Moxi Laser
The Moxi handpiece is glided over the skin in passes. It is a fractional laser set gently, so the skin looks flushed rather than raw afterwards.
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Moxi Laser vs Clear + Brilliant
Moxi is the better pick for visible sun spots. It takes three or four sessions, and each one leaves a few days of bronzed, sandpapery skin. Clear + Brilliant is the better pick for dullness and upkeep. It is gentler, takes four to six sessions, and no trial has compared the two.
At a glance
| The difference | Moxi Laser | Clear + Brilliant |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Fewer sessions, so a shorter course | More sessions, so a longer course |
Clear + Brilliant
The Clear + Brilliant handpiece is small and glides across the skin. The eye shields are there because it is still a laser, even though it is the gentlest one in the fractional family.
Side by side
The differences that matter
What you actually do
Moxi Laser
A course of clinic visits
The laser treats the skin in tiny columns and leaves the skin between them untouched. Moxi uses one wavelength.
Clear + Brilliant
A course of visits, then upkeep
The same kind of laser, but with two handpieces. One targets texture, the other targets surface colour. Ask which one is planned. The name on the booking will not tell you.
How it works, illustrated
Clear + Brilliant
Clear + Brilliant
Vitamin C, azelaic acid, or niacinamide
Useful for brightness and mild pigment, and safe to continue between sessions.
Conditions treated
Clear + Brilliant
Wrinkles and Fine Lines
A gentle fractional laser, sometimes called a baby Fraxel, with a day or two of redness. It gives a real but small improvement in fine lines and glow and needs a series to show anything. It is a maintenance treatment rather than a way to change established wrinkles.
What you can expect to see
Moxi Laser
Sun spots lifted, brighter skin
It is aimed at surface pigment, dullness and early sun damage.
Clear + Brilliant
The same, more gradually
Your provider picks the handpiece to match what you are treating.
What it will not do
Moxi Laser
Not for deep texture or scarring
It works near the surface. Deeper texture needs a stronger laser.
Clear + Brilliant
Not for deep texture or scarring
It is the gentler of the two, so this is even more true of it.
Related topic illustrations
Clear + Brilliant
Fraxel, a stronger version
Strong evidence. Fraxel and other stronger nonablative fractional lasers are the same idea at much higher energy. They do considerably more per session for scars, texture, and lines, at the cost of about a week of downtime, more money per session, and more pigment risk.
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Microneedling
Moderate evidence. Reaches deeper than this treatment for texture and indented scars, with no light or heat, so pigment risk is low. Generally cheaper, and less pleasant during the procedure.
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Intensity
Moxi Laser
Adjustable, usually the stronger one
At higher settings it asks for a few more days of visible texture.
Clear + Brilliant
Deliberately gentle
Often described as a "lunchtime" treatment.
How many sessions
Moxi Laser
Usually three to four
Clear + Brilliant
Usually four to six, then upkeep
The downside
Moxi Laser
Red day one, then sandpapery days
Bronzed, rough skin for a few days. You can cover it.
Clear + Brilliant
Red and sandpapery, settling faster
It is the gentler treatment, so there is less to hide.
Cost
Moxi Laser
Fewer sessions, so a shorter course
Clear + Brilliant
More sessions, so a longer course
The at-home or drugstore version
Moxi Laser
No home version
Moxi works by making tiny columns of controlled damage under an intact surface. Home brightening gadgets treat the surface only. They never reach that depth.
Clear + Brilliant
No home version either
Being gentle is the whole point of Clear + Brilliant, so a "gentle" home device can sound like the same thing. It is not. A home device cannot make the columns, and the columns do the work.
Who tends to be happy with it
Moxi Laser
- Best for — Visible sun spots you want lifted, with a few days of texture you can hide.
- The mindset — Fewer, slightly stronger sessions.
Clear + Brilliant
- Best for — Overall dullness and upkeep, with little disruption.
- The mindset — Regular, very gentle upkeep.
The fine print
Moxi Laser
Moxi is made by Sciton and runs at 1927 nm. Clear + Brilliant is made by Solta and offers two handpieces, at 1440 nm and 1927 nm.
Clear + Brilliant
The two devices are cleared under different wording. Moxi's covers soft tissue coagulation, actinic keratosis and benign pigmented lesions. Clear + Brilliant's covers coagulation of soft tissue and general skin resurfacing.
Neither is cleared for melasma. Both are used for it off-label, and the evidence for lasting benefit is weak.
Common questions
Questions Patients Ask
Is Moxi stronger than Clear + Brilliant?
Generally yes. Moxi is typically run at higher settings and asks for a few more days of visible texture. Clear + Brilliant is deliberately gentle.
Which needs fewer sessions?
Moxi, usually. Sciton quotes three to four sessions, against a typical Clear + Brilliant course of four to six. Compare the cost of the whole course rather than one visit.
Are they the same laser?
No, but they are the same category: non-ablative fractional. Both offer a 1927 nm wavelength for surface pigment; Clear + Brilliant also has a 1440 nm handpiece.
Which is better for melasma?
Neither is cleared for melasma, and the published evidence shows benefit fading by around three months. Melasma is usually better served by topical treatment and oral options than by a laser alone.
Which has less downtime?
Clear + Brilliant, slightly. Both leave you red for a day and sandpapery for a few.
Can I wear makeup after?
Most providers allow it after about 24 hours, but advice varies between clinics. Follow the instructions you were given.
Which should I book?
For surface colour and dullness, either. The provider's experience matters more than which device is in the room.