The 4 Best Skincare Devices that Actually Make a Difference

I first became acquainted with Droplette ($299) because I heard Sophia Bush calling it “the skincare device of the future” after her makeup artist introduced her to it. The cute little pod’s technology was created by MIT Scientists, funded by NASA, and in truth, there’s nothing else like Droplette on the market. It eliminates the need to introduce invasive needles into your beauty regimen and facilitates the absorption of topicals like collagen and retinol, which would otherwise not sufficiently penetrate the skin to be effective.

According to Droplette’s science, over 90% of the serums and creams applied to the face aren’t absorbed because of how tightly skin cells are packed. By employing a combination of fluid dynamics, the piezoelectric effect, and Fick’s laws of diffusion, Droplette breaks down the serums sold on the brand’s site (among them: collagen, retinol, glycolic acid, tranexamic acid) into particles small and fast enough to penetrate the skin’s barrier 20 times more effectively than if these same serums were simply dabbed onto the face. In less than a minute (45 seconds to be exact), I was able to give my skin its nightly dose of Droplette’s collagen formula, which uses Argireline for fine-line and wrinkle prevention, and retinol, which features arbutin and rose oil to smooth the skin and stimulate cell turnover.

Over the two weeks during which I tested out my Droplette, I noticed my skin becoming visibly smoother and tighter. Aside from loving these results, I also love Droplette’s recycling program. Because the brand’s capsules are uniquely designed for the device, they may not be eligible for most curbside recycling programs. Droplette includes a recycling bag in each order, which can be used to collect used, empty capsules to send back to the company for proper recycling. What’s not to love about a brand that cares for your skin as much as it cares for the planet?

At first glance, the Solawave ($149), a small wand that opens out to a T at one end, looks like an innocuous plastic tool. How could something with such a simple design ever do anything for your skin? Well, its simplicity is exactly what makes it the skincare device you’ll want to add to your makeup bag. By using red light therapy that reduces the appearance of blemishes and fine lines, microcurrent waves that stimulate the dermis to reduce the effects of aging, and therapeutic warmth that temporarily opens your pores to facilitate the absorption of topical skincare products, this little wand boosts the efficacy of the serums and creams you already own while having a rejuvenating effect all on its own. Plus, Solawave’s own Renew Complex Serum, made with hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, has been formulated to heighten the Solawave’s ability to brighten and smoothen your skin.

I love the Solawave for how straightforward it is to use and for how much more it has to offer than LED therapy. Walking around with it in my bag from home to work to my evening plans feels like having an esthetician at my fingertips.

The NuFACE website says it perfectly: “Microcurrent is your exercise. Skincare is your nutrition.” NuFACE was created in 2005 by Carol Cole, a licensed aesthetician practicing since 1985, and her daughters because they realized that their clients needed more frequent microcurrent treatments in between their professionally administered facials. So what exactly is microcurrent therapy? It’s “a low-level current that mimics the body’s natural ionic flow” and can improve muscle tone in the face and neck, aid in lymphatic drainage, and tighten the skin, among several other benefits.

On my first morning using the NuFACE Mini+ ($245), I got a compliment from a coworker who said my skin looked nice. It’s usually difficult to notice differences in your own skin from day to day, so when somebody else said my skin looked lifted, I knew I had a skincare device I needed to permanently add to my morning routine.

Upon receiving your NuFACE, you’ll be prompted by the packaging to download the NuFACE app and sync your device to your account in order to gain access to a number of videos of different facials you can do right at home. The NuFACE Mini+ includes the Aqua Gel Activator, which you’ll need to apply to your face and neck before using the device, Silk Crème Activator, and a Clean Sweep Applicator Brush, all of which you can use over the course of two months, which is the period of time it’ll take to experience the full potential of your new at-home five-minute facial system.

If you’re reading this, you probably already know about the benefits that red and blue LED light can have on the skin. Red light penetrates the skin’s outermost layers to stimulate collagen product from within, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while blue light destroys acne-causing bacteria to keep the skin pimple- and zit-free. Getting both of these types of therapies in one device, plus a setting that’s a mix of both lights, sounds too futuristic to be true, but that’s exactly what the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite™ FaceWare Pro ($435) offers.

Though this is definitely the priciest device on this list, this mask includes three different light treatments, each of which automatically turns off after three minutes for an efficient and effective delivery of the therapy, so it’s really as if you’re getting a trio of tools in one. The mask itself couldn’t be easier to use or more comfortable to wear, and I love being able to multitask around my apartment while clearing and smoothing my skin. Not only have I suffered much fewer pimples since the SpectraLite™ came into my life, but I’ve won back some of the time I usually have to dedicate to my daily skincare routine.