Because dewy, healthy skin is just a click away.
With spas closed or out of reach for many of us, skincare gadgets have emerged as a convenient, and extremely popular way, to boost one’s complexion at home. A quick Google search brings up a staggering 60 million hits on the topic, detailing various tools and techniques for buffing, smoothing and lifting your face. Sorting out the spinning discs from the vibrating wands can be confusing to say the least, especially when you can’t demo these devices in person. Here, an easy guide to the most effective tools trusted by pros to gift to others or get for yourself. Glowy skin awaits!
To Calm Puffiness and Wake Up Your Skin
The Pick: Revive Ice Roller ($20)
Consider this a fast way to get the benefits of cryotherapy — i.e. exposing the body to cold temperatures to slow blood flow and reduce inflammation and redness. Just put the handheld roller in the freezer to chill it (for about 4 hours), and then move it over your face with light pressure and outward strokes. Work in zones: from your chin to your nose, under your eyes to your temples and hairline. When done, wipe the head with alcohol to keep it clean. Tip: Store the roller, along with other skincare products, in this sleek Beauty Fridge for easy access. The temperature-controlled environment helps preserve the lifespan of everything from creams to essences and the cold sensation instantly wakes up tired, sluggish skin in the morning.
To Soften Rough Patches And Remove Dull, Dead Skin
The Pick: PMD Personal Microderm Pro ($199)
This is the go-to tool for microdermabrasion — a process that lightly “sands” the surface of your skin with a spinning disc embedded with aluminum oxide crystals. When done regularly (typically, about once a week), experts say this process can improve dark spots and dullness (and from personal experience, it does leave your face noticeably smoother). There’s also a suction function that cleans out pores and debris, a multi-tasking detail that earns the device top marks among facialists. It’s best to use on clean, dry skin, and start with the white disc — the one for sensitive skin, and then gradually work your way up to more abrasive discs (also helpful: do a patch test on your arm first). To maneuver the tool, hold your skin taut with your free hand and glide the tip over your face with outward motions (don’t go over the same patch of skin more than twice). Afterward, finish with a calming, hydrating moisturizer.
To Lift and Firm Your Face
The Pick: Skin Gym Rose Quartz Vibrating Lift & Contour Beauty Roller ($69)
This is a next-level rose quartz face roller boosted with 6,000 vibrations per minute to ease muscle stiffness, stimulate circulation and contour your face. After you wash and dry your face, use light to firm pressure to roll the device over areas where wrinkles typically develop or skin often sags: Between your eyebrows, up the sides of your neck, along your jawline and under your cheekbones. With repeated “workouts,” you can tighten and tone your complexion. Enthusiasts often pat on a serum or facial oil first to give the rose quartz stone more slip and help ingredients, such as skin-brightening antioxidants or plumping hyaluronic acids, penetrate deeper into the complexion.
To Massage Your Scalp
The Pick: Groove Scalp Massager 2 ($20)
This is not for your face, but your scalp is part of your overall skincare routine as well. Facialists advise regular scalp massages to help increase circulation and blood flow to the hair follicles, which promotes growth and thickness, and keeps your scalp balanced. (Plus, if you haven’t been to the salon in ages, this nifty tool mimics the heavenly experience of the shampoo massage at the sink). Designed with rubber nubs that vibrate, the device can be used on wet or dry hair: In the shower, apply your go-to shampoo, conditioner or hair oil and then buff your scalp using as little or as much pressure as you like (just don’t pull the nubs through the length of hair to avoid tangles). On dry hair, start at the front of your hairline and move back toward the nape, spending extra time on any spot where you have tension. Ahhh.
For all your beauty + wellness needs, visit us here.
Illustrations by Alessandra Olanow.