Beauty Breakdown: Everything You Need To Know About At-Home Facial Tools

Over the last several years, we've seen skyrocketing interest in at-home facial tools. From LED masks and microcurrent devices to handheld facial massagers, it seems everyone is curious about bringing professional-level technology to the comfort of their own bathroom.

As it tends to happen when anything "new" explodes into the zeitgeist, folks have a lot of questions about the topic—as well as a few misconceptions that need clearing up.    

The facial tool category is one that could technically include a wide range of products—from rollers and ice globes you can find on Amazon to splashy masks and handhelds that come with price tags in the thousands. 

Here, at mindbodygreen and in this article, we've used the term "at-home facial tools" to mean any device that is typically found in a professional or spa setting (i.e., a facial), that is also available to the masses. 

The point of these tools is to mimic treatment normally received via an aesthetician or facialist. The potential benefits of these tools typically revolve around addressing aging concerns, such as fine lines, sagging, sallowness, dark spots, puffiness, and dullness.

But there are technologies that can also help with blemishes. In a lot of cases, these tools are used as a preventive measure—meaning they're used in the hopes of keeping skin looking younger for longer rather than correcting a specific concern. 

I'm using "facial massagers" as a catchall term for a few types of tools for the sake of this article, but each one of these really warrants its own deep dive—several of these modalities come with a fascinating history of use, research to back their benefits, and more. (Again, I've linked out to other resources so you can learn more!) 

Facial massages in general are incredibly beneficial for the skin: Studies show us that regular facial massages can truly help improve skin quality. For example, in one study patients saw feeling tighter, more lifted skin1 after regular massages.

This is likely because of the effects on circulation: One study showed that facial rolling for only five minutes a day improved blood flow to the face1. This is notable, as blood brings with it nutrients and resources to the skin—so, theoretically, improved circulation contributes to improved skin quality. 

"So often in beauty we talk about collagen, elastin, skin cell turnover, and those are all important things to talk about because they are part of the skin function and structure. But what Chinese medicine also says is that we need to talk about circulation—because circulation is what feeds all of that," says Sandra Lanshin Chiu, L.Ac., MSTCM. "In fact, it goes back to the very basic principle in Chinese medicine, which is that circulation is everything."

While very different technologies and pathways, LED and microcurrent technologies improve the skin's appearance by reducing inflammation, stimulating the skin's fibroblasts, and improving ATP production. Essentially, these tools help your skin rejuvenate more effectively. 

We'll start with LED therapy. "[Light therapy] works via a phenomenon called photobiomodulation. This is where different components of our cells are activated or respond to different wavelengths of light," board-certified dermatologist Erum Ilyas, M.D., MBE, FAAD, tells mbg about the modality. 

Now onto microcurrent devices, which are tools that emit low (micro) levels of electrical currents to the skin.

"Microcurrent is a very tiny electrical current that mimics your body's own natural pulses. What that means is our brains use currents to communicate through our neurological pathways, where it's constantly sending signals. What we're doing with this technology is mimicking those currents and delivering them to our facial muscles," says biomedical engineer and holistic skin care expert Pooja Johari, M.S., founder of 7E Wellness. These pulses, she notes, stimulate our muscles to act younger. "The thing is, the facial muscles can't tell whether the signal is coming from the brain or this device."  

Microneedling (or dermarolling is the term used when done at home) is a practice we tend to advise against doing yourself. The practice involves using a roller that has small spikes in it that create tiny puncture wounds that allow for deeper product penetration and stimulates collagen production as a wound response. 

While it can certainly be beneficial when performed by a professional, it comes with too many risks at home and is likely not as effective. You can learn more about the tool here, should you want to do more research. 

Dermaplaning is a form of manual exfoliation that removes peach fuzz and the top layer of your epidermis (called the stratum corneum). It's become popular in the last several years because it gives your skin a very smooth, filter-like finish and allows for seamless makeup application. 

However, there are definitely better ways to exfoliate, and I'd like to emphasize that peach fuzz is a totally normal thing to have. If you are curious about this, your best bet is to visit a professional who will know how many passes for each area of the face.

At-home facial tools can help you bring the spa to your own bathroom. But before you make a purchase or start using one, be sure to do your research: You want to pick a technology that will be beneficial for your specific needs—and make sure you're using it correctly.