The Best Skincare Tech (That's Worth Investing In)
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PRODUCTS TO CHOOSE FROM THE SHELVES OF OUR FAVOURITE BEAUTY STORES, SO WHEN THE CHOICE IS OVERWHELMING, WHICH ONES MAKE THE CUT? EACH WEEK I SEEK OUT THE BEST BEAUTY BUYS FOR EVERY CATEGORY OF THE BEAUTY WORLD - BECAUSE IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE ME, YOU NEED A SHORTLIST FIRST. EXPECT EVERY SUNDAY TO BRING AN EDIT OF THE BEST PRODUCTS MONEY CAN BUY, SO YOU GUYS CAN MAKE AN INFORMED PURCHASE WITHOUT THE HOURS OF INTERNET STALKING.
If you happen to be one of those people who advocates for a streamlined and minimalist approach to beauty, look away. I am not here to tell you that splashing your face with cold water is going to change your skin and that the only accessory your skincare routine needs is a muslin cloth. No, I am a huge advocate for skincare tech and tools - after all, if we trust the science behind the ingredients in our skincare products, there has to be something said for the advances in technology that have benefitted the beauty industry too, right? I totally get the hesitancy (after all, given their premise, most beauty tech doesn’t come cheap), but I live by the adage that if I don't like a product, I just don't write about it, so when I say these products are the best of the best, you can take my word for it. From cleansing brushes and facial steamers, to face massagers, microdermabrasion tools, facial toning devices, and LED light devices - you name it, I’ve tried it. These are the ones that made the cut.
NuFACE Mini Facial Toning Device
After years of watching people on Instagram practically change the shapes of their faces with these devices (which boldly promise to tone, contour, and reduce lines and wrinkles), I decided to make the purchase. The device uses microcurrents to stimulate ATP production, which in turn triggers elastin and collagen synthesis (which keeps skin firm and tight). The currents also energise the facial muscles which has a kind of “workout” effect that tones and sculpts them. Though I was initially sceptical - even more so because the device doesn’t vibrate or pulse, so almost feels like it’s doing nothing - I actually did notice a difference in the contours of my face after just a few weeks of using it. I will emphasise the fact that this is no one-night wonder - you do have to use it frequently and properly to see results. I mostly notice it in the hollows of my cheeks looking more “dipped” and the skin of my cheeks being firmer and more taut - which might not seem enough of a reason to part with £170, but the device has preventative benefits as well, and as we all know, prevention is better than cure…
Foreo Luna Mini 2 Face Brush
I’ve lost count of how many clients I’ve recommended these devices to. Of all the bad beauty habits in the world, not cleaning our faces for long enough is something we are probably all (innocently) guilty of, and let me tell you, every second matters - it’s just like brushing your teeth. Using this cleansing brush forces me to not only do the time but it also makes me more aware of where and how I’m using it, so I cover every inch of my face, getting into all the nooks and crannies, and ultimately ending with a cleaner, smoother face than just my hands or a flannel could provide. Over time, I’ve noticed my pores look less obvious, my skin has no textural issues, and breakouts have decreased - even the ones that lurked on my jawline and that I‘d always considered hormonal seem to have been scared off by Luna 2. There are several versions of this cleansing brush and I specifically recommend this (mid-priced) one because the cheaper ones are single-use (which is a) a waste of money and b) terrible for the environment) and the expensive ones are priced up because they link with an app, which is not what we’re here for at the end of the day, is it.
Skin Gym Face Sculptor
I guess this one doesn’t really count as tech because it doesn’t involve electric, but I wanted to include it as a more budget friendly alternative to the NuFACE. I’m not anti-face roller, but I am anti-over-hyping-of-face-rollers, and I do believe that not all face rollers are created equally... But like I said earlier, I don’t like to dwell on the negative. This is the best I’ve used. It is by no means going to have quite the same results as the NuFACE - and certainly not as fast - but as you can see, its shape is very similar, and it’s designed to be used on the same areas - cheekbones, jawbone etc to sculpt and define. It’s also very heavy - this is so it applies pressure to the muscles without you having to exert it. There are lots of tutorials for these sorts of devices on the internet, but a good starting point would be to fit the device to where it feels snug and slowly push outwards and upwards. Spend at least 10 minutes a day using it, and incorporate a facial oil or sheet mask if you want to multitask.
Foreo UFO 2 Device
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing a professional facial, you’ll know how amazingly smooth and fresh and glowy your skin feels post-treatment. Said treatment typically encompassing at least an hour of various products, devices, and massage techniques being deployed upon your skin. This device basically gives the same effect (and near enough same results) from the comfort of your own bathroom/sofa/bed, and in as little as 90 seconds. Once you get the hang of how it works - you attach a small sheet mask-like pad to the device, sync it with an app, and power it up - it’s surprisingly relaxing. Aside from the skincare benefit of the mask itself (these are designed to target different concerns), a combination of thermo-technology, cryotherapy, pulsations, and LED light therapy helps to improve the product absorption and ingredient efficacy, increase blood circulation and collagen synthesis, treat pigmentation, and kill bacteria. This has become a surprise favourite in my skincare routine.
Foreo Espada Blue Light Acne Treatment
This device is essentially an at-home version of the lights they often use at the end of facials to reduce inflammation and kill off bacteria, so is one for the breakout-sufferers out there. Again, it feels like it’s doing nothing and because there’s no immediate gratification it can be easy to fall out of the habit of using it. But remind yourself that you parted with hard-earned cash for this and it will fast become as staple a tool in your daily routine as your toothbrush. It’s easy to use, non-invasive, pain-free, and doesn’t require any products be used alongside it. You simply hold it over blemishes and let the blue light do its work (stimulate blood flow and kill bacteria). I find it works on both small pimples and larger blemishes - followed up with a spot sticker it takes down swelling and redness overnight.
NuFACE Fix Line Smoothing Device
Essentially a really mini version of the above NuFACE Mini, this device is specifically designed to target small areas of the face where fine lines and wrinkles appear e.g. around the eyes and mouth. Because I’m 28, I can’t personally speak to its wrinkle-smoothing powers (although I have seen incredible before-and-after results for it), but I have discovered that it makes an amazing lip plumper, and the results are instant.
PMD Personal Microdermabrasion
I am sceptical of anything that says it can get rid of blackheads - even after hours under extraction lamps I still find them in my magnifying mirror - so I was pleasantly surprised by how good this is. This device both exfoliates and “vacuums” the skin, basically buffing off and sucking up the dead skin cells that clog pores and - yup, you guessed it - result in blackheads and breakouts. It won’t help with existing blemishes (in fact, you should avoid putting it anywhere near them), but using it once a week has definitely cut down on the amount of what I call “BAU blemishes” - the ordinary, everyday ones that appear randomly with seemingly no cause, just a desire to ruin any opportunity to take a cute makeup-free selfie. It also does a great job of smoothing skin and taking out any textural irregularities, which makes makeup application the day after use feel like a breeze. I will add that this device is not for the sensitive-skinned however, especially as you progress to the higher “levels” of exfoliation. Even normal skin should expect some redness and sensitivity - although I find that a good sheet mask or the below ice roller applied immediately after use does just the trick.
Kitsch Ice Roller
Okay, this one isn’t really “tech” either, but humour me - it’s probably my favourite discovery of 2020 so I will talk about it to anyone who listens, and as you’ve made it this far, you may as well hang on in till the end, right? So, you already stash your jade roller in the fridge and are confused about how this could be any different? Well firstly, this goes in the freezer, so when I say it comes out freezing, I mean it comes out freezing. I hate being cold at the best of times, but equally, I find nothing more satisfying than my morning ritual of rolling this over my puffy morning face and tired morning eyes at 7am every day. It wakes me up and makes my skin feel good, in a smooth, refreshed kinda way. Secondly, it stays cold for a long time - a lot longer than a jade roller (which quickly warms up thanks to your body heat). It retains its ice cold temperature for at least five minutes after you’ve started using it, and really who’s going to be using ice rolling for much longer than that? Another way I use it is to take down the inflammation of blemishes. You know those particularly nasty giant red under the skin ones that have just a faint pink tinge, but feel hard and swollen? Press this gently over the spot for a few minutes and you may just nip it in the bud before it comes to a head.
Current Body Skin LED Light Therapy Mask
You’ve probably seen this mask (or ones similar) on Instagram. Of the three I’ve tried, this is my preferred, both for comfort/ease of wear and for performance. This mask employs both red and infra-red light to stimulate skin, promoting wound-healing, calming redness, and stimulating collagen production and blood flow, so skin looks brighter and healthier in both the long and the short-term. The results are impressive. In my opinion, it’s worth every penny.
