Skincare Devices That WORK and Ones I Don’t Suggest
I often get asked my opinion on the best skincare devices to invest in. I especially get asked about LED devices, like which ones are the best. I love that you all are being mindful and conscious about what you purchase; asking the professionals and doing your research before investing in an item will ensure that you’re making the best choice for your skincare routine.
This is my list of devices I would recommend to my clients and ones I would tell you not to purchase.
Skincare Devices That Work
These are devices that are backed by research, studies, and real results. I’ve been in the skincare industry since early 2010, and throughout this time, I have had the chance to use many devices and see how they improve (or, in some cases, don’t improve) our skin. This is my list of skincare devices that I know truly work and deliver visible results. If any of my virtual or in-person clients
scrub me secret: Which of the devices below do I use? LED therapy for my face, nano needle pen, and the high-frequency wand. I think the red and infrared LED, along with the nano needle pen, are more helpful for preventing lines and wrinkles and preserving my skin’s firmness.
LED For Face
LED, in its correct form for skincare, is super effective for improving skin clarity, texture, and overall appearance. The device description or packaging should list the wavelength of light emitted by the LED bulbs; look for 600-700 nanometers for red LED, 400-500 nanometers for blue, and 750+ nanometers for infrared. This blog post, that I wrote previously, tells you more of what to look for in a good LED device. But let me list my top 3 ⤵️
🔸 TheraBody LED Mask - Great quality and specs. This device has blue, red, and infrared.
🔸 LED Technologies Inc Panel - A high-quality LED panel with blue, red, infrared, and amber (for psoriasis). Hold this up to your face or sit by it. You can also use it on areas of your body.
🔸 LightStim Handheld Device - A more affordable option for those who want to have a really effective LED device. This covers about 1/3 of your face at a time.
LED For Neck & Chest
Is preventing or reducing lines and wrinkles on your neck and chest a goal of yours? These 2 neck and chest LED devices give full coverage red and infrared LED therapy for your neck and chest area.
scrub me secret: this LED article shows that it truly works for treating skin 🧡
Skin Gym High Frequency Wand
A high-frequency wand is a device I’ve been using in my treatment room forever (well, since 2010 to be exact). This is such a useful tool for making pimples and cystic breakouts go away faster. It’s also great for healing places where you may have picked at or popped a pimple. I also like to use the argan high-frequency to treat areas where I get clusters, little bumps, or breakouts.
To use this device, you’ll insert a glass attachment, turn on the device, place a finger on the glass attachment, touch the wand to your skin, and then release your finger that was touching the glass. This is how you correctly deliver the lightwaves to your skin.
scrub me secret: the science behind high frequency for treating the skin? read this article to find out.
FOREO Microcurrent
A microcurrent device is a device that produces something called microamps; at certain levels, these microamps tone and improve skin tissues. This creates a firming and lifting effect. I find that the immediate visible lifting effects are temporary, but if you use this consistently (a few times a week), then it creates firmer and more lifted skin over time.
This FOREO Bear 2 is my favorite because it uses 680 microamps (effective!) also has a vibrational current setting that helps create more rejuvination and infuse serums deeper.
scrub me secret: All microcurrent devices come with a serum or gel that you use with the device. all you need is a water based product to conduct the current and make the device work. I always use plain, unscented aloe vera instead of any of the serums or gels that come with the device.
Nano-Needle Pen
DON’T get an at-home microneedle device or needle roller, get this nano-needle pen. A nano-needle device is a small tip with tiny monocrystalline silicon spikes. The pen oscillates, and the little spikes press into the surface layers of the skin, never penetrating tissue or making a wound. This creates microcirculation and stimulation that plumps and reduces fine lines. The nano-needle pen also delivers serums deeper into the skin.
You can apply whatever serums you want before using this device. Hydrating serum, peptide, and brightening serums are my favorites to use with this device. I suggest using this on yourself 2x a month.
Skincare Devices I Wouldn’t Buy
Microneedle Pen or Roller
Any device that has needles that penetrate your skin at all, even at a shallow depth have risk of causing damage or spreading bacteria. The nano needle device that I listed above is a much better option for at-home use. Save the micro-needling, or any needles, for the professionals.
scrub me secret: It’s much more difficult to create a STERILE environment for at-home microneedling than you would think. You need your skin to be clean, you hands to be clean, surfaces you touch to be free of bacteria and debris, and then for your device to stay STERILE after opening it and before placing it on your skin. For the rollers and other devices that are REUSABLE, those are even harder to keep clean enough to not spread bacteria. I feel like it isn’t worth the risk. professionals have certain practices and sterile environments.
Face Steaming Device
Once upon a time, at home facial steamers were the trendiest devices around. Then, we figured out that too much heat is aggravating for many skin types and causes inflamed capillaries, and isn’t as necessary for decongesting skin as once thought. Steaming every once in a while is fine, but it’s not necessary to keep your pores clean. And having an at-home steam device may cause you to steam your face too often or for too long. This is one to skip.
scrub me secret: this potentially damaging skincare item isn’t necessarily a device, it’s a tool so I didn’t put it on the main list. Extraction tools are something that I don’t recommend anyone purchase. These metal tools can cause gaping pores, rupture capillaries, harm skin tissues, and cause other damage if used incorrectly. skip this purchase.
LED/Lifting Devices
Devices with a strip of LED lights that you glide across your face aren’t really providing your skin with LED therapy benefits. LED therapy works by shining the lights onto the skin for a certain period of time so the skin cells can absorb the rays; gliding a strip of light around doesn’t let your skin get the benefits. Some of these devices have a vibrational component for the facial massage to give you a temporary lift and some stimulation. You can easily do this with your hands or a gua sha stone. Some LED/lift devices have a microcurrent element; I find that since these are usually cheaply made devices, the microcurrent doesn’t work as well as the microcurrents I listed above. Don’t fall for the videos! Skip these devices.
Another option? Don’t get any devices and come see me for an everything facial every 3 weeks instead! We can do LightStim LED therapy, microcurrent, nanoneedling, skincare, and amazing facial massage! All you need to do is lie in the spa bed and relax 😌
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