FOR youngerlooking skin

Clear + Brilliant is a resurfacing laser— but don’t let the term put you off. While older laser technology used to leave scabbing that took weeks to recover from, new fractional technology causes only minor dryness and pink-toned skin that could last a few hours. “When Clear + Brilliant came along, we were able to use laser energies and wavelengths that made a meaningful change in surface collagen and brightening with, really, no downtime,” says Dr. Robert Anolik, a New York City-based dermatologist. “Fractional-laser energy touches the skin in a pixelated way, like tiny dots on a screen, which leaves behind untouched, healthy skin that allows for rapid healing.”

WHAT IT IS:

A numbing cream is applied to my skin for about 20 minutes, and by the time Anolik returns to hand me a pair of protective glasses, I’m at The Weeknd levels of not being able to feel my face. He runs the laser methodically across my skin, making extra passes over dark spots; it’s prickly but not painful. Afterwards, my face feels really warm, but other than a bit of pinkness, there’s no sign of what I’ve had done, so I’m able to put on a tinted moisturizer and hit a business lunch within the hour. The next day, my skin has a sandpapery texture—a common after-effect as dead skin cells rise to the surface. After a week, the glow is unmistakable. My skin looks more refined, even-toned and super-smooth (which is what makes it a must for those with acne scars or sun spots).

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE: