Beauty fads come and go. Some of them are silly, some are helpful, and a few are downright dangerous. Among all the lists of what’s hot and not, it’s easy to get lost in the details and lose sight of the long-term macro trends that mark a significant cultural shift.
One of those big changes is that the general public is becoming more aware of the importance of taking a holistic approach to skin care. That means people are recognizing that good, clear skin is a reflection of overall wellness.
As beauty begins to take more cues from the world of science and medicine, a new generation of entrepreneurs is harnessing the power of technology and promising results at home: think devices, gadgets, and gizmos designed to upgrade your routine from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
It’s clear that consumers are taking interest: The skin-care device market is expected to nearly quadruple by 2030, from $9.5 million in 2019 to $28.2 million, per a report published in September 2020 by the market research firm P&S Intelligence. Among the more popular devices are those that allow you to tailor your routine to your individual skin type and concerns.
Dermatologists say personalized skin care is a good thing. “You want to use the right products for your skin types — not just oily vs. dry but also light-skinned versus dark skinned,” explains Nazanin Saedi, MD, the department cochair of the Laser and Aesthetics Surgery Center at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting in Pennsylvania.
But as Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, notes, while many trendy new devices will deliver some benefits, they may not be as effective or safe as their medical-grade counterparts.
That doesn’t mean they aren’t beneficial, though. “While not as effective as professional treatments, these devices can be used in place of them for those who cannot make it to the office,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “They’re also a great option to use between professional treatments as maintenance care for your skin.”
Here’s a closer look at some of the coolest home skin-care devices that dermatologists say could be worth checking out, either based on their scientific backing or low risk for harm.
1. Dermaflash Luxe+ Dermaplaning Device
Dermaplaning involves using a tiny electric razor, called a dermatome, to gently remove surface layers of skin, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. For in-office dermaplaning treatments, dermatologists may target certain areas of the skin or they may use this razor on the entire face.
Dermaplaning requires continuous maintenance, Dr. Nazarian says, but with the Dermaflash Luxe+ device, you can give yourself the treatment with more convenience.
The Dermaflash Luxe+ is about the size of an electric toothbrush, but it has a cool twisted shape. Before using it, wash your skin with the brand’s Preflash cleanser, and then gently rub the device over your face in a feathering motion. Next, massage your face with the Postflash cream. After one quick session, stray hairs and peach fuzz are purportedly gone.
The potential benefits don’t end with hair removal, Nazarian says. “Using a blade to scrape the top layer of skin is a form of physical exfoliation that can leave skin looking younger. Additionally, removing the top layer of dead skin through physical exfoliation, and removing the layer of fine hairs, will allow for better product penetration of all your creams,” she explains.
Just remember that shaving hair can come with drawbacks. “Hair thins naturally the longer you’ve had it, due to the normal wear and tear on the follicle,” Nazarian says. “One downside of dermaplaning is those gentle little peach fuzz hairs are going to grow back as thicker-looking bristles,” she adds, because they haven’t worn down or thinned out yet.
Also, if you have active acne, eczema, or rosacea, check with your dermatologist before trying this or any device to avoid skin irritation.
Nazarian suggests avoiding areas of active inflammation and always moisturizing afterward, because the blade can irritate sensitive skin.
See price at Dermaflash Luxe+.
2. Opte Precision Skincare System
Opte is a handheld inkjet printer that purportedly scans, detects, and corrects hyperpigmentation such as age spots, dark spots, and sun spots. In an interview with Page Six Style, Paris Hilton once dubbed it a “Facetune in real life.”
Using blue LED lights and a digital camera, the gadget takes a photo of your skin and analyzes spots, even those undetectable to the naked eye, according to its manufacturer, Procter & Gamble (P&G). Opte then deposits a tinted, spot-fading serum with 5 percent niacinamide on those targeted areas.
While this serum reportedly camouflages imperfections immediately, over time you will notice them actually starting to fade away. One possible benefit of using the device over slathering serum across your entire face: You won’t be wasting as much product, which might save you money in the long term.
Opte works best on hyperpigmentation spots that are dime-size or smaller. If spots are bigger, significantly darker than your overall skin tone (like a mole or a blackhead), or are raised or textured, Opte won’t be able to cover them up. So don’t toss out your foundation just yet.
According to a representative, P&G studied 61 people who used Opte once per day during a four-week period. Of the respondents, 95 percent reported a more even skin tone, 90 percent said their spots were less visible, and 90 percent said their skin looked younger. (P&G details more of the science behind this device on its Opte website.)
The device offers a high-tech way of targeting individual spots, says Zeichner. “It’s best for early signs of aging, because larger dark spots often need help from an in-office procedure like a laser.
“Hyperpigmentation is caused by a variety of factors including hormones and genetics, UV light exposure, and pollution. If over-the-counter treatments aren’t helping, your dermatologist can talk to you about prescription medications or even laser treatments to help,” Zeichner points out.
See price at Opte.com.
3. Nurse Jamie Uplift Massaging Beauty Roller
This device is studded with 24 stones that you’ll use to gently massage your face, neck, arms, chest, and legs. Its makers promise that it will “energize, enhance, revive, and uplift your skin.”
“This tool,” Nazarian says, “is essentially a massaging tool, albeit an incredibly basic one. The benefit is that it enhances lymphatic drainage, making you look temporarily less puffy, especially in areas where fluid tends to accumulate, such as around the eyes.”
Research on lymphatic drainage is limited, but a small study suggested it may be an effective treatment for uneven skin in people with cellulite, for example.
Nurse Jamie touts the device as great for “tech neck” — the soreness that, for many people, is all too familiar after too much screen time.
Unless you have sensitive skin, using this device as a gentle skin massager isn’t risky for most people. Those with a rare condition — such as pressure urticaria or dermatographism, for example — would need to use this device with caution.
Perhaps the biggest risk of buying this device is having high expectations that won’t be met. Nazarian notes that it’s unlikely to offer noticeable, lasting results.
See price at Nurse Jamie.
4. NuFace NuBody Skin-Toning Device
NuBody delivers a gentle flow of targeted microcurrent to your upper arms, abs, buttocks, and thighs with the claim that it reduces the appearance of dimpled or uneven skin.
“Some studies have shown it may optimize the anti-aging pathways in the skin, which may help improve wrinkles and tissue laxity, or sagging,” Nazarian says. High-quality research is lacking, though, she says.
According to a small study published in Life Science Journal, 70 percent of women who underwent three microcurrent treatments to reduce wrinkles reported being satisfied with the results. Researchers reported that microcurrents may help blood circulate faster and stimulate collagen production, which strengthens the foundation of the skin. That said, the study findings are limited because the research included only 30 women, was observational, and lasted only one month. Larger, more rigorous research on this treatment is needed.
Zeichner says NuBody is safe for all skin types, but it works best when used on younger skin at the first sign of skin laxity.
And anyone with a medical implant ought to approach this device with caution, Nazarian warns.
If you can afford this device, keep in mind that improvement may be subtle. But if you’re committed to regular use at home, you may see some long-term benefits, Nazarian adds.
See price at MyNuFace.com.
5. D.O.S.E. From SkinCeuticals
D.O.S.E. by SkinCeuticals is the only device of the bunch for which you have to go see a dermatologist first. “The system allows your physician to create a custom serum based on your skin needs. By having a consultation with your doctor, you can decide on the right ingredients to address your specific goals,” explains Zeichner.
According to SkinCeuticals, the Custom D.O.S.E. service takes only about 10 minutes. It starts with a three- to five-minute evaluation. Afterward, your doctor will take about five minutes to enter your needs into the computer, and then, using advanced algorithms and laboratory-grade technology, a serum will be formulated to fit your skin-care needs.
“After assessing your skin needs, your dermatologist can customize a formula specific for you,” Zeichner says, explaining that custom formulas are a great option because everyone’s skin is different. “Your best friend’s favorite serum may not be right for you, as everyone deals with different combinations of issues like sensitivity, breakouts, pigmentation, dryness, and wrinkles.”
Because each formula is made without shelf stabilizers, the serum is good for three months, at which point your dermatologist can reevaluate your skin and its needs. Over time, your dermatologist can adjust the custom formula.
The biggest downside? These personalized serums carry a high price tag, possibly because of the quality of the ingredients and the collaboration with the dermatologist.
“I look at skin-care products like going to the gym,” Zeichner says. “They are important for everyday maintenance. Sometimes you get a personal trainer to take you to the next level. This is the equivalent of having a professional treatment like a laser. So, if your serums are not giving you what you want, you should talk with your dermatologist about next steps.”
Find a provider that offers D.O.S.E. by SkinCeuticals.
6. BeautyBio GloPro Facial Microneedling Tool
Microneedling is a procedure that “creates tiny holes or channels in the dermis, or top layer of the epidermis, when done superficially at home,” says Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, California. “The body responds to these wounds by creating new collagen to fill them in, which over time can help thicken and strengthen the dermis, giving it a more youthful appearance.” Collagen production declines with age, research has shown.
The results of microneedling can include improvements in skin laxity, fine lines and wrinkles, and uneven texture, according to a small study published in August 2018 in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, which studied microneedling effects in women ages 35 to 75.
According to the makers of GloPro, the device’s patented technology emits red light while microneedles punch microscopic holes in the skin. In addition to offering the benefits of microneedling, proponents of GloPro say that it can enhance the absorption of skin-care products.
The risks are minimal, but Ava Shamban, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Santa Monica, California, warns that if you use the GloPro over makeup without cleaning your face first, you may end up with an “inadvertent tattoo,” she says. She advises anyone with active acne, eczema, psoriasis, a skin infection, or another underlying skin disease to avoid it.
Also, don’t expect this home microneedling device to deliver the same results you’d get from your dermatologist. “Microneedling is a tried-and-true, minimally invasive procedure designed to improve skin quality,” Dr. Shamban says. “At-home versions penetrate much more superficially but benefit the skin as they initiate a cascade of tissue remodeling. They just need to be used on a weekly or biweekly time frame.”
See price at BeautyBio.com.
7. LightStim for Acne
LightStim for Acne LED light therapy is an at-home device that emits blue and red light, which is UV-free, and promises visibly improved, radiant, healthy-looking skin. This device is even FDA cleared to treat mild to moderate acne. “Blue light provides antimicrobial benefits, lowering levels of acne-causing bacteria, while red light is anti-inflammatory,” says Zeichner. “The combination can help treat acne,” he adds, and research supports this notion.
The risks, however, may not make the efforts worthwhile. Zeichner cautions that extended exposure to blue light can contribute to hyperpigmentation. “While it may be of some benefit to red, angry pimples, it is more likely to help if you just have some blackheads or whiteheads,” says Zeichner. “If you suffer from severe acne or scarring, you should not rely on a treatment like this and should visit a board-certified dermatologist for evaluation.”
Consider the potential downsides, too. In a study published in October 2019 in Aging and Mechanisms of Disease found that in flies, daily blue light exposure damaged the insects’ brain and eye cells, and shortened their life span. Nonetheless, these findings are very preliminary. Another study, published in July 2017 in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, suggested that blue light accelerated skin aging in lab models of human and rodent skin. More research in humans is needed, but at this time, some dermatologists, including Nazarian, aren’t recommending LED light therapy given the potential risks.
Moral of the story: This device might help treat mild acne, but check with your dermatologist to make sure it’s the right fit for your skin-care needs.
See price at Dermstore.
8. HiSkin
The HiSkin device only works when connected to its companion smart HiMirror (of which there are a few available versions). This particular additional piece of tech provides an electronic- and biomedical-engineering analysis of your skin’s condition, monitoring and analyzing changes while identifying which products will work best for your specific skin-care needs.
Here’s how it works: You will click a button on the HiSkin device, connecting it to the mirror. Following the measurement steps outlined on the mirror, you will press the device against the area of skin indicated and press down on the button until the display instructs you to move onto the next. Together, the devices analyze your skin, identifying wrinkles, fine lines, roughness, dark circles, dark and red spots, and pores, making recommendations specific to each region of the face, including forehead, eyes, upper cheek, lower cheek, and chin and summing up your analysis in a report projected onto the mirror.
Dr. Saedi likens it to a “virtual” consult. “This device scans the skin and evaluates it for the presence of a variety of factors, like hydration levels and pigmentation,” adds Zeichner. It also allows you to continue monitoring your skin as you use your skin-care products. “You can also adjust your skin-care products based on the findings of your scan,” he says.
See price at HiSkin.com.
9. PMD Beauty Personal Microderm Classic
With the Personal Microderm Classic, PMD Beauty promises to help regenerate skin cells more quickly than they naturally would. The device uses spinning discs embedded with aluminum oxide crystals to exfoliate cells from the surface of the skin. The idea is that by removing this dead skin cell barrier, new cell growth is stimulated. Effectively, this is microdermabrasion, a noninvasive, gentle exfoliating treatment that results in smoother and brighter skin, according to the AAD. The device also uses suction to increase circulation and triggers the skin’s natural healing process to boost collagen and elastin. One study found that microdermabrasion improved skin contour and allowed skin-care products to seep in deeper, while posing minimal negative effects on pigmentation and acne.
Keep in mind that at-home microdermabrasion won’t provide the results you would likely see from a visit to the dermatologists’ office, the AAD points out. Those professional treatments can more deeply penetrate the skin than home devices.
But that doesn’t mean this device isn’t worth a shot. “By removing the superficial skin layer, it may stimulate the skin to have a smoother, brighter, and more radiant appearance,” says John Williams, MD, a plastic surgeon in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Dr. Williams advises people with melasma to avoid this device because it could increase pigmentation.
Nazarian says that because this device temporarily increases inflammation, people with rosacea and active acne should avoid it because it can increase the risk of scarring.
See price at PMDBeauty.com.
10. Foreo Luna 3
For serious gadgetheads, the Luna 3 is a Bluetooth-enabled facial massage and cleansing device. You will navigate the Luna 3 with an app that guides you through a 60-second cleanse. It promises a gentle and relaxing experience, and purportedly smooth, glowing skin. The massager promotes circulation in your face, while the silicone bristles help exfoliate the skin, which may help your skin-care products penetrate more efficiently.
After downloading Foreo for You,the companion app, dampen your face, apply your favorite cleanser, and hit the start button twice. Then you glide the device over your face until it automatically shuts off after 60 seconds. Pat your face dry and continue with your skin-care routine.
“This silicone-covered cleansing device provides sonic causation to give a gentle, deep clean to the skin,” says Zeichner. “Besides a deep cleanse, the massaging aspect of the device may enhance circulation and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin.”
The Luna 3 is safe for all skin types, but Zeichner says there’s no real science to prove that the Luna 3 is superior to good old-fashioned soap and water.