5 must-have beauty gadgets that are seriously worth the splurge
It’s tool time! (Sorry ’90s gals, we’re not referring to Jonathan Taylor Thomas’s humble cable TV beginnings.) As we usher in an era of cutting-edge dermatological services, spa secrets and professional tools, our vanities are beginning to look a lot like chic day spas.
This fleet of power tools boasts groundbreaking technology borrowed from the best in the business. Not only do they slingshot our daily skincare routines into futuristic territory, but they feature rare properties that you just can’t purchase from a drugstore shelf. We’re talking sanitation measures that could rival surgical wings in hospitals, and FDA-cleared technology that could finally combat your acne. So in order to better illustrate the booming business that is beauty tools, we spoke with Dr. Sandy Skotnicki-Grant, Medical Director at Bay Dermatology Centre, for her opinion on the matter.
When it comes to using a technologically advanced beauty tool, it can often feel more about having access to an ample disposable income, than the tool actually playing a significant role in your regimen. “Most dermatologists take the ‘less is more’ approach. We certainly don’t like people rubbing and scrubbing the surface of the skin too much, and that’s why these devices are not for everybody. They will increase the delivery system for your products, but you don’t need to use them everyday,” says Dr. Skotnicki-Grant.
And to get the bottom of what you might consider a routine requisite, or just luxury masked in genius marketing, we’re debunking the gizmos and gadgets du jour. These at-home products promise softer skin, spring chicken collagen and wrinkles-no-more without having to step foot in a salon.
1. Clarisonic Sonic Radiance Brightening Solution
Clarisonic catapulted a craze of minimized pores and a more radiant complexion almost instantly. The tufted bristles can help reveal your most radiant self (in combination with a routine skincare regime and regular visits to your dermatologist, of course). Keep in mind that “you won’t want to use this tool if you have inflammatory acne, as you don’t want to rub or irritate that kind of skin. This could also be true for a little bit of rosacea. And even though the head is oscillating, it could still potentially irritate,” notes Dr. Skotnicki-Grant. So if you can safely say you don’t fall into that complexion category, you can only benefit from this brightening tool.
Dr. Skotnicki-Grant explains that “part of the reason that Clarisonic helps is that it works as a delivery system for an active ingredient that you’re going to put on your skin after. If you want to apply a cosmeceutical such as a vitamin C, a retinol or a peptide, it’s going to increase the penetration of those actives.” And if we haven’t convinced your combination skin enough, this two-step cleansing system can gently remove dirt and debris, while diminishing dark spots and perfecting your overall pigmentation.
2. Tria Age Defying Laser
Guess what? This laser wasn’t just created to zap your leg hairs! If you’re looking for dermatologist-rivaled results in the comfort of your own home, look no further. The time rewinding laser can help combat those fine lines and wrinkles with the help of its targeted skincare serums. Additionally, it boasts the equivalent fractional technology that your dermatologist prefers to help promote your overall glow. This handheld anti-aging device also serves to stimulate your body’s collagen renewal process, whereby new skin cells can turn over at a higher rate.
This beauty tool has also been proven through dermatologist-led clinical studies and is FDA-approved for safety and efficacy for facial use on all ethnicities and skin tones. And for a tool to be FDA-cleared, the company “must show that the results are real. If the FDA clears something, it cannot be false advertising, as it’s a medical device. You have to be able to back it up with a clinical study,” adds Dr. Skotnicki-Grant, which makes this tool an effective and tangible method of anti-aging and a worthwhile step in your routine.
3. Foreo ISSA Electric Toothbrush
Imagine a clean so controlled, your dentist will think you’re cheating on him. Enter this Swedish-designed revolutionary silicone toothbrush that boasts breakthrough pulsating dental technology for that plaque combatting clean. Additionally, this intense yet gentle brush offers the benefits of a gleaming white smile sans scratches that your ordinary toothbrush would deliver. And while sonic toothbrushes are nothing new, this novel creation boasts a silicone bristle head that can generate the perfect amount of friction to effectively and efficiently remove stains, all the while remaining gentle on your enamel.
Furthermore, this technology is made from nonporous silicone that blocks a bacterial buildup, making it at least 35 times more hygienic than what you’re currently using. Plus, this particular handheld beauty device comes in at half the weight of the prototypical electric toothbrush, and can get into those hard to reach crevices with its 3D technology. The tool also beeps every 30 seconds reminding you to switch locations and signals when you’ve been cleaning for 2-minutes. This ISSA brush is free from BPA and phthalates, lasts a full 365 days without charging and is as hypoallergenic as they come. Basically it’s time to retire your bristle brush.
4. LUNA T-Sonic Cleansing and Anti-Aging System
This new beauty tool is breaking away from the bristles and ushering in a textured silicone pad that can rid your skin of dirt, oil and acne-causing bacteria. The T-sonic energy and lower frequency pulsations makes this an ideal tool for those with sensitive skin. This device features two sides, which effectively work hard at combating your concerns. The Luna also works on two sonic frequencies, high and low. And while the high works wonders for cleansing, the low is great for preventing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as stimulating dehydrated skin.
The stiff silicone head needs to be worked upwards and should only be used after you’ve thoroughly cleansed your skin. And once this tool is in your hands, you will notice that the thicker touch-point was designed to offer a precision clean, and the reverse side features silicone waves that can leave your face feeling firmer. Now you rest assured knowing that your actives are absorbing into the skin at the pace your pores require—and it only took two minutes of your time.
5. NuFace Trinity Facial Toning Device
This microcurrent skincare device is the first of its kind, and is FDA-cleared for at-home facial stimulation use. Microccurent is a non-invasive technology that sends signals into the body via electrical currents. Once it has passed through the skin, it can produce several effects including muscle toning and micro-facial lifting. This handheld device has been clinically tested to improve your facial contour sans Kardashian tips and tricks. The tool can also improve your overall skin tone and reduce your fine lines and wrinkles in combination with routine dermatological visits and a routine skincare regimen.
What’s so unique about this gadget is that it boasts a smart skin sensor and interchangeable attachments to help cater to your concerns. And in one of their independent studies, after 5-minutes of daily use for a full 60 days, product testers saw an 85% improvement in their contour, making this an effective measure for your anti-aging routine.
 on Apr 16, 2015 at 11:19am PDT
[gallerylink slide="must-have-beauty-tools-01" title="See the 5 must-have beauty products"]
It’s tool time! (Sorry '90s gals, we’re not referring to Jonathan Taylor Thomas’s humble cable TV beginnings.) As we usher in an era of cutting-edge dermatological services, spa secrets and professional tools, our vanities are beginning to look a lot like chic day spas.
This fleet of power tools boasts groundbreaking technology borrowed from the best in the business. Not only do they slingshot our daily skincare routines into futuristic territory, but they feature rare properties that you just can’t purchase from a drugstore shelf. We're talking sanitation measures that could rival surgical wings in hospitals, and FDA-cleared technology that could finally combat your acne. So in order to better illustrate the booming business that is beauty tools, we spoke with Dr. Sandy Skotnicki-Grant, Medical Director at Bay Dermatology Centre, for her opinion on the matter.
When it comes to using a technologically advanced beauty tool, it can often feel more about having access to an ample disposable income, than the tool actually playing a significant role in your regimen. “Most dermatologists take the 'less is more' approach. We certainly don’t like people rubbing and scrubbing the surface of the skin too much, and that’s why these devices are not for everybody. They will increase the delivery system for your products, but you don’t need to use them everyday,” says Dr. Skotnicki-Grant.
And to get the bottom of what you might consider a routine requisite, or just luxury masked in genius marketing, we’re debunking the gizmos and gadgets du jour. These at-home products promise softer skin, spring chicken collagen and wrinkles-no-more without having to step foot in a salon.
1. Clarisonic Sonic Radiance Brightening Solution
Clarisonic catapulted a craze of minimized pores and a more radiant complexion almost instantly. The tufted bristles can help reveal your most radiant self (in combination with a routine skincare regime and regular visits to your dermatologist, of course). Keep in mind that “you won’t want to use this tool if you have inflammatory acne, as you don’t want to rub or irritate that kind of skin. This could also be true for a little bit of rosacea. And even though the head is oscillating, it could still potentially irritate," notes Dr. Skotnicki-Grant. So if you can safely say you don’t fall into that complexion category, you can only benefit from this brightening tool.
Dr. Skotnicki-Grant explains that “part of the reason that Clarisonic helps is that it works as a delivery system for an active ingredient that you’re going to put on your skin after. If you want to apply a cosmeceutical such as a vitamin C, a retinol or a peptide, it’s going to increase the penetration of those actives.” And if we haven’t convinced your combination skin enough, this two-step cleansing system can gently remove dirt and debris, while diminishing dark spots and perfecting your overall pigmentation.
2. Tria Age Defying Laser
Guess what? This laser wasn’t just created to zap your leg hairs! If you’re looking for dermatologist-rivaled results in the comfort of your own home, look no further. The time rewinding laser can help combat those fine lines and wrinkles with the help of its targeted skincare serums. Additionally, it boasts the equivalent fractional technology that your dermatologist prefers to help promote your overall glow. This handheld anti-aging device also serves to stimulate your body’s collagen renewal process, whereby new skin cells can turn over at a higher rate.
This beauty tool has also been proven through dermatologist-led clinical studies and is FDA-approved for safety and efficacy for facial use on all ethnicities and skin tones. And for a tool to be FDA-cleared, the company “must show that the results are real. If the FDA clears something, it cannot be false advertising, as it’s a medical device. You have to be able to back it up with a clinical study,” adds Dr. Skotnicki-Grant, which makes this tool an effective and tangible method of anti-aging and a worthwhile step in your routine.
3. Foreo ISSA Electric Toothbrush
Imagine a clean so controlled, your dentist will think you’re cheating on him. Enter this Swedish-designed revolutionary silicone toothbrush that boasts breakthrough pulsating dental technology for that plaque combatting clean. Additionally, this intense yet gentle brush offers the benefits of a gleaming white smile sans scratches that your ordinary toothbrush would deliver. And while sonic toothbrushes are nothing new, this novel creation boasts a silicone bristle head that can generate the perfect amount of friction to effectively and efficiently remove stains, all the while remaining gentle on your enamel.
Furthermore, this technology is made from nonporous silicone that blocks a bacterial buildup, making it at least 35 times more hygienic than what you’re currently using. Plus, this particular handheld beauty device comes in at half the weight of the prototypical electric toothbrush, and can get into those hard to reach crevices with its 3D technology. The tool also beeps every 30 seconds reminding you to switch locations and signals when you’ve been cleaning for 2-minutes. This ISSA brush is free from BPA and phthalates, lasts a full 365 days without charging and is as hypoallergenic as they come. Basically it’s time to retire your bristle brush.
4. LUNA T-Sonic Cleansing and Anti-Aging System
This new beauty tool is breaking away from the bristles and ushering in a textured silicone pad that can rid your skin of dirt, oil and acne-causing bacteria. The T-sonic energy and lower frequency pulsations makes this an ideal tool for those with sensitive skin. This device features two sides, which effectively work hard at combating your concerns. The Luna also works on two sonic frequencies, high and low. And while the high works wonders for cleansing, the low is great for preventing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as stimulating dehydrated skin.
The stiff silicone head needs to be worked upwards and should only be used after you’ve thoroughly cleansed your skin. And once this tool is in your hands, you will notice that the thicker touch-point was designed to offer a precision clean, and the reverse side features silicone waves that can leave your face feeling firmer. Now you rest assured knowing that your actives are absorbing into the skin at the pace your pores require---and it only took two minutes of your time.
5. NuFace Trinity Facial Toning Device
This microcurrent skincare device is the first of its kind, and is FDA-cleared for at-home facial stimulation use. Microccurent is a non-invasive technology that sends signals into the body via electrical currents. Once it has passed through the skin, it can produce several effects including muscle toning and micro-facial lifting. This handheld device has been clinically tested to improve your facial contour sans Kardashian tips and tricks. The tool can also improve your overall skin tone and reduce your fine lines and wrinkles in combination with routine dermatological visits and a routine skincare regimen.
What’s so unique about this gadget is that it boasts a smart skin sensor and interchangeable attachments to help cater to your concerns. And in one of their independent studies, after 5-minutes of daily use for a full 60 days, product testers saw an 85% improvement in their contour, making this an effective measure for your anti-aging routine.
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