The Only Beauty Tools That Will Really Transform Your Skin

The standout stars of our at-home regimens, LED devices are fuss-free, pain-free and science-backed, and require little more than regular charging – plus they’re a great way to improve your skin’s tone and texture. Using Nasa-approved technology (red light helps wound-healing in space), they can now be used to treat breakouts, encourage healthy hair growth, stimulate collagen production, and work on the face and body (and even aid sleep). The latest additions from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare focus on the lips – the brand’s DRx Spectralite LipWare Pro uses 56 red lights to plump, smooth, and boost the natural color of your pout – as well as the eyes (the first area to show signs of aging) with the FDA-approved DRx SpectraLite EyeCare Max Pro Eye Mask. There is also the excellent LightMax MiniPro Eyeconic LED from MZ Skin, which combines red and near-infrared wavelengths with a super-hydrating treatment eye patch. But whichever you choose, consistency is key: when I used the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro daily for three months, I saw a real change to the quality of my skin.

If it’s a good glow you’re after, microneedling is a hugely popular in-spa and clinic treatment, and – depending on who carries it out (an aesthetician or a doctor) – the needling will go deeper, creating micro-damage to stimulate more collagen for a better result. These at-home versions, however, are used more as a delivery system, allowing products to be better absorbed. But what makes these products so good is that, unlike other home-needling kits, you can’t overdo it – so skin will be dewy and refreshed, not sore and reactive. With the ‘needles’ themselves actually made of hyaluronic acid and peptides, they dissolve as you roll to ensure the potent ingredients are left in, not on, your skin. It’s a great treatment to do the night before an event to give you glowing skin the following day.

If you want to firm and define your contours, this well-established technology works deep to clench and hold muscles to a degree not otherwise physically possible – and, now, with FaceGym’s at-home tools, you get the same effects for the face. Low on glamour but high on efficacy, the electrical muscle stimulation takes some getting used to (it can clench the jaw so hard you literally can’t move a muscle), so my advice is to start low and build up. But it’s worth it for visibly re-sculpting your jawline and cheekbones, while the gentler eye mask helps to de-puff and relax screen-weary eyes. Using a slightly different technology, the microcurrents utilized by NuFace produce a low-grade yet mighty electrical impulse to sculpt and tighten facial muscles. The accompanying app also guides you through an easy-to-follow lifting routine, making it super-simple to use while reading in bed or watching TV. The results are visible immediately after use, so it’s excellent before an event, but be consistent and use it for at least five minutes a day, five days a week, for noticeable, lasting results.

In clinics around the world, hot lasers have long been used to resurface the skin, but this cold version by Lyma gives similar benefits without burning. In fact, you feel absolutely nothing as you work the laser over your skin and, because it’s cold, it can be used on all skin tones. Developed from light technology used to regenerate cartilage and tendons, this home device works on multiple layers, including the connective tissue and collagen, as well as superficial thread veins, pigmentation and scars. The only downside is that you have to be dedicated – ideally using it twice a day, for 15 minutes each time, for the first three months, then a couple of times a week to maintain results. However, with no beeping, flashing lights or sensation of warmth, it’s not the most exciting device to use. My advice is to keep it by the TV remote and use it while watching your favorite show. And stick with it, because the wins are absolutely worth the effort.

It may not sound terribly high-tech, but vibration is an excellent tool for helping your skincare work harder – and Shani Darden’s Facial Sculpting Wand has been designed to replicate in-clinic treatments, combining vibration with acoustic sound waves to boost circulation and oxygen levels. To make the most of these vibrational benefits, cleanse and then apply a layer of serum before using the tool. You can use it morning or evening for incredibly soft skin, more sculptured features, and a definite ‘lift’ to the face over time – especially around the brows, eyes and jawline.