IPL is not the only route, and it is not for everybody. Some hair colors and skin tones do not suit light-based devices, and some people simply prefer a different method. So here are the other tools I hear people comparing.

Silk'N's Infinity is a fast IPL device. FOREO's Peach 2.0 is another IPL device, in the brand's usual smooth, compact shape. Pursonic's IPL Hair Removal Device is a straightforward one, and Epilaser's 808 laser device is aimed at people who want a laser-style tool at home. These are all devices to read carefully about, and to compare on the safety sections, not the marketing copy.

Epilady's Legend 5 is different. It is a rechargeable epilator that pulls hairs out at the root, so the feeling is very unlike IPL, and it works on any hair color. It hurts a little, and I will not tell you otherwise. If you go that way, do it after a warm shower, on the first go, and have a soothing gel ready.

Epilators also need patience on the first few goes, and short hairs are the usual problem, so let hair grow to the length the instructions ask for. A tip for choosing: start with your hair and skin, then pick the method, not the other way round. And whatever you pick, use it on a small area first and wait a day to see how skin responds before you do a whole leg.

After hair removal, skin can feel warm and a little tight, and it wants gentle, cooling things. It does not want fragrance, scrubs or strong acids, and it certainly does not want a hot bath.

Laneige's Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer with mint extract is very cooling, the one I reach for first on legs and underarms. The Ordinary's Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan is a lightweight gel with a plain, quiet feel, good on the bikini line. Dermalogica's Calm Water Gel Moisturizer is a light water gel made for sensitive skin. Farmacy's Daily Greens is an oil-free gel with moringa and papaya, and Tata Harper's Calming Creme is made for redness and skin repair, a little richer than the rest. Dr. Jart+ Cryo Rubber Soothing Face Mask with allantoin is the mask option, a cold rubbery layer you peel off, and I keep it in the fridge.

What I would skip: retinol, exfoliating acids, and anything with a strong scent on the same day, plus swimming pools and saunas for a day or two. Also skip sun on treated skin, and wear sunscreen on the area whenever you go out. If skin blisters, burns or stays sore, stop and ask a doctor.

My schedule is boring and works. Prep and treat in the evening, cool gel straight after, nothing else on the area that night, and a note in my phone so I do not lose count of the sessions.

Take photos at the start, so you can see change over weeks rather than trust your memory. Give the method a proper trial before you decide, and if a device ever causes pain or marks on skin, stop using it. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or take medication that makes skin sensitive to light, check with a doctor before starting. Smooth skin is nice, but comfortable skin is the goal. I keep the gel in the fridge door, the device in a drawer that is not by the shower, and the manual within reach, and I have never regretted reading it twice.