A LASER FACIAL EVERY MONTH

The laser works from inside the skin. The facial works on the surface. Together, they’re your means to seriously glowy, translucent, radiant skin.

The laser works on the inside, the facial on the outside. Together, they give you radiant skin.

South Korean women do it. Singapore influencers do it. There’s good reason for you to do it too. What’s a laser facial? A laser treatment plus facial.

The laser evens out skin tone, breaks up pigmentation and brightens skin, says Dr Y.Z. Tan, founder and medical director of Mizu Aesthetic Clinic. “The facial removes blackheads and whiteheads, and infuses skin with muchneeded hydration through the use of masks and ampoules.”

Each complements the other by doing what the other cannot. When they are done in the same sitting, your skin benefits twice as much. “A laser facial increases the efficacy of the two treatments,” says Dr Karen Soh, medical director of Prive Aesthetics. It could set you back by $150-$350, depending on the clinic.

The laser is non-ablative, or nonwounding. Compared to an ablative laser, which wounds the skin by removing the top layer to diminish wrinkles and deep, pitted scars, thus requiring downtime, this type of laser is gentler.

So much so that you could get a laser facial every month, which Dr Tan recommends, although some of his patients prefer to alternate a laser facial with a regular facial. You shouldn’t do it more often, though. Your skin needs a recovery period of three to four weeks before the next session.

Dr Soh says people like laser facials because they are “simple, painless, efficient and effective”. They also work well on acne and/or hyperpigmentation.

Stephanie Toh, a strategic account manager in her 30s, has been doing monthly laser facials for about a year to keep her breakouts under control. She says she saw results in two sessions. “My acne’s not entirely gone, but it’s better controlled. My skin also feels a lot smoother and seems to recover faster from facial extractions.”

The non-ablative laser heats up underlying skin tissues to stimulate collagen growth, reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, improve skin tone and texture, and break up brown spots.

Because of the laser’s slight exfoliating effect, the extraction done during a laser facial is just to clear out really stubborn clogs. This may be less painful for those with a lower pain threshold, and also helps prolong the effects of the facial.

If the laser works so well, do you even need the facial? Yes. Lasers are mildly drying, so the facial infuses skin with hydration and nourishing ingredients. The drying effect of the laser means that such facials may not suit sensitive or extremely dry skin.

Dr Soh adds that lasers also cause skin to be more sensitive to UV rays, so you should avoid sun exposure for at least a week after, and apply sunscreen. If not, your hyperpigmentation could worsen. Remember, too, that lasers can only be administered by doctors, and not salon professionals.