The 6 Best Facial Tools to Up Your Skin Care Game

Face Massagers and Their Benefits

Many face massagers have their roots in traditional Chinese skin care techniques. Depending on what they do, they may also be called face-sculpting or face-lifting tools. Face massagers can help improve circulation, relax facial muscles and treat temporary inflammation. They target specific areas better than simply using your fingers to massage your face. 

Read on for the three common types of face massagers and what you need to know about them.

Gua Sha Tools 

These are flat, smooth stones often made of jade or rose quartz that: 

• Are designed to gently rub or scrape over the skin. 
• Help relax stiff muscles and promote tissue drainage. 
• Typically feature curved sides to fit the contours of the face, plus a rounded point for acupressure points and a rounded-claw edge for deeper massage. 

Jade Rollers

As their name implies, they are face rollers made of smooth, heavy jade—a stone associated with healing and renewal. Jade rollers: 

• Are rolled over the face. 
• Mimic the deeply relaxing effects of a face massage. 
• Help increase circulation and reduce eye puffiness. 
• May help the skin better absorb some skin care products. 
• Can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer for an added cooling effect. 

Ice Globes

These are glass or metal wands filled with a special substance that can be safely frozen and stay cold for the duration of your treatment. Ice globes: 

• Are designed to glide over the face using slow, gentle movements. 
• Help soothe the skin and reduce puffiness. 
• Help promote tissue drainage. 
• Help ease sinus pressure. 

Face Light-Therapy Tools and Their Benefits

Light-therapy tools1 use light-emitting diodes (LED) of varying wavelengths—including red and blue light—to penetrate the skin and treat a variety of conditions and concerns. Red light therapy is best for targeting wrinkles and other signs of aging skin. Blue light therapy is used to treat acne and reduce oil production. 

Face light-therapy tools are available as either a mask or a wand. 

LED Light-Therapy Masks

These masks are worn on the entire face and have a distinctly futuristic appearance. In general, they: 

• Have a treatment time between 15 and 30 minutes. 
• Don't damage or disrupt skin tissue. 
• Don't require sensitizing medications or creams. 

LED Light-Therapy Wands

Using the same LED technology, light-therapy wands: 

• Are used by holding the wand in place against the skin. 
• Provide the same treatments and benefits as masks. 
• Are ideal for targeting specific areas on the face. 

Ultrasonic Cleansers and Their Benefits

These state-of-the-art facial cleansers use ultrasonic vibrations to break down dirt, makeup and oil—both on your skin's surface and within its pores. In addition to offering a deep clean, the sonic technology also helps to lift and tone your skin. The lightweight, handheld devices feature a soft silicone brush head, to which you apply water and a cleansing solution. Most devices offer a choice of modes to customize your cleansing. 

Ultrasonic cleansers work well for all skin types and conditions, and the soft silicone makes them ideal even for sensitive skin. Besides being durable (they never need replacing) the silicone brush heads are hygienic and easy to clean.

Facial Steamers and Their Benefits

Facial steamers duplicate one of the most relaxing steps of a professional facial by enveloping your face in warm, gentle steam. Steaming simultaneously hydrates and cleans the skin, and can prime it for other treatments, including exfoliation. It can also improve how quickly and effectively your skin can absorb skin care products. 

The recommended length of a steaming treatment varies from about 8 to 20 minutes, based on your skin type and conditions. Shorter steam treatments are advised for skin that's dry and dehydrated, whereas oily skin benefits from the longer steam times. Tabletop facial steamers allow you to sit and relax with your face positioned in front of the machine.

Facial Hair-Removal Tools and Their Benefits

Dermaplane exfoliation devices are among the most effective facial hair-removal tools. They use an exfoliating blade to skim off excess "peach fuzz" while also removing dead skin cells. The exfoliation process smooths skin's texture and can provide a more youthful-looking complexion. Additionally, dermaplaning can help skin care products go on more evenly. 

Microcurrent Devices and Their Benefits

Microcurrent devices use low-level electrical impulses to stimulate facial muscles. The small, handheld devices glide smoothly over the face and are used in concert with a special hydrating gel.

These devices help to lift and tighten muscles while also stimulating collagen production. In some cases, they can also help heal the skin from acne. While the microcurrent treatment you receive from a professional dermatologist or aesthetician provides the best results, at-home devices are a convenient way to maintain your results between visits. 

Microneedling Tools and Their Benefits

Microneedling devices2 create many tiny puncture holes in the skin, using stainless-steel microneedles that penetrate the skin's surface at a single, fixed depth. The process can: 

• Stimulate the skin's ability to repair itself and create new collagen. 
• Help improve the appearance of facial wrinkles and spots. 
• Result in smoother, more luminous skin. 
• Create micro channels that help the skin absorb certain skin care products. 

The frequency with which you can do home treatments depends on the length of the microneedles and the conditions you are treating. (For cosmetic home treatments, the microneedles are generally 0.5 mm or shorter, whereas professional treatments use longer microneedles.) 

Microneedling tools are available in two general designs—rollers and pens.

Microneedling Rollers

These are lightweight devices that feature detachable stainless-steel heads comprising rolling cylinders with several rows of microneedles. These rollers: 

• Are designed to roll lightly and easily across the skin's surface. 
• Can be cleaned by submerging the stainless-steel heads in isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. 

Microneedling Pens

These are cordless, powered devices about the size of an electric toothbrush. They include disposable microneedle cartridges designed for one-time use, which means you can opt for different cartridges with varying microneedle concentrations and needle lengths.
At-home facial tools are convenient and affordable, especially when compared to visiting a dermatologist or aesthetician. As part of your skin care regimen, they offer the latest techniques and technology—and can take your self-care to a whole new level. 

CITATIONS

1. "Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring," NIH National Library of Medicine. Accessed February 19, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24049929/

2. "Microneedling Devices," U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed February 19, 2002. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/aesthetic-cosmetic-devices/microneedling-devices