As a beauty editor, I’m no stranger to laser treatments. Over the years, I’ve tried lasers like Clear and Brilliant for uneven skin texture, PicoSure for dark spots, and AviClear for acne. Everything was great for my skin, but after a summer full of sun, lack of sleep and postpartum hormones, my face needed more. Enter: Halo. An intense laser treatment that promises to minimize pores, fade sun spots and acne scars, smooth lines and wrinkles, and give skin a visible glow. Read on for my full review of the Halo laser—including information on how it works, what to expect before, during, and after a treatment, and ultimately, whether a Halo laser treatment is worth the hefty price tag.
What does the Halo laser do?
The Halo is a hybrid fractional laser, meaning it uses ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to target the skin’s surface and deeper skin layers simultaneously, says dermatologist Heather RogersMD. The ablative wavelength targets the surface layers of the skin to address brown spots, large pores and surface texture concerns, while the non-ablative wavelength goes deeper to stimulate collagen production and deliver greater firming and firming results. duration. In general, dermatologists love the Halo laser for its ability to:
- Fading of hyperpigmentation, including sunspots, melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Smoothes lines and wrinkles
- Smooth uneven texture and acne scars
- Minimize the display of resources
- Tighten and tighten the skin
What does your face look like after the Halo laser?
Honestly, no big deal (it is not a quick lunch treat guys). Immediately after my Halo treatment my skin looked like I had a severe sunburn (see photo below) and my face also felt uncomfortably hot. The good news is that the heat and redness went away for me pretty quickly. When I got home that night, my skin had returned to a normal temperature and looked pink instead of tomato.
The next morning, the pink was replaced with brown discoloration and tiny brown spots called MENDS, or microscopic epidermal necrotic debris. While anti-esthetic, dermatologist Helen MarmurMD (I had the Halo laser done at her NYC office) assured me that MENDS are normal. “These little spots that look like coffee grounds appear on the skin after treatment and are a sign that your skin is regenerating,” says Dr. Marmur, who adds that they usually disappear about a week later.
For me, the discoloration and BREAKS were more noticeable on days two, three and four and were almost gone by day 5. I had a few tiny breaks on my chin as a result of the laser, but they healed pretty quickly, so it wasn’t too much of a concern. Basically, expect your face to look not so great for about a week after the Halo laser, and then nice and shiny after that.
Does the Halo laser hurt?
Based on the Reddit reviews I read prior to my treatment, I expected the Halo to be extremely painful. Surprisingly though, it wasn’t that bad. Mostly it felt very warm with the occasional sensation of a rubber band being slapped against your skin. I know that objectively sounds awful, but I swear it’s not that bad. The treatment is also quick—like 10 minutes start to finish—so you just like it, okay my face must to catch fire by now, it’s all over.
That said, my skin was numbed with topical lidocaine for a full hour pre-treatment. I have to imagine that without the numbing the laser would be absolutely excruciating, so make sure you get plenty of time for it before your treatment.
How long does Halo recovery take?
Halo recovery is highly dependent on the intensity of your treatment, explains Dr. Rogers who says that generally higher intensity = longer downtime = better results. I did a milder treatment so my recovery only took a week. During this period, according to the orders of Dr. Marmur, I have been super diligent with my skincare at home. I swapped out my usual AHA treatments and retinol serum for simpler, milder products and focused on moisturizing and protecting my face.
In the morning and at night I washed my face with La Roche-Posay’s moisturizing cleanser. It does a really good job of removing any excess oil, makeup and SPF, but without stripping your skin, which is key for after a laser treatment as your skin can feel a bit raw and sensitive afterwards. After washing, I would apply a thick layer of Avene’s Tolerance cream to hydrate and soothe. In my normal life this would probably be too rich for my oily skin, but after the laser it’s just what my sensitive skin needed.
And of course, SPF – a daily essential but absolutely non-negotiable after laser. I alternated between Tinted Sunscreen by Dr. Marble and EltaMD’s UV Clear Tinted—applying one or the other every morning and then repeating in the afternoon. Post Halo the move is definitely tinted sunscreen—it’s great for diffusing WHEELS and blemishes without having to wear makeup while your skin heals.
My Halo Aftercare Essentials:
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizing Gentle Facial Cleanser
Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Facial Sunscreen
How many Halo laser treatments are needed?
In general, most people see results after just one Halo laser treatment. I did the Halo in hopes of lightening the scars on my chin and jawline from my old breakouts, shrinking the pores in my T-zone, and softening the fine lines on my forehead. And while a Halo laser wasn’t fully countered all Out of these concerns, I noticed a slight improvement in my skin tone and a definite improvement in skin texture around day 7 (see the after shot below).
I’m sure if my treatment had been more intense I would have noticed a more dramatic effect, but I don’t like the idea of intense downtime, so overall I’m happy with how my skin looked after the treatment.
How long do Halo effects last?
About 1 to 2 weeks after treatment is when people really notice that “halo picture”. How long that glow lasts depends largely on how well you treat your skin after treatment. If you sleep with your makeup on and skip the SPF, uneven texture and dark spots are sure to return. If you follow a good skin care routine and protect yourself from the sun, your results can last for years, says Dr. Marmur.
How much does the Halo laser cost?
Cost is the biggest downside to Halo IMO. A single treatment will set you back $1500 to $2000 depending on where you live, which seems like a lot when you consider you could get Botox for a whole year (or more) for about the same price. On the other hand, the fact that a Halo can address a multitude of skin issues at once makes the price more justifiable IMO.
Is the Halo laser worth the money?
Ultimately yes, I think a Halo laser is worth the money…and the downtime. I don’t think it should be the first choice for improving skin texture or tone, but instead a treatment worth trying if you have persistent skin problems that haven’t responded to topical or other types of treatments. Overall, “it’s a great laser and most people with sun damage, dull skin, large pores, texture issues, fine lines will see improvement from it,” adds Dr. Rogers.
One more thing here: Halo is only worth the money if you go to a provider who has a lot of experience treating people with your skin tone and skin issues. Dr. Marmur says that while the laser’s settings are highly customizable, making it safer for darker skin tones and people with melasma, it’s only safe when used in the right hands. So before you book a treatment, do your research and avoid any Groupon-style deals that seem too good to be true.
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Lauren Balsamo is deputy director of beauty at Cosmopolitan with a decade of experience researching, writing and editing skin care stories ranging from the best retinol eye creams to the best pore minimizing treatments. She is an authority on all skin care categories, but specializes in professional treatments.
Lauren Balsamo is Associate Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all kinds of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her Instagram.
