I’m a beauty editor—of course I stan microcurrent devices for toning my cheekbones, have an ice roller on me at all times, and have hundreds of LED mask selfies on my camera roll. At-home skincare tools are one of the best investments I’ve ever made in my skin, hands down. So when I just saw that my current favorite tool, the Nira Pro Laser, is frickin’ 20 percent off through Feb. 14 (!), I had to fill you in on a lil secret: It’s the reason my acne scars have disappeared so fast the last few months. And it’s less than $500 atm with code SKINLOVE. Lemme explain.
Here’s how the Nira Pro laser works: The device warms up your skin, triggering collagen production to rebuild and thicken your skin, which can help smooth fine lines and wrinkles, fade hyperpigmentation, reduce acne scars, and firm skin when used daily over time (usually three months). It actually uses a non-fractional laser, meaning it treats a larger surface area, generally leading to less pain and irritation.
You can always snag a Nira Laser, but it doesn’t usually go for this low of a price (ahem, less than $480 with code SKINLOVE), so I’m urging you to grab it now to save yourself some $$$. Start using it once a day, and then thank me later when you have the skin of your dreams for way less than what one in-office laser treatment would cost.
Here’s how I do it: When my skin is clean and dry, before slathering on serums and moisturizers, I guide the tool around each area of my face, which only takes me four to five minutes. I always use mine in the morning before makeup, which initially I thought might make my skin red and irritated afterward, but nope. I notice zero irritation or splotchiness after I run the tool over my face. Plus, it doesn’t hurt at all. There’s a teeny-tiny zap, but it is more comfortable than an IPL device, in my opinion, and nothing compared to an in-office laser like Clear and Brilliant.
I’ve got a few bb scars and pimples at the moment; otherwise, my skin is fairly even and smooth. (Even my esthetician has complimented it!!)
I pay the most attention to my cheeks, chin, and jawline, where I have hyperpigmentation from cystic acne. And over the last three months, I’ve noticed a massive improvement. Even though my skin is still breaking out (hormones, ihysm), once these zits heal, I zap ’em with the Nira laser and my scarring is way less noticeable and fades faster than they ever have before. Plus, as I am entering my ~late 20s~, I put some extra emphasis on treating around my eyes and between my forehead to plump up my skin and hopefully slow the formation of crow’s feet and forehead lines.
FYI: If you prefer a smaller device (i.e. you just wanna zap a few lil spots on your cheeks or are working to reduce under-eye wrinkles), the Nira Precision Laser is also on sale rn. TBH, this device is actually about a hundred dollars cheaper and can be used across your whole face, but takes about double the time to treat your whole face. So it’s up to you, your budget, and your habits (like, are you more likely to use something more often if it only takes five minutes?).
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you “have to try.” Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair ‘do every few months.
