Beauty Dish

Initial Review: Avon Anew Clinical Laser System

The latest product in Avon's Clinical line-up, the Avon Anew Clinical Laser System, seems - at first look - to be more high tech than the rest. It arrives packaged in a large dermatological white box, and when I opened it I was surprised at the appearance of the product. It looked complicated, technical, almost science fiction-like. It consists of a long, thin white cylinder that looks like one would expect a laser to look - almost a Star Wars light saber sort of device, a z-shaped metallic laser stand, and squeeze tube of Post-Laser Protector lotion.

The Avon literature explains that the Laser System is proven to reduce dark spots, mild redness, and broken capillaries. It uses "laser-like precision" to care for the "signs beyond the links and wrinkles" of aging. The brochure goes on to enlighten the customer with a discussion of Avon's exclusive "Triple-Pulse Technology." After one week, the Laser System reduces the appearance of imperfections including dark spots, blotchiness and mild redness. With continued use, over 77 percent of all users show improvement in all these areas. As usual, the brochure contains photographs of perfectly-skinned women, not a blotch or a spider-vein among them. I would love to see Avon embrace true-life before and after photographs and testimonials. At this point in time, the only place you get such Real Life information is here at Beauty Dish, sigh.

I started using the Avon Anew Clinical Laser System (let's just call it the AACLS, shall we?) a little over two weeks ago. I choose three locations to give it the old college try: a big ugly spider vein on my right lower leg, the enlarged freckle on my right cheek that my young boys call "Mom's Old Lady Spot" and a small blotchy area below my left eye. As a woman who will turn 40 in a few short months, I am right in the target demographic for this product.

The AACLS box is imprinted with easy to understand instructions on the back cover. Step 1 is the Correction step. You unscrew the cap of the "Laser" tube to find a roll-on applicator top. You roll the lotion over the problem areas, then gently pat the areas until absorbed. The box warns that some individuals may feel a tingling sensation, and in my case this was true, but only for my under-eye blotchy area. I rolled all three locations morning and night for over two weeks, and then followed Step 1 with Step 2, the Protection step. You squeeze a small amount of the Post-Laser Protector into your hand and then apply to the "lasered" areas. Both products smell sweet, with hints of licorice and Ylang-ylang. The after care lotion felt wonderfully soft and smooth, and my face enjoyed the soothing sensation it provided.

Two weeks later, my leg spider vein has shown no improvement whatsoever. To be fair, the product does not promote itself as a spider vein cure, but boy, was I hopin'! I will continue applying the product to my vein and will report back in another two weeks.

The two facial areas faired much better. My Old Lady Spot has slightly diminished in color and size, and again, I will report on any further improvement in two weeks time. My blotchy area has also improved - slightly - and feels softer and more even to the touch.

Overall, the Avon Anew Clinical Laser System does work on small facial imperfections. I like the product after my initial two week trial and will continue using it. I plan on reporting in more detail after a month of daily use.

Edited to add impressions, some months later:

This product works... to a small degree. I managed to reduce the redness of one tiny face vein, but honestly, I can't see myself using this day after day for such miniscule results. Some customers have asked me to refund their money on this product. And a few rave about it. So take your chances, if you like, and try the Anew Clinical Laser System. You can always bank on Avon's 100 percent money-back guarantee.

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