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Technology and skincare meet in the form of at-home skin care instruments. These lavish beauty products that elevate the usual routine into a luxurious ritual. We’ve seen American influencers peddling gua sha stones and jade rollers left and right, but many skeptics chalk it up to woo-woo beauty guru talk meant to sell glorified rocks at a profit.
While we’re right to remain doubtful of many luxury items these people throw at us, we believe the truth of the matter lies somewhere in the middle. As it stands, there are numerous skincare apparatuses meant for at-home use that have solid research to their name.
If you’re willing to explore the wide world of skincare tools and find out exactly what they’re used for, read on!
Do face tools work?
The general hesitation to try skin care tools is not unfounded. We get it: dropping a lot of money on an item that is not 100% guaranteed to work is a risk many aren’t willing to take, and with good reason. Plus, it’s more than possible to end up with an amazing complexion with one’susual skin care routinesans tools.
However, what these products offer is a unique and efficient way to address skin care woes. A gua sha tool, for example, increases blood flow and drains the lymphatic system — the main culprit of facial bloating. Others, like blue light and red light devices, provide at-home light therapy, which is incredibly cost-effective for those who require consistent and long-term acne treatment. No need for clinic trips that will break the bank.
How do you use skincare tools?
Each skin care tool has its own style. Some serve as facial massage apparatuses while others are best paired with a facial oil to increase product penetration. Much like our usual skin care products, these tools vary in function, but each one plays a unique role in our overall ritual.
If you’re a beginner to using skin care devices, here are seven tools you need to have in your beauty arsenal. Let’s take a look!
The Best Skin Care Tools for Your Collection
Skin care is tough enough as it is. Finding the right products to use, which ingredients jive with our skin and which don’t — all of these can take up a significant amount of our time and money. But just as we might be starting to hit the sweet spot, a new beauty trend comes along. That’s how many people feel with tools. They’re intimidating, and we don’t want to go through another trial-and-error stage when we’ve just hit our stride.
However, there are advantages to using skincare equipment that we might normally overlook. For one, they’re much more straightforward than products that actually go into our face. We can actually see and control much of the process compared to, say, toners or creams that work purely within our skin.
To make things simple, we’ve compiled five types of skincare tools to add to your list, according to the role they play in your routine:
For Cleaning: Cleansing Brush
There’s no better gateway tool than an automatic cleansing brush. They’re straightforward, easy to use, and have a host ofbenefits for all skin types. To use one, simply apply the usual amount of cleanser on the brush, switch it on, and massage it onto your face and neck without using too much pressure. Manual cleaning brushes are also available for those who prefer them.
Why We Love Them
Cleansing brushes are great if you want deep-cleaning action while giving your hands and fingers a break from all the hard work (really, they’re unsung heroes). They not only feel lush and gentle on the skin, but they also promote blood flow, reduce puffiness, and prevent wrinkles and fine lines.
For Lifting: Facial Beauty Roller
Whether or not you buy into the facial lifting tool hype, proponents of it will absolutely swear by its ability to massage facial muscles and reach trigger points to make the skin feel relaxed.
The most popular iteration of this tool is the Nurse Jamie Uplift Massaging Beauty Roller, a hexagonal handheld device made up of 24 tourmaline quartz stones that lift and massage the skin as you go along. Also, the Nurse Jamie Massage Beauty Roller is one of the least intimidating skin care tools to try if you’re just starting out.
Another one you’ve probably seen is the rose quartz roller. It works the same way as a jade roller/beauty massager. To use it, start massaging your face from the bottom up, working your way through the jaw line to the cheeks up to the forehead. It increases blood flow and drains the lymphatic system to de-puff tired skin. The Angela Caglia Skincare Rose Quartz Facial Roller is a great example.
Why We Love Them
The use of facial rollers, especially ones with crystals, is often linked toholistic beauty— the idea that we must nurture every system in our body, inside and out, to obtain wellness. The rose quartz is believed to have healing capabilities that not only de-stress our skin, but also our mind and spirit, making it an excellent addition to self-care nights when we just want to treat ourselves. Tourmaline quartz, like the ones in the Nurse Jamie roller, is said to help promote happiness and confidence.
For Collagen Production: At-Home Microcurrent Device
If you really want to upgrade your skin routine, try the NuFace Trinity Facial Toning Device that works to lift, sculpt, and tone the cheekbones, brows, and jawline the whole day. Allure Editor-in-Chief Michelle Lee swears by this product as it provides a sleek contour to the facial muscles in an easy, quick manner. How? Two words: microcurrent technology.
Don’t worry, zapping your face with electricity is not as horrifying as it sounds. In fact, users seem to find the gentle vibrations pretty soothing. Apparently, low-voltage currents have been shown to successfully remove wrinkles as well as increase collagen production in the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and sagging. It’s a huge leap from a massaging beauty roller in terms of technology, but you also get a workout for your face squeezed into 5 nifty minutes.
Why We Love It
While some of the best skin care tools are the simplest, having a sophisticated machine that does all the work for you isn’t so bad. Plus, for acne-prone and aging skin, it helps to have a device like this around to save you the constant (and costly) trips to thedermatologist’s office. Like other lifting tools in our list, the NuFace Trinity facial toning device is said to promote lymphatic drainage so your skin feels tight and visibly contoured for up to 24 hours.
For Anti-Aging & Fine Lines: LED Light Therapy
Light therapy devices are some of the more complicated tools you’ll encounter. Each device serves a different function. Some can remove facial hair and dead skin cells while others work harder to stimulate collagen production, remove acne scars, or repair damaged skin.
A well-known brand is Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, which specializes in cutting-edge technology to advance the world of skincare. One of their most popular products is the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare SpectraLite Pro, which emits blue and red light to repair damaged skin in just a few minutes. Each LED device is designed to fight acne-causing bacteria while reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Why We Love It
There’s a reason why the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare tool is one of the products featured in a ton of beauty magazines. These light therapy-based devices, in general, are quite popular for those who have little time for a skincare routine that takes up half an hour. In that way, these devices feel both indulgent and time-efficient.
For Acne Scars: Microneedling Devices
Acne scars are some of the trickiest marks to get rid of. If you struggle with getting rid of scars, a facial regeneration tool might be what your skin needs. Microneedling is the process of gently pricking the top layer of our skin in order to stimulate collagen and promote faster cellular turnover. We’ve written a more in-depth guide here.
The Glopro Microneedling Facial Regeneration Tool is one that plenty of skincare aficionados can’t seem to get enough of. Basically, it’s a derma roller but with microneedling properties. By making tiny pricks on the skin, the device is able to stimulate the natural repair process, thus reducing the appearance of stubborn acne scars. All one has to do is angle the device and use short, feathery strokes. Sunscreen is highly recommended after use.
Why We Love Them
Who doesn’t want a clear, even complexion? While those with sensitive skin might shudder, people who suffer from fine lines, wrinkles, and semi-permanent blemishes are sure to welcome a tool that lets them take care of their skin without having to spend too much on constant derma appointments. It’s also perfect for dull skin. However, do note that microneedling isn’t recommended for hair removal or peach fuzz.
For Sensitive Skin Lazy Days: Smart Mask
Yes, there is a way to make face masks more luxurious. The Foreo UFO LED Thermal Device is a so-called “smart mask” that condenses your typical 20-minute sheet mask session into a 90-second professional-level treatment.
The device is similar to the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare SpectraLite in that it also includesblue light therapy, among other treatments like T-Sonic pulsations, cryotherapy, and heating, aptly named FOREO’s Hyper-Infusion Technology.
Simply pop in a mask, select your preferred settings in the UFO smartphone app, the UFO glides across the face in order to soothe skin, reduce inflammation, repair damage, and combat acne-causing bacteria. It’s also quite relaxing, not to mention super hygienic.
Why We Love It
Pricing aside, the idea of a “smart mask” may seem unnecessary. After all, part of what makes regular sheet masks so special is that you’re forced to dedicate a few minutes of the day to relaxing, so it seems counterintuitive to reduce what little “me time” we have into a mere 1.5 minutes.
However, the main selling point here is that the smart mask does a lot more than a regular mask, and does it pretty quickly. The patented light technology works by healing skin, removing hyperpigmentation, killing bacteria, reducing inflammation, and promoting blood circulation. It’s basically 5 devices in 1.
For Exfoliating: Pore Extractors
Here’s another one for those who want to make the process of exfoliation a little more exciting. Products like the Dermapore Ultrasonic Pore Extractor and Serum Infuser work to remove deep-seated dirt and pores within our skin. The serum infuser works by allowing serums to penetrate deeper into the skin’s layers, resulting in effortlessly brighter skin.
Why We Love Them
It’s not everyday you find the perfect equipment for both dry skin and acne-prone skin. That’s why we think this is one of the products featured in many beauty magazines. It’s a great investment if you’re thinking of upgrading your catalog or f you’re also into serums of any kind, likehyaluronic acid serums.
Final Note
We hope this guide has shed some light on the latest technology and tools in the world of skincare. Have you tried them? Share your experience in the comments below!
