Okay, so: I said, in my review of Summer's Eve feminine wash a number of years ago, that it would probably be the most embarrassing review I'd ever post on MUA. I was wrong.
THIS review here, right before your very eyes, is about to be - far and away - the most embarrassing review I've ever posted on MUA and perhaps the single most embarrassing thing I've ever posted online. But if I can help just ONE other person who's going through something similar, it's worth it.
*** tl;dr - This is an amazing and effective product. It is 100% worth every penny of the (admittedly-high) price tag. ***
The longer version of my review:
I have PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome). One of the many irritating symptoms of this condition is an abnormal growth of hair.
I have very fair skin and very dark hair, so I always had a tiny bit of a mustache that was visible up close. My hair has always been a bit more noticeable throughout my life. But once I hit about 19, it was like every single one of my follicles exploded. Thick, dark hair began to grow throughout not only my upper lip, but my cheeks and neck as well. I was horrified. And as anyone who's ever had this problem (or a similarly noticeable condition) knows, some people just aren't nice about it. They don't understand. They'll make comments behind your back. I remember how painful and embarrassing it was when one of my co-workers took me aside to tell me that someone else had been talking about me. I remember bursting into tears in the car one day because I was so upset.
Shaving was out of the question. Nair burned. Waxing was sticky and messy. I began going for professional laser hair removal treatments, but they were so expensive.
Enter the Tria.
Yes, $449 is a steep price. This isn't a casual purchase by any means. But if you're already seeing a dermatologist or laser specialist, getting a Tria is SO much more cost-effective for hair removal. And instead of having to worry about booking an appointment (or any added embarrassment that comes along with going in for a treatment), you can treat your the hair yourself in the privacy of your own home.
Now, one really important thing you need to know: The Tria isn't going to work for everyone. In order for the Tria to be effective for you, there needs to be enough of a contrast between the pigment of your skin and the pigment of your hair so that the laser can "see" the follicles. (It's the only circumstance where having such a dark mustache was a good thing for me...)
Another very important thing: This WILL hurt. The degree to which it hurts will depend on your pain tolerance and on your choice of treatment setting (there are a few to choose from, with "1" being the gentlest and "5" being the most painful but also the most effective). It's recommended that you use the highest setting you can tolerate. (For me, that's sometimes only the second setting, and I've still seen results.)
The third thing you must consider is that this is a process. It takes time. It takes time to do an individual treatment and also to see results in general. Yes, you must completely shave each area you're about to treat (that way, the laser will zap the follicle instead of the hair itself). Yes, it will take months to see results. But if you're having a similar problem with dark hair, your patience and effort will be SO worth it in the end.
The Tria truly changed my life. I can now go out in public knowing that people are looking at me and not the unsightly dark hair on my face. I feel so much more confident about my appearance. I feel beautiful.
This is a pretty lengthy review and, like I said, it's embarrassing. But I really do hope it will be helpful to someone.
