Our beauty routines are getting more and more sophisticated.
As consumers, we are becoming increasingly educated about the minutiae of skincare practices. Whether that means learning the wonders of ingredients like retinol or bringing our tools into the tech era, we are all looking for ways to supercharge our bathroom cabinets and make our products work harder.
If you’re not already acquainted, say hello to radio frequency. A popular professional treatment for many years, it is best known and highly regarded for skin tightening. How does it work? Waves penetrate deep into the layers of the skin’s dermis, heating up in the process. This, in turn, stimulates blood circulation and encourages collagen and elastin production. It also causes the muscles to contract and thus, tighten, to create a more contoured appearance, while repairing damaged tissue at the same time.
No wonder it’s been a not-so-secret for A-listers with famously youthful complexions: think Kim Kardashian, Charlize Theron and Jennifer Aniston.
The only problem? Heading to professional clinics for this treatment can set you back hundreds of pounds a pop. To save you money in the long run and bring the power of these smoothing, firming and lifting products into your own hands, forward-thinking labels like Dr Levy, FOREO and CurrentBody have created innovative at-home devices that provide effective cell renewal when used consistently.
Does radiofrequency work?
“Radiofrequency is a tried and tested, proven technology for use in facial treatments”, explains Eilidh Smith, founder of skincare and facial studio SKINWORK. “It is a great modality to utilise for skin tightening and volume, and as a first step before fillers”.
“There is a lot of proof that it works, and it is one of the most popular treatments we offer in-clinic”, says Dr Ariel Haus. “It is also a nonsurgical method of tightening the skin. RF can help to minimise the appearance of wrinkles; help improve sun damage and boost collagen production in the skin”.
As mentioned above, to optimise the treatment, they must be used routinely for the stated duration.
How does radiofrequency work?
Smith reveals that “Radiofrequency works to tighten, stimulate collagen and elastin by generating heat which penetrates deep into the skin and then triggers the generation of new cells and stimulates collagen and elastin production”.
While you will feel a warming sensation, it’s important to note that this is a pain-free treatment with no downtime - you may see slight redness directly after use, but this should fade quickly.
Are at-home devices effective?
“At-home devices can be effective”, says Smith, but she notes, “not to the same degree as professional services and at-home devices require very regular use and commitment to see results”. By incorporating the treatment at home, you can create a long-term anti-ageing solution. They should work to soften wrinkles, tighten sagging skin and may even brighten dullness and fade the look of dark spots.
How we tested
I am no stranger to in-clinic radio frequency treatments, so I was keen to see if I could get the same results at home without having to go into a clinic and with just one initial outlay. To put the gadgets below through their paces, I incorporated them as part of a DIY facial to closely replicate the professional experience. While they are, of course, not as supercharged as the ones used by pros, all the tools included below gave my complexion a glowy finish and worked to contour. I use the NuFace regularly before makeup application, while the Dr Levy option I find better suited to a pamper night in.
Shop the best radiofrequency devices below to tighten, smooth, firm, glow and prevent sagging.
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TheraFace PRO
The state-of-the-art TheraFace PRO was created with a clear mission in mind: to make skin look healthier. Therabody, the brand that created the gadget, has turned its attention from post-exercise muscle recovery to this portable facial health device, incorporating its signature percussive therapy in order to relax and work the muscles at a deeper level.
The professional experience at home, the PRO harnesses the knowledge of dermatologists, scientists, and skin health experts to create an all-encompassing device that incorporates a whole lot of science-backed treatments in one, whether it is the brand’s trademarked Cryothermal Technology, migraine release or microcurrent therapy.
The product is one of the most customisable on the market, with magnetic ring attachments to tailor each individual treatment as well as offering the ability to combine for the time-poor. Use on a regular basis and you will notice the evening out of skin tone, a boost in elasticity and a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as a healthy glow.
Word of warning, while the effect is instant, we didn’t find it to be very long-lasting in test.
Buy now £369.00, Amazon
Dr. LEVY Switzerland The Contour Pro
Geneva-based dermatologist Dr Levy based his formulas for his eponymous skincare line Nobel Prize of Medicine research from 2012. The brand was formed with a mission to bring non-surgical aesthetic techniques into our everyday routines, extending the time either between injectables or before you feel the need to go under the needle.
This facial device follows suit to provide a non-invasive treatment with clinical results. Using electro-muscle stimulation sequences with radio frequency, the low-level current gives a sculpting, tightening and firming effect to smooth out the appearance of fine lines and leave a glowy finish in its wake. All this, and zero downtime. Three settings make it suitable for all areas of the face and it has a compact size so you never need to miss a session even when you’re on the go.
What’s important to note is that you need a gel product to apply before use. This must be a water-based formula to encourage the device to glide along the surface of the skin. You will feel when it starts to work as the current surging through the electrodes is hard to miss and feels unusual at first - especially when lips start twitching - but doesn’t take long to get used to.
The trick is to move the Contour Pro consistently, only resting in each spot for a couple of seconds. This also makes it a quick treatment - you can do the whole face in minutes.
Buy now £241.00, Amazon
Sensilift Bronze - DRF Technology. Anti-wrinkle, lift and tighten
Powered by a trademarked Dynamic RF technology, this gadget was created to put the power of skin rejuvenation into your hands. To achieve this, it follows in much of the same way as the tools you’ll find used by medical professionals to boost collagen production and thus elasticity as well as luminosity.
On the head of the device are ‘fingers’ that massage the skin as you move it across the complexion. While this happens, the dynamic radio frequency penetrates deeper beyond just the surface level where there are three settings to determine the power. In a trial, 95 per cent of users saw an improvement in the appearance of fine lines and skin texture.
As is the case with many beauty treatments, consistency is key, and the brand suggests that for optimal results, it is best used for five minutes once a week for eight weeks - 40 minutes to minimise wrinkles and plump skin for a more chiselled appearance? Sign us up.
One reviewer said it best, admitting that while she saw immediate skin plumping, “the results take time to be more long-lasting. This machine does not seem to work on deeper wrinkles very well or on the chin and jaw”.
Buy now £249.95, Amazon
FOREO FAQ 103 Diamond RF Radio Frequency EMS & LED Device
Pioneering Swedish skin and oral tech label has shown its prowess once again through this innovative device. The multitasking gadget uses radio frequency, boasts electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and an LED wrapped into one compact offering as the ultimate for beauty technophiles. Sure, the price tag is steep, but it is made with real 0.25-carat diamonds - how’s that for luxury? And that’s all before we even get to the results.
Sparkle aside, each use of the FAQ 103 is designed to mimic a facelift - just without any invasive needles or scalpels. Begin your treatment with the EMS that FOREO says is stronger and more effective than any of its contemporaries in tightening, lifting and firming.
The low-energy waves of RF and Full-Spectrum LED Pulse Light, which is made up of eight colours, work in tandem to encourage the production of collagen and elastin so that skin appears smoother, softer and suppler. It’s one for sagging jowls, contouring and refreshing the complexion.
To round off the powerhouse comes T-Sonic Pulsations that increase blood circulation, reduce puffiness and relax the facial muscles. It may also play a hand in boosting the radiance of your complexion and encouraging better absorption of any skincare that follows.
Fear not, as much like the rest of the electrocurrent collection, you can be content in the knowledge that there’s an Anti-Shock System and smart scanning so that there’s no extensive heat or glitchy malfunctions.
Our gripe? The price tag. This is a serious investment.
Buy now £1199.00, FOREO
NuFACE Trinity and Trinity ELE Attachment Set
Build NuFACE into your skincare regimen and you will notice the tightening of your facial contours in just a few uses. One of the leaders in the at-home beauty gadget game, the label is at the forefront of microcurrent with devices that act as facial personal trainers.
There are bundle packs aplenty and this comes with the award-winning Trinity device that has multiple attachments, including a specialised microcurrent add-on to act as a targeted treatment against the signs of ageing - be it uneven skin tone or wrinkles. It stimulates all areas of the face, even the smaller contours, with lifting and sculpting effects.
There’s also a gel primer to prep the skin for easy application and the ELE precision head, the latter of which is smaller in size to provide a more precise treatment on hard-to-reach areas like the eyes and around the lips. Crow’s feet and laughter lines be gone.
Consistency is key, but you should notice a real, noticeable difference on the likes of sagging chin and around the jaw. Skin is left glowing and one full charge lasts for months, so there’s no need to be constantly plugging in.
This compact tool is always stashed in my makeup bag, and I begin each application with a contouring session.
Buy now £238.00, lookfantastic
TUMAKOU RF Radio Frequency Facial Machine
This facial machine closely resembles those that you’ll find in professional facial clinics but if you think that this makes it complicated to use, think again. Simply pick a level, add timing - and you’re good to go.
The device uses radio frequency, converting electrical energy to heat that goes deep into the layers of the skin into the dermis and subcutaneous tissue in order to encourage blood circulation and stimulate collagen.
What sets this machine apart from the crowd is the extendable cable as well as the inclusion of both a facial and body probe, which means you can use it from head to toe if you’re so inclined. This means that you can tackle areas like crow’s feet as well as the belly, legs, neck and stomach.
Still not convinced? The 4,000 positive reviews testify to seeing visible improvement in just two weeks, with 87 per cent in agreement. One recent review said, “Definitely worth the money! I don’t use it very often but I have seen definite improvements especially to my jaw area. The skin is definitely tighter than it was and the whole area has been pulled up. I’m really impressed!”.
Buy now £319.99, Amazon
CurrentBody Skin RF Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Device
The beauty tech specialist retailer also has a range of own-brand devices combining the latest innovations for our home kits. The Skin Radio Frequency launch was created with clinically backed, professional anti-ageing technology that is designed to smooth, lift, firm and even out texture - be it at crow’s feet, smile lines or any sagging - as quickly as a single treatment. Using a unique bipolar RF technology, it’s all about speedy results that are ideal for prejuvenation - minimising the appearance of ageing as they begin to appear.
The radio waves travel through the skin into the deeper dermis level to encourage collagen production at the spot where it is formed. This is achieved through the resulting heat that is formed from tissue resistance that boosts circulation and thus oxygen and nutrients. It may only take one use to see the effects, but if you’re looking for a long-lasting youthful appearance, it should be used consistently over an eight-week period. It requires just five minutes a day, so should be fairly easy to slip into your routine.
The CurrentBody Skin RF Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Device’s USP is its smart sensors that automatically sense the level of resistance and the inner temperature and adjust the waves accordingly, so it’s safe, pain-free, yet still effective. You can use it across the face or as a specific targeted treatment.
There are almost 100 reviews, none of which are one or two stars. The majority are five stars and attest to the impact of just a few treatments. The biggest gripe? No audio signalling when the timer or an indication of when to move to the next section of the face. In order to know this, you must set an alarm on your phone or use a mirror as part of the treatment.
Buy now £299.00, Amazon
Panasonic EH-XR10 Advanced RF Facial Device
With this device, Panasonic - a brand we all know and trust - gives the option of radio frequency alongside ultrasonic to double down on smoothing your appearance. The gentle warming heat and hydration-boosting technologies take each cell and lift, plump and tighten. Just 10 minutes a day is all that is required and you must ensure skin contact for it to work.
One of the most foolproof devices on the market, it will automatically sense when the probe has been on your skin for the treatment time of 15 seconds and will alert you to move along, so there’s no fear of overdoing it.
The device is lightweight and feels sturdy in the hand throughout the treatment, which is longer than some of the other models on this list so is important to note.
Skin is left brighter, rejuvenated and you can see the noticeable difference in wrinkles when used consistently.
The reviews are far more mixed with this device with some saying they saw results on sagging jowls, while others struggled to see any change.
Buy now £210.00, Amazon
