I Tried the Celebrity-Loved Lyma Laser for 40 Days—Is It Worth the Hype?

The device itself is a cordless, handheld wand powered by a rechargeable battery. And while the tip of the Lyma Laser wand may produce a red light, don’t get it twisted—it is not a red light therapy device. Unlike many other glowing gadgets on the market, which make use of LED, the Lyma Laser delivers a clinical-grade near-infrared laser with a 808nm wavelength, which purports to penetrate deeper into the dermis to repair skin at a cellular level while also stimulating collagen and elastin production.

This is called low-level laser therapy (LLLT), or cold laser therapy, a medical process that was discovered in the 1960s and is backed by scientific studies and the brand’s own promising results. (In one clinical trial conducted by Lyma, 64.3 percent of participants saw an improvement in pigmentation after five weeks, 53.8 percent saw an improvement in depth and appearance of wrinkles, 42 percent claimed a reduction in symptoms of rosacea and 56 percent saw a decline in the appearance of acne and blemishes.)

I asked Dr. Brendan Camp, a double board-certified dermatologist, about the believed efficacy of devices like the Lyma, and his insights were promising: "Because red light and near-infrared light penetrate to the dermis, it is thought that they are able to encourage the production of new collagen. As a structural protein, collagen keeps skin firm and bouncy. By maintaining collagen levels, devices like the Lyma Laser may help limit the appearance or formation of signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots."

Fast Facts

• Laser: 500mW near-infrared
• Wavelength: 808nm
• Size: 20 cm long
• Battery Life: 2 hours

As you glide or hold the device over your skin, it emits a continual laser to enact regenerative photobiomodulation, reaching deep down to the skin cells to encourage repair. Plastic surgeon and Aesthetic Director of Lyma Dr. Graeme Glass explains, "The Lyma Laser works by triggering mitochondrial stimulation deep in the cells (a process called photobiomodulation), which boosts ATP production, enhances cell regeneration and reduces inflammation. LED also relies on photobiomodulation, but due to lower power and depth, the effect is limited to surface-level skin rejuvenation like reducing redness or fine lines."

Notably, the Lyma Laser claims to do this without damaging anything first; other laser resurfacing treatments, along with things like microneedling, cause controlled damage to the tissue in order to kick up its healing processes, but not so with the Lyma. Dr. Glass adds, "This trauma-based concept that most anti-aging treatments rely on is not only ineffective in the long run because the collagen produced is low-quality, it’s also incredibly damaging on Black and Brown skin. As Lyma Laser technology is zero-damage, there is no risk of scarring to skin which makes it a safe cosmetic solution for all skin tones."

Indeed, as I can attest, there is absolutely zero redness, tenderness, burning or downtime that comes following a Lyma Laser treatment. You’re not going to look like Samantha Jones after her chemical peel in that one episode of Sex and the City.

Considering the lofty sticker price, the Lyma Laser thankfully doesn’t arrive loose and rattling around in a mere cardboard box. The device comes beautifully packaged in a full starter kit, which includes a 30-day supply of both the Lyma Oxygen Mist spray and Oxygen Glide serum ($175 when purchased separately), which are touted as providing antioxidant support to skin while maximizing the effectiveness of the laser and helping to give it a better glide. There’s also a charger for the battery, a soft storage/travel case, a cleansing cloth and a pack of five facial sponges that expand when placed under water to cleanse your skin post-treatment.

For over a month on the (almost) nightly, I’ve been loading up my face and neck with Lyma’s Oxygen Mist and Glide serum then putting the laser to work. In this, my 33rd year, I’ve noticed some jowl action happening, along with crepey skin under my chin and on my neck, deeper nasolabial folds and some fine lines on my forehead, so these are the areas where I, as the kids say, “lock in.” I set my phone timer for three minutes and hold the laser over one area of concern until it beeps, then I restart the timer and repeat the process. After I target those specific spots, I finish the treatment with a glide across my entire face and neck for about another six minutes.

As it sounds, this is a bit of a time-consuming process, but I usually do it laying down in bed watching a show, so I don’t really notice. As far as usage goes, I love that the laser, unlike red light therapy masks, isn’t blinding and doesn’t hurt my eyes even if I happen to look directly at it (not recommended, of course, but it happens). In contrast to microcurrent devices like the NuFace, there’s also no risk of zapping your skin if you happen to go over a spot with no product on it, and it can safely be used on sensitive areas around your eyes, neck and even lips, per the company. I can confirm, I’ve done so and experienced no irritation in these areas, nor anywhere else.

After each treatment, I cleanse the Oxygen Glide serum from my face using the included Lyma sponges and continue my normal skincare routine, which, yes, includes a retinol (it’s apparently A-OK to use in conjunction with the laser).

And now, the reason you’re probably reading this: How are the results? Well, immediately after each use, my skin does feel softer and smoother, and there’s zero redness or irritation. After using the device for 40 days (and forgoing the use of any other skincare gadgets in my arsenal for the purposes of this review), my skin no longer gets dry and flaky, and the dark patch of dry skin on my forehead—along with the fine lines running across it—have definitely begun to fade.

I will usually get hormonal breakouts along my jawline leading up to the that time of the month, but those, too, have mostly dissipated; instead of getting big, painful blemishes beneath the surface of my chin, I only recently had a small spot pop up; I ran the laser over it and it was gone in a day.

As far as my main skin concerns—the nasolabial folds, marionette lines, jowls and crepey neck skin—those have become, at the very least, less bothersome. My face hasn’t been sandblasted free of any lines or texture, but I do find myself scrutinizing those particular areas less in photos and video calls, which is where I would really tend to notice (and hyperfocus) on them. I’d call that a win—especially since the results should only get better over time.

To state the obvious, this $2,695 device is a lot pricier than many of the other cosmetic tech offerings on the market, but as the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, clinical-grade laser designed for at home use, the Lyma Laser is in a league of its own. As I mentioned above, the only other time I had access to the laser was during a $350 facial at an upscale NYC spa. According to my calculations, then, the Lyma practically pays for itself after your seventh at-home treatment—so, a week of use.

Besides the convenience of having a powerful, science-backed device right at your fingertips, there’s also no beating the Lyma Laser’s ease of use; it’s straightforward, painless and comfortable to hold, plus you can get the job done while zoning out to your favorite TV show.

Most important is the fact that, slowly but surely, it does deliver real, noticeable results—particularly ones that were previously unachievable without opting for an invasive procedure (such as tightening the skin under the chin and reducing lines and pigmentation). Full disclosure: You’re not going to look like you got filler or a face lift overnight,  but if you, like me, would rather steer clear of knives and needles (for the foreseeable, at least), I’d say this item is worth the investment—if only to prolong the time before you start to think about them again.