When I was growing up “at-home aesthetic devices” meant one thing: Slendertone, the machine that promised a toned tummy via electrical stimulation and was used by sporting paragons such as Muhammad Ali and Franz Beckenbauer. My mum was a model and so had a cupboard containing exciting items such as impossible stilettos, crocodile-skin clutches, a set of heated hair rollers and an original Slendertone.
On the days when I would get home from school to an empty flat, I would dig out the machine, which, with its beige Bakelite knobs and buttons, looked like something from the Thunderbirds set. I would strip down to my bra and pants, attach the rubber suckers to key places about my person (thighs, tummy) and secure them using the long brown flannel bands with Velcro at the ends. Thus trussed, I would turn the dial up to ten and lounge, muscles twitching, while I ate Marmite on heavily buttered Mighty White toast and watched Home and Away. I was not a sporty child, so this was my way of giving my body a workout that involved neither hockey sticks nor gym knickers. I cannot say there was any discernible effect, but for that I blame the toast and not the tool.
My next important beauty appliance (I am not including those silver wands with a tiny cup and hole at the end that were meant to “extract” blackheads if you pushed them hard enough into your chin) was a device of maximum torture known as the Epilady. Oh, what exquisite pain we endured as its gyrating metals rings removed the stubborn hairs from around our ankles, only for them to grow back a week later somehow curly, as if they’d been permed.
In short, beauty in the Eighties and Nineties was not something that happened at home. To really be transformed you needed a week at Champneys.
Then came the Clarisonic, a facial cleansing device with soft bristles and a rotating head that promised pristine pores and basically used the same technology as the electric toothbrush. The Clarisonic was the herald of our new age, in which there is a high-tech at-home device for every aesthetic issue.
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One of the best places to find these tools of transformation is currentbody.com, a shop devoted solely to aesthetic devices that was set up by Laurence Newman more than a decade ago. “When I started out we had literally nothing on the website,” Newman says. Now the company is home to everything from LED tech to at-home lasers and microcurrent devices. “These are devices that replicate treatments you might normally have in a salon, but they have been miniaturised to be used at home,” he says.
Many of these are serious bits of kit, and while I’m all for sitting on the sofa and watching Succession while I blast my skin back to its former youthful loveliness using a variety of Bond villain machines, is this safe?
“There are certain things that are OK to do at home, to save money and time,” says Dr Anita Sturnham, a GP who specialises in dermatology. There are also certain things that are not. “One of the biggest issues I see is when people try to use at-home needling devices. Microneedling is a fantastic treatment, but I would always leave that to the experts.”
Facial microcurrent devices can be used safely at home and do make a difference. “We have been using microcurrents in dermatology for over 30 years for fibroblast function, wound healing and gentle collagen remodelling,” Sturnham says. “These devices are quite safe and foolproof.”
The lasers and LEDs in at-home devices are not as strong as their in-salon counterparts but are still powerful and effective, so Sturnham recommends brands that have crossed over from the clinical to the domestic and are able to capitalise on years of research and data, such as Dermalux and Déesse Pro. She emphasises the importance of following all the safety protocols suggested, and especially the wearing of protective eyewear.
And so, goggles firmly attached and toast in hand, I have trialled some of the newest and most powerful at-home aesthetic devices.
Gavanndra Hodge
Best at-home beauty gadgets
Lightinderm
French women are good at ageing and it’s not just the customary chin tuck that they all seem to have about the age of 50 (a fashion insider told me that if you want a chic jaw, go to Paris — all the best surgeons for this procedure are there). There is also an innate, no-nonsense self-assurance around ageing that is sexy. So when one Parisian, Géraldine Decaux, spent ten years creating an innovative new beauty gadget, of course we were going to be interested. Decaux had skin cancer following too much exposure to sun as a child, but during her therapy she discovered the paradox that light can heal as well as damage, depending on the wavelengths. It was this that led her to create the Lightinderm. “My mission is to save people’s skin,” she says.
It’s a lofty ambition and Decaux has collaborated with scientists, doctors and dermatologists. The Lightinderm has been subject to 12 clinical studies and has 47 patents. Its USP is that it combines light therapy with photoactive ingredients, each complementing and amplifying the other. The glossy ergonomic white wand (which looks a bit like a posh TV remote) offers five different light wavelengths that can be combined with one of six different capsules that contain serums concocted to address various skin issues. The serum is dispensed via a glass ball (think deodorant applicator) and each capsule carries out seven applications, after which it can be put in the glass recycling.
The different programmes target the following: lift, repair, redness relief, brightening, purity and eyes. Each has its own capsule, which activates the appropriate light-wave programme when it is popped into the device. For instance, the lift programme uses red and infrared light, with a serum that contains dipeptides, saccharides and niacinamide.
A facial massage protocol has been developed to go with each programme, which in itself helps to stimulate the skin. There are lots of exciting numbers that come with the Lightinderm: for example, reportedly up to 93 per cent fewer neck wrinkles after four weeks’ use. But my favourite Lightinderm number is three. As in the treatment takes just three minutes each day. Many devices require so much time and faff that eventually we just give up and go back to slapping our faces with CeraVe and hoping for the best. But three minutes a day I can — and did — do (if you are extra keen you can do six minutes each day by doing a different programme in the morning and the evening — lift and repair is a good combo). Soon enough my skin looked smoother and plumper and perhaps even a little more youthful. Who knows if this was just the application of a good serum and rolling the little ball around my face every day, but still. I’ll take it. Merci!
Details Device £400, serum capsules £80-£90; John Bell & Croyden
Gavanndra Hodge
ZIIP Halo
What do Margot Robbie, Jennifer Aniston, Gillian Anderson and Elizabeth Olsen have in common (aside from being, in the words of Derek Zoolander, “really, really, ridiculously good-looking”)? They are all devotees of the celebrity facialist Melanie Simon’s face gadget the ZIIP Halo. Simon is a self-proclaimed “electrical aesthetician”, so it made sense when she decided to bring together her expertise in the form of the portable ZIIP.
Using nanocurrents and microcurrents, the palm-sized wireless device can be deployed for everything from lifting and firming skin to helping to tackle redness and pigmentation. It can even hit acne and help sculpt and prime skin pre-makeup. The device works by emitting low-intensity electrical currents via two knoblike conductors that require a special gel to glide over the skin. The microcurrents help to stimulate the muscles in your face, while the nanocurrents support skin repair. The brand’s 2.0 model has stronger currents and a new function that lets you set up personalised treatments with bespoke electrical currents for your unique needs, sent straight from your phone to your ZIIP. The brand also offers four different conductive gels — the Golden Gel (£119) works to plump and brighten, the Crystal Gel (£69) has a focus on reducing pigmentation and encouraging glow, the Silver Gel (£69) works to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier, and the Clear Gel (£49) will help with soothing your skin.
The app features treatments from Instant Face Lift to Jowls and Lymphatic Drainage, which when selected will sync directly to your device while a video guides you through the process on your phone. The sessions can range anywhere from 3 to 15 minutes, making them easy to fit into your schedule. The ZIIP Halo 2.0 is also equipped with a four-minute routine that can be used without having to sync to the app first. This means you can now use the machine from anywhere, even when you don’t have your phone handy.
The Halo’s lifting and tightening effects are visible after just one use. I immediately (and gleefully) noticed a more lifted brow and defined jawline, and it’s acne-busting benefits are also no joke. Usage during a breakout helped to zap my blemishes in about half the time it would normally take for them to subside. I also found that the Halo was good at targeting scarring and pigmentation.
ZIIP experts recommend using the Halo three to five times per week to see the best results, which will usually start appearing within about 21 days, and then become more noticeable after six weeks.
Details £380, ziipbeauty.co.uk
Chiara Brown
HigherDose
This Gwyneth Paltrow-approved sauna blanket was one of the first of its kind on the market and is a big hit in wellness circles. The HigherDose looks a bit like a large black sack. Inside are small infrared lights that create thermal energy to heat up the body. The idea is you zip yourself up, plug in and let yourself be slowly warmed. Infrared technology can offer many of the benefits of regular sauna use, such as reducing inflammation and improving sleep quality and circulation, as well as aiding in weight loss and anxiety management. Some studies have found that regular sauna usage can even help to manage the risk of heart failure, dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms. The blanket is also fitted with charcoal, clay and crystal layers that the brand claims can “amplify detoxification and balance your electromagnetic field”. Fancy.
What makes the sauna blanket so practical is that it can be folded up and kept in a cupboard or under the bed when not in use. It’s also extremely easy to maintain — all you need to do is spray it down with a bit of non-toxic disinfectant after use. It comes with an attached controller that allows you to set the temperature on a scale from one to eight, with the blanket reaching up to 70C.
I spent 30 minutes a day in the blanket for a week and noticed a real difference in my sleep quality and general stress levels. Also, because the infrared technology heats you from the inside out, you don’t have that oppressive hot air feeling that can make traditional saunas unappealing for some.
While using the blanket you should wear long sleeves, a pair of comfortable trousers and socks, as the lining can be a bit hot for bare skin. Luckily, HigherDose also sells a towel insert for those who prefer to bake in their birthday suit. The brand recommends building up heat and frequency over time, with a typical session lasting 30-60 minutes. You can also use the blanket for “habit stacking”, a practice through which you can check off multiple things on your wellness to-do list at once. For example, you may throw on an LED mask and meditate while you’re in the blanket. Or you can just prop your iPad on your chest and watch Netflix like I do.
Details £699, cultbeauty.co.uk
Chiara Brown
Lyma Laser
This chic black device looks a bit like a posh torch but actually houses the strongest at-home laser on the market. It comes with serum and oxygen mist and the maker suggests you use it for between 15 minutes and half an hour every day, moving the device around your face and neck. This, Lyma says, will penetrate past the skin and fat and trigger a genetic switch in the deeper layers, meaning that ageing cells will create collagen again. As well as reducing facial slackness it also promises to improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars and pigmentation. As with all these devices you need consistency and time for real results (the maker suggests three months before you start to see significant change). I used it daily for three minutes on a scar on my forehead and after a month it had definitely become less deep and visible.
Details £1,999, lyma.life/laser
Gavanndra Hodge
The Wand by Keren Bartov
Keren Bartov is one of London’s most beloved facialists, known for her highly bespoke, machine-based treatments. Over the course of a facial with Bartov you can expect to have a combination of various technologies wheeled in and out of the room to support your specific skin journey. The results are so good that Sienna Miller, Julia Roberts, Rita Ora and Jessica Alba all count themselves among Bartov’s acolytes. Now, Bartov has taken her years of expertise and brought them together to create an at-home device called The Wand. It combines radio-frequency technology as well as infrared and red-light therapy. Together, Bartov says that these elements can not only help tackle signs of ageing but also help support skin tone and texture. According to the brand the combination of the LED lights and radio-frequency technology are able to deliver targeted heat into the skin’s layers, which can help to boost circulation and as a result can also aid in collagen stimulation. Results can be seen after a few weeks of use, though thanks to the improved circulation, the brand claims that a healthy glow can also be expected in the meantime.
The machine fits in one hand and has a simple seven-minute treatment time, which is recommended 3-4 times per week. The Wand should be used after cleansing skin and applying serums and moisturisers. Thanks to the heating technology it can help products to absorb more easily into the skin, according to the brand, and its wirelessness means that it can be used anywhere from your vanity unit to your couch while enjoying TV. Jessica Alba took hers on a recent beach vacation and Rita Ora uses hers in the sauna.
Details £1,650, kerenbartov.co.uk
Chiara Brown
Jovs Venus Pro
This nifty little bit of kit offers hair removal that is painless and permanent (take that, Epilady). It uses intense pulsed light to blast away the hair follicle, never to return. This sort of tech has been available in salons for years but has only recently become available for use at home. It has attachments for face, leg, armpit, hand and bikini area, as well as one for improving skin tone. The device has an inbuilt cooling system so the skin doesn’t overheat. There are rigorous safety protocols and you do have to read the instructions properly. Protective glasses are also included. As with the salon version, this works best on lighter skin with darker hair, and weekly sessions over six weeks give the best results.
Details £266, eu.jovs.com
Gavanndra Hodge
Nuface Mini
This device uses the same kind of microcurrent technology as the CACI treatments offered in salons and can be used for saggy jowels and turkey neck. Apply the supplied priming gel, then slide the device, with its two metal balls, along the problem area, enjoying the mild tingly electric shock sensation (you can reduce or increase the current according to your masochism level). It cuts out after the suggested five minutes’ use. It’s quick, easy, portable and looks quite amusing, and after a month’s use there was definitely a new smoothness to my jawline.
Details £244, lookfantastic.com
Gavanndra Hodge
Slendertone Evolve Abs
Yes, Slendertone still exists! It basically feels the same to use but looks very different. There are no more beige suckers, now it is a soft foam belt — a bit like the sort of thing you might get if you won a boxing match — to which you add sticky gel pads (the vehicle for the electrical current) and attach a small blue box, which operates the machine. There are different programs, from “passive toning” (ie sitting on the sofa) to “active toning”, which involves wearing the belt while doing planks. I think it is safe to say you would see better results if you went for the active toning option.
Details £179, slendertone.com
Gavanndra Hodge
ThermoGlow Pro
Usually the words all-in-one are cause for alarm. Shampoo-conditioner combos, washer-dryers, sporks… none quite gets the job done how you’d like it to. But there are always exceptions. When it comes to beauty gadgets there are few quite as handy as the super-compact ThermoGlow Pro. The handheld device uses a three-phase system that combines contrast therapy with microcurrents. It is designed not only to “stimulate circulation” but also to “detoxify… and boost the absorption of actives”. These are big claims for a device so small, but the outcome is a glow potent enough that it keeps me coming back to this all-in-one wonder.
Here’s how it works: phase one is “cooling” and involves an 18C pulse of cold air that helps to encourage vasoconstriction in the skin. This means it can help to reduce redness and inflammation. There is also a bit of lymphatic drainage thanks to the subtle vibration that accompanies the whole treatment. After a 90-second period the machine automatically shuts off and you’re instructed to apply a cleanser and lather it into your skin using the ThermoGlow for the phase two “purifying”. This next 90-second vibration helps to dislodge any grime in the skin, delivering a deep-pore cleanse; meanwhile, the device heats up to 43C, which, the brand says, helps to encourage collagen production. The final phase, “infusing”, involves first drying and cleaning the device before applying your serums, and then passing it over your face for a final 90 seconds at 37C. According to the team at Dr Levy, a family-owned Swiss clean-beauty brand founded by the celebrated dermatologist Dr Phillip Levy, this will help to deliver serums into your skin more effectively. It also helps that this feels like a hot stone massage. The button on the side that sets each mode changes colour, so you can keep track of which step you’re on (blue is cooling, red is purifying and purple is infusing).
As someone who travels a lot (and is also a fan of beauty gear that helps to maximise the results of products), I have found the ThermoGlow Pro has been a useful addition to my routine. Its size also means it fits easily into a carry-on, so you can keep up your skin regime even while you’re away. On flights, I bring out the delightfully quiet device to use the cooling function and give myself a little in-flight depuffing treatment.
Details £249, drlevy.swiss
Chiara Brown
The Dermalux Flex
This is the big daddy of domestic devices. The at-home version of Dermalux’s salon LED treatment emits powerful blue, red and near-infrared light from 360 bulbs. It’s a sizeable, flexible strip of lights that comes with goggles, and can either be attached to a stand, making a sort of domed tunnel into which you slide your face and neck, or used draped over your body. There are different combinations of lights for different uses — rejuvenation, collagen production, healing and antibacterial. As someone who has spots, wrinkles and psoriasis, I decided to use the triple-light function, which basically means you get it all. The instructions are for three half-hour sessions a week, for six weeks, followed by maintenance. After a session I looked pink and glowy, after a month my pores were definitely smaller, my pigmentation was reduced and the rogue blemish on my chin that had been there for about three months was finally minimised.
Details £2,000, currentbody.com
Gavanndra Hodge
Foreo Luna Play Smart 2
The Swedish company Foreo makes nifty little devices that are basically the millennial version of the Clarisonic. They are cute, pastel coloured and look a bit like hedgehogs. Apply your normal cleanser, then move the buzzy little device around your face. The “sonic waves” shake the dirt out of pores and give an invigorating facial massage. My skin did actually squeak with cleanliness after using this. There is also an app, which the device “talks to” via sensors, devising cleansing programs suitable for your skin. It can even tell you how dry your skin is (mine had almost no hydration, so I immediately piled on the moisturiser). It’s easy, fun and effective, although I fear my 13-year-old daughter will steal it.
Details £99, foreo.com
Gavanndra Hodge
