5 new at-home beauty gadgets
Updated: Jul. 16, 2019
Forget rushing to spa appointments. These new at-home beauty gadgets remove hair, treat acne and more
At-home gadgets vs. in-office treatments
Until recent innovations in home spa tools, if you wanted body hair removed, it could cost you thousands. It would take up to 45 minutes to get to a cosmetic dermatologist or medspa for laser treatment, another 15 minutes or so for the procedure and you’d have to do it about five times over six months for almost permanent results.
Now, you can stay home and take 30 seconds to “flash” a small area with a light-based hair removal device.
How do home machines for hair removal, wrinkles, deep cleansing and acne reduction stack up to in-office procedures? “They both get you from A to B,” says Dr. Lisa Kellett, a dermatologist in Toronto, but the in-office procedure “is significantly superior and will get you there faster and more effectively.” That’s because the intensity of home devices is toned down for safety reasons. Even so, Kellett cautions you should check with a physician and read the literature that comes with the products before using them. And expect sensations such as tingling or mild discomfort. (Photo: Veer)
Silk’n Hair Removal
What it does: Silk’n uses pulsed light that targets the dark pigment (melanin) in your hair, disabling the hair follicle. You can use it on underarms, full bikini area and legs-anywhere except face and neck.
Similarity to professional treatment: Though Silk’n is not a laser, it has been marketed as an at-home alternative to laser hair removal.
What’s involved: Touch it to the skin and push a button; you’ll see a flash of light. It may feel like the snap of a rubber band on your skin. Use biweekly for the first few sessions.
Who it’s best for: It’s not cheap, so it’s suited for those who regularly get hair removed professionally. Silk’n is made for those with dark hair and light skin because it targets your hair’s dark pigment-it won’t work as well on blondes, redheads or those with white or grey hair.
Safety cautions/concerns: Don’t use it on your face, tanned skin (including tans from a self-tanner), or after recent sun exposure; it may cause burns, scarring and pigment changes. Also, don’t use it on tattoos, large moles or scars.
Results: Clinical studies showed on average a 50 percent reduction in hair three months after three bi-weekly treatments.
Price $800
Silk’n Hair Removal
What it does: Silk’n uses pulsed light that targets the dark pigment (melanin) in your hair, disabling the hair follicle. You can use it on underarms, full bikini area and legs-anywhere except face and neck.
Similarity to professional treatment: Though Silk’n is not a laser, it has been marketed as an at-home alternative to laser hair removal.
What’s involved: Touch it to the skin and push a button; you’ll see a flash of light. It may feel like the snap of a rubber band on your skin. Use biweekly for the first few sessions.
Who it’s best for: It’s not cheap, so it’s suited for those who regularly get hair removed professionally. Silk’n is made for those with dark hair and light skin because it targets your hair’s dark pigment-it won’t work as well on blondes, redheads or those with white or grey hair.
Safety cautions/concerns: Don’t use it on your face, tanned skin (including tans from a self-tanner), or after recent sun exposure; it may cause burns, scarring and pigment changes. Also, don’t use it on tattoos, large moles or scars.
Results: Clinical studies showed on average a 50 percent reduction in hair three months after three bi-weekly treatments.
Price $800
Silk’n Hair Removal
What it does: Silk’n uses pulsed light that targets the dark pigment (melanin) in your hair, disabling the hair follicle. You can use it on underarms, full bikini area and legs-anywhere except face and neck.
Similarity to professional treatment: Though Silk’n is not a laser, it has been marketed as an at-home alternative to laser hair removal.
What’s involved: Touch it to the skin and push a button; you’ll see a flash of light. It may feel like the snap of a rubber band on your skin. Use biweekly for the first few sessions.
Who it’s best for: It’s not cheap, so it’s suited for those who regularly get hair removed professionally. Silk’n is made for those with dark hair and light skin because it targets your hair’s dark pigment-it won’t work as well on blondes, redheads or those with white or grey hair.
Safety cautions/concerns: Don’t use it on your face, tanned skin (including tans from a self-tanner), or after recent sun exposure; it may cause burns, scarring and pigment changes. Also, don’t use it on tattoos, large moles or scars.
Results: Clinical studies showed on average a 50 percent reduction in hair three months after three bi-weekly treatments.
Price $800
ThermaClear Acne Clearing Device
What it does: It delivers a pulse of heat directly to the pimple, neutralizing P. acnes, the bacteria that causes acne.
Similarity to professional treatment: Intense Pulsed Light.
What’s involved: Zap the pimple for two seconds in the morning and at night.
Who it’s best for: Those with mild to moderate acne.
Safety cautions/concerns: Don’t use it around sensitive areas such as eyes, lips or skin lesions.
Results: It claims to clear up blemishes four times faster than not using anything.
Price: $150
Clarisonic Plus with Spot Therapy Brush
What it does: This device deep-cleanses the face, and smoothes elbows and knees.
Similarity to professional treatment: Deep cleansing.
What’s involved: Sonic vibrations reduce rough, dry patches, giving you softer, firmer, smoother skin. You can use it daily.
Who it’s best: for Anyone who wants a deep clean.
Safety cautions/concerns: If you have a skin condition, check with your doctor.
Results: By getting rid of dead skin cells, it helps brighten skin.
Price: $225
Clarisonic Plus with Spot Therapy Brush
What it does: This device deep-cleanses the face, and smoothes elbows and knees.
Similarity to professional treatment: Deep cleansing.
What’s involved: Sonic vibrations reduce rough, dry patches, giving you softer, firmer, smoother skin. You can use it daily.
Who it’s best: for Anyone who wants a deep clean.
Safety cautions/concerns: If you have a skin condition, check with your doctor.
Results: By getting rid of dead skin cells, it helps brighten skin.
Price: $225
Clarisonic Plus with Spot Therapy Brush
What it does: This device deep-cleanses the face, and smoothes elbows and knees.
Similarity to professional treatment: Deep cleansing.
What’s involved: Sonic vibrations reduce rough, dry patches, giving you softer, firmer, smoother skin. You can use it daily.
Who it’s best: for Anyone who wants a deep clean.
Safety cautions/concerns: If you have a skin condition, check with your doctor.
Results: By getting rid of dead skin cells, it helps brighten skin.
Price: $225
Clarisonic Plus with Spot Therapy Brush
What it does: This device deep-cleanses the face, and smoothes elbows and knees.
Similarity to professional treatment: Deep cleansing.
What’s involved: Sonic vibrations reduce rough, dry patches, giving you softer, firmer, smoother skin. You can use it daily.
Who it’s best: for Anyone who wants a deep clean.
Safety cautions/concerns: If you have a skin condition, check with your doctor.
Results: By getting rid of dead skin cells, it helps brighten skin.
Price: $225
Tua Viso
What it does: Electric stimulation tones facial muscles for a firmer face and neck.
Similarity to professional treatment: Electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) and Thermage (intense heat treatment that stimulates collagen)
What’s involved: Hold unit to brows, cheeks or jowls, then press the button to release a current that contracts the muscle. It takes 20 to 30 minutes for a treatment; repeat three times a week.
Who it’s best for: Anyone concerned about wrinkles and aging skin.
Safety cautions/concerns: Don’t use if you have a pacemaker, or in conjunction with Botox.
Results: A small clinical trial conducted at Bologna University in Italy showed visible facial lift and redefinition after three weeks.
Price: $299
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Tända Clear Acne Light Therapy Treatment
What it does: It delivers blue light from a light-emitting diode (LED) to kill P. acnes bacteria.
Similarity to professional treatment: Intense Pulsed Light.
What’s involved: Treat pimples for three minutes in the morning and at night. Blemishes begin to clear in 24 hours.
Who it’s best for: Anyone with mild to moderate or hormonal acne. Studies show it also improves rosacea.
Safety cautions/concerns: Don’t use it if you are taking any kind of steroids or have suspicious lesions on your face.
Results: An in vitro laboratory study for Tända showed an 86 percent reduction in acne-causing bacteria after six minutes of exposure. A clinical study by the Tennessee Clinical Research Center found a significant reduction in acne and overall improvement of the subjects’ skin.
Price: $275
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