’s most ambitious version to date, promising faster results, more precise sensors, and enough IPL power to make you consider cancelling your standing monthly wax appointments for good.
Designed to work across a range of skin tones and hair types (a key evolution from earlier at-home devices), it claims to be the ultimate upgrade for anyone looking to streamline their routine – whether you're tackling your legs, bikini line, or just chasing the seemingly mythical goal of a razor-free summer.
Beloved by beauty editors and tech-savvy minimalists alike, the Peach has become something of a cult classic. So, does the 2 Pro Max live up to its slick new name? I tested it over four weeks and several body zones to find out.
Key specifications
- Repetition rate: 0.5 -1s (delivering 87 flashes per min)
- Pulse length: Free discharge 3ms
- Max optical output: 7.3 J/cm²
- Wavelength: 550 - 1100nm
- Power line input: 100 - 240V, 50/60Hz 3A
- Operating temperature: 5 Celsius to +40 Celsius
- Operating humidity: 40% to 80%
- Operating pressures: 800 to 1,060 hPa
- Treatment area (spot size): 11.5cm² (4x larger than other IPL devices on the market
- Five levels of intensity for adjusting to skin sensitivity
- Silicone shield protects eyes from intense light pulses
What’s included
- PEACH™ 2 Pro Max
- Protective glasses
- Cleaning cloth
- Power cable with four plug adaptors for travel
- Quick start guide
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User-friendliness
Straight out of the box, the device is incredibly easy to set up. It’s brilliant that the Peach 2 Pro Max comes with an array of adapters to suit those who travel, and slotting in your desired adaptor to the main power pack is a breeze.
It’s no secret that I tend to hold a grudge against devices that require me to utilise a companion app, but Foreo’s is – much to my surprise – a delight to use. It was instantly able to connect with my device (once plugged in) via Bluetooth and walked me through registering it for that all-important two-year warranty. Beneath the tab which takes you through to device information, there’s one which reads ‘How to Use’.
Rather than a frustratingly long video, I was met with a handy three-step guide, pictures included, on how to use the fantastically simple piece of tech. There’s also a button which takes you to the full user manual, should you want more information about all the nuts, bolts and technological specifications.
Functionality
When a device comes with protective sunglasses, it can feel incredibly intimidating to use for the first time. As such, I first tested the Peach 2 Pro Max on my freshly shaven lower legs only, on level two of the five available intensity settings. After applying the cooling gel, which didn’t necessarily feel any different to a standard gel moisturiser, I got to work.
While the light certainly flashes very brightly, that’s about the only immediately jarring effect of the device. Before long, I was swiping up and down my shins and calves with my finger firmly pressed on the power button – and a mere seven minutes later, both lower legs were done. I’m not sure whether I just have a relatively high pain tolerance (my colleagues may beg to differ), but I felt zero pain and only a mildly warm sensation.
When a week passed and the time came for me to whip out the neon peach-hued device once more, I decided to extend the treatment area to half of my upper thigh and increased the intensity level to a three. I had already reaped the rewards of slower hair growth and zero ingrowns after one use, so I was eager to take it up a notch. Though this took ever so slightly longer and required a bit more manoeuvring around my knees to get the device to work (it has to be firm and flush against the skin, or the light won’t flash), the results a week later were just as fabulous as the first time around – if not more.
By week three, I graduated to level four of five on the intensity spectrum and decided to have a go on my belly area. I know, pretty wild. Though I still didn’t feel any pain or discomfort, I decided that I’d stick to level four for the foreseeable future, as I have very fair and sensitive skin. After my fourth use, I can safely say that hair growth has slowed dramatically, with my legs remaining relatively smooth for the entire seven-day break between treatments. Before using the Foreo device, my legs would only remain smooth and stubble-free for two to three days maximum.
Verdict
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Foreo Peach 2 Pro Max
The Foreo Peach 2 Pro Max is a remarkable device which offers pain-free, salon-grade hair removal from the comfort of your home. Not only does it effectively prevent hair regrowth (granted, I have near translucent skin and very dark hair, which makes me the perfect candidate – sorry for the humble brag), but it minimises the appearance of ‘strawberry legs’, ingrown hairs and clogged pores across the board.
While certainly pricey, the gadget is a long-term investment in cancelling those standing salon appointments for good.
Buy now £699.00, Foreo
