Short of surgery, to give the illusion of contoured, sculpted cheeks and a chiselled jawline, makeup has been our go-to - until now. Thanks to a slew of new at-home beauty devices, you can tighten and lift your face without the doctor's help, says editor Trudi Brewer. Here are the beauty tools that have earned their place in her routine.
Manicare microneedle derma roller $40.
To understand how this device can benefit your skin, you need to know what derma-rolling, micro-needling or collagen induction therapy (CIT) can do. The procedure involves repeatedly puncturing the skin with tiny, sterile needles. Each time you pass a dermal roller gently over the skin, it triggers your skin's natural repair response, signalling it to kick-start its collagen production, while helping the active ingredients from the skincare you apply will penetrate deeper.
This new roller hand roller has 540 ultra-fine needles to create micro-sized pathways or channels in the skin and is best used at night.
Why do we like it?
I am already a convert to micro-needling for the way it can transform the look dull, wrinkled skin within months. For blurring the look of acne scarring, stretch marks, enlarged pores, and an uneven skin texture, this will be your skin's saviour. Or for refining fine lines and boosting skin radiance - trust me, get needling. It’s one of the most affordable ways to give your skin that lit-from-within glow, naturally.
How to use it?
The secret to successful micro-needling is to commit to doing it regularly.
To use: Roll horizontally, vertically and diagonally twice in each direction. Start at the forehead, move down the nose, across both cheeks, and then the chin and jawline. Don’t forget your neck and decollete. The most important tip, don't apply pressure; let the weight of the roller be your guide. Once you get used to rolling your skin, you will pick up speed, and it should only take five minutes a day.
Manicare microneedle derma roller $40.
Manicare novaFIT Face Massager $138.
To better understand how this DIY hand-held face massager works, you need to know what regular massage does for your skin. When we feel stressed or tired, we hold all that tension in our jaw and face, which over time causes wrinkles. Face massage is not only relaxing; it relieves that tension while increasing blood flow and kick-starting lymphatic drainage to flush out toxins and boost blood flow to the skin≥
This salon-grade EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) technology massages the skin through movement and gentle contraction with dual massage modes.
Why do we like it?
This hand-held beauty tool creates a mini-workout for your skin while you sit on the couch watching Netflix.
How to use it?
Apply a hydrating serum, moisturiser and then select the mode you fancy. The EMS fitness mode stimulates the muscles in the skin to boost firmness and contour or lift, supporting that fluid drainage from your face. Or choose the relaxation mode, which gently kneads the skin to relieve tension; (brilliant on temples if you have a headache), ultimately lifting and plumping the skin.