A Gen Z and a Gen X Editor Put the Nira Pro Laser to the Test—Here Are the Results After 12 Weeks

The before & after is actually insane

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Published Oct 10, 2025

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NIRA/original photos by Marissa Wu and Dana Dickey/PureWow

Ease of Use: 19/20
Efficacy: 19/20
Comfort: 18/20
Aesthetics: 19/20
Value: 18/20

Total: 93/100

The PureWow100 is a scale our editors use to vet new products and services, so you know what's worth the spend—and what's total hype. Learn more about our process here.

When it comes to beauty trends, the hottest thing right now is tech. No, not AI (well, kind of AI). But I’m talking about things like microcurrent devices, red light therapy masks and radiofrequency wands. And as someone who’s been on the beauty beat for years, I think that the next big thing coming for us in the near future is…lasers. Why? Because the results are seriously impressive. Of all the before and after pictures I’ve studied, I haven’t seen anything like this. So when I had the opportunity to test the NIRA Laser Pro ($649), I roped in a fellow PureWow editor and said, let’s do it. Here’s our review after months of testing, plus a dermatologist’s take on the at-home laser trend.

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NIRA

What We Like

larger surface area cuts down treatment time
multiple power levels
easy to operate

What We Don't Like

can burn skin
skin may experience initial irritation

NIRA

Fast Facts

Wavelength: 1450nm
Power Modes: 5
Treatment Time: 2 minutes

$649 at NIRA

Meet the Expert

Dr. Tiffany J. Libby, MD, FAAD, FACMS, is a board-certified dermatologist and Director of Mohs Micrographic & Dermatologic Surgery at Brown Dermatology in Rhode Island. Dual fellowship-trained in Mohs/skin cancer surgery and laser and cosmetic procedures, she also serves as an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

What Is the NIRA Laser Pro?

The NIRA Laser Pro is the brand’s latest iteration of the NIRA Laser, an at-home skincare device that is promises to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It is 50 percent more powerful and 35 percent faster than its predecessor and can deliver a complete treatment in two minutes.

So, how does it work? The PRO uses 1450nm non-fractional laser technology to stimulate collagen production, which can lead to fine line reduction and improved firmness. As Dr. Libby explains, there are three types of laser treatments: Ablative (physically removes the outer skin), non- ablative (works beneath the surface, best for mild concerns) and fractional. Fractional lasers can be ablative or non-ablative, and target a precise area of the skin promote healing. The NIRA Pro is a non-ablative, non-fractional laser. This means that it’s stimulating collagen production deep beneath the skin’s surface, and treats a general area rather than directing the laser at a specific point. “Regardless of the type, the ultimate goal is to remodel dermal collagen—the key to long-term skin rejuvenation,” she says. “Results unfold gradually over weeks to months as the body’s natural healing process kicks in.”

NIRA’s Laser Pro is FDA cleared and pairs with an app that can track progress and provide skin insights.

Original photos by Marissa Wu

How to Use the NIRA Laser Pro?

The NIRA Laser Pro is easy to use. Everything is controlled by a single button. Long press to turn it on or off, and press quickly to change the power settings, of which there are five.

To operate the laser, turn it on, choose the desired power setting and hold it to your face. A beep will sound after three seconds, signaling that you should move the laser. If you move it before the three seconds are up, a longer tone will emit. Do not try to “redo” an area—you may burn yourself. (I’m speaking from personal experience.) Instead, just keep it moving until you’ve covered your entire face, or the areas you want to address.

How We Tested the NIRA Laser Pro

PureWow Senior Editor and Gen X-er Dana Dickey and I both tested the NIRA Laser Pro, me over 12 weeks and her over eight. Dickey has sensitive skin that’s prone to redness, while my skin leans dry. During this time frame, we refrained from using any other beauty tech, including microcurrent devices and red light therapy masks, that could interfere with the results. We evaluated it on the PureWow100 scale, rating it for ease of use, efficacy, comfort, aesthetics and value.

Left: Before Right: After (Original photos by Marissa Wu

My Gen Z Review of the NIRA Laser

Ease of Use: 20/20
Efficacy: 19/20
Comfort: 16/20
Aesthetics: 20/20
Value: 16/20

Total: 91/100

Full disclosure: Last year, I got my face scanned and was enthusiastically told I have “Botox face”—despite the fact that I have actually never gotten injections. Therefore, I can only conclude that I am presently “at my peak” and that it’s downhill from here (!). Thus, my primary goal was preservation…and to see if I could do anything about a line I had noticed tunneling across my forehead. I would consider the NIRA effective if it stopped or slowed the wrinkle-in-progress. Here are my thoughts after using it almost every day for 12 weeks.

Ease of Use: After testing microcurrent devices, radio frequency wands, red light therapy masks and other hot beauty tech, I can say that NIRA is by far the easiest and quickest. You can do your entire face in about two minutes, but I chose to focus only on my areas of concern, forehead and smile lines, so I was done in about a minute. One central button controls the power settings and acts as the on/off switch. A loud beep emits when three seconds have passed, signaling you to move the laser.
Efficacy: At first, I was skeptical, but the before and after pictures I shot on my professional camera with a macro (read: super-zoomy) lens don’t lie. Though I didn’t really notice in the day-to-day, the photos show that the line is actually…fading?! Wizardry?!
Comfort: This thing is HOT. Literally hot. I did burn myself once and noticed that my skin was slightly red when I first started using the laser, even on the lowest power setting. The brand recommends acclimating—do not start on the highest setting—and gradually increasing the laser’s power as your skin adapts. It does, however, get better with time and fades into a warm glow.
Aesthetics: NIRA’s Laser Pro is sleek, compact and lightweight. Of all the devices I’ve used, it’s the easiest to travel with. No additional serums required, no bulk, no apps if you’re not interested. It blends in on the vanity, too.
Final verdict: I found it easy to use and much more effective than I was anticipating. By that metric, it met my criteria for stopping and even fading my forehead wrinkle, which was accomplished after 12 weeks of near daily use.

nira laser review: dana before and after

Left: Before Right: After (Original photos by Dana Dickey)

Dana Dickey’s Gen X Review of the Nira Laser

Ease of Use: 18/20
Efficacy: 19/20
Comfort: 20/20
Aesthetics: 18/20
Value: 18/20

Total: 94/100

Dickey has sensitive skin that’s prone to redness. She spent eight weeks testing the NIRA laser, curious to see if the results were worth the hype her friends were raving about in med spas. Dickey started with treatments every other day, then increased her frequency to daily.

Ease of Use: As skin devices go, this one is pretty straightforward—you just turn the rechargeable gun on, then hold the short little barrel’s approximately one-inch round opening onto a section of facial skin, wait for a zap, then move along to another section of skin. An entire circuit of the face takes two minutes. The energy bursts from the gun penetrate the skin and stimulates collagen production. So, this is like your body is being jump-started to repair itself.
Efficacy: After three weeks, I was perplexed that my skin seemed a little...worse? The texture seemed rough and a bit reddened, and the surface of skin seemed dryer, not replenished. It was only when I started adding a thorough skincare regimen in that my skin started to improve. First I would add a serum, then retinol a couple times a week and other times snail mucin, and then press a thick moisturizer into my skin, such as Augustinus Bader's Rich Cream. Finally, I'd slug my face with Egyptian Cream, a traditional oil-based formula that's got the consistency of Vaseline. I now do that every night, right after I use my NIRA laser, and I wake up the next morning with small lines gone and pores tightened. I can also see how the marionette lines around my mouth are much less droopy and the fine lines under my eyes have gone away. The big lines around my mouth especially impress me with the device’s power, because once deep grooves form like mine, it's difficult to reverse.
Comfort: For the first week, I was timid and only used the laser at half strength, and then every other night. When I saw no difference at all, I grew bold. I turned the laser onto its second-highest intensity, which caused a borderline unpleasant warm sensation at the end of the few seconds I held the laser in each spot.
Final verdict: After eight weeks, Dickey ended up seeing dramatic results and improvement to her marionette lines around her mouth, as well as her fine lines under her eyes. She remarked that even her friends could tell the difference.

How Effective Are At-Home Lasers?

I was initially skeptical about an at-home laser’s efficacy versus a powerful treatment at a dermatologist’s office, but our results changed my mind. However, I was still curious hear Dr. Libby’s thoughts. Per the expert, something like the NIRA Laser Pro can still be effective, but results will require consistency over a longer period of time. “While these devices don’t match the power of in-office technology, they can deliver visible improvements in fine lines and skin texture when used consistently,” she tells me.

With in-office ablative lasers, results are nearly immediate, while non-ablative treatments can produce results after several weeks.

“For at home non-ablative devices, expect gradualresults over months, with continued gains if used consistently. Individual response varies by age, baseline damage and adherence,” Dr. Libby says. “At-home devices can help maintain skin health but they're not as powerful as professional-grade technology. Consistency is everything though, so daily or near-daily use for months can help improve skin's appearance. For more robust collagen remodeling or pigment correction, I would recommend seeking in-office care.”

Dickey and I tested the NIRA Laser Pro over the course of months, but we also prove that results vary depending on the person. She saw marked results after eight weeks, and I’ve only confirmed my results after 12 weeks.

Safety & Best Practices

As Dickey and I noted above, we both experienced skin irritation and burns on initial use and this is a danger.

“Even ‘safe’ at-home devices can cause burns, blistering, inflammation or paradoxical changes if misused,” Dr. Libby cautions. “Always follow device instructions and stop if unusual pain, swelling or worsening discoloration occurs. People with darker skin tones are at higher risk of long-lasting pigment changes after more aggressive lasers—proper device selection and settings (or avoidance of certain wavelengths) matters.”

Additionally, if you’re like us and have other beauty tech devices on your vanity, proceed with caution.

“Timing and skin recovery are key,” Dr. Libby continues. “After a laser treatment your skin barrier is more vulnerable, so you want to avoid stacking other energy-based treatments on the same day unless directed by your dermatologist.” Red light is OK if you want to follow your laser session with it, because it can calm inflammation and promote healing. On the other hand, Dr. Libby recommends spacing out microcurrent and radiofrequency treatments about one or two weeks apart. “Think of it like training your skin… too many ‘workouts’ at once can cause irritation instead of progress.”

The Bottom Line

Overall, we scored the NIRA laser an average of 94/100 on the PureWow100 scale. The results—particularly Dickey’s—are the most impressive I’ve seen of any beauty tech device thus far, and using it is intuitive and quick.

While $649 is not small potatoes, it can be a value buy if you would normally be going to the dermatologist for laser treatments, which can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars per session. If you do the math, the Laser Pro easily pays for itself after a few months, if that’s the cadence of your in-office visits. There are, of course, safety precautions to take, but once your skin gets used to the treatments, the results can be impressive. I, for one, will be swapping this into my beauty routine for the foreseeable future.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does NIRA take to work?

The NIRA is a non-ablative, at-home device, which means it won’t be as powerful as an in-office treatment. Expect results to start appearing over a few months, if used consistently. Gen X PureWow Senior Editor Dana Dickey saw the most dramatic results in eight weeks, while I, a Gen Zer, saw results in 12.

What is better, NIRA or Lyma?

NIRA and Lyma are both non-ablative lasers that claim to treat similar conditions, such as fine lines and wrinkles, by stimulating the skin’s collagen production. NIRA has a 1450nm laser, while Lyma has an 808nm wavelength. Because the former has a longer wavelength, it will penetrate the skin more deeply. NIRA has a price point of $649, and Lyma retails for $2,695.

Which is better, NIRA or NuFace?

NIRA is a non-ablative laser while NuFace is a microcurrent facial device. The former addresses concerns on a cellular level, encouraging skin to produce collagen, and the latter works on the surface, promising to lift, contour and sculpt by stimulating the facial muscles.

Marissa Wu

Editor, SEO and Audience Development

Writes across all verticals, including beauty, fashion, wellness, travel and entertainment, with a focus on SEO and evergreen content
Has previously worked at Popular Photography and Southern Living, with words in Martha Stewart and Forbes Vetted
Has a B.S. in journalism from Boston University

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