I’ve spent $50,145 chasing better skin—from Halo + BBL to Ultherapy. Some treatments were magic, others left me wondering why I bothered. Has my skin improved? Probably. But how much of that is due to good genetics, diligent sunscreen use, or the stack of treatments I’ve tried? Honestly, it’s hard to say.

Here’s what I can tell you: the Halo laser with BBL made the biggest visible difference, and microneedling (both with and without RF) consistently left my skin brighter and tighter. The rest? They might have helped a little, but they’re not game-changers.

If you’re trying to decide where to spend your time (and money), start with these top contenders. Below, I’ll break down every treatment I’ve tried—what it costs, how it feels, and whether it actually delivers.