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Oct 15, 2024

The 11 Best Facial Tools of 2024

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. There's an option for every kind of skin concern. In This Article InStyle / David

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

There's an option for every kind of skin concern.

In This Article

InStyle / David Hattan

Whether you want to target puffiness, sculpt your jawline, or clear acne, skin care devices can help you achieve your goal. First, it’s helpful to know exactly how these often odd-looking gadgets work. “A facial tool is any device or instrument designed to enhance your skin care routine by helping cleanse, exfoliate, massage, or stimulate the skin,” explains Katie McNaughton, a New York-based aesthetician at Skincerely Rockland Med Spa. “Their main purpose is to boost the efficacy of skin care products, improve skin texture, increase circulation, and address specific concerns like puffiness, fine lines, or dullness. There are a lot of tools that can help the skin immensely and others that do nothing or can even cause harm, so it’s incredibly important to stay informed when buying any sort of facial tool.”

To make sure we recommended only the top-performing facial tools available, we consulted highly sought-after aestheticians and dermatologists to find the best facial tools for every skin concern. From high-tech devices like cleansing brushes to manual tools such as gua sha, here are the facial tools that will level up your skin care game.

“Facial tools can be advantageous because they often amplify the effects of your skin care routine without requiring additional products. For example, tools like facial rollers help reduce puffiness, improve lymphatic drainage, and promote relaxation. More advanced tools like microcurrent devices can stimulate facial muscles for a more toned appearance, while LED masks target acne, inflammation, and signs of aging (depending on the color light being used). Many cheap, ineffective versions of these products exist, so I recommend looking into the brands and the research going into these products. But at the same time, many wonderful options are available, with amazing studies and reviews to prove their efficacy.” —Katie McNaughton, New York-based aesthetician at Skincerely Rockland Med Spa

Why We Love It: After trying practically every tool available, celebrity aesthetician Kristyn Smith recommends TheraFace as a must-have tool. It’s heralded as an all-in-one device, but truly, it’s an eight-in-one solution, courtesy of the various attachments that harness several different energy and physical therapies into one single instrument. A kit includes three percussive attachments, one microcurrent ring, three LED rings (red light for fine lines, blue for acne, and infrared to target deep skin and wrinkles), and one cleansing ring. You can also purchase hot and cold ring add-ons.

Who It’s For: This multitasking tool is perfect for anyone who wants to give their skin the full home-spa treatment. “It has several different modalities that target some of the facial issues that I think have become more prominent since the pandemic,” Smith says, including increased facial tension, which she says is not only uncomfortable, but it can also have a huge impact on the face over time. Yet, the TheraFace’s percussive therapy—a.k.a. rapid and repetitive vibrating pressure— takes the guesswork out of an at-home facial and neck massage; all you have to do is hold the device against your skin. To tighten or lift your visage, simply swap the percussive therapy heads for the microcurrent attachment and get to work stimulating your facial muscles, which then, in turn, increases collagen synthesis within the skin, says Smith.

Type of Tool: Microcurrent, LED, cleansing | Good For: Sculpting, tension relief, brightening | Usage: Daily or weekly (depending on attachment)

Why We Love It: This four-in-one wand features four distinct settings designed to support the skin all within one small, handheld tool that weighs less than an ounce: Red light, low-level microcurrent, low-vibration facial massage, and therapeutic warmth. Not only can it help with facial tone, fine lines, puffiness, and redness, but it gets the job done with only five minutes of your time each day, three days a week.

Who It’s For: This device is small and budget-conscious, making it a great choice for those always on the go. It’s also great before a big night out, as shown by Meghann Fahy at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Makeup artist Emily Cheng used this wand over her entire face, spending extra time on smile lines. “Also, it's great to calm any inflammation or spots on the face prior to makeup,” says Cheng.

Type of Tool: Microcurrent, LED, facial massage | Good For: Fine lines, puffiness, redness | Usage: 3x per week

Why We Love It: Droplette is what happens when two MIT-educated Ph.D. scientists accidentally stumble upon the skin care benefits of micro-mist ingredients while researching how to treat debilitating skin diseases. Throw in a patent and a grant from NASA and you’ve got the Micro-Infuser.

Who It’s For: Those who prefer science-backed tools will appreciate this pick from Droplette. The science behind the Droplette is based on aerosolizing ingredients into a micro-mist, which allows products to penetrate 20 times deeper than a standard topical application, making it 90 percent more effective than other products. If it sounds kind of nuts, take a look at their impressive clinical studies that back it up. While it can only be used with their own proprietary capsules, the skincare ingredients target everything from dehydration to collagen repair.

Type of Tool: Micro-Infuser | Good For: Dull skin, microbiome health | Usage: Daily

Why We Love It: Double-board certified plastic surgeon Hardik Doshi, M.D., only recommends a few facial devices, but he does see promise with cleansing brushes, like this option from Foreo. “They can help to remove dirt, oil, and makeup from the skin more effectively than using your hands alone,” he says, adding that the gentle brush bristles can also exfoliate the skin and improve circulation.

Who It’s For: This multipurpose tool deeply (yet gently) cleanses and sculpts, making it perfect for those seeking both. Foreo’s latest iteration, the Luna 4, is the brand’s most advanced—and universal—cleansing brush yet, thanks to its soft silicone bristles that go easy on ultrasensitive skin and 16 different pulsation options that range from a soft vibration to a more intense pulse for a deep cleanse. Do note it turns off automatically after one minute, whether or not you’re done cleansing.

Type of Tool: Electronic cleansing | Best For: Cleansing, sculpting | Usage: Daily

Why We Love It: Microcurrent devices perform exactly as the name implies: The device sends a low-voltage (a.k.a. micro) current of electricity to the skin and underlying muscles, which triggers a temporary spike in collagen production, causing the facial muscles to contract and tighten. While all NuFace devices are FDA-cleared to visibly contour your face quickly, this Trinity+ lets you level up your experience by pressing the new boost button.

Who It’s For: Long considered a game-changing tool, the NuFace is easy to use and can seriously lift and sculpt the face. The new boost button kicks the microcurrent power into overdrive, offering 25 percent more intensity to target stubborn areas. Keep in mind that NuFace’s activator gel, which conducts the microcurrent from the device to the facial muscles, must be applied to the face before using.

Type of Tool: Microcurrent | Good For: Contouring, lifting | Usage: 5x per week

Why We Love It: CurrentBody’s newest creation is this FDA-approved eye device that hones in on every type of eye area woe, including fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness, to reveal smoother skin and younger-looking eye area. The rechargeable mask has 80 professional-strength LED bulbs that emit four wavelengths—amber, red, deep red, and infrared—to speed up the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin production.

Who It’s For: This anti-aging eye mask targets the delicate eye area to reduce dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines. The combo of wavelengths encourages cellular repair and supports the skin’s natural anti-inflammatory response, leading to a healthier-looking eye area over time. The only drawback is that you must be strict with usage; expect to spend three minutes a day, six days a week, to see results.

Type of Tool: LED mask | Good For: Dark circles, puffiness, fine lines | Usage: Daily

Why We Love It: Few professionals understand facial tools better than famed celebrity aesthetician Joanna Czech. Her world-famous facials often involve some of the most high-tech devices—but when it came to creating her eponymous facial tool, Czech went old school. The roller’s heavy metal orbs mimic the intense, sculpting facial massage Czech is known for to amp up circulation, release jaw and neck tension, and improve lymphatic drainage.

Who It’s For: In just seven minutes a day, Czech says you can “physically change the shape of your face” with this tool for those who want to, counting lifted brows, a defined jawline, and contoured cheekbones as just some of the facial magic this tool can deliver with consistent use. It can’t be used alone, though; it should be paired with a slippery skin care product to reduce friction on the skin.

Type of Tool: Massager | Good For: Tension relief, sculpting, lymphatic drainage | Usage: Daily

Why We Love It: New to gua sha? Grab this tool from Sandra Lanshin Chiu, an acupuncturist, herbalist, and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, who designed this Xiuyan Jade device specifically for beginners to master basic gua sha foundational techniques. If you’re totally lost, follow along with one of her in-depth online tutorials, but when in doubt, hold skin taut and glide the gua sha from the corner of the mouth up towards the top of your ear to contour, lift, depuff, and decongest in a handful of minutes.

Who It’s For: This ethically-sourced jade gua sha effectively kickstarts circulation and depuffs the eye area, making it a great pick for those who regularly can’t get eight full hours of sleep. As a bonus, gua sha also invigorates facial circulation, thus refreshing and brightening the appearance of skin.

Type of Tool: Gua sha | Good For: Lifting, puffiness | Usage: Daily

Why We Love It: This updated device from Dermaflash makes smooth and fuzz-free complexions easy and simple. The facial hair removal tool uses sonic technology (up to 14,000 sonic vibrations a minute) to glide over skin while the microblade safely removes hair and debris.

Who It’s For: You can safely remove facial hair—and dead skin cells—without fear of getting nicked or cut. This device also carefully exfoliates dead skin cells, revealing a smoother complexion and radiant skin. This type of manual exfoliation can give skin a more youthful appearance, too. In clinical trials, 100 percent of testers said their skin looked younger, healthier, and refreshed. It takes a bit of trial and error to get your method down pat with this dermaplaning tool, but once you do, you’re all set.

Type of Tool: Dermaplane | Good For: Exfoliation, hair removal | Usage: Weekly

Why We Love It: Looking to mimic spa-like results from the comfort of your own home? This professional-grade facial steamer from Dr. Dennis Gross will make the experience a snap. The warm, heavy steam will dislodge grime from clogged pores, making extractions easy and pain-free, while encouraging the layers of serums and masks to penetrate deeply into the skin.

Who It’s For: Anyone who regularly indulges in at-home facials will enjoy this steamer. However, even if you’re not giving yourself fantastically indulgent at-home facials, the steamer’s micro-steam setting can promote the skin’s moisture retention and speed up circulation—no extractions needed. Note that this steamer is intense and can cause redness for those with rosacea or sensitive skin.

Type of Tool: Steamer | Good For: Improving hydration, circulation | Usage: Weekly

Why We Love It: LED face masks can treat many skin concerns depending on the color of the light, says celebrity aesthetician Sofie Pavitt, making them her favorite at-home facial tools. This LED mask—which was already buzzy and in demand—hit fever-pitch fame when Bella Hadid was seen using the device. It features 132 medical-grade LEDs with red and near-infrared light to target fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and redness.

Who It’s For: With daily, consistent usage, this mask can stimulate collagen production and refine skin tone, leaving skin looking healthier, radiant, and more youthful, with results starting around six weeks. It’s not as powerful as other (albeit much more expensive) LED light therapy masks, but for the price, we love the results.

Type of Tool: LED | Good For: Fine lines, discoloration, redness | Usage: 3-5x per week

You’ll only see results if you’re consistent, says Czech, who adds that discipline is key. It’s also important to keep your expectations under control, as you’re never going to see the same dramatic results with at-home tools that you would with in-office treatments. At-home facial tools can be effective, but they should also be used in conjunction with a skincare routine, says Dr. Doshi, which includes, at minimum, a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. “Additionally, for more severe acne, hyperpigmentation, or fine lines and wrinkles, it's always best to consult with a board-certified facial plastic surgeon or dermatologist to develop a customized treatment plan,” he says.

Facial devices that use energy modalities in high settings are powerful and should only be used as directed. “I have had to repair damage from multiple at-home devices that were either unsafe or overused,” says Jennifer Levine, M.D., a New York-based double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Before using a new device or tool, read the manufacturer's instructions carefully first. It’s also always wise to start with the lowest setting or intensity level and gradually increase if needed, says Dr. Doshi, who adds that no device should be applied to broken or irritated skin.

Keeping the device clean by sanitizing it after each use to prevent the buildup of bacteria will also ensure maximum safety, but above all else—discontinue use if you experience any pain, discomfort, or adverse skin reactions.

“Overuse of certain devices or using them incorrectly can cause skin irritation or damage,” says Dr. Doshi. For example, a facial cleansing brush is wonderful—but using it too frequently or with too much pressure can damage the skin’s natural protective barrier and potentially cause dryness, irritation, and sensitivity, he says. In general, he says it’s best to start slow with a new facial tool (ideally once a week or every other week) and gradually increase frequency if your skin tolerates it well.

Kristin Limoges is a freelance editor for numerous publications, including Byrdie, Harper’s Bazaar, and WWD Shop, and has nearly a decade of beauty writing experience. Allison Lax is a commerce updates writer who loves an effective facial tool. To compile this list, they consulted with facial plastic surgeons and top aestheticians—Katie McNaughton, Dr. Hardik Doshi, M.D., Dr. Jennifer Levine, M.D., Kristyn Smith, Sofie Pavitt, and Joanna Czech—to lend their expertise and share their favorite products. Kristin also researched and tested numerous facial tools on this list.