When it comes to red carpet beauty, flawless skin is the ultimate accessory. From the Golden Globes to the Oscars, Hollywood’s biggest names don’t just rely on good genes and luxury skincare—they turn to high-tech laser treatments to get that radiant, lit-from-within glow. And let’s be real: under HD cameras and flashing lights, there’s nowhere to hide. That’s why A-listers (and their glam squads) swear by Moxi, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Broadband Light (BBL) and other types of treatments to refine texture, erase imperfections, and create the kind of luminous skin that needs zero filters.
To break it all down, we chatted with Grace Jensen, FNP-BC, an expert at JECT Med Spa in Los Angeles, to get the inside scoop on what Moxi, IPL, and BBL actually do, who they’re best for, and how to achieve that effortlessly glowing, event-ready complexion. Consider this your VIP guide to laser treatments fit for Hollywood’s biggest night—no glam squad required.
With all eyes on the Oscars, celebs are on a mission to look refreshed (without looking overdone). What type of laser helps smooth skin, reduce redness, and create that “lit-from-within” glow and what is the expected recovery time?
BBL and Moxi are two lasers perfect for award season. Technically BBL is a light based treatment not a laser, although has very similar results. BBL is a light laser the helps rid the body of unwanted pigment. This is especially great for reds (broken capillaries, diffuse redness, erythema or redness after acne scarring) and browns (pigment from the sun, age, or acne). Moxi is a non ablative, fractionated laser that helps to resurface the skin and encourage new skin growth from deeper layers. This helps reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, texture, and hyperpigmentation. Basically it polishes the skin to give the skin a smooth glow. Together they can give the ultimate glow before a big event. BBL has about a day or 2 of down time while Moxi has 5-10 light downtime days. With both treatments you can wear makeup or tinted sunscreen and continue your activities of daily living while recovering!
With event season in full swing, people want instant results. What’s the best laser treatment for someone who only has a week or two before a big event?
For someone with minimal downtime, BBL and Moxi are great options. BBL in theory has no down time, other than being red for a day or 2 (with possibly sloughing of pigmented skin for up to a week which can be covered with sunscreen or makeup). Moxi takes 5-7 days to heal. People of darker skin may take longer, up to 10 days. However this is a “light” downtime. This is because you can still continue with you activities of daily living and wear makeup or sunscreen to cover up some of the coffee ground appearance that may arise. You can also stack them together to combine the downtime for a more effective treatment.
Skincare layering is trending, but what about laser layering? Can Moxi, BBL, and CO2 be used together for maximum skin transformation? If so, what’s the ultimate treatment stack?
We can layer some lasers for maximum benefit and to minimize down time. BBL and moxi can be combined to maximize benefits and minimize downtime. This combo can be done every 4 weeks for a series of 3-6 treatments for maximum benefits. Co2 on the other hand, can not be stacked with BBL and Moxi. Co2 laser can be completed either 4-6 weeks before BBL and Moxi or 4 weeks afterwards. The skin cycle is 28 days- therefore we like the skin to be fully healed before adding another treatment, to minimize the risk of complications.
If someone wanted to invest in just one laser treatment a year for maximum skin benefits, which would give them the most bang for their buck?
This again comes down to what concerns we are trying to treat for a client. Co2 is the most intense laser at Ject, although currently not offered at Ject West Hollywood. This laser is good for deep wrinkles and textural concerns. For someone with melasma, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and enlarged pores, Moxi will be the most effective. For clients with rosacea, broken capillaries, post inflammatory erythema, and hyperpigmentation- BBL is the best option.
Moxi has been called the ‘beginner’s laser’—why is it so popular with first-timers, and how does it compare to more intense resurfacing lasers like CO2?
Moxi is perfect for a beginner because it is a gentler, fractionated, non ablative laser (whereas co2 is a more intense, fractionated, ablative laser). There is also less down time which consists of 5 light days. And by light I mean you can cover up with makeup and/or sunscreen. As this is great for a beginner, it is still an incredibly effective laser for treating the texture and tone of the skin.
What’s the difference between Moxi and BBL when it comes to targeting pigmentation? Should someone get both, or does one work better for certain concerns?
Moxi and BBL target different layers of the tissue. BBL uses light to target pigment in the skin. It is great for reds (broken capillaries, diffuse redness, and post acne scarring) as well as browns (from sun, age, or acne). It targets pigment at a more superficial layer than the Moxi. The Moxi penetrates deeper to create fresh new skin that then replaces the old pigmented tissue.
We know sunscreen is non-negotiable after laser treatments, but what are the biggest post-laser skincare mistakes people make that can actually slow down results?
Exercise after the treatment can slow down the healing by intensifying redness, swelling, and irritation. Sun exposure, especially being in the city of LA, lead to burns and hyperpigmentation. Lastly, scrubbing or exfoliating the skin too quickly can lead to irritation and hyperpigmentation. We want the skin to heal before any exfoliation.
The Oscars are all about that A-list glow. If you had to create the ultimate pre-awards season laser treatment plan, what would it look like?
This would be determined by a client’s current skin, pore size, fine lines and wrinkles, and discoloration. For a gentler option that targets pigment, pore size, and smoothness- a BBL & Moxi treatment 1 month prior is a perfect option. 1 week prior to the event an aqua gold would give an extra glow and decreased pore appearance. This uses vitamin c, hyaluronic acid, and Botox in the top layer of skin to pull in hydration giving a plump and glow. For someone who has deeper lines/wrinkles (rhytides) at rest, a co2 laser with a moxi and bbl 4- 6 weeks later would be the perfect combination to prepare for the Oscars.
You can book a consultation with Grace Jensen, FNP-BC, at JECT’s Los Angeles.
📍 JECT Los Angeles
8218 W 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
