Skincare Devices & Tools

At-home skincare devices have got genuinely good in the last few years, and genuinely confusing at the same time. LED masks, microcurrent, ultrasonic, gua sha — all promising a lifted, brighter face, all working in completely different ways. Here's how to work out which one you'd actually use.

Start with what bothers you

Definition along the jaw and cheekbones — microcurrent. It works the muscles underneath, so results build over weeks and fade if you stop. Five minutes a day, and it needs conductive gel.

Tone, texture and fine lines — LED. Nothing happens in week one; something does by week six. It's the most passive device here, which is why people stick with it. We stock a rigid mask and a flexible silicone one — the silicone version is more comfortable if you want to wear it lying down.

Puffiness, especially mornings — anything cold. An ice roller at £11.99 does more for a puffy face than a device five times the price. Our hot and cold ultrasonic tool does both directions if you want warmth for product absorption too.

Congestion and blackheads — a cleansing brush for the ongoing texture, an extraction tool for the stubborn individual ones. Different jobs.

Tired eyes — the eye area is a third as thick as the rest of your face, so it needs a device sized for it rather than a facial tool used carefully.

The honest advice

The best device is the one you'll use four times a week. If you're not sure you're a device person, start with something under £15 — the 5-in-1 brush or an ice roller — and find out before spending £40. Nobody needs three of these.

Every device page lists its contraindications. Please read them: microcurrent isn't suitable with a pacemaker, and LED interacts with photosensitising medication including isotretinoin.