Clear + Brilliant Laser: What You Need to Know

Pros 

• The treatment will leave you with radiant skin that looks fresher and healthier, especially if you’re showing only early signs of aging.
• It’s a gentle laser treatment that’s safe for all skin types and tones. 
• The procedure can also be used for “prejuvenation,” meaning that it can delay signs of aging in younger patients.
• It’s considered a good maintenance treatment for people who have already had a more aggressive laser treatment, like a CO2 or Fraxel treatment.
• The Clear + Brilliant Perméa handpiece, which increases the skin's permeability so products can penetrate deeper (hence the name), is particularly good for treating patients with hyperpigmentation and melasma.
• The treatment doesn’t make skin overly sun-sensitive, so it can be performed year-round (though, of course, you’ll still need sunscreen to prolong your results).

Cons

• Like other fractional laser resurfacing treatments, it can trigger herpes breakouts (if you’re prone to them) and flare up skin conditions like acne and eczema.
• If you have moderate to severe sun damage, this gentle laser may not be strong enough to make much of an impact. Patients with significant sun damage, acne scars, uneven skin texture, and skin laxity may not be good candidates.
• The Clear + Brilliant laser doesn't tighten skin, and it's not powerful enough to treat deep wrinkles.
• It’s not effective at reducing redness. For that, vascular lasers, like the pulsed dye laser (PDL) or IPL, are a better choice.
• As with any heat-based treatment, a Clear + Brilliant procedure can sometimes cause new hyperpigmentation or, in certain patients, flare up melasma. Some reviewers on RealSelf have reported lasting hyperpigmentation after being treated with a setting that was too high for their skin tone.

• Average Cost:
• $875

• Range:
• $275 - $2,500

Your Clear + Brilliant cost will depend on your provider’s level of experience, their practice location, and how many treatments you get. 

Cosmetic procedures like this one aren’t covered by insurance, but some providers offer a discount for purchasing a series of multiple treatments up-front. Most also offer payment plans or accept third-party financing.

See our complete guide to Clear + Brilliant costs

The Clear + Brilliant photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

In well-trained hands, the Clear + Brilliant Touch is safe for people of all skin tones. It’s an especially good skin rejuvenation option for younger patients showing early signs of aging and sun damage like minor pigmentation issues, fine lines, large pores, and uneven texture. 

It also works well for those who want to maintain youthful-looking skin or extend the results of a more aggressive laser treatment.

Prior to your procedure, you should have a consultation with your provider to make sure you’re a good candidate. You’ll be asked about your lifestyle, what medications you take, and what kind of skin-care products you use. If a retinoid is part of your skin care regimen, you may be asked to stop using it for one to two weeks prior to and after the procedure.

On the day of the procedure: 

• Your provider will start by applying a topical numbing cream to your skin to reduce discomfort. 
• You’ll be given a pair of goggles to protect your eyes. 
• Once you’re numb, your provider will glide the Clear + Brilliant handpiece over your skin for 15 to 20 minutes, typically making eight passes over the treatment area. The intensity level of your treatment will be customized to suit your skin tone and concerns. According to the company, the handpiece has Intelligent Optical Tracking, to maintain proper contact with the skin and ensure that all treatment zones are targeted evenly. 
• You might feel a scratching or prickly sensation from the laser energy; some people describe it as a slight stinging. 
• Post-treatment, your provider will likely apply a topical antioxidant serum and a cooling mask, which sits on your skin for 10 to 15 minutes.

Related: The Treatments and Ingredients Actually Proven to Reduce Wrinkles

Since numbing cream is applied to the treatment area before your skin resurfacing treatment begins, it's likely that you won't feel any pain during the procedure. Some people experience some heat-related discomfort, but this isn't the case for everyone.

It's possible to feel a bit of discomfort post-procedure once the numbing cream has worn off. Applying cool compresses to the area can reduce this tenderness.

The number of treatments most people need to see the full benefit is three to six, spaced a week to a month apart, depending on your skin and your doctor’s preference. “Results from this procedure are best seen in a series of treatments,” says Dr. Brock Ridenour, a facial plastic surgeon in Saint Louis, Missouri.

After this initial series, plan to go in for one to three treatments twice a year, to maintain or improve on your results.

You may experience minor redness, swelling, discomfort, itchy skin, or acne or milia formation after your treatment. Most of these symptoms should subside in a few days, but acne and milia can take longer to resolve. 

It's also possible to get a cold sore, if the treated area has been previously infected with the virus. If you’re concerned about this possibility, your provider can prescribe an antiviral medication for you to take prior to your procedure.

This laser treatment comes with minimal downtime. Your skin will look a little flushed and feel warm for up to 12 hours, and it will feel like sandpaper (from the dead skin cells that are sloughing off) for about a day. 

To avoid hyperpigmentation, stay out of the sun during this time to avoid sunburn and be diligent about using a sunscreen with a high SPF, to prevent sun damage. 

You’ll also need to avoid activities that make you sweat for 24–48 hours after treatment, since the sweat could irritate your sensitive skin.

You’ll see some results almost immediately. Within a week or two, you’ll start to notice that your skin looks softer, brighter, and more evenly toned. Improvements will continue for another several weeks.

“Clear + Brilliant is true to its name,” says Dr. Michele Green, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. “After a series of treatments, your skin actually will be clear, radiant, and beautiful.”

If anti-aging is your main concern, many providers also recommend creating a treatment plan that incorporates other in-office procedures, coupled with a medical-grade skincare regimen. Treatments like Botox and dermal fillers can help maximize your efforts for younger-looking skin. 

Related: Laser vs. IPL: How to Choose the Right Device for Treating Sun Damage

While some patients are happy with the subtle smoothing and brightening effects of a single treatment, “results from this procedure are best seen in a series of treatments,” says Dr. Brock Ridenour, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Saint Louis, Missouri. 

The number of treatments most people need to see the full benefit is three to six, spaced a week to a month apart, depending on your skin and your doctor’s preference. 

After this initial series, plan to go in for one to three treatments twice a year, to maintain or improve on your results.

These two skin rejuvenation treatments have several key similarities:

• Reviewers on RealSelf give microneedling a nearly identical Worth It Rating to Clear + Brilliant laser.
• They treat similar concerns, including uneven skin tone, pore size, and fine lines. 
• They both stimulate new collagen production.
• Their average cost is also similar, though a series of microneedling treatments typically costs a bit less.

However, microneedling has a few advantages: 

• It’s more effective at treating acne scars and stretch marks.
• It’s a heat-free procedure, which may appeal more to those who are worried about melasma flares and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

An experienced provider who offers both options can advise you on the best one for your skin concerns.

Clear + Brilliant can be a great option for someone with early signs of aging who wants to do something but not too much. However, there’s a variety of other options to consider to treat similar concerns.

	Laser Genesis nonsurgical	Microneedling nonsurgical	Chemical Peel nonsurgical	IPL nonsurgical	Fraxel Laser nonsurgical	CO2 Laser nonsurgical
Worth It Rating	85%	79%	92%	78%	61%	81%
Average Cost	$575	$650	$425	$650	$1550	$2875
Downtime	No downtime	1–3 days of downtime	Up to 2 weeks of downtime	One week of social downtime	Up to 1 week of downtime	1–2 weeks of downtime
Anesthesia	No anesthesia	Topical anesthesia	No anesthesia	No anesthesia	Topical anesthesia	Local or general anesthesia

• Laser Genesis is a nonablative laser (meaning that it doesn’t damage the top layer of skin) that treats fine lines, uneven texture, dull skin, redness, large pores, acne, and acne scars. As with Clear + Brilliant, the best results are seen after a series of monthly treatments.
• Microneedling is a treatment during which a handheld device covered with tiny needles is used to puncture the skin. This creates micro injuries that stimulate the body’s natural healing process. The procedure is used for superficial sun damage, such as fine lines and wrinkles, and it can improve skin tone and texture, shrink pore size, and fade superficial scars and stretch marks. 
• Chemical peels remove the damaged top layers of skin, to reveal fresher, younger-looking skin underneath. Available in different strengths (superficial, medium, and deep), they’re used to combat wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, large pores, and rough or uneven skin texture.
• Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a light therapy used to treat sun damage, like hyperpigmentation (freckles and brown spots), as well as other skin issues, such as birthmarks, broken blood vessels, rosacea, and varicose veins. It’s similar to laser therapy, but since IPL operates over a broad band of wavelengths, it can address multiple issues at once. IPL helps with the pigmentation and redness commonly seen with sun damage and photoaging. Regular treatments can also improve collagen production.
• Fraxel Dual, one of the most common lasers found in dermatologists’ offices, offers a combination of two unique non-ablative lasers for resurfacing. Each of its two lasers uses a different wavelength of light: one that targets the superficial tissues for the rapid clearance of excess pigment, and another that penetrates more deeply into the dermis to treat fine lines and superficial scars, and to dramatically improve skin’s texture and tone. Most patients have only a few days of swelling and mild redness and are fully recovered within a week.   
• Fractional CO2 lasers are appropriate for people with more significant sun-damage and aged skin. They're used to treat moderate and deep wrinkles, acne scars, traumatic scars, and inelastic skin. “These lasers make ablative wounds on the surface of the skin that penetrate into the deeper dermis, so they can generate significantly more collagen,” says Dr. Ridenour. They also involve more aftercare and downtime.