Why you should add these spa-worthy products to your skin care routine.
Beauty insiders and celebrities have long been touting the benefits of microcurrent facials. You may have heard stories about how the treatment produces impressive (and nearly instantaneous) results when it comes to fighting signs of aging.
And while normally, you would have to take a trip to the spa to see if the rumors are true, a number of at-home microcurrent devices have been popping up across the beauty space, allowing people to try it right from the comfort of their own homes.
The thing is, these skin care devices can be pretty pricey. So to see if they're actually worth the purchase, we consulted two top aestheticians to learn more about how the treatment works and which at-home options will actually provide results.
Do at-home microcurrent devices really work?
Typically, the microcurrent machines that are used during professional treatments are larger and have a higher current than the at-home devices, Los Angeles-based celebrity aesthetician Gina Marí says. But while they're less powerful, that doesn't mean you won't still see the benefits.
Like traditional exercise, even if you're seeing a trainer once a week, you're still going to have to do some workouts on your own to see results. The idea is the same here, New York City-based aesthetician Lara Kaiser says. She recommends at-home devices to her clients as a way to maintain results between appointments. They're also good to have on-hand in moments when you feel like your complexion needs a little boost before a big event or Zoom call.
How does microcurrent work?
Microcurrent devices use low-level electrical impulses to stimulate the muscles in the face, says Kaiser.
The treatment also stimulates the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), Marí adds. Essentially, you’re stimulating “food” for the cells to allow them to work more efficiently.
“What we always want to do when we’re working with any type of technology when it comes to skin care treatment, is that we want to work on the cellular level,” Marí says. “We want to stimulate the cells, we want to feed the cells and get some activity happening there.”
How to use an at-home microcurrent device
As much as we’d like a quick one-and-done solution for all of our skin concerns, you shouldn’t expect that from this (or any skin care treatment, really). The results are temporary, Marí says. Typically, when starting out, you can expect the results to last a couple of days. “You will see longer-lasting results with more consistency,” she adds. And the more comfortable and confident you get with using the tool, the better the results will be.
According to Kaiser, the device can be used every other day. Once again, just like a workout, “you want to give your muscles a day off here and there,” she says. The amount of time that you use it for depends on the device, but typically, it’s around five to 10 minutes — many have a set timer to let you know when it’s done. Most devices also come with conductive gel that you apply before the treatment. Though some TikTokers have said they use different products like aloe vera or water, Marí advises against it.
“You’re un-intensifying your treatment by not using the proper products to go hand in hand with that,” she says.
Read the full article on TODAY by Emma Stessman.
