BBL vs moxi - What is right for me?
By now, most people who are interested in the aesthetics world will have heard of BBL and MOXI. To help you decide what is right for you, we have put it all down so you don’t have to do the hard work. In simple terms….
“BBL is best for pigmentation, redness and vascular concerns, while Moxi is better for texture, pores, early ageing and overall glow. Many clients benefit from combining both, depending on skin type, goals and downtime.”
As the founder of Skin Poet Browns Bay, I am constantly being asked “What is BBL MOXI?” So we have made that easier for you to have a skim through and read what we have to say. Skin Poet is one of the founding clinics in Auckland to get this amazing Sciton device, so we have mountains of experience to give you a safe and effective treatment every time. Here is the latest blog telling you all you need to know about BBL and MOXI and why you should come and see us for it.
Love Amber x
What is BBL?
No, it is not a Brazillian Butt Lift, it is Broadband Light. Similar to IPL devices, Sciton BBL has revolutionised the light devices game. It is safer than older light-based technologies and can be used on some darker skin types with careful assessment.
Why is it better than IPL?
BBL has been modernised by changing the static treatment to one in motion. Rather than having the energy up high and treating in singular pulses of light, BBL can be used in motion at a lower joule (energy used for light devices). Slowly building up the accumulated energy rather than blasting it through a single pulse. Why does this matter? You can therefore get the desired effect without the negative side effects. It minimises the chances of burns and blistering, making it safer to use on skin of colour or lighter skin types that act like darker ones. It also has a sapphire as the crystal that the light is delivered through that has an adjustable cooling device. Again, making it the safest device on the market.
What does BBL address?
BBLs target chromaphores are melanin and heamaglobin. In layman’s terms, the browns and reds in the skin. This includes pigmentation, sun spots, freckles and sun damage (browns) and the reds include rosacea, diffuse redness, flushing, cherry angiomas and broken capillaries. Using different wavelengths and filters, we are able to target these things. There is also an important Stanford University study showing that BBL treatments can do more than improve the appearance of the skin. Researchers discovered that after a series of BBL treatments, older skin showed gene activity that was more similar to younger skin. These changes are linked to healthier skin functions, such as collagen production, repair, and reducing signs of sun damage. This research helps explain why BBL can improve skin tone, pigmentation, redness, fine lines, and overall skin quality over time. Read the study here > https://sciton.com/stanford-university-study-finds-evidence-that-broadband-light-treatment-promotes-youthful-skin-on-a-molecular-level/
https://www.skinpoet.co.nz/bbl-laser-auckland-north-shore
What is MOXI?
MOXI is a gentle, non-ablative fractional laser that rejuvenates the skin by stimulating collagen production and accelerating natural skin cell renewal. It is commonly used to prevent and treat early signs of ageing, sun damage, pigmentation, uneven skin tone, and rough texture, with minimal downtime and suitability for most skin types.
How do I know which one to choose?
While both BBL and MOXI improve skin health and create a brighter, more youthful complexion, they target different concerns. BBL uses pulses of light energy to treat pigmentation, redness, sun damage, and visible signs of aging, whereas MOXI is a gentle fractional laser that stimulates collagen production, improves skin texture and tone, and helps prevent and treat early signs of aging. Together, BBL and MOXI provide a comprehensive skin rejuvenation treatment by addressing both surface imperfections and deeper skin renewal.
What will MOXI do for me?
MOXI helps refresh your skin by stimulating collagen production and encouraging healthy skin cell renewal, leaving your complexion smoother, brighter, and more even. It can improve sun damage, pigmentation, fine lines, and skin texture while helping to maintain healthy, youthful-looking skin with minimal downtime.
What is the downtime for MOXI?
Depending on the level and depth your provider uses, and your general skin health - will determine your downtime. We suggest you are looking after your skin health before a treatment and suggest you are using at least 1 of our preferred skin products. iS Clinical Pro Heal is an excellent serum to prepare https://www.skinpoet.co.nz/store-is-clinical-north-shore-auckland/p/is-clinical-pro-heal-serum-advance . So if your skin is healthy, you will heal quicker. Our basic guide is 5-10 days.
What does the downtime look like for MOXI?
Because MOXI is a fractionated laser, it makes tiny thermal injuries to the surface of the skin (much like the mechanism of microneedling, but instead of needle injuries, it uses heat.) Those little injuries appear as tiny brown dots on the surface of the skin and feels like sandpaper. The texture slowly moves to the surface of the skin and reveals fresh and bright skin. You need to stay out of the direct sun for at least 2 weeks. You can also introduce your skincare back in slowly at 1 week post MOXI. https://www.skinpoet.co.nz/moxi-laser-treatment-north-shore-auckland
Treatment course? Do I just need 1 or do I need a series of treatments?
Ideally, we encourage our clients to book course a of 3 treatments. Although most people will get great results with a single one, 3 is the magic number to get on top of most of the skin concerns that the lasers target. We suggest you space them out over a few months with 6 week intervals, but others choose to do them over the course of the year.
What do I need to do to maintain the results?
After your initial course, we suggest a plan to maintain the results you have achieved. Over time, you will have more sun damage popping up, new broken capillaries, rosacea flares etc. To maintain results our clients either book another series of treatments or do 1-2 maintenance treatments per year. This keeps in line with the aforementioned Stanford study.
Who should avoid it?
Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should avoid these treatments. Even when you are breastfeeding, your hormones are not regulated, so results may not be great, and MOXI requires numbing cream, which is contraindicated for these conditions. MOXI is not recommended for patients with an impaired barrier (including perioral dermatitis, flared rosacea, barrier impaired from over-treating or strong active products). BBL is not recommended for patients with melasma. Melasma, aka the mask of pregnancy, is a permanent skin condition. We will go into the condition in another blog post. Also, skin of colour (high Fitzpatrick score) must be treated with great caution.
Do I need a consultation?
There are so many reasons we recommend a consultation first. SO YES! Our consultations are $50, but that is redeemable on treatment or product.
Click this link to book yourself in >
Climate on the lovely North Shore of Auckland
North Shore skin has its own set of challenges. Coastal sun exposure, humidity, wind, and year-round UV can all contribute to pigmentation, redness, dehydration, uneven texture, and early signs of ageing. For many Auckland clients, especially those who spend time outdoors or near the water, treatments like BBL and MOXI can help support clearer, brighter, healthier-looking skin by targeting sun damage, tone, texture, and long-term skin quality. Being a North Shore native, I myself have benefited from these treatments immensley.
When Skin Poet might recommend each option
At Skin Poet, we do not choose treatments based on trends. We choose them based on what your skin is showing us, what you want to improve, how much downtime you are comfortable with, and what will give you the most natural, considered result.
We may recommend BBL when the main concern is colour in the skin. This can include pigmentation, sun damage, freckles, redness, visible capillaries, uneven tone, or general dullness caused by years of UV exposure. BBL is often a beautiful option for clients who want their skin to look clearer, brighter, and more even, especially when pigmentation or redness is the first thing they notice.
We may recommend MOXI when the concern is more about texture, pores, early ageing, roughness, dullness, or overall skin quality. Moxi is a gentle fractional laser that helps refresh the surface of the skin and stimulate collagen over time. It can be a good option for clients who want a fresher, smoother look without committing to a more intensive resurfacing treatment.
We may recommend BBL and MOXI together when the skin would benefit from treating both tone and texture in the same plan. For example, a client may have pigmentation and redness from sun exposure, as well as uneven texture, enlarged pores, or a lack of glow. In those cases, combining BBL and Moxi can give a more complete result because each treatment is doing a different job.
The best option is not always the most powerful treatment. It is the treatment that suits your skin, your lifestyle, your comfort level, and your long-term skin goals. That is why every treatment plan at Skin Poet starts with a consultation, so we can assess your skin properly and recommend the most appropriate approach for you.
FAQs
Is BBL or Moxi better for pigmentation? BBL is usually the stronger option for pigmentation, sun damage, freckles, redness, and uneven skin tone because it targets colour in the skin. Moxi can also help brighten and refresh the skin, but it is generally better suited to texture, pores, dullness, and early signs of ageing.
Can you do BBL and Moxi together? Yes, BBL and Moxi can often be combined in the same treatment plan when the skin needs support with both tone and texture. BBL works on pigmentation and redness, while Moxi helps improve surface texture, pores, and overall skin quality.
What is the difference between BBL and Moxi? BBL uses broad-spectrum light to target pigmentation, redness, sun damage, and vascular concerns. Moxi is a gentle fractional laser that refreshes the skin’s surface, improves texture, supports collagen, and helps create a smoother, brighter appearance.
Is BBL good for sun damage? Yes, BBL is commonly used to treat visible signs of sun damage, including pigmentation, freckles, redness, uneven tone, and dullness. It is especially useful for clients on the North Shore who have had ongoing UV exposure over time.
Is Moxi good for skin texture? Yes, Moxi is often recommended when the main concerns are texture, enlarged pores, roughness, dullness, or early ageing. It helps refresh the skin gradually with less downtime than more intensive resurfacing treatments.
How many BBL or Moxi treatments will I need? The number of treatments depends on your skin, your goals, and how much pigmentation, redness, or texture you want to improve. Some clients see visible improvement after one session, while others need a series of treatments for best results.
Is BBL or Moxi better for melasma? Melasma needs careful assessment because it can be sensitive to heat and light-based treatments. Moxi may be suitable for some clients, while BBL may not be appropriate for everyone with melasma. A consultation is important before choosing either treatment.
Which treatment has less downtime, BBL or Moxi? Both treatments are considered lower-downtime options, but downtime can vary. BBL may cause temporary redness or darkening of pigmentation before it lifts, while Moxi can cause redness, roughness, and a sandpaper-like texture for a few days.
Can BBL and Moxi help with redness and pigmentation at the same time? Yes, a combined BBL and Moxi plan may be useful when the skin has both colour concerns and texture concerns. BBL targets redness and pigmentation, while Moxi supports smoother, fresher-looking skin.
Who is a good candidate for BBL or Moxi? A good candidate is someone wanting to improve pigmentation, redness, uneven tone, texture, pores, dullness, or early signs of ageing. The right option depends on your skin type, treatment history, lifestyle, and how much downtime you are comfortable with.