Skip the £150 Facial – At-Home Microcurrent Face Lift Device

A microcurrent facial in a salon runs about £150 a session, and the effect fades after a few days — which is why people buy the device instead. Five minutes a day, and you're doing the same thing at home for the price of one appointment.

Think of it as exercise for the muscles under your skin. The lift is real but it's cumulative and it's temporary: keep it up and your jaw and cheekbones look more defined, stop for a month and you drift back. Anyone selling this as permanent is lying to you.

What it's good for

• A more defined-looking jawline and cheekbones
• The look of sagging around the lower face
• Puffiness, especially in the morning
• Getting serums to absorb properly rather than sitting on the surface

How to use it — the bit people get wrong

Never use this on dry skin. It needs a conductive layer or the current won't pass, and you'll get nothing but an unpleasant prickle. A water-based gel or a slippy serum works; oils and thick creams don't.

1. Cleanse, then apply a generous layer of water-based gel or serum
2. Switch on and start at the centre of your face, working outwards and upwards
3. Hold each spot three to five seconds, then move. Never drag downwards
4. Five minutes total, both sides. Rinse and carry on with your routine

Daily for the first month, then two or three times a week to maintain it.

Please read before buying

Do not use this device if you have a pacemaker or any implanted electronic device, epilepsy, or metal implants or fillers in the area you're treating. Don't use it if you're pregnant. Avoid the front of the throat entirely. If you have an active skin infection, rosacea flare, or open blemishes, wait until your skin has settled. If you have any heart condition, ask your GP first. This is a cosmetic appliance, not a medical device, and it isn't intended to treat any condition.

Questions we get asked

Does it hurt? No. With enough gel you feel almost nothing — perhaps a faint metallic taste near the jaw, which is normal and harmless. A sharp prickle means you need more gel.

When will I see a difference? A subtle lift on day one that fades by evening. Something that holds takes three to four weeks of daily use.

Is gel included? No — check the contents shown in the images. Any water-based hyaluronic gel works fine.

Can I use it around my eyes? Around the orbital bone and along the brow, yes. Not on the eyelid itself.