So, you've narrowed your IPL hair removal devices down to 5minskin VS. Braun Silk Expert Pro 5?

There are a few similarities and differences that you're going to want to know about before making a fairly large investment.

The budget-friendly option is definitely 5minskin, as they are the new kids on the block, while Braun has built a strong reputation in the hair removal space, so they have a reason to charge more.

I have the 5minskin (as seen in my images), and I also compared it to Nood - another popular IPL hair removal device.

Which IPL hair removal device is better: The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 or 5minskin? Let's get right to it. No bias, just facts, you decide which one is right for you!

The Hot Takes of 5 Min Skin vs Braun IPL Hair Removers:

A Glance at 5minskin

The 5minskin laser hair removal handset brings spa-quality hair removal to your home. It uses intense pulsed light (IPL) technology for professional-level results. This is a big deal because most similarly priced hair laser handsets only use monochromatic, non-divergent laser light that has limited targeting capacity.

The bright spot with this product is that it actually fulfils the promise of permanent hair removal that so many other products fall short on. Once you start using the 5minskin handset, you can expect to see a noticeable reduction in visible hairs within a few uses. Full results are usually achieved after just 12 uses.

You don't have to worry about overdoing it with this handset to the point where your skin is inflamed or irritated. Once you get your handset out of the box, you should be spacing out your full-body hair removal sessions to once a week. The big surprise after using this device is that you can do a whole-body session in around 10 minutes. Yes, that means that you're looking at permanent hair removal if you can commit just 10 minutes per week.

The reason why the 5minskin works so quickly comes down to its built-in glide mode that allows you to effortlessly and painlessly cover more skin surface area without fears of the cuts, burns, or pulling that blade-powered hair removal tools present.

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What's to Like?

First, the abundant five-star reviews online can give you confidence that plenty of people love this device. The 5minskin solves one of the most common problems people have with hair removal lasers by being a laser that works for everyone. If you've been shopping around for at-home hair removal devices, you've probably already noticed that many products won't work on either very light or very dark skin tones and hair colors. The designers of the 5minskin have found a way around this by creating a system that works by removing both blonde and dark hairs at the root.

This device also earns points for providing a painless experience. The 5minskin is what's known as a clinical-grade handset. As a result, it's smooth and seamless when it's in action. It's even gentle enough to use on your face! The only caveat with using the 5minskin to remove facial hair is that you should wear protective eyewear if you'll be treating the hair around your eyebrows. Other areas where you can use this laser hair remover easily include the bikini area, underarms, arms, back, and torso.

One last "small detail" that's worth mentioning is that this device has a very portable design. It tucks into overnight bags and suitcases so easily!

What's Not to Like?

While this device gets points for working on nearly all hair colors, there is one area where it falls short. The 5minskin has a hard time picking up gray hairs. While the handheld design that fits in your palm is usually considered a plus among reviewers, you may find that your hand has a hard time gripping the 5minskin compared to styles that have handles.

While spending just 10 minutes once a week is a great way to achieve hair removal, you can start to feel impatient when waiting 12 weeks to see the full results. Careful planning is needed if you're trying to get fully "hair free" before a vacation or special event.

Cost and Where to Buy

Ordering directly from the 5minskin website is the best way to guarantee that you're getting an authentic product. The other perk of ordering directly is that you're almost always going to get a big discount from the manufacturer. For example, I'm seeing that the 5minskin is being offered at $189 right now. That's 50% off the full price of $379. In addition to offering free shipping on every order, 5minskin will even let you select a payment plan at checkout.

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A Glance at Braun Silk Expert Pro 5

Like the 5minskin, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 is an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) hair removal device. This already puts it leaps and bounds ahead of other laser products on the market. It is considered safe for use on the legs, arms, underarms, and below the cheekbones. While you can get both legs done in about 10 minutes, you'll spend closer to 20 to 30 minutes when covering more parts of your body. Braun Silk Expert works by targeting melanin in the hair follicle to stop the regrowth cycle.

What's to Like?

Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 can make a permanent difference in 12 weeks. While the manufacturer claims that hair can be gone in just four to 12 weeks, 12 weeks seems to be the realistic starting point based on reviews and personal user experience. This handheld laser hair remover comes with a nice carrying case. You'll also get a Venus disposable razor that can be used to reduce hair in areas you're about to treat.

The shape of Braun's laser hair remover will feel very familiar to you if you've ever held an electric razor. This design is essentially the body of an electric razor combined with a laser-emitting precision head.

What's Not to like?

The lack of positive reviews online for this device can be a little bit concerning. Another issue with this product is that it takes longer than 12 weeks to achieve what can be considered full results.

The main downfall of the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 is that it isn't intended for all hair colors and skin tones. This device is universally incompatible with all dark skin tones. It also won't work with blonde, red, or grey/white hair regardless of your skin tone.

Cost and Where to Buy

The Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 can be purchased directly off of Braun's website. While the full price is $349.99, I routinely see it drop down to $294.99. You can also check amazon for a special deal.

Comparing 5minskin and Braun

Let's split hairs to see what makes the 5minskin and Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 different!

Comparing How the Devices Work

With both devices using IPL to eliminate hairs, they both work quite similarly. IPL is a noninvasive and painless technology that uses high-intensity light to target and destroy hair follicles. Once you direct the laser at your skin, you can expect a mostly painless experience. However, some people will feel a slight "snapping" feeling that's comparable to a rubber band hitting the skin. A warming feeling is also common.

Comparing Results

The big takeaway here is that both of these devices are going to give you better results compared to shaving, waxing, tweezing, and other tedious options that don't result in permanent hair loss. However, the 5minskin stands out among the two for providing much sleeker, fast results. You really begin to see hairs looking lighter and finer after just one to two sessions. By the time you hit week 12, you're really just refining what has already become a smooth surface. By contrast, the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 seems to produce much spottier results.

Comparing Price and Overall Value

Price isn't a big factor when comparing these two devices because both brands have placed their handheld hair laser removers in similar price categories. When looking at full price, it's $379 for the 5minskin versus $349 for the Braun. However, I did mention that you can grab the 5minskin for just $189 on sale from the brand's website. Even getting the Braun at the common sale price of $294.99 won't get you anywhere near this type of deal.

Main Differences Between Braun and 5minskin

Let's look at some other differences while we try to recover from the information shared above about the 5minskin potentially being around $100 cheaper than the Braun. The experience of using both products is pretty similar because both use handheld technology with the same type of laser. However, 5minskin's user experience is a little bit smoother simply because the brand has put more time into designing a built-in glide mode. You never feel like you're fighting against the device the way you can when you're moving the Braun laser around your body.

Finally, 5minskin has managed to do more with IPL technology by making its handheld device capable of permanently removing hair for all skin types and hair colors. Disappointingly, Braun's handheld laser hair removal may only work for 50% of the population.

Which Is the Better Hair Remover? 5minskin or Braun?

Both of these products are pretty extraordinary when you consider that you would need to visit a spa to be able to utilize laser hair removal just a few years ago. My big takeaway is that you'd be pretty happy with the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5 if you never tried the 5minskin. Yes, it will permanently remove hairs after 12 weeks if you're willing to be consistent about getting through your sessions. However, Braun missed the mark when it comes to creating a smooth glide that starts to make your skin noticeably smoother after just a few uses.

Finally, the 5minskin simply offers results for more hair colors and skin types. Braun may not be on the table if you're within one of the incompatible categories. You should be able to get the results you want with 5minskin unless you are trying to remove gray hairs. At the end of the day, 5minskin creates professional results with almost no effort.