The Tria FRX Laser Explained
Heat, collagen and a little bit of spice. What's not to love?
You know me and my love for at-home skincare devices, so I wanted to show you this new one I’ve been using for the last couple of weeks: the Tria FRX Laser.
Now, this isn’t brand-new technology - it’s an upgraded version of the original, which came out some time ago. The Tria FRX is described as a clinical-grade fractional non-ablative laser, and let’s get into that non-ablative part first, because it’s important.
What does non-ablative mean?
If you’ve been around these parts for a while, you know I spend some of my time working in clinic as an aesthetic practitioner, and so I’m forever going on about treatments like fractional lasers, microneedling, radiofrequency, etc.
Fractional ablative lasers work by creating hundreds, sometimes thousands, of microscopic treatment zones in the skin. This triggers your body’s wound healing process and stimulates collagen production. They’re incredibly effective, but they also come with associated downtime.
The Tria FRX works differently - because it’s a fractional non-ablative laser. This means the surface of your skin stays intact, and instead it delivers controlled heat into the deeper layers where your collagen is produced. The goal is still collagen stimulation and skin rejuvenation but with minimal to no downtime.
What can it help with?
Because it works under the surface of the skin, it’s designed to target several things at once, including:
Fine lines and wrinkles
Dark spots, sunspots, pigmentation
Uneven skin tone
Collagen stimulation
Some of the before and afters I’ve seen already are incredible. Take a look:
How do you use it?
Despite the technology behind it, it’s actually a very straightforward device to use. It’s lightweight, comes with a charger and once fully charged, it’s cordless.
Make sure your skin is clean and dry, then switch on the device. The power button is on the top, and there are three intensity levels. If you’re just starting off, especially if you have sensitive skin, I’d recommend going in at the lowest setting.
Once you’ve selected your intensity level, hold it upright against the skin. You’ll know you have full contact with the skin as the light on the device will flash (FYI – the laser will never fire until the device is fully flat against your skin, so it’s very safe to use). Then, start gliding it across the face. I have a demo on my Stories here.
The treatment is divided into zones, so for example, one cheek counts as a single zone. You glide the device back and forth on the zone until it beeps. That means you have completed that section, and you can move on to the next.
This Substack newsletter is sponsored by Tria. Their goal is to bring a new level of transparency to the at-home beauty tech world.
I’ve tested a few at-home devices over the years, but this is the first one that actually felt comparable to a clinic laser - which is why I said yes to partnering with them.
If you’re interested in trying it yourself, you can use my code SIMONE for 10% off on the Tria website at any time.
Does it hurt?
I wouldn’t necessarily say it hurts - I would describe it more as spicy. A very clinical term, I think you’ll agree.
Ultimately, despite being an at-home device and easy to use, it’s still a fractional laser. The sensation is noticeable, but tolerable. I’d describe it as an elastic band being flicked against your skin with a bit of heat thrown in for good measure.
After treatment, especially if you’re sensitive like me, your skin can be a little bit pink in places, but this settles down within an hour or so.
What about post-treatment skincare?
It’s important to be gentle with your skin after treatment, so use a gentle barrier-repairing moisturiser (or Tria’s great Phytograph Gel) and, of course, sunscreen during the day.
You don’t have to completely stop active skin care products while you’re using this device, but I wouldn’t use everything at the same time of day.
For example, the device is recommended for evening use, which gives your skin the opportunity to recover overnight. The following morning, you can still use a gentle exfoliant or a vitamin C serum if your skin is happy.
Personally, I would not use a retinoid on the same evening you use the FRX unless your skin is hardcore and used to both.
Should you use it every night?
Initially, yes.
For best results, the Tria FRX laser is designed to be used every night for eight weeks.
After that, you take a four-week break before starting another treatment cycle (increasing the intensity if your skin is ready).
My thoughts so far
I’ve only been using the device for a couple of weeks, so I’m not quite ready to give my final verdict, but what I will say is that it’s incredibly easy to use. I love the technology, and I understand why people are going nuts for it.
If you want to read more about the device, click here. I also have a discount code for anyone interested in purchasing: SIMONE for 10% off.