A Beauty Editor's 2024 Review of the Halo Laser for Skin Aging

Including how it works, what it feels like, and if it's ultimately worth the money.

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As a beauty editor, I'm no stranger to laser treatments. Over the years, I've tested lasers like Clear and Brilliant for uneven skin texture, PicoSure for dark spots, and AviClear for acne. They've all been great for my skin, but after a summer filled with sun, lack of sleep, and raging postpartum hormones, my face needed more. Enter: Halo. An intense laser treatment that promises to minimize pores, fade sun spots and acne scars, soften lines and wrinkles, and give skin a visible glow. Keep reading for my full review of the Halo laser—including info on how it works, what to expect before, during, and after a treatment, and ultimately if a Halo laser treatment is worth the hefty price tag.

Halo is a hybrid fractional laser, meaning it uses ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to target the skin's surface and the deeper layers of the skin at the same time, says dermatologist Heather Rogers, MD. The ablative wavelength targets the superficial layers of the skin to address brown spots, large pores, and superficial texture concerns, while the non-ablative wavelength goes deeper to stimulate collagen production and provide longer lasting firming and tightening results. Overall dermatologists love the Halo laser for its ability to:

Honestly, not great (this is not a quickie lunchtime treatment folks). Immediately after my Halo treatment my skin looked like I had severe sunburn (see photo evidence below) and my face felt uncomfortably hot too. The good news is that the heat and redness went away for my fairly quickly. By the time I got home that night, my skin was back to a normal temp and looked pink instead of tomato-like.

The next morning, the pinkness was replaced with brown discoloration and tiny brown flecks called MENDS, or microscopic epidermal necrotic debris. While unsightly, dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD (I did my Halo laser at her NYC practice) assured me that MENDS are normal. "These little coffee ground looking spots appear on the skin post-treatment and are a sign your skin is regenerating," says Dr. Marmur, who adds that they usually disappear about a week later.

For me, the discoloration and MENDS were most noticeable on days two, three, and four and were pretty much gone by day 5. I did get some tiny breakouts along my chin as a result of the laser, but they healed fairly quickly so I wasn't super concerned. Basically, expect your face to look not-so-great for about a week after your Halo laser, and then nice and glowy after that.

Based on Reddit reviews I read before my treatment, I expected Halo to be super painful. Surprisingly though, it wasn't so bad. It mostly felt very hot with the occasional sensation of a rubber band being snapped against your skin. I know this objectively sounds awful, but I swear it's not so bad. The treatment is fast too—like 10 minutes start to finish—so as soon as your like, okay my face must be on fire by now, it's all over.

That said, my skin was numbed with topical lidocaine for a full hour pre-treatment. I have to imagine that without the numbing the laser would be absolutely excruciating, so definitely make sure you factor in plenty of time for that before your treatment.

Halo recovery is largely dependent on the intensity of your treatment, explains Dr. Rogers who says that generally more intensity = more downtime = better results. I did a gentler treatment, so my recovery only lasted a week. During this time, per Dr. Marmur's orders, I was super diligent about my at-home skincare. I swapped my usual AHA treatments and retinol serum for simpler, more gentle products and focused on moisturizing and protecting my face.

In the morning and at night I’d wash my face with La Roche-Posay's hydrating cleanser. It really does a good job at removing any excess oil, makeup, and SPF but without stripping your skin, which is key for after a laser treatment since your skin can feel a bit raw and sensitive after. Post-wash, I’d apply a thick layer of Avene’s Tolerance cream to help hydrate and soothe. In my regular life this would probably be too rich for my oily skin, but post laser it's exactly what my vulnerable skin needed.

And of course, SPF—a must everyday but absolutely non-negotiable post-laser. I alternated between Dr. Marmur's Tinted Sunscreen and EltaMD’s UV Clear Tinted—applying one or the other every morning and then reapplying in the afternoon too. Post Halo the move is definitely tinted sunscreen—it's great for diffusing MENDS and blotchiness without having to put makeup on while your skin is healing.

Generally, most people see results after just one Halo laser treatment. I did Halo with the hopes of lightening the marks on my chin and jawline from old breakouts, shrinking the pores on my T-zone, and softening the fine lines on my forehead. And while one Halo laser didn't fully address all of these concerns, I did notice a slight improvement in my skin tone and definite improvement in skin texture around day 7 (check out my after shot below).

I'm sure if my treatment were more intense, I would have noticed a more dramatic result but I don't love the idea of intense downtime so overall I'm happy with how my skin looked post-treatment.

Around 1 to 2 weeks post-treatment is when people really notice that "Halo glow". How long that glow lasts largely depends on how well you take of your skin after the treatment. If you sleep in your makeup and skip SPF, your uneven texture and dark spots will surely come back. If you follow a good skincare routine and protect yourself from the sun, your results can last for years, says Dr. Marmur.

The cost is the biggest downside to Halo IMO. A single treatment will set you back anywhere from $1500 to $2000 depending on where you live, which feels like a lot considering you could get Botox for an entire year (or more) for around the same price. On the flip side, the fact that one Halo can address a multitude of skin issues at once makes the price more justifiable IMO.

Ultimately yes, I think a Halo laser is worth the money...and the downtime. I don't think it should be a first option for improving skin texture or tone, but instead a treatment worth trying if you have stubborn skin issues that haven't responded to topical or other types of treatments. Overall, "it's a great laser and most people with sun damage, skin dullness, large pores, texture issues, fine lines will see improvement from it," adds Dr. Rogers.

One more thing here: Halo is only worth the money if you go to a provider who has extensive experience treating people with your skin tone and skin issues. Dr. Marmur says that even though the laser’s settings are highly customizable, making it safer for darker skin tones and people with melasma, it's only safe when used in the right hands. So before you book a treatment, do your research and steer clear of any Groupon type deals that look too good to be true.

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best retinol eye creams to the best pore minimizing treatments. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to professional treatments.

Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.

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