I’ve been documenting my Clear + Brilliant treatment with LaserAway over on my Instagram, and just completed my second treatment! I’ve received so many questions so far, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to answer some questions on my blog and give you all a peek at what’s in my skincare repertoire after treatment. To be honest, I was a little afraid to go in for a laser treatment before my initial appointment. It doesn’t help that I’m a long time Sex and the City fan, and couldn’t quite shake the feeling of Samantha’s face after her chemical peel. After watching a ton of YouTube videos and trusting in the professionals at LaserAway, I realized that the Clear + Brilliant treatment is a complete breeze with barely any downtime. So let’s debunk some of your reservations, questions, and thoughts.
Who is a candidate for the Clear+Brilliant Treatment?
If you know me personally, you know that I’m a little obsessed with anti-aging methods. I had my first set of fine lines pop up on my 27th birthday and ever since I’ve been looking for the best preventative skincare routines on the market. Clear + Brilliant is a great answer for the beauty-obsessed who want to promote healthy habits and deter signs of again (sigh, gravity). The treatment is safe for all skin types and tones but is recommended for younger patients who want to be proactive in controlling signs of aging.
What does Clear+Brilliant do to help your skin?
Clear + Brilliant has a ton of benefits. Above all its known to aid with new collagen growth, smooth skin texture, and shrink pores. I decided to get this treatment after my esthetician explained to me that my pores had expanded to be quite large after I skipped facials for two years. Due to my impacted blackheads (yuck), my pore size enlarged over time. After my most recent facial, I was blackhead free but my pores were staring back at me like little gaping monsters. (Yes, this is an exaggeration but they felt like monsters to me!) When LaserAway contacted me about partnering together for a Clear + Brilliant facial, this benefit sealed the deal for me.
Clear + Brilliant is also known to really help decrease the visibility of acne scars and melasma. Many of my readers were most interested in this, and while I don’t have either I’ve met people with melasma who really enjoyed the experience and saw a benefit. Here’s a picture of my skin so you can get a sense of my overall texture and pore size with makeup on.
How does it work?
Depending on your needs, there are two different types of lasers you can try. Clear + Brilliant is a noninvasive dioxide laser that refreshes your skin from the inside out. There’s a 1440-nanometer wavelength laser, which reduces pore size, diminishes fine lines, and improves skin texture. There’s also 1927-nanometer wavelength laser, which treats such pigmentation issues as melasma, sun spots, and other types of sun damage. Your laser technician will help you identify the one for you.
What should you do to prepare for the treatment?
If you’re using any retinol creams like Retin-A, you’re going to want to stop using these ASAP. The LaserAway team asks you to also avoid the sun for 10 days prior to your treatment. I know it’s a tough ask for summer, but it was worth the sacrifice. Plus, I’m a literal tomato when I step outside, so I’m more of an indoor kind of gal!
Does it hurt?
So here’s the beauty of fractional laser treatment at LaserAway: numbing cream. When you arrive for your appointment, the LaswerAway team will give you a small cup of numbing cream to lather your face in. Trust me on this one: out it EVERYWHERE, even your jawline. After letting the numbing cream soak in after 20-30 minutes, you’ll barely feel a thing! The sensation you feel when the laser is hitting your skin is akin to what I imagine a tiny rubber band snapping on your skin feels like. It’s not painful, but you will feel a warm prickling feeling as it goes across your face. The procedure is short, so the entire thing is easy. I did feel the heat a little bit closer to my chin and on the edges of my face by my hairline, but it lasted just a few seconds.
How long does the procedure take?
20-30 minutes of sitting with the numbing cream and around 10 minutes for the actual laser procedure.
Am I going to be able to go back into work and continue the day after its done?
You can TOTALLY go on with your day after this treatment. I don’t recommend putting makeup on your face and would make sure to lather up in Aquaphor, but you won’t be in pain or totally cherry faced. It will look like you got a sunburn. After my laser treatment yesterday, I had a few marks on my face and by the time happy hour hit I was ready to go out with friends and show off a “flushed” look (their words, not mine).
Your skin will be a bit red for 2-3 days after the treatment and you might experience dryness and flaking. This is NORMAL and you’ll feel good as new shortly after once you get that glow! Here’s a day by day from yesterday’s treatment to today. Notice how most of the redness is completely gone, especially the red streaks left from the laser.
When will I see results?
You will start to see results after your first treatment! I noticed skin texture improvements soon after. LaserAway recommends at least three sessions to see the full results.
How much does it cost?
It varies based on the incentives happening at LaserAway but there are various types of packages. When speaking to a representative yesterday, I learned that at this time one session is $450, three for $1,500, and six for $1,800. This all really depends on what specials are going on during the time of your visit and how many sessions you’re in need of. The higher the amount of sessions you book, the more cost-effective it becomes.
What are the things I need to know AFTER my treatment?
When I was at my recent visit, the team gave me a sheet mask to help soothe my skin and provided me with hydrocortisone and Aquaphor. Your recovery can be sped along by avoiding direct sunlight for two days following treatment and wearing a sunblock with SPF 30 or higher! I personally stock up on SPF 50 for safety measures. For my full list of post-treatment recovery, click HERE!
Still have questions? Comment below and I’ll answer anything you want to know!
LaserAway is a partner of Cup of Charisma. I received SO many questions after our Instagram partnership, so I felt it was important to make a blog post sharing everything you need to know! Thank you to the brands like LaserAway who make what I do possible!
