Today I’m really excited to share a post that has been a highly requested beauty topic ever since I started documenting my experience with it on Insta stories–IPL treatments! (Also commonly referred to as a photofacial!)
If you’re new here, I won’t go into too much detail, but to give you the short version. I struggle with breakouts on the sides of my face, and have been dealing with this on and off for years. Therefore, I have trouble not just with the breakouts themselves, but also the scarring and discoloration that they leave behind.
I was determined to get my skin under control before my wedding. So I started going to Leah Chavie Skincare Boutique and I’ve been going to her regularly ever since. (Side note: Read my Wedding Countdown Beauty Checklist in this post!)
One of my favorite treatments I regularly get from Leah is the IPL. I’d say this is probably the treatment that I get the most questions about, so I figured I’d get together with Leah and do a super informative post to answer all your questions!
Also, make sure to scroll down to the bottom to see a special discount Leah is offering for my readers!
What is IPL?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light – which is interchangeable with the term “photo facial”–it’s easy to get IPL mixed up with laser treatments because it essentially looks the same, but it’s not technically a laser–it’s a pulse of light, similar to a camera flash.
The light penetrates through to the second layer of the skin, targeting bacteria (helpful for acne) and pigmentation (helpful for dark spots, scarring, etc), without harming the top layer. The light is absorbed by the melanin–damaging only that specific lesion. Then the body naturally removes the damaged tissue (aka your dark spots) leaving behind more beautiful, even skin.
IPL Photofacial Benefits:
Overall, IPL therapy is known for helping even skin tone. Whatever kind of skin issues you have, typically, they’re related to your skin tone, right? IPL can help with all of these things, like:
Reduced hyperpigmentation, age spots, and sun spots due to photodamage
This is what IPL is most well-known for. If you have any kind of dark spot on your face that you’re self conscious about, this will help immensely. Personally, I have leftover red and brown spots from acne–but it’s also a popular treatment for those with sun damage!
Reduced acne and acne scars
IPL is a powerful weapon in killing bacteria in your skin and targets sebaceous glans that contribute to breakouts. I can attest to this myself (I had regular IPL treatments leading up to my wedding that definitely zapped any breakouts I currently had and kept them from coming back!) Results in clinical trials have shown IPL to reduce acne by at least 50%–but I would say it’s far more effective than that!
What to expect for your first treatment:
I’m sure this depends on where you get your treatment done, but I can assume everywhere is fairly similar! You’ll lie on what is similar to a massage-type table on your back, and your technician will put on goggles to protect your eyes from the flashing light. A cool gel will be applied to the area being treated, and the treatment will consist of a series of little pulses of light–again, like a camera is being flashed. If you’ve had any kind of laser treatment before, it will feel similar (although, remember, IPL isn’t actually a laser, it’s light!)
Does it hurt? Well–let me put it this way–it doesn’t feel good. It really zings if you have breakouts, but isn’t as painful if you don’t. It feels like a hot rubber band snap–but it’s over very quickly. To me, it’s not as bad as say, a Brazilian wax and getting ripped over and over again!
I will also mention that I have a high pain tolerance. To me, it’s tolerable, but others have messaged me saying the pain was truly horrible ? The moral of the story is–no, it doesn’t feel good, but beauty is pain and the results are WELL worth it. Its also worth noting that if you get regular treatments I think you get used to it and it tends not to hurt as badly.
Also note: If you’re on a Retin-A type product or intense retinol, it’s best to stop using it a few days prior just to ensure your skin isn’t overly sensitive and avoid damage.
The Side Effects of IPL:
There is pretty much zero recovery time due to the fact that no damage is done to the top layer of skin. You may experience some redness and a bit of swelling at first, but it goes down in no time. Everyone is different, but sometimes your dark spots or scars will almost scab and virtually flake off over the next several days (it doesn’t hurt–they just feel rough and then will flake off, revealing a much lighter scar!)–it’s really crazy! That doesn’t always happen though–everyone is different!
Post Treatment care:
Post treatment careretinols
IPL Results:
If you struggle with breakouts, uneven skin tone, or pigmentation, definitely look into getting IPL. Also, I think it’s a great thing to do before your wedding to clear up any existing breakouts, prevent new ones, and overall just make your skin look amazing!
Absolutely I love the results I get with IPL treatments. They do all the things I outlined above, and more. I see results after just one treatment, but sometimes it can take more than one. Typically starting with a package of 3 is the recommended amount, but again, everyone is different based on their individual needs and issues!
Note: If you are doing it for acne, please know that it’s not a cure and regular treatments will be needed to keep breakouts at bay–so it’s most effective best paired in tandem with other acne treatments.
If you live in Chicago, I can’t say enough good things about Leah. She got my skin in incredible shape before my wedding (which is no easy feat)–I was so grateful for her and I still go to her on an ongoing basis! I’m also currently getting laser hair removal from her as well–more on that in a different post! She has truly become a good friend and I trust her wholeheartedly!
How much do IPL Photofacial results cost?
Cost varies based on where you have it done–whether it’s in a high-end salon, doctor’s office, etc– but Leah’s regular pricing is $250 per session. For my readers though, she’s offering a package of three for $299! Plus, for all other services, she offers a 30% first time discount for my readers! Just call her salon and mention my name with booking!
Do you have any more questions about IPL Photofacial? Leave them below! Would also love to hear about your experience if you’ve done this as well!
