6 Best Microcurrent Devices | The Strategist
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The first time I tried microcurrent was in a brightly lit store surrounded by 50 other beauty writers. The year was , and NuFace and FaceGym, then using a newfangled technique, had teamed up to show off the brands&#; latest technology. I lay still as a woman glided the NuFace over my skin, carving and sculpting my cheekbones as if they were made of clay, while I ignored the zappy feeling when she got close to my hairline. When she was finally done and gave me a mirror to inspect her handiwork, I was indifferent. I was 22 then, so there wasn&#;t much (or anything) to lift and tone, and though I noticed a slight improvement, it was nothing that pushed me to add a microcurrent device to my routine. But I was curious. Since then, I&#;ve kept an eye on this space and watched it explode. I spent much of quarantine scrolling on TikTok, NuFace in hand, as my algorithm pushed videos about lymphatic drainage and facial massage. It felt inescapable. I found myself reaching for my device to try to follow their techniques. As I sat in my bathroom covered in the equivalent of fancy ultrasound gel, I wondered, How does this even work? Well, it&#;s essentially a workout for your face.
Microcurrent devices stimulate facial muscles and produce gentle contractions in them using low-voltage electric current. &#;This can temporarily increase those muscles&#; resting tone,&#; says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Daniel Belkin of New York Dermatology Group. It&#;s like going to the gym and doing a bunch of curls. Immediately after your workout, the biceps are defined, says dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine.
As with any workout program, you need to commit &#; typically, at least five times a week &#; to see cumulative benefits from microcurrent. The idea is that, over time, you are firming muscles. &#;The energy runs through the muscle to strengthen it, and the stronger muscle then lifts the skin due to its increased size. This is all very microscopic, so you won&#;t build bulky muscles in your face,&#; says Joie Tavernise, an NYC-based aesthetician. &#;You can expect the skin to look smoother and firmer from microcurrent devices. However, to maintain the results, the treatment needs to be performed frequently,&#; says Marina Peredo, a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. In other words, microcurrent devices tend to work best for someone with an established skin-care routine who will stick with it and is looking for an extra boost &#; not a miracle.
And while microcurrent devices are generally tolerated, certain people should avoid them altogether, such as those who are pregnant or anyone with a pacemaker or other electrical implant. If you have diabetes or a heart condition, I recommend asking your doctor before using one, and if you&#;ve recently had Botox or filler, most aestheticians recommend waiting a few weeks to let it settle.
With all the warnings out of the way, I&#;ve rounded up the best microcurrent devices below for all types of users, recommended by aestheticians who use them often.
Update on December 13, : Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
NuFACE Mini+ Starter Kit
$250
NuFace is the OG of micocurrent devices and tends to be the entry point for most people interested trying the technology. The brand has been around since and has become synonymous with microcurrent. NuFace&#;s most popular devices are the NuFace Trinity+ and the NuFace Mini. The main difference between the two is the Trinity+ has interchangeable attachments so you can tone the entire face or target specific areas, while the Mini has two fixed metal globes. Both deliver microcurrent pulses, and for most people, the Mini will work well and offer noticeable results. It&#;s also half the price, making it an ideal option for someone who wants to get into using devices or plans to be an occasional user and doesn&#;t want to spend upwards of $300. Compared with some other microcurrent devices, the NuFace functionality is straightforward. It turns on or off, and you can increase the intensity of the pulses but that&#;s about it. &#;The Mini is great if you want something super-simple with no other bells and whistles,&#; says Raquel Medina-Cleghorn, an aesthetician and the founder of facial studio Raquel New York. I&#;ve personally used the Mini off and on for the past five years. I like to break it out before big events or days when I look puffy, swiping the device around for about ten minutes until my face looks a bit more lifted and toned. I use it the same way I would a gua sha, and the results are similar to a lymphatic-drainage massage but with less effort. Samantha Mims, an aesthetician at Brooklyn Face and Eye, likes the device and uses it occasionally, particularly before big events or while traveling. &#;The prongs on the device are pretty basic and allow you to get in there and really sculpt the face and trace the muscles,&#; she says. &#;I notice results pretty immediately after each treatment.&#; Elizabeth Hand, an aesthetician and founder of Stalle Studios, recommends it for casual users. &#;If you&#;re using it every couple of weeks, I think the NuFace is good,&#; she says. &#;It&#;s less of an investment.&#;
$250
at Amazon
Buy
$250
at Dermstore
Buy
MyoLift Mini Microcurrent Device
$220
$220
Two aestheticians I spoke to mentioned the MyoLift Mini, which most closely resembles the tools they use at work and offers results similar to an in-office treatment. Unlike most at-home devices, which use a single handheld device, this one uses two wands with smaller targeted metal tips that allow you to be more precise. &#;It hugs the contours of your face perfectly,&#; says Sarah Akram, an aesthetician and the founder of Sarah Akram Skincare, a facial studio in Alexandria, Virginia. You use the small wands similarly to the way you would use a larger handheld device, following the shape of your bone structure. At $329, it&#;s around the same price as the NuFace Trinity but offers more flexibility. It&#;s a good option if you&#;re looking to invest a bit more in microcurrent and have some experience with other devices or are willing to spend time learning about microcurrent technique. Because this device is marketed to skin-care professionals, there isn&#;t much formal instruction available (though there are a few helpful YouTube videos), so you&#;re on your own in figuring out how it works.
$220
at Amazon
Buy
$329
at 7e Wellness
Buy
ZIIP Halo
$399
$399
If you&#;ve never touched a microcurrent device before, something with a bit of instruction is ideal. Medina-Cleghorn likes the ZIIP, which comes with a preprogrammed facial and an app that has a range of easy-to-follow tutorials. The brand&#;s founder, Melanie Simon, often creates new facials for the app, and once you purchase the device, you&#;ll always have access to the facial library. There are videos for full facials that range from four to ten minutes, along with shorter videos that help you target specific areas and achieve specific goals such as a lifted brow or tighter jawline. Medina-Cleghorn also likes the combination of micro- and nanocurrent, with the latter helping to increase collagen production. &#;Unlike traditional microcurrent technology that mainly lifts, sculpts, and tightens, the ZIIP can address hyperpigmentation, acne, and puffiness, and it can be used on delicate areas, like under eyes, without extra attachments,&#; says Edyta Jarosz, a master aesthetician at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York.
$399
at CurrentBody
Buy
$399
at Goop
Buy
TheraFace Pro
$399
now 33% off
$269
At-home devices produce much weaker currents than professional models, but this one has so many different modalities and attachments you get lots of bang for your buck. &#;I find myself using it on my clients,&#; says Natalie Aguilar, an aesthetician based in Beverly Hills. &#;Because it offers so many different therapies, such as LED light, hot and cold rings, various face massagers, and, of course, a microcurrent attachment, I constantly use it. It is very easy to use, it&#;s cord free, and it leaves instant results. It really depuffs and tones. It&#;s also timed, so I know a full treatment has been achieved.&#; Medina-Cleghorn is also a fan. &#;It has all these bell and whistles,&#; she says. &#;There are three different wavelengths of LED, and you can do that simultaneously with the percussion.&#;
$269
at Amazon
Buy
$249
at Nordstrom
Buy
7e MyoLift QT Plus Facial Toning Device
$329
$329
In addition to a two-pronged handheld device, the MyoLift QT Plus comes with hands-free conductive mask attachments for the eyes, lips, and forehead. &#;Our favorite part of the QT is its accessories,&#; says Christina Uzzardi, aesthetician and founder of Cheeks + Co, who points out that compliance is a big part of the equation, so the easier the device is to use, the better. Start with a light layer of conductive gel (Uzzardi prefers aloe and a touch of glycerin), then select a program and apply the attachments. &#;Watch your favorite show, and let the device do its magic,&#; she says.
$329
at 7e Wellness
Buy
Solawave 4-in-1 Advanced Skincare Wand
$169
$169
Solawave is best known for its red-light LED wands, but its 4-in-1 Advanced Skincare Wand includes microcurrent technology. Unlike most of the recommendations on this list, this device won&#;t do global facial toning, but the small surface area is good for delicate spots like the lip line or eyelid. &#;I like it for areas that are crepey and harder to reach,&#; says Mims. She also likes the added benefit of red light, which can help with inflammation and wrinkles.
$169
at Amazon
Buy
$169
at Nordstrom
Buy
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Best Home Facial Skincare Tools
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Skin care is self-care, and is not only a great way to ensure your makeup starts with a clean canvas &#; it&#;s also a major confidence booster. But when you can&#;t always get to your favorite facial spa, or you want to recreate your own luxe beauty studio at home for touch-ups in between treatments, some of the best at-home facial tools and devices can help.
&#;This is one of the most neglected things in an at-home routine so before I dive in on my favorites a pro tip: I&#;ve started to see a crop of new multi-purpose devices hit the market. I&#;ve played with many of them and in my opinion they are &#;an inch deep, mile wide&#; in efficacy,&#; celebrity facialist Sarah Akram tells The Hollywood Reporter. &#;Stick to at-home devices that are the best in that particular modality whether it be microcurrent or LED as two examples.&#;
Healthy &#; not flawless &#; skin is always the goal, and thanks to a variety of incredible celebrity skin-care pros like Shani Darden (whose clients include Hollywood entrepreneurs Jessica Alba and Shay Mitchell) and The Things We Do founder Vanessa Lee (who works with Khloé Kardashian, Cardi B and Gabrielle Union) who share their skin-care secrets on social media, it&#;s also more attainable than ever.
Keep in mind that no two skin types are the same, and no two outcomes using these tools will ever be the same. So whether you&#;re just starting your skin-care journey or are a seasoned enthusiast looking for new tools, here&#;s a roundup of some of the best home facial tools and beauty devices that are getting rave reviews from Hollywood insiders and skin-care lovers alike.
From the best microcurrent devices for toning your face, to &#;no-tech&#; gua sha stones for relieving tension and inflammation, see some of the expert-loved home facial essentials below. Bonus: Some of these picks are on sale ahead of Black Friday, including at Sephora&#;s Savings Event (use code SAVINGS for up to 20 percent off, depending on your Beauty Insider status).
BEST MICROCURRENT TOOL OVERALL
NuFace&#;s Trinity+ facial toning tool is an award-winning skin-care device with innovative, interchangeable treatment attachments. Touting a &#;five-minute facial lift,&#; the FDA-cleared device works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, brows and lips. (Jennifer Aniston, Miranda Kerr and Kate Hudson are among the stars who have used NuFace at home.)
Mount Lai
BEST GUA SHA TOOL
If you&#;re going to honor a cultural skin-care tradition, it&#;s always best to go to the source. Mount Lai is a proud, Asian female-owned beauty brand rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. Their award-winning gua sha tool is made of jade stone, which has natural balancing and cooling properties. Use this stone to sculpt and contour facial features, reduce puffiness and fluid buildup, and relieve facial and jaw tension. (Skin expert Sarah Akram used gua sha stones on client Mindy Kaling to prep her visage for the Oscars.)
Beauty professionals are already well-acquainted with Bio-Therapeutic, the high-tech skin-care company known for providing FDA-approved, medical-grade microcurrent devices to the industry. The brand&#;s new consumer device is designed to sculpt, lift and firm the face and skin by stimulating the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cells, which the company says helps to &#;provide energy for key cellular functions&#; that help boost collagen and elastin production. What we especially love is that the two sets of prongs are adjustable, while the electrical current constantly readjusts based on your skin&#;s feedback for a truly personalized and targeted routine. (Celebrity makeup artist Melissa Hernandez recently the tool on client, The Bear actress Molly Gordon.)
Amazon
BEST LED MASK ON AMAZON
$149.99
$179.99
17% off
Aphrona&#;s LED face mask features a generous seven interchangeable color lights that offer a spectrum of benefits. Each color contains 150 narrow spectrum chips (which is apparently five times more than other masks) are is 100 percent UV-free, with the purple light mask being the least intense and the grey mask being the strongest. This mask also comes with a convenient remote to adjust the color, intensity and time to your liking.
Amazon
Best Peach Fuzz Remover
$13.99
$19.88
30% off
It&#;s no mistake that Finishing Touch&#;s facial hair remover has more than 100,000 glowing reviews on Amazon. Hypoallergenic and dermatologist recommended, this electric face razor allows anyone to painlessly remove unwanted hair by simply pressing to the face and making small circular motions, leaving skin smooth and hair-free. It&#;s made with 18-karat gold and shaped like a tube of lipstick for discreet hair removal anywhere.
$280
$400
30% off
Japan-based beauty tech company Medi Lift&#;s Essential Mask uses electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to address the muscle tone in your cheeks and tighten the jawline. Per the brand, it &#;directly targets the zygomaticus major and minor muscles, preventing sagging.&#;
BEST for same-day touch-ups
$189
$207
9% off
$102.60
$169.00
39% off
As Akram suggests, you can&#;t expect professional-level results with consumer-grade devices. However, SolaWave&#;s red light therapy wand is still a pro favorite for day-of rejuvenation. (Facialist Jamie Richmond prepped Colman Domingo&#;s skin with the tool for the Oscars.)
Currently BOGO during the brand&#;s early Black Friday sale, the award-winning tool is already a cult fave with stars (Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Sydney Sweeney and Lil Nas X have used it) and combines four powerful skin-care technologies for on-the-go treatments: microcurrent, red light therapy, facial massage and therapeutic warmth to create the ultimate at-home facial. It features smart-touch activation (simply place the wand against your face to turn it on and remove it to turn it off), and the tip rotates so that it&#;s easier to maneuver hard-to-reach spots. It&#;s also portable and rechargeable (lasting up to 12 sessions per charge) for easy travel, so you can take it with you anywhere. Sign us up.
Amazon
Best Ice Globes
$24.99
$29.99
17% off
These viral ice globes are meant to restore your skin&#;s natural radiance and elasticity by performing your own relaxing cryo facial at home. They also help relieve headaches, muscle tension, sinus pain and stress, which is something to keep in hand after a long day of work. Made with premium glass and non-toxic antifreeze liquid, these ice globes are safe to store in the freezer.
Nordstrom
BEST SCULPTING / CONTOURING TOOL
$100
$150
33% off
RéVive&#;s chic, tri-head RéVolve roller is made from cooling alloy and helps improve the look of skin for less visible puffiness and a firmer, more contoured appearance. The brand has so much celebrity love that Lupita Nyong&#;o&#;s stylist Micaela Erlanger joined RéVive as a global brand ambassador in .
Amazon
BEST ALL-IN-ONE FACIAL TOOL
$299
$399
25% off
Coined as the ultimate device for facial health, Therabody&#;s new TheraFace tool comes equipped with eight treatments in one easy set, including three interchangeable facial attachments: a microcurrent ring, an LED ring and a cleaning ring. Backed by Therabody&#;s renowned technology, the multitasking tool promises to reduce tension and relax facial muscles and features skin-toning microcurrent therapy, rejuvenating light therapy and a revolutionary new way to more deeply cleanse the face.
Best for precise contouring
&#;I&#;ve recently added the Myolift QT Plus device into my at-home routine. It&#;s an ergonomically designed wand that comes with a user-friendly, intuitive app with at-home facial tutorials,&#; Akram tells THR. &#;What sets this device apart from other products on the market is the option for hands-free attachments using an array of plug-in attachments (there are options for the forehead, lips, eyes and jowls.) This is awesome when you want to chill in bed while binge watching Suits on Netflix.&#;
Best for fine lines and scars
$2,156
$2,695
20% off
Hollywood facialist Joanna Czech regularly uses the Lyma Laser on her celebrity clients (including on Grace Gummer for the Oscars), while celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg tells THR that the facial device is her &#;go-to tool [for] rejuvenating the skin and reducing wrinkles, skin pigmentation, redness, blemishes and scarring,&#; recently told THR. According to Lyma, the beauty-focused laser the first FDA-cleared clinic-grade laser skin-care device that can reach the base laser of the skin, and it&#;s 100 percent more powerful than other red light therapy tools. Clinical trials show that the Lyma noticeably improves face and body skin texture and elasticity, and targets signs of aging, scars, blemishes, pigmentation and redness. It&#;s effective in reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, scars and blemishes with regular treatments ranging from 15 to 45 minutes per day for three months.
It boasts a two-hour battery life on a single charge and a 10-year lifespan. Lyma recommends using the device daily with its Oxygen Mist and Glide skin-care products; laser purchases include a free 30-day supply, and skin-care subscriptions are $149 per month. Model Amber Valletta is also a celebrity ambassador for the brand.
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