Hi, friend! Happy Saturday. Doing a different Saturday post today because truth be told, this girl needs a little TLC. I’m going to give myself the gift of time to do a hair mask, a face mask and an at-home mani-pedi. Oh, and the time to rest!
If there’s anything that I’ve learned so far that hard way, it’s that if your body is telling you to rest, you absolutely have to listen. So that’s what I’m gonna do. 🙂
Before I get started with some much-needed self-care, though, I wanted to ask you a quick question about skin care devices.
I’ve been thinking a lot about skin lately! It’s partly because I’m currently writing for a Korean skin care brand (fun); it’s also because as I’m getting closer to leaving my 40s, I feel like my skin is rapidly changing, and my skin care needs are changing, too.
I read a story recently about handy skin care devices to have around when you don’t have time to book a facial, and I’m thinking that I’d like to start using some gadgets and gizmos in my routine.
Do you happen to use any skin care tools/devices that you like? What do you like, and what don’t you like? I would love to get some input as the last device I used was a Clarisonic brush in my 30s!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. I hope your weekend is off to a peaceful start.
I bought a. Foreo Luna Mini 3 a couple years ago at the mothership and I adore it.
I really thought any kind of electric scrubbing thing was just a lot of hype but it’s made a big difference in my skin texture and appearance. I highly recommend.
The charge lasts forever. I think I usually use mind twice a week because I’m pretty sensitive. And I think I went six or nine months before I had to charge it.
I also think I’m using less product because of that thing–all the gunk is out of the way so my moisturizers and whatnot go a lot longer.
Longer isn’t the right word–a smaller amount of product is going further because my skin is smoother and cleaner.
I’ve heard good things about the Foreo!
I once bought the PMD microdermabrasion but returned it because I didn’t notice a difference and wondered if it was too much for my slightly sensitive skin. Plus I’m apprehensive if home devices can actually work. A good blog to read about devices is TheSkinCareEdit. One thing she highly recommends is the red light therapy.
My upcoming skincare goal is to go to the skin esthetics school in my city and do a series of a light chemical type facials. It’s very affordable and they give great facials.
And keep my home care simple so it’s not too harsh. I’m 46 with dry dry skin that I’m trying to fix.
Great, CC! Thanks for the reading recommendation. I’ll check it out!
The woman-owned natural skincare line I love, Me Time Botanicals, launched an “everything device” last fall. It’s a handheld microcurrent, but it also incorporates light therapy (red for collagen boosting, blue for acne, and green to sooth redness.) You can use those in tandem with the microcurrent and also the cleansing and pulse modes (pulse helps serums work into the skin.) At half the cost of my former big-name microcurrent device, I like it a lot better.
How interesting! How often do you use it?
After using it 5 times a week for the first month or so, I do the microcurrent 3 times a week for maintenance. I use the cleansing and pulsing mode every night (just takes a couple of minutes). The cleansing mode with the blue light has really helped my hormonal cystic acne and the green light on the cool mode helps when my rosaea flares.
I am in my 60s and have never used skincare devices. To me they are just a hassle as one has to think about incorporating them regularly in one’s skincare regime. I personally believe that if you have the correct products you need for your skin concerns and use them religiously, you don’t need devices. A skincare specialist whom I respect greatly has said this as well. I do know that some people enjoy some of the tools that provide a good massage because they find it relaxing, rather than improving their skin.
Good things to think about, Nicole. I may revamp my products in the future!
No devices here. My skin routine is pretty basic due to allergic reactions, eczema, and rosacea, but I do use prescription retinoids along with prescriptions for rosacea. I had a pretty noticeable pitted scar on my cheek after jaw surgery last summer and with tretinoin it’s now barely noticeable.
I have to get on it and grab a prescription! What strength did you start at?
Hi Karen! I must have the oldest Luna ever – I bought it when it first launched in Europe and it is still in a great shape. When I was younger, I loved experimenting with products, and if the NU face gizmos had been around back then, I’m sure I would have got one. Alas, I developed rosacea in my early thirties, and now I need to be super careful about the stuff I put on my face. At the moment, it’s just rosacure cream (v. good), some eye cream and loads of mineral SPF…so no devices for me unfortunately…and no actives, not even bakuchiol or vitamin C 🙁
I tried the foreo and wasn’t a fan. If you let your face get too dry, it shocks you a bit, and the results are very temporary.
I do, however, love red light therapy. I currently get it once a week at my dermatologist, but I’m looking at the omnilux at home mask so I can use it more frequently. The omnilux has the right light frequencies, and I love that it has a neck, chest, and hand add on as well. I do see a difference in my skin with the red light, it’s relaxing, easy to do (the foreo requires work— with red light you just lay there or read), and it has science to back up its efficacy. The results are also not temporary, which is nice.
I tried the NuFace but the time involved was longer than I wanted to spend for temporary results. I have the Omnilux face mask and love it. There is a difference in the texture and appearance of my skin. You and Rosey could spend 10 minutes in the morning while she explains the scientific benefits behind the red lights of the mask as you wear it. I’d like to get the Omnilux neck wrap as well. I am trying the Nira. Can’t give you any feedback yet. I’m 70 but have been mistaken for younger.