The at-home beauty market is booming– to no one’s surprise. Thanks to COVID19, trips to the dermatologist’s office have been inaccessible for a big chunk of last year, so Instagrammers and beauty enthusiasts have had to come up with more innovative ways to boost their complexion.
A report by Research and Markets forecasted the beauty device market to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 18.8% between 2019 and 2027, and found that new technological advancements in the product category have led consumers to increasingly turn to at-home treatments.
As the world of skincare and technology continues to collide, gadgets and gizmos have taken over the top shelf at Sephora and Dermstore, and they may be your ticket to amazing skin in 2021. But how do they work and what are the benefits? Below, we’ve listed the buzziest tech and best at-home devices to try.
1. Microcurrent Massagers
How it works
Microcurrent is a non-invasive facelift using a low-level current of electricity to stimulate the facial muscles like a “workout” for the face. As the mild electrical pulses stimulate your facial muscles, they create a more toned and lifted appearance. The process also boosts circulation, enhances penetration of skincare products, and stimulates collagen and elastin production, which keeps your skin taut and lifted. In salon devices are usually long, slender rods, whereas at-home devices tend to feature more user-friendly spheres.
What the pros say
The beauty of microcurrent is the instant results. After just five minutes, you can see a visible difference—skin is lifted, tighter, and just brighter overall. A study on NuFace’s Trinity Facial Toning Device ($499) found that 80% of participants said their skin felt smoother after using the device for 5 minutes per day, 60 days in a row.
According to facialist Abigail James, it’s “perfectly safe and effective to start having microcurrent facials in your twenties and continue throughout your adult life.” However, there are a few people who should give it a miss. “If you have epilepsy, are diabetic or pregnant, or have heart issues (such as a pacemaker fitted), microcurrent facials would not be suitable. Likewise, if you have chronic acne, microcurrent may stimulate the inflammation you have. However, a small spot here or there can be fine.”
As all at-home microcurrent tools work on a much lower charge than in-salon machinery, the results require persistence. But while it will take longer, you can now achieve results similar to an in-clinic course at home. Chris Luckham, Education Specialist at Foreo recommends a three-to-six-minute treatment every day for the first two weeks, then top-ups three times per week thereon.
Best for: Wrinkles and fine lines, defining facial contours, and evening out skin tone.
2. Microneedling & Dermarolling
How it works
Dermal rollers, or microneedling devices, create super-tiny punctures in the skin (that you don’t see or really feel) with super-thin needles, resulting in increased collagen production, which is great for those who are looking for anti-aging benefits.
Microneedling is said to help with acne scarring and hyperpigmentation, and results in smooth, glowing skin. It’s also said to help skin-care products penetrate better, making them more effective.
What the pros say
Although at-home microneedling won’t nab you quite the same results (the needles are both shorter and duller), it can still offer benefits. They can be used to enhance the penetration of products—be it hydrating, brightening, or rejuvenating actives—that are applied post-perforation.
The biggest cause of concern for most derms is the sterility of the needles. Some warn of infection, breakouts and tissue injury, while others recommend changing out microneedling heads every two weeks to prevent contamination.
That said, few skincare treatments in history have been lauded for delivering more benefits than microneedling, and there’s definitely something to be said about achieving healthier-looking skin directly from the couch.
If you’re looking for tried-and-tested results in this field, look no further than the BeautyBio GloPRO Facial Microneedling Tool ($199), which is the world’s first patented microneedling tool. It features red light technology, pulse stimulation and 540 tiny 0.3mm microneedles to safely and painlessly microneedle the face to stimulate the skin’s natural healing response, enhancing cellular turnover resulting in visibly firmer, smoother and a younger-looking complexion. 97% of users agreed that their skin looked younger after using this product.
Best for: Fine lines, enlarged pores, dullness, and uneven skin tone
3. Cyro Facial tools
How it works
There’s a reason cold therapy is used by the A-listers before they hit the red carpet. Just like what cryotherapy does for the body, cryo facial tools can aid pain relief and muscle recovery. By delivering a cold shock to the skin, they kick your lymph system into gear, reducing swelling and inflammation simultaneously. This process also helps get rid of water retention in the skin, which is why it counteracts puffiness so effectively. For best results, use your device at least once a week.
What the pros say
“Whether cryotherapy is used on the body or face, it incites vasoconstriction – a reduction of the blood vessel size,” explains Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, cosmetic surgeon and founder of 111 Skin. This constriction can incite a vast array of benefits, including pain relief, muscle recovery and firmer skin.
The Georgia Louise Cryo Facial Freeze Tools ($130) promise to depuff the skin and reduce inflammation, bringing a sort of localized cryotherapy to your face. Think of it as frozen spoons under your eyes times a million. In her Vogue “Beauty Secrets” video, Zoey Deutch says she uses the Georgia Louise tools to depuff her face after a long night’s rest, including her undereye area.
“It’s so cold,” she says in the video, while using the freeze tools. “It’s like a brain freeze from the outside in.”
Best for: Inflamed skin, swelling, puffiness, and muscle tension
4. LED & Light Therapy Masks
How it works
LED therapy uses light in the visible spectrum – including blue, yellow, amber and red – as well as light beyond the visible spectrum to penetrate different depths of skin. As the light wavelength increases, so does the depth of penetration. This light is absorbed by receptors in the skin, just like topical skincare, and each color of light stimulates a different response in the skin. LED is suitable for use on all skin types and tones.
What the pros say
According to dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross, the benefits of LED light therapy are manifold. They include treating acne, regulating natural oil production, stimulating collagen and elastin and minimizing redness and wrinkles. Certain wavelengths have even been shown to reduce dark spots and uneven skin tone.
But while most experts agree that a correctly used LED mask is a safe and efficacious tool, it’s vital to invest in one that has been FDA-approved and purchased from a reputable brand.
Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro LED therapy mask ($435) sees a combination of 100 red LED lights and 62 in blue that work together to stimulate collagen production while destroying bacteria to prevent future breakouts. It’ll also do the job of reducing any acne you already have, leaving you with a healthier complexion over time. Simply strap the device over your face after cleansing, select the light setting based on your needs, and enjoy the three-minute power treatment from the comfort of your couch.
Best for: Acne, pigmentation, and inflammation
5. High Frequency Wands
How it works
All high frequency facial machines function by using a glass high frequency electrode to treat various contours of the face and body. When applied to the surface of the skin, a mild electrical current passes through the neon, or argon gas filled glass electrode, causing it to emit a subtle glow and buzzing noise. Depending on the inert gas that they are filled with, the electrodes produce either a neon red/orange or violet/blue light. Traditionally, acne prone skin is treated with violet and aging skin is treated with red, however, recent studies show that both are effective regardless of the skincare concern.
What the pros say
“During a high-frequency treatment, low-level electricity is transferred to bulb-like tips through an easy-to-hold wand. The bulb is then placed just at the surface of the skin where the electrical magic takes place on your face,” explains LA-based esthetician and founder/CEO of StackedSkincare, Kerry Benjamin.
To prevent drying the skin out and exacerbating acne, avoid using any at-home high-frequency device for too long or on too high a setting. “Stick to no more than two to three minutes in any given area and 15-20 minutes for your whole face up to once a day,” advises Benjamin.
She does not recommend high frequency for people with a pacemaker, a history of heart disease, or during pregnancy. “If you have sensitive skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, please avoid these areas if they are inflamed.” Additionally, Benjamin cautions against using AHA or Glycolic Acid with high frequency and says to avoid any broken capillaries or spider veins.
StackedSkincare’s High-Frequency Device ($149) is a high-tech bacteria-killing facial wand for at-home blemish treatments. It’s used to oxygenate the skin, increases circulation, reduce inflammation, and heal emerging pimples. This pain-free tool is used daily, promises to clear up pustular and cystic acne.
Best for: Acne, fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, cellulite, and undereye circles.
6.Microdermabrasion kits
How it works
Microdermabrasion involves using a mildly abrasive tool to gently remove the top layer of your skin. It can exfoliate the skin, reduce signs of aging, fade dark spots and scars, and help the skin appear more even in tone and texture.
What the pros say
“Home-based microdermabrasion is a perfect tool that helps keep skin glowing by gently lifting dead, dull skin cells from the outermost skin layer,” says dermatologist Jennifer Herrmann. “By removing this layer, microdermabrasion also allows topicals to penetrate more deeply and increase their efficacy.”
She recommends should be done once to twice a week, can help topical products better penetrate the skin while providing a coveted glow. However, she also advises to not get too addicted to that post-kit sheen. “Although the glow that’s achieved after removing the outer layer of dead skin cells can be addicting, it’s important not to overdo it. Too many weekly uses can leave skin raw, red, and more susceptible to allergens. Remember to use a good moisturizer after treatments, too, to help keep skin protected.”
A good example is the PMD Personal Microderm Hand and Body Kit ($159), which uses small aluminum oxide crystal-coated disks that spin and scrub away dulling dead cells. It also has multiple disks that are perfect for many skin types and body areas.
Best for: Blackheads, enlarged pores, wrinkles, dullness