Editor review

The treatment to try now

Over summer, sun exposure affects our skin tone. I didn’t want a treatment that would lead to the kind of peeling that might terrify my partner, so a laser resurfacing treatment called Clear + Brilliant fit the bill.

What is it:

Often referred to as “baby Fraxel” because it uses the same technology (pulsating beams of light that exfoliate away layers of skin) with less intensity, the treatment promises to fade pigmentation, stimulate collagen and shrink pores in as little as one session, although a minimum of three treatments is recommended.

How it feels:

The treatment started with a full skin analysis, to assess my skin and what I wanted to achieve out of this process, as well as taking lots of pictures. This will help track my progress over the coming months if I proceed with more sessions. Next, my skin was numbed with a topical cream and 20 minutes later, a technician began to pass the laser head over sections of my face. The most sensitive spots (forehead) felt prickly and hot, but bearable. Twenty minutes later, I was ready to leave.

After-care:

My face looked sunburnt for a day. I felt self-conscious, but my partner didn’t even notice. The following day, I covered the remaining redness with concealer. My skin felt like sandpaper but looked normal for a week. The skincare helped: I slathered my face in a balm from CosMedix.

The results:

One week later, my skin felt super-smooth, looks glowy, and I’m most surprised to notice pores on the side of my nose and forehead have shrunk a little, which helps make my skin look smoother.

The cost:

$1500 for four at About Face Clinic (aboutface.co.nz).