I’ve been wanting to invest a little more thoughtfully in my skincare this year, especially when it comes to treatments that can make a real difference in skin texture, tone, and sun damage. Living in California, the sun exposure adds up over time, and I started noticing that some of the damage that had accumulated over the years wasn’t something my usual skincare routine could fully address.
Before committing to a treatment, I spent some time researching different options and using the GlowGuide app, which helps you explore aesthetic treatments based on your personal skin goals. It’s also a great way to document your skincare journey and track your progress over time. (see my reel HERE for more details on how to use the app)
After exploring different options and learning more about what might work best for my skin concerns, I ultimately decided to try the HALO TRIBRID laser, a treatment designed to improve overall skin quality, reduce sun damage, and stimulate collagen.
Here’s a full look at my experience — from the treatment itself, to the healing process, to what my skin looks like now a few weeks later.
Where I Had the Treatment
I had my treatment done at the San Jose office of Illuminate Plastic Surgery. The team there walked me through everything in advance so I knew exactly what to expect both during the treatment and throughout the recovery process.
The Treatment Experience
Before the procedure began, a medical-grade numbing cream was applied to my face and left on for about 30 minutes to help make the treatment more comfortable. Once the laser portion began, the experience was actually less intimidating than I had expected. The first pass of the laser felt fairly mild, almost like a warm prickly sensation across the skin.
The second pass, however, is where things got noticeably more intense. The heat builds significantly during this phase and it definitely feels very hot. That said, it was still not intolerable, especially knowing the treatment itself is fairly quick. I did both my face and the neck and the neck was definitely the easier area to tolerate. The entire laser portion of the procedure was over faster than I expected, about 15 minutes.
What the First Few Hours Feel Like
Immediately after the treatment, my skin was extremely hot, almost like a very intense sunburn. For me, the first two hours were definitely the toughest part of the entire experience. The best advice I can give anyone preparing for this treatment is something that worked incredibly well for me:
I sat in my car wearing a warm jacket while blasting the AC directly onto my face at full power for about two hours. That constant cooling helped tremendously with the heat sensation. After those first couple of hours, the skin begins to calm down, although it still feels very tender and sensitive.
The Healing Process: What to Expect
Healing from HALO TRIBRID is very much a day-by-day process, and I found it really helpful to track the progress inside the GlowGuide app. Before the treatment, I logged my “before” photos, and then uploaded daily photos afterward so I could clearly see how my skin was healing. One of the features I loved most was the side-by-side slider, which lets you compare your progress over time.
Days 2 – 3: Swelling
The swelling during days two and three was probably the most noticeable part of the recovery. I was taken aback in the mornings at the amount of swelling, so don’t worry, looking a little crazy the first two days is “normal”. My skin was also very sensitive to the touch and red. Interestingly, washing my face wasn’t too bad, but I tried to be extremely gentle. One thing that helped tremendously was dunking my face into a bowl of ice water throughout the day. The cold helped calm the swelling and felt incredibly soothing. One thing to note here: my practitioner told me to treat my face like an “open wound” the first few days. She gave me Puracyn Plus, a wound irrigation spray and told me to put it in the fridge (more for the extra comfort of a chilly spray than necessity) and to use it liberally the first two days. Especially in the first few hours post treatment. I went through half the little bottle while blasting the AC those first two hours. It made all the difference!
Skincare During Healing
During the first phase of healing, simplicity is key. I used an Aquaphor stick multiple times a day, which helped keep the skin protected and comfortable.
I also only used the designated cleanser and moisturizer provided by Illuminate, avoiding anything with active ingredients. No exfoliants, retinol, vitamin C, or acids. Cleanser: Alastin Ultra Calm Cleansing cream, followed by Alastin Regenerating Skin Nectar (only after day 3), followed by the Alastin Ultra Light Moisturizer which was safe to use day one. Finishing with the Alastin All Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30. DO NOT skip the SPF, even if you are not going to leave the house. Any bit of sunlight, even just through a window can do some real damage, especially the first week post treatment. Be sure to use only Mineral sun screen, because it creates an actual physical barrier. I went the extra unwell mile and purchased this SPF 50+ full face mask and was so glad that I did. Even under a big hat, any bit of heat from the sun made my skin feel hot the first week, so wore this at all timed when outside. The kids made me park a block away from school at pick up and drop off. Can’t blame them!
What My Skin Looks Like Now
A few weeks later, I can honestly say I’m extremely happy with the results.
My skin feels brighter, smoother and tighter, but the biggest difference for me is the sun damage. The areas that had started to bother me the most are now almost completely gone. I didn’t even realize what a big difference that would make. I feel like I look 5 years younger. The overall texture of my skin also looks much more refined. I have been wanting to stop wearing foundation and have been only wearing my MERIT Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 45 now even when shooting content. I add a drop of shimmer for an all over subtle glow with these illuminator drops. (shade “original”) Can’t tell you how good it feels to have less product on my skin.
The Most Important Thing After the Treatment
One thing I can’t emphasize enough is how important ongoing sun protection becomes after this treatment. Your skin is still very vulnerable while it continues to regenerate, so you have to be extremely diligent. For me that means wearing SPF every single day, even indoors (reapplying every 2 hours or using an SPF Mist to refresh. I really like this one. Wearing a hat anytime I’m outside. I have this one in my car in case I ever run out the door and forget to wear one.
Your skin is essentially in a very fresh, delicate state, and protecting it properly will make a huge difference in maintaining your results. I am taking that advice as an ongoing routine, especially after 40. A little effort will go a long way over the years, and don’t forget to do the same routine for your neck and chest every time.
Overall, I’m incredibly happy that I decided to try the HALO TRIBRID laser. Being able to research the treatment and track my progress with the GlowGuide app made the entire process feel much more informed and reassuring. The downtime is very manageable if you plan for it, and the results have been well worth it for me.
This is definitely a treatment I see myself doing once a year going forward to help maintain healthy, glowing skin and keep sun damage at bay. If you’re curious about what the healing timeline actually looks like, I also documented the entire process day by day HERE so you can see how my skin changed throughout recovery.
