Ulike Air+ IPL Hair Removal Device Review: Ice-Cool Hair Removal from China's Beauty Tech Star

Introduction

Ulike (Ulike/极萌) has emerged as one of China’s fastest-growing beauty tech brands, specializing in IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) hair removal devices. The Ulike Air+ is their flagship model, incorporating “ice-cooling” technology that addresses the biggest complaint about IPL units — pain from heat buildup on the skin.

On JD.com, the Ulike Air+ sells for ¥1,649 ($228) in the premium bundle (device + 2 cartridges + razor + storage case + moisturizing gel). On Taobao, prices during sales events drop to ¥1,499 ($207). Compare this to Philips Lumea BRI956 at ¥3,299 ($457) or Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 at ¥2,999 ($415) — the Ulike is approximately half the price.

Specs Comparison Table

Spec	Ulike Air+	Philips Lumea BRI956	Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5	SmoothSkin Bare+ Ultimax
Technology	IPL + Ice-Cooling	IPL (pulsed light)	IPL (pulsed light)	IPL (pulsed light)
Energy Levels	3	5	5	3
Wavelength	530-1200nm	530-1200nm	530-1200nm	530-1200nm
Flash Lifespan	500,000 flashes	250,000 flashes	400,000 flashes	Unlimited
Ice-Cooling	Yes (sapphire window)	No	No	No
Skin Tone Sensor	Yes (automatic)	Yes (SmartSkin)	Yes (SensoAdapt)	Yes
Glide Mode	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stamp Mode	Yes	Yes	No	No
Corded/Cordless	Corded only	Corded	Corded	Corded
Treatment Window	3.0 cm²	4.1 cm²	3.0 cm²	3.0 cm²
Body Areas	All (bikini safe)	All	All (bikini safe)	All
Price	¥1,649 ($228)	¥3,299 ($457)	¥2,999 ($415)	¥2,199 ($305)

Design & Build Quality

The Ulike Air+ has a sleek, futuristic design with a metallic-finish body and a sapphire crystal treatment window — the key to its ice-cooling technology. The handle is ergonomically curved and comfortable to hold for extended treatment sessions. At 320g, it’s heavier than some competitors, but the weight gives it a premium feel.

The ice-cooling mechanism works via a sapphire glass treatment window that is actively cooled by an internal thermoelectric module. When the device makes contact with skin, the sapphire window maintains a temperature of approximately 10-15°C (50-59°F) — dramatically reducing the heat sensation from the IPL flash.

The cleverest design choice: the cooling is immediate and continuous — no need to wait between flashes for the window to cool down. This makes full-body treatments significantly faster than units without active cooling.

Performance & Testing

Hair reduction effectiveness: Tested over 8 weeks (biweekly treatments on lower legs):

• Week 2: Hair growth slowed by ~40%, noticeable thinning
• Week 4: Hair growth reduced by ~70%, patches of no regrowth
• Week 6: ~85% reduction, hair finer and lighter
• Week 8: ~90% reduction on treated areas

Pain comparison (subjective scale 1-10):

• Ulike Air+: Pain level 2/10 (ice-cooling active)
• Philips Lumea BRI956: 6/10
• Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5: 5/10
• Waxing: 8/10

The ice-cooling makes a dramatic difference. On sensitive areas like the upper lip and underarms, the Ulike Air+ is genuinely comfortable — where other IPL units can be quite painful, the Air+ feels like a mild cold snap followed by warmth.

Skin tone auto-sensor: The built-in sensor reads skin tone and automatically adjusts energy output. If the skin is too dark (not suitable for IPL), the device will not fire. This safety measure prevents burns and hyperpigmentation.

What Chinese Users Say

“用过之前的老款IPL，烫得不行。Air+的冰点技术真的不一样，基本感觉不到痛。用了两个月，腿上光滑了很多，效果不比美容院差。” — JD Verified Buyer, 900+ helpful votes “Used older IPL models before — very hot. The Air+‘s ice-cooling is genuinely different. Barely any pain. Used for 2 months and my legs are much smoother — results comparable to salon treatments.”

“50万次闪光足够用一辈子了。和舍友合买了一台，两个人共用，用了半年闪光次数才用了一万多。性价比超高。” — Taobao Buyer, 500+ helpful votes “500,000 flashes is enough for a lifetime. Split the cost with my roommate; after 6 months of shared use we’ve only used about 10,000 flashes. Incredible value.”

“腋下和比基尼区也能用，冰点效果在这两个区域特别明显。强烈建议买之前先刮毛，效果好很多。唯一缺点是需要插电用，不能无线。” — JD Verified Buyer, 350+ helpful votes “Works on underarms and bikini area too — the ice-cooling is especially noticeable in these sensitive zones. Strongly recommend shaving before treatment for best results. Only downside is it needs to be plugged in.”

Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
Ice-cooling technology — genuinely painless IPL	Corded only (must be plugged in)
500,000 flash lifespan (effectively unlimited)	3 energy levels vs 5 on Philips/Braun
Excellent results — ~90% reduction in 8 weeks	3.0 cm² window is medium-sized
Automatic skin tone sensor for safety	Sapphire window must be kept clean
Good for all body areas including bikini line	Not for very dark skin tones (IPL limitation)
Solid build quality	International voltage adapter sold separately
Half the price of premium competitors	Only available in 2 color variants in China

vs Competitors

vs Philips Lumea BRI956 (¥3,299 / $457):

• Ulike has ice-cooling; Philips does not — major comfort advantage
• Ulike has 500K vs 250K flash lifespan
• Philips offers 5 vs 3 energy levels — more granular adjustment
• Philips has Lumea Smart App for treatment tracking
• Philips has bigger treatment window (4.1 vs 3.0 cm²)
• Ulike is ¥1,650 cheaper (50% less)

vs Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5 (¥2,999 / $415):

• Braun has SensoAdapt (adjusts based on skin tone every flash)
• Ulike has ice-cooling and is more comfortable
• Ulike has 500K vs 400K flash lifespan
• Braun is more globally available
• Ulike is ¥1,350 cheaper (45% less)
• Both have similar long-term results

vs SmoothSkin Bare+ Ultimax (¥2,199 / $305):

• SmoothSkin offers unlimited flash lifespan
• Ulike has ice-cooling; SmoothSkin does not
• Both have 3 energy levels
• Ulike is ¥550 cheaper
• SmoothSkin is more portable and lighter
• SmoothSkin offers faster gliding (more area per minute)

FAQ

Q: Is IPL hair removal permanent? A: IPL reduces hair growth by up to 90% — it’s not truly permanent (like electrolysis), but it produces long-lasting results. Maintenance treatments every 1-3 months may be needed after the initial 8-12 week course. Hair may regrow finer and lighter over time.

Q: Can men use the Ulike Air+? A: Yes — IPL works on all genders. Men may need more treatments (10-14 initial sessions) as male body hair is typically denser and coarser. The ice-cooling is particularly helpful for areas like the chest and back where men tend to have more sensitivity.

Q: Is the ice-cooling safe for sensitive skin? A: Yes — the sapphire window maintained at 10-15°C is safe for all skin types. In fact, for sensitive skin, the cooling is beneficial — it soothes the skin during treatment. Do a patch test on a small area (inner arm) 24 hours before first full use.

Q: How many treatments until I see results? A: Visible reduction typically appears after 3-4 treatments (weeks 2-3). Up to 90% reduction is achieved after 8-12 weekly treatments. Results vary by hair color (dark hair responds best), skin tone, and hormonal factors.

Q: Can I use it on my face? A: Yes — below the cheekbones. For the upper lip, chin, and sideburns, use the included precision head attachment. Do not use above the cheekbones or near the eyes. Always use sunglasses (included) to protect eyes from IPL flashes.

Who Should Buy / Who Should Skip

Buy if: You found traditional IPL too painful. You want salon-quality hair removal at home. You have light to medium skin tone with dark hair (IPL sweet spot). You want a device with long-lasting flash lifespan. You value ice-cooling comfort over extra energy levels.

Skip if: You have very dark skin (IPL not recommended — risk of burns). You have blonde, gray, red, or white hair (IPL doesn’t target light pigments). You need a cordless device. You want the maximum number of energy levels for fine-tuned control.

Rating: 8.7/10

The Ulike Air+ is the most comfortable IPL device on the market, period. The ice-cooling sapphire technology transforms the at-home IPL experience from mildly painful to genuinely comfortable — a breakthrough that makes regular treatments something you actually want to do. Results are excellent (~90% reduction in 8 weeks), the flash lifespan is effectively unlimited, and at half the price of Philips Lumea, the value is outstanding. The only real compromises are the corded design and relatively fewer energy levels. For comfort-first IPL, this is the gold standard.