I Tried The At-Home LYMA Laser For 6+ Months: Here Are My Results

Some lasers target the surface of the skin (called ablative). These will induce controlled thermal damage in order to stimulate a wound response in the skin.

This will lead to increased collagen, cell renewal, and other benefits (which are specific to the laser in use.) Common examples are Fraxel and CO2.

These are exclusively in-office lasers that resurface the top layers of the skin, while stimulating thermal damage in the dermis as well. These are highly effective, but require downtime and robust pre- and post-care. 

Other lasers bypass the top layer of the skin so no surface level damage is inflicted (called non-ablative.) The energy is isolated in the lower layers of skin, where it stimulates collagen and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.

These can be both in-office (IPL, for example) and at home (LED masks).

This not only makes some options safe for at-home use, but means there’s no downtime, peeling, or adverse effects that are associated with the more intense options. But it also means it’s not as immediately effective, and results only come with cumulative use.

For best results do the full face and spot treatment method in conjunction with each other. This may mean you do the full protocol for more than 30 minutes a day. The spot treatment protocol is ideal for trickier areas, such as around the eyes, stubborn dark spots, forehead, and lips.  

The treatment protocols usually take about three months, as I noted above. However this is a general guideline. Users can move into the maintenance phase once they feel happy with their results, which can be shorter or longer than the three month mark. Ultimately, it’s up to the user.

For the past three months, I have used the LYMA Laser almost every day. There were exceptions here and there (the long weekend to celebrate a friend’s bachelorette and a few nights when I got home too late to commit to a session), but for the most part—I was diligent. I wanted to give the laser a real shot. 

Cooke explained that the official protocol is 15 minutes each side, doing the routine I described above—but she also told me that I could really make my own routine. 

Most nights I split it into thirds, rather than halves. The routine was as follows: 10 minutes on my forehead, and 10 minutes on each cheek and lower half of the face.

When I had more time to spare, I’d spot treat around the eyes, paying special attention to the crows feet area and my dark circles. Then if I really wanted to go all-in, I’d give some extra love to the marionette lines forming around my mouth. 

The sensation itself feels like nothing. I thought for sure I’d feel a subtle warming or even a tingle at the least, but it’s the most benign experience imaginable. The most “painful” part of the entire ordeal is having to hold the thing up to your skin for 30 minutes a day. 

Speaking of: This is not a hands-free device, so multitasking can be a challenge. I tried doing it while working (failed, as I can’t type with one hand), cooking (failed once I realized I needed to chop something), and reading (much easier, but still kind of annoying when you need to turn the page). So I used it as an excuse to watch some TV or listen to a podcast (notice my headphones are in the below photo).

But I will say that once I got into the habit of it, it wasn’t that difficult to fit it in. Now when I sit on the sofa and turn on my favorite show, I grab it almost instinctively. It’s found a semi-permanent place on my coffee table for ease. 

As diligent as I was, I must admit that I did skip some days here-and-there. But Cooke assured me that it wasn’t setting me back too far: “Skipping a day doesn't undo all of your hard work. But using it consistently and daily—just as with any kind skincare product or device—is really crucial in order to see the best result.”

As I noted I’ve been using this almost daily for the last three months, which is the standard length of time they tell you that you’ll see results.

The most immediate and noticeable result was reduction in redness. My skin gets flushed easily, thanks to sensitivity and mild rosacea. In the last three months these flare-ups have become so infrequent that I can’t remember the last time I was bothered by the pinky tint of my cheeks. 

Often I’ll preemptively wear a tinted moisturizer just because I never know what might trigger my skin to turn red. (Just in case I have a spontaneous cocktail, for example.) But now I’m far more comfortable leaving the house sans cover-up because I don’t live in fear of a flare-up. It sounds like a small thing, but as anyone with rosacea will know—this benefit is life changing. 

Next I noticed the horizontal fine lines on my forehead and crinkles around my eyes disappeared. For the last several years I’ve been in a constant back-and-forth with these areas trying to make the dainty etches stay dainty. And at my age, the normal topicals aren’t as effective as they once were. This has smoothed out the wrinkles considerably, especially on my forehead. 

The last thing I noticed was only recently—and that was from comparing my before, during, and after photos. There’s a phenomenon called perception drift, which happens when your appearance changes slowly over time. It’s much harder for your brain to pick up on improvements since they happen so subtly, so we’re not as able to notice how dramatic the results actually are. 

So when I looked at my photos side-by-side, I couldn’t believe how soft my texture looked. I don’t think my texture was ever too rough to begin with, but in my most recent (make up and filter free) photos, it was so dewy and smooth. 

I’m not the only one who is impressed by their results with the laser. “I recommend the LYMA Laser to all of my clients. This tool is one of a kind and I have never seen results like ones from the LYMA Laser. It is worth every penny, in my opinion,” says Czech. 

It feels criminal to have such a sophisticated piece of technology at your disposal and not use it, so six-plus months later the LYMA Laser is still part of my regular skin care routine. I no longer stick to a nightly schedule, but defiantly clock four to five days a week. This is what the pros call "maintenance phase."

That was until about three months ago, when I was unexpectedly away from New York for what ultimately became two months. I took my laser with me, but forgot the charger. Rookie mistake. The device has a pretty solid battery life, but certainly not two full months worth—especially when it was about a third charged to begin with.

So I used it sporadically, until it sadly died on me. It was then that I really noticed how much it helped my skin. My dry, sensitive, redness-prone skin came back with a vengeance. I couldn't have a cup of coffee or glass of wine without a flare-up.

Prior to using the laser, I was probably just used to my skin always looking and reacting like this. But after having gone several months with an even-keeled complexion, the redness really bothered me.

Not only that I just looked tired. Sure that was likely due to some life-stuff that was going, but I couldn't help but think "If only I had my LYMA Laser with me" every time I looked in the mirror. Yes, like the skin care freak I am, I longed for the tool.

Once I got back home (about a month ago), one of the first things I did was plug in my laser's battery. The very next night I was back to my typical use.

Now after using it for about five days a week for a few weeks, I can see my complexion calm down again. It's not where it was in August when I first wrote this review—not as dewy or glowy—but it's in much better shape than when I was without it.

Alexandra Engler is the beauty director at mindbodygreen and host of the beauty podcast Clean Beauty School. Previously, she's held beauty roles at Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Allure.com. In her current role, she covers all the latest trends in the clean and natural beauty space, as well as lifestyle topics, such as travel. She received her journalism degree from Marquette University, graduating first in the department. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Joanna Czech is one of the world's most sought-after celebrity esthetician who hand's have graced the likes of Cate Blanchett, Kim Kardashian, Anna Wintour, and countless others. She's known for her hands-on approach, use of clean products, and high-tech tools that leave the skin lifted, firm, and glowing. You can tune into her Clean Beauty School episode here to learn more about her beauty approach and philosophy. In the episode she also talks about how she uses her LYMA Laser in her day-to-day life, as well as on her clients. She's based in both Dallas, Texas and New York, New York.