People who want their skin to look smooth this summer are better off using proven methods such as shaving and cold or warm waxing.

New pulse light treatments and laser light hair removal methods currently being offered by cosmeticians are not as effective as their advocates make them sound, according to Germany's consumer centre in Stuttgart.

'Many of these offers are expensive, but regretfully have little effect,' said cosmetics consultant Hanne Vedder.

The various light treatments, including laser and pulse light, do not destroy all hair roots, but the treatments are intended to be permanent hair removal. This is not always covered in the consultation prior to treatment, said Vedder.

Aside from shaving and waxing, there are methods such as tweezing and epilation. Chemical hair removal such as creams and foams are as a rule aggressive and are hard on the skin.