As Freakier Friday star Lindsay Lohan reveals the secret to her glass skin, our head of beauty dives into the world of lasers herself
Lindsay Lohan is in full comeback mode, and her skin is giving lead character energy at every Freakier Friday photocall this month. In fact, her skin looks so glowy that I’m convinced I could use her cheeks as a mirror to check my reflection. Watching her literal glow-up in 2025 has led me to wonder what she’s been doing to her skin to get the complexion of a 20-year-old and the mirror-like dewiness of someone who has never seen sunlight and/or has been on a serious retinol routine for decades.
While the exact list of aesthetic treatments she’s booked in for is under wraps, the 39-year-old did share in a 2022 Como interview that she likes having regular IPL laser sessions to keep her complexion free from sun damage and looking youthful.
IPL, or intense pulsed light, is known for tackling pigmentation, redness and fine lines, and it’s no stranger to other A-lister skin routines. But while IPL can be incredible, it’s also not for everyone, particularly those with sensitive skin or deeper skin tones, which can react unpredictably. Even Lindsay has admitted in more recent interviews that treatments like IPL and Morpheus8 (one of her other more invasive former go-tos) are a bit too much for her now, since her skin has become more sensitive after having a child.
However, inspired by Lindsay’s results from laser facials, I decided to book in for some sessions myself. Also inspired by her newfound gentle approach to aesthetics, I booked in for a more low-key laser that can be done during lunch hours and doesn’t leave me walking around like Samantha Jones from that Sex and the City episode for days after.
Here’s what happened when I tried Clear & Brilliant at London’s Thérapie clinic.
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What is Clear & Brilliant?
Clear & Brilliant is technically a laser facial, but it’s on the mild end of the spectrum. It uses fractional laser technology to create microscopic treatment zones in the skin (don’t worry, you don’t feel it), which triggers collagen renewal and skin regeneration. It’s non-ablative, meaning it doesn’t remove the top layer of your skin, so there’s minimal downtime and no scary peeling phase.
It’s also suitable for all skin tones and skin types – a major plus in a world where not all lasers are created equal. While it’s not exactly cheap (you’re looking at around £250–£300 per session in most clinics), it feels like a smart investment if you’re targeting fine lines, texture or early signs of pigmentation, without wanting to go full Fraxel.
My laser experience and results
I booked in for three Clear & Brilliant sessions at Thérapie Clinic over the course of three months, hoping for a more even skin tone and to tackle some lingering acne scars. After the first session, my skin flushed pink immediately (don’t panic – this is normal), but it settled to a mild blush within an hour. I was back at my desk by lunch.
What you probably want to know is, did it hurt? I had the laser on the highest setting possible and I found it fine. It’s not comfortable– the elastic band-like flicking sound made me flinch more than the feel of it – but it’s also not painful. The only slight ‘ouch’ moment was when it went over the skin above my lips. Other than that, the 30-minute sessions flew by with minimal pain. However, if you don’t have a great pain tolerance (I’ll admit, I do), you can ask for numbing cream to be applied beforehand.
The following days felt a little rough – literally. There’s a sandpaper-like texture that kicks in on day two or three, but it’s subtle and easy to cover with a little tinted SPF. Within a week, that gave way to visibly smoother, glowier skin. After my third session, the difference was clear: my pores looked tighter, emerging sun spots on my cheeks faded and even a few red post-acne marks that had been hanging out on my jawline for a year started to vanish. I even started getting compliments from skincare professionals in my industry, with a couple saying my skin was ‘great’ – as a former acne sufferer, this isn’t a phrase I ever thought would be uttered about my skin.
Source: Mirror
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