Ever heard of the MOXI® Laser? I hadn’t till licensed laser specialist and grasp aesthetician Erma Morris persuaded me to do it. Having by no means undergone a facial laser earlier than, I wasn’t certain what to anticipate. I really like a very good chemical peel however have all the time been hesitant to go ahead with a laser. However now, having been within the skincare business so long as I’ve (35 years!), I do know they’ve change into a tried and true staple in skincare– so I gave the MOXI laser therapy a shot!
Final January I had my first MOXI appointment with Erma at Refine Aesthetics in Austin, Texas (who is also a PRO companion of ours and sells our skincare line!). Let me share what the process was like– and if it’s actually price your money and time.
The MOXI Laser Process Defined
MOXI delivers non-ablative laser power that revitalizes pores and skin by correcting the preliminary indicators of solar injury and getting old. The first focus of this fast, lunchtime process is to right uneven pigmentation and enhance tone and texture. Questioning should you’re the best candidate for MOXI? Let’s dive into the small print!
What’s MOXI Laster Therapy?
A fast 8 to 10-minute therapy, MOXI improves the general pores and skin tone and texture. As for the science behind it, this fractional laser creates micro-coagulation zones on the pores and skin, sending it into restore mode and changing the broken cells with more healthy, brighter pores and skin. With minimal downtime or discomfort, it is a nice possibility for any pores and skin kind trying to obtain younger-looking pores and skin in simply seven days.
What are the advantages?
MOXI is particularly designed as a preventative pores and skin therapy to right solar injury and early indicators of getting old with out downtime. By way of a mild, fractionated wavelength, this laser corrects pigmentation points and improves uneven pores and skin tone and bumpy texture.
What number of classes are required?
Whereas it’s typically advisable to bear three to 4 remedies with roughly 4 to 5 weeks in between, your supplier will work with you to create a customized therapy plan to satisfy your particular objectives. This may embody the variety of remedies wanted, a timeline of when you may anticipate seen outcomes, in addition to pre and post-treatment directions.
What ought to I anticipate throughout the therapy?
Relying in your objectives, the therapy often begins with a numbing cream utilized 30-45 minutes earlier than the precise process. Nevertheless, I made a decision to skip the numbing cream (the concept of numbing my pores and skin freaks me out) and jumped proper in.
I’ve a excessive ache tolerance, so whereas the laser was uncomfortable, it was manageable for me. Through the therapy, the MOXI laser glides over the pores and skin, making a spicy, warming sensation. To counteract the warmth, most suppliers, like mine, can even have a fan blow cool air immediately on the pores and skin to assist decrease discomfort.
What had been the instant results?
In my case, the laser portion solely took six minutes. Afterward, my face felt extremely scorching, like jalapeño juice had been poured throughout it! I reside in Texas so I’m used to spice! Fortunately, a Velez cooling masks was then utilized to assuage my pores and skin. This biotech masks, generally used post-MOXI, hydrates and soothes stressed-out pores and skin. I used to be amazed at how a lot the redness decreased after simply quarter-hour, although my pores and skin nonetheless felt fairly scorching.
The actual shock got here half-hour later. I went from feeling tremendous scorching to experiencing full-body chills inside minutes. That’s once I realized my physique was attempting to manage its temperature. Identical to when you will have a fever and get chills, that is merely a results of fast muscle contractions as your physique makes an attempt to heat itself again up following a temperature rise. I was going via this precise course of for about an hour as my physique tried to succeed in the identical temperature as my face.
What’s the post-treatment care?
Put up-MOXI protocol is easy: Put on a moisturizing sunscreen and keep out of the solar as a lot as doable. I merely washed my face morning and night time with Purifying Face Wash, adopted by Moisture Infusion Toner, and used Weightless Safety SPF 30 within the morning and Pores and skin Restoration Lotion at night time. I like to recommend utilizing a light-weight moisturizer for the primary few days to permit any remaining warmth within the pores and skin to flee. Keep away from utilizing something too heavy as it would lure within the warmth.
I additionally selected to double up on antioxidant safety since my pores and skin was significantly susceptible. I used vitamin C each topically and took 1000 mg. orally each morning, in addition to sunscreen each single day. You could focus further on solar safety, as your pores and skin shall be significantly susceptible all through the therapeutic course of.
Notice: It says within the post-treatment care to keep away from utilizing a vitamin C serum throughout the therapeutic course of because of the potential for a vitamin C acid burn, however Vitamin C&E Therapy makes use of a secure, no-sting method that’s good for further antioxidant safety and hydration. In spite of everything, your pores and skin goes via unimaginable irritation from the laser and that’s when your pores and skin requires antioxidants probably the most!
What’s the therapeutic course of?
The therapeutic course of will fluctuate from individual to individual for quite a lot of causes, together with the quantity of solar injury on the pores and skin, use of retinoids and exfoliating acids beforehand, pores and skin kind, laser setting used (I opted for degree 2 out of three), and so on. Right here’s the way it seemed for me:
- Day 1: My pores and skin was very flaky, however this may very well be because of the reality I used to be utilizing a .5 prescription retinoid within the days main as much as the therapy. My under-eyes had been additionally puffy and swollen, and my pores and skin, particularly round my mouth, was tough and textured from all of the motion. My face and neck had been nonetheless very pink however not as scorching.
- Day 2: My pores and skin started to really feel like sandpaper as I continued to peel, however it wasn’t too uncomfortable. A lot of the redness had subsided, leaving me with extra of a sun-kissed look. I did discover that my neck was a bit pinker than my face, probably as a result of the neck space is usually extra delicate.
- Day 3: I started to show the nook on day three. Whereas my pores and skin nonetheless felt sandy in sure spots, I may inform among the tiny brown spots that sometimes seem after laser remedies, also called MENDS (Microscopic Epidermal Necrotic Particles), had been starting to fade. I all the time thought-about myself to be a quick healer, however I used to be pleasantly stunned to see how properly I used to be recovering.
- Day 4: My pores and skin was not pink, however I made a decision to put on basis anyway— and I want I hadn’t. It clung to residual flakiness, solely drawing extra consideration to the feel. Since there was no warmth within the pores and skin anymore, I made a decision to make use of Relaxation Day Masque that night time. This moisturizing therapy makes use of Barrier3 expertise to bind the pores and skin cells collectively and cut back the looks of flakiness. Afterward, my pores and skin was immediately hydrated and far softer.
- Day 5: With continued use of Relaxation Day Masque, my pores and skin was nearly solely again to regular. I used to be nonetheless experiencing minimal flaking across the nostril, jawline, and neck, however most of it was gone. The sandpaper feeling was additionally gone, that means I might probably be again to regular in one other day or two.
- Day 6: I wakened on day six with no seen flaking or dryness and knew I’d reached the tip of the therapeutic course of. My pores and skin was visibly brighter and extra agency.
I used to be very impressed with how rapidly and superbly my pores and skin healed. Whereas there wasn’t a lot pigmentation to right, I did see improved brightness and a renewed glow in lower than every week.
How a lot does MOXI value?
The therapy prices round $750 per therapy space. Treatable areas embody the face, neck, chest, fingers, arms, and legs.
Why I Selected the Therapy
I’ve all the time been tremendous devoted to my skincare routine, so I went into this therapy figuring out I didn’t have a ton of solar injury to repair. Nevertheless, I made a decision to provide MOXI a shot anyway. I imply, if it may make my pores and skin tone even a bit extra even-toned and brighter, why not?
My Outcomes with MOXI Laser Therapy
MOXI Earlier than and After
After simply six days I had a noticeably extra even pores and skin tone and brighter glow. Listed here are the outcomes I documented within the days following the therapy.
Important MOXI Therapy Aftercare Ideas
Whereas MOXI post-treatment care doesn’t include a lot, there are some things to prioritize to get probably the most out of your expertise. Apart from being on high of your sunscreen, listed here are a number of different issues to bear in mind.
When are you able to exfoliate after the process?
As with nearly any facial therapy that causes the pores and skin to peel and flake, you don’t need to use any type of bodily or chemical exfoliation till your pores and skin is not flaking. That is the case for a number of causes. For one, your pores and skin is considerably extra delicate throughout the therapeutic course of since it’s extra susceptible than normal. Second, these remedies are carried out to extend cell turnover and increase collagen manufacturing, that means it’s best to allow them to heal naturally with the intention to obtain the complete advantages. Exfoliating earlier than your pores and skin is prepared will probably trigger extra hurt than good.
Can I put on make-up after getting it carried out?
You could go with out make-up for the primary 24 hours following the therapy. After that, you’re welcome to go about your routine as regular. Nevertheless, as I discussed earlier, the appliance could not go as easily as you’re used to. Relying on how flaky your pores and skin is, a lightweight basis could intensify any texture. Because of this I like to recommend choosing a heavier, extra hydrating basis throughout the therapeutic course of.
Last Ideas and Suggestions
All in all, I used to be more than happy with my first laser expertise. If you happen to’re somebody who has been hesitant about attempting laser remedies like I used to be, it is a nice, tremendous fast possibility for dipping your toes into the world of lasers. It’s additionally best for these with little to no downtime of their schedule. When you’ve got solar injury, pigmentation, or indicators of getting old that you simply’d like to deal with, I extremely suggest this therapy for efficient pores and skin rejuvenation and I’ll completely get it once more. My pores and skin is nearly 55 years previous so it’s very helpful for me to get an additional increase right here and there, above and past my at-home skincare routine!
Movie star Esthetician & Skincare Skilled
As an esthetician skilled in beauty chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching pores and skin, educating her viewers, and constructing an award-winning line of merchandise. Her hands-on expertise as an esthetician and trusted skincare knowledgeable has created a real-world resolution — merchandise which might be formulated for 9 several types of pores and skin so your face will get precisely what it must feel and appear its greatest. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives across the globe, her huge real-world data and fixed analysis are why Marie Claire calls her “probably the most passionate pores and skin practitioner we all know.”
