I Have Hyperpigmentation—Here's What Happened When I Tried an At-Home Laser

If the past year has taught us beauty lovers anything, it's that there's a whole wide world of beauty treatments you can do at home beyond the DIY mani or an at-home brow wax thanks to new innovative tools. One such tool is the latest gadget leading the way to clearer skin without a visit to the dermatologist. Lyma Laser ($2,500) is a newly released at-home skin laser from Lyma Life. The lifestyle brand known for its Lyma Supplements made their foray into skincare earlier this fall with a handy-dandy acne scar blaster.

I know what you’re thinking, "Over $2K?!" Well, if you factor in the cost of the average trip to the dermatologist without insurance, you're looking at upwards of $150, and if you have a co-dependent relationship with your derm, things can get costly quickly. You're also probably thinking "Is it safe to use a laser at home?" I was thinking the same thing so before trying out the laser on my hyperpigmentation, I asked both founder Lucy Goff and celebrity esthetician Nichola Joss for the scoop.

Lyma Laser Starter Kit $2,500.00

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The Science: Regeneration not damage

I found out it’s completely unlike the laser you’d use at the dermatologist. "The reason why it’s allowed to be used at home is the internal diffused lens and the internal diffuse lens splits the central laser light beam into 25,000 beams of light across the three-centimeter lens," Goff explains for technologically advanced, before adding, "Because the light is split so many times it makes it safe and does not damage any cell whatsoever."

To break it down even more, she continues "Normally, a laser that you'd use for aesthetic reasons works off a stress damage response, you're creating thermal damage to the skin for it then to regenerate itself. Whereas this laser is a real breakthrough because it doesn't damage skin at all." The laser is a medical-grade technology, Goff says, that has been used to regenerate cartilage but had inadvertently smoothed and improved the texture of the skin on the surface level as well. Lyma wanted to be the first to bring this technology to the cosmetic market.

The Ingredients: Oxygen and anti-oxidants enhance the process

The laser is a three-part system that includes a priming serum and their Lyma mist which key ingredients include 36% active stabilized oxygen (a hydrator) and beta-glucans (an antioxidant), that smoothes skin and boosts the skin’s barrier. Together, the primer and serum flood the skin with oxygen to enhance the laser and cell regeneration. Since there is no damage to the skin on any level whatsoever it’s safe for all skin tones, and as any laser-enthusiast knows, darker skin tones have a risk of scarring more easily so this is a true skin-saver for POC.

The Results: Smoother skin no matter your skin concern

The laser addresses a number of skincare concerns and you can find tutorials for your specific need on their site. It’s ideal for anti-aging, scarring, stretch marks, acne, and rosacea. Follow a full facial routine or use the laser in targeted areas for a few minutes at a time once a day over the course of three months to see full results. 

The Product: Easy and painless

Let’s get into the "how." The laser is super easy to use. There’s pretty much no setup and the laser is roughly the size, shape, and weight of a small flashlight. I followed Joss' expert facial routine on my combination, sometimes acne-prone skin to treat hyperpigmentation. I applied six spritzes of the mist and following up by massaging two pumps of the primer and a moisturizer of your choice to help the laser glide more easily (I used this facial oil by Muri Lelu). One-click turns on a glowing blue light that you apply directly to the skin, gliding it over in Joss' recommended order, working from the neck up. To my shock, it didn't feel like anything and it didn't hurt—like, at all. Actually, after the laser warms up slightly, running it along your face feels a bit like a facial massage. The whole process takes no longer than 20 minutes.

Our Verdict: Subtle but impressive

So after almost a week of using it daily and focusing on the hyperpigmentation on my cheeks, the differences were subtle but ever-so-slightly there. Some of the hyperpigmentation on my cheeks had faded where I had focused the laser, which was pretty impressive after a few days. I'm looking forward to the results after a full three months.

You can buy the Lyma Laser Starter Kit now at Lyma.life.