We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Beauty Products Skincare The 8 Best Microcurrent Devices of 2024, Tested and Reviewed The TheraFace Pro truly "snatched" our faces By Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer for PEOPLE with two years of experience in the digital media industry. Her expertise lies in the realm of fashion and beauty, where she covers the best products that your wardrobe and makeup vanity need like the best lip oils, boyfriend jeans, workout sets, ballet flats, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Published on January 9, 2024 07:45AM EST In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Add to Cart Things To Consider How We Tested FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Kristin Kempa Practically everything in our lives is electronic — our phones, kitchen appliances, even some cars — so it makes perfect sense that our beauty routines would one day enter the digital age, too. Enter, the microcurrent device: a tool that allows you to achieve the sculpting effects of an electrocurrent facial from the comfort of your own home. “Microcurrent devices are skincare tools that utilize low-level electrical currents to stimulate facial muscles and tissues,” says Dr. Shereen Idriss, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Idriss Dermatology. You can imagine these extremely small currents as a workout for your face — engaging and mimicking the natural electrical signals of your body to tighten and firm the 30-plus muscles in your face, creating a more lifted appearance over time. Instead of “losing weight” in your face to achieve a more contoured look, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kiran Mian attributes this change to the “buildup of muscle for a fuller, more youthful face.” Just as gaining body muscle creates shape, the same happens when you exercise your facial muscles. Ask celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Sydney Sweeney, who are known to favor a quick electrical facial before hitting the red carpet — a small burst of energy is sometimes all your complexion needs to look its best. Aside from “snatching” your face, this type of device is thought to be effective when it comes to anti-aging efforts, collagen production, and even sometimes acne treatment. “It also stimulates blood flow, which increases circulation of the skin,” says Miriam Tuttle, lead esthetician at The Well. “It has a plumping effect to minimize fine lines, improves the texture of the skin, increases tone and brightness, and makes the face look less puffy by increasing lymphatic drainage.” Plus, the low-voltage electrical current is thought to encourage better product absorption — a challenge that we put to the test when we tried 13 microcurrent devices at home. In the end, these seven were the ones that left us looking in the mirror and thinking to ourselves, “Who is that?” Our Top Picks Best Overall: SALE Therabody TheraFace Pro at Amazon $399 $319 Jump to Review Best Overall, Less Expensive: Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand with Red Light Therapy at Solawave.co Jump to Review Best Investment: NuFace Trinity+ Starter Kit at Amazon $395 Jump to Review Best for Beginners: evertone Everlift Microcurrent Device + Free Activating Serum at Evertoneskin.com Jump to Review Best Roller: ReFa Carat Ray Face at Refausa.com Jump to Review Best Sculpting: Foreo Bear at Amazon $329 Jump to Review Best Firming: Ziip Halo at Amazon $399 Jump to Review Best De-Puffing: NuFace Mini+ Starter Kit at Amazon $250 Jump to Review Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum: Isdin Isdinceutics Hyaluronic Concentrate at Amazon $115 Jump to Review Best Gua Sha Tool: Face Gym MultiSculpt at Sephora $66 Jump to Review Best Overall Therabody TheraFace Pro PHOTO: Therabody $319 at Amazon $399 at Nordstrom View on Therabody.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Performance/Effectiveness 5/5 Features 5/5 Overall Look 5/5 Pros Its lightweight body is ergonomic and easy to hold while you treat your skin. The product comes with several percussive heads and temperature-controlled rings to offer different relaxation and treatment methods in just one device. Our features eventually became more defined and our acne was cleared (you can also use your own cleanser with this product). Cons You can’t use every attachment on your neck, so make sure to read the instructions before you move the device past your face. It’s compatible with most cleansers, but not ones with gritty exfoliants or microbeads — so if your go-to face wash has those, you’ll want to wash your face separately. If there’s one sculpting device that cemented its place at the top during our tests, it’s this one. Brought to you by the same company who created the Theragun, which we have also tested, the TheraFace Pro is a lightweight handheld device that contours and depuffs your face. In addition to its sculpting abilities, the device’s LED components work to treat the appearance of wrinkles and acne over time with light therapy. The tool comes with three percussive attachments (cone, micro-point, and flat) to target different parts of your face, one microcurrent ring, an LED ring, a cleansing ring, plus conductive gel and miscellaneous storage accessories. If you’re looking at this device sideways, we don’t blame you — at $400, you want it to deliver the results it promises. But after eight weeks of testing this model at home, we were happy to discover that it truly does. This tool became part of our regular routines, integrating the treatment into our skincare about three times a week on our faces, jawlines, and necks (though we do urge you to read the instructions, as not every attachment is suitable for your neck). We used the conductive gel with every attachment on our device, though the cleansing ring can be used with any cleanser you already own (except for formulas that contain microbeads or exfoliants). All in all, it was beyond easy to maneuver the device on our skin when we followed these directions — only feeling a warm sensation when utilizing the microcurrent and light features. Our favorite part? There were no signs of a sticky residue left behind by the TheraOne conductive gel — a roadblock we’ve run into before with other products. We loved how beginner-friendly this device was, beeping after 15 seconds to indicate that we should move onto the next section of our face and beeping three times to signal that the treatment was over. Each of its LED rings, emitting blue, red, and red infrared light, were great when pinpointing any signs of acne and aging on our faces. It was tough to find a device that had results that lasted longer than just a few hours, but with continual use, we did find that it seemed to give us sharper, less-puffy features once we were done with our treatments (plus, the LED lights worked wonders for our blemishes). If you’re looking for a device that can do a bit more for your complexion rather than your contour, this is the one you should invest in. FDA-cleared: Yes | Treatment time: 8 minutes | Targets: Puffiness, stiffness, acne, fine lines | Technology: Percussive therapy, LED light therapy | Power source: USB-A to USB-C charging cable PHOTO: People / Brian Sanford PHOTO: People / Brian Sanford Best Overall, Less Expensive Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand with Red Light Therapy PHOTO: Ulta View on Solawave.co Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Performance/Effectiveness 3/5 Features 5/5 Overall Look 4.5/5 Pros Its slim design was beneficial in a lot of ways: Its swivel head made it easy to target hard-to-reach spots and it was easy to take on the go. The device only has one function, so it was pretty intuitive to use. The battery lasts pretty long, so you don’t have to worry about it dying often. Cons There’s no indicator that the device is fully charged. The results seemed to be more short-term. With celebrity fans like Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and Jennifer Coolidge, the Solawave Skin Care Wand has a reputation that preceded its arrival in our testing lab. So when this star-approved wand arrived, we were eager to get a hands-on feel for what this device could do for our skin. Sleek in stature with its svelte pink body and rotating red light-emitting head, the wand is equal parts stunning and functional. Over the weeks that we used the Solawave, we grew a fondness for the swivel head and its easy maneuverability over every contour of our faces. We also appreciated its compatibility with virtually any moisturizer or serum we owned, though Solawave does make its own conductive gel that goes with the wand (granted, it’s sold separately). After using the device about three times a week for eight consecutive weeks, we noticed a few things. First, it’s fairly intuitive to use; there’s only one function, a vibrating, red-light therapy mode, so all we had to do was turn it on and concentrate on one area of our faces (we targeted our chins, under-eyes, and foreheads) until it vibrated twice to let us know that it was time to move onto the next section. This made it quite beginner-friendly — plus, it was nice that it held a charge long enough to last us weeks with just one two-hour charging session. We also liked that it came with a travel case and charging cable so we could take it on the go (its small specifications make it easy to slip into a purse or makeup bag). In the end, we did notice that this wand had an positive effect on our skin (albeit short-term) after continuous use — making our complexions appear smoother, less puffy, and no longer inflamed. We especially saw a difference in our under-eyes, where our skin appeared healthier-looking and plumper, especially when we applied our eye cream right before using the wand, which seemed to encourage the product to work more quickly. While we can’t say it made much of a difference when it came to our acne, we did think the general plumpness of our skin prevailed for about 5-6 hours after every use. In the end, we would change one thing — that there would be an indicator that let us know when the device was fully charged. Other than that, this serves as perfect skincare prep for outings when we want our skin to have a little extra star quality. FDA-cleared: No | Treatment time: 12 minutes | Targets: Fine lines, blemishes, puffiness | Technology: Red light therapy, galvanic current | Power source: Magnetic to USB-A charging cord PHOTO: People / Brit Haines PHOTO: People / Brit Haines Best Investment NuFace Trinity+ Starter Kit PHOTO: NuFace $395 at Amazon $495 at Nordstrom $495 at Sephora Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Performance/Effectiveness 4.5/5 Features 5/5 Overall Look 4.5/5 Pros Light and ergonomic, this handheld device was very easy to maneuver. It has interchangeable heads that are made for different parts of the face for optimal treatment. Though the initial results are minimal, there is a sense of immediate gratification when you use this device. Cons We could feel the microcurrents on our skin if the gel ran out, which was a bit uncomfortable. We’re not saying you can get a new face from this NuFace starter kit, but you can certainly get a little lift. “The difference didn't last for days, but it lasted through dinner,” is how one of our testers put it — a slight tightening that made their skin look firmer without being as serious as surgery. This device was pretty easy to use and came with two interchangeable heads (the larger attachment being suitable for your face and neck while the thinner one is best for your eye and mouth areas), a conductive water gel, a tightening cream, and an applicator brush. For its rather steep price, we were happy to see that everything we needed for the best results was included in one purchase. We liked that this device would gently beep to let us know when it was time to start our section over again, coaching us on how quickly we should be gliding through each movement. After each use, we saw a slight change — our skin felt tighter, our faces a little more lifted. But we did notice that if the gel dried up before we got to a spot, we could feel mini shocks from this device, which wasn’t the most comfortable feeling. All in all, we liked this small device for its size, which was easy to handle and store, plus its pretty instantaneous results (even if they only lasted through dinner). While it’s no facelift, the NuFace can certainly make your skin look a bit more youthful in a pinch. FDA-cleared: Yes | Treatment time: 5 minutes | Targets: Sagging skin, fine lines, contouring | Technology: Microcurrent electricity | Power source: Charging dock and power adaptor PHOTO: People / Elena Garcia PHOTO: People / Elena Garcia Best for Beginners evertone Everlift Microcurrent Device + Free Activating Serum PHOTO: evertone View on Evertoneskin.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 4.5/5 Performance/Effectiveness 4.5/5 Features 5/5 Overall Look 4/5 Pros Beeps when it’s time to move onto a new area of your face. Only takes five minutes to do your entire face. Its simple design makes this device intuitive for users of all skill levels. Cons Though noticeable, the results seemed to be pretty short-term. The serum can be irritating to those with sensitive skin. If microcurrent devices sound a bit “Jetsons” for you, then this simple tool is a great way to dip your toes in the water while still experimenting with contouring treatments. The Evertone Everlift device is a slightly less expensive tool similar to the NuFace, each consisting of metal conductor roller balls and an easy-to-hold base. With just one button that selects the level of power you feel like using that day (there are up to five), this typically complicated device is made simpler than ever. With just a few clicks of the power button, we were able to massage the tool over the contours of our cheekbones, foreheads, and jawlines to de-puff and define. Evertone makes an activating serum that acts as the conductive gel for your device, but a word of warning: One of us with combination skin had an allergic reaction to this particular serum. According to the brand, you can use a serum you already have with this product — the serum just has to be water-based to effectively transmit the effects of the microcurrents. We suggest consulting with your dermatologist and patch-testing the serum on the inside of your wrist before implementing this formula into your skincare routine. Though we had many praises to sing for this beginner-friendly product, we did find that even after using this product up to four times a week for eight weeks, it didn’t do much for us in terms of long-lasting effects. However, after just massaging our faces and treating our skin, we could see a noticeable difference — its results just weren’t here to stay. In the end, we thought that its relatively lower price point made this intuitive device a great starting point for skincare fanatics looking to add a little technology into their routines. FDA-cleared: Yes | Treatment time: 5 minutes | Targets: Fine lines, crow’s feet, collagen production, contouring | Technology: 350 microamps | Power source: USB-C charging cord PHOTO: People / Katrina Cossey PHOTO: People / Katrina Cossey PHOTO: People / Katrina Cossey Best Roller ReFa Carat Ray Face PHOTO: Amazon View on Refausa.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Performance/Effectiveness 4.5/5 Features 4/5 Overall Look 4.5/5 Pros This model doesn’t take up much space because of its simple face-roller design, which doesn’t require a cord or charging dock. This model is solar-powered, so you don’t have to worry about charging it or replacing its batteries. It plays nicely with any serum or gel that you already own. Cons Due to its lack of special features, the price of this roller is a little high. If you’re looking for something that has fewer bells and whistles but can still get the job done, then you’ll love this roller from ReFa. This platinum-coated, double-headed tool was our right-hand companion for all things contouring during our testing period — toning our jawlines, defining our cheekbones, and massaging our collarbones with just a few weekly strokes. What was nice about this device was its compatibility with the gels and serums that we already had; it didn’t call for anything specific or fancy. Plus, the microcurrents this roller delivered — powered by a solar panel on the front of the device — were so slight that we couldn’t even feel a warming sensation. However, we did notice a difference over time with this particular model, as our jawlines and cheekbones began to look more sculpted in the long term than others thanks to its double drainage rollers. On the other hand, while this tool did effectively de-puff our faces in the moment, this was a more temporary achievement. For those of you wondering, this process was completely pain-free thanks to the roller balls that move with your skin, rolling along instead of dragging. While we thought we’d feel a more drastic sensation of the microcurrents working with this one, we were still impressed by the toned results we got after a few continuous weeks of using this tool. (However, we expect the effects will fade if we stop using it.) While the price is a little high for a product that doesn’t offer any extra features like LED light therapy or percussive treatments, we think this is one of the best “simple” microcurrent devices you can get if you want an elevated face roller. FDA-cleared: No | Treatment time: 5-15 minutes | Targets: Tension, puffiness, contouring, toning | Technology: Microcurrent | Power source: Solar power PHOTO: People / Alena Kharlamenko PHOTO: People / Alena Kharlamenko Best Sculpting Foreo Bear PHOTO: Ulta $329 at Amazon $329 at Ulta View on Foreo.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 4.8/5 Performance/Effectiveness 4.8/5 Features 4/5 Overall Look 4.8/5 Pros The in-app treatments are easy to set up and follow along with. While the contouring effects of this device are immediate, it also toned our faces in the long term. Its small body and silicone outer make this device easy to hold during every treatment, even with slippery hands. Cons The currents are pretty intense, so it was easy for the device to deliver uncomfortable shocks if we tried too high of a level. We weren’t fans of the serum that was included with the device. Stars and influencers alike have been fans of the muscle-toning Foreo Bear, a handheld device that essentially gives your facial muscles a workout with its 10 levels of microcurrents and preset programs. While all of these options seemed daunting, it was actually pretty easy to get the Bear up and running. There’s an app that you can download that goes hand in hand with this device, allowing you to select the microcurrent level that you’re comfortable with (we didn’t try to go higher than level four because of the strength of its shockwaves) and choose between three facial “workouts” that target different areas of the face (think cheekbones, eye area, jawline): “Total Facial Knockout,” “Contour Cardio,” and “Gentle V-shape Yoga,” each lasting about two and a half minutes. Because of its small design and silicone material, it was super easy to hold and glide the metal nodules across our skin, even when our hands were slick with the conductive serum that the device required. However, we weren’t fans of this serum — it was so watery that our skin often felt wet, and sometimes the tool would zap us if we used too much. On the other hand, if we used too little, it would dry up and leave our skin without lubrication for the nodules to glide, causing the device to pull on our skin. It’s a delicate dance, but we eventually found a middle ground. We will say, however, that this is the one device that caused us to look in the mirror and feel unrecognizable. From the very first use, we noticed a distinct difference between our pre-treated faces and our sculpted features afterward, carving out our cheekbones ever so slightly and making our brows look more lifted. While this is no alternative for a facelift, the Bear was certainly a great temporary solution that ended up having longer-term benefits — it even helped with our TMJ symptoms, which was an unexpected bonus. FDA-cleared: Yes | Treatment time: Approx 2.5 minutes | Targets: Aging, firming | Technology: Microcurrent | Power source: USB charging cord PHOTO: People / Danielle Ransom PHOTO: People / Danielle Ransom PHOTO: People / Danielle Ransom Best Firming Ziip Halo PHOTO: Ziip $399 at Amazon View on Ziipbeauty.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 3.8/5 Performance/Effectiveness 4.7/5 Features 4.5/5 Overall Look 5/5 Pros Its apt design was able to fit into even the most hard-to-reach areas of our faces. We liked the included conductive gel — not too sticky and lasted throughout the duration of our treatments. We noticed an immediate difference in the lifted and plump appearance of our skin. Cons This device had a steeper learning curve and took some getting used to. The electrical currents were rather strong for our initial liking. If you’ve ever looked at a celebrity on the red carpet and coveted their bright, youthful appearances, you’re not alone — and the secret is that they’ve usually had a little help from pre-carpet treatments like facials, massages, and even a little shock therapy. Jennifer Aniston is a known fan of the brand, and Elizabeth Olsen told Harper’s Bazaar UK that the dual waveform device (a combination of micro- and nano-currents) is one of her “favorite things to use” when her face feels tired. We’d have to agree with Olsen, as the zaps that came off of this device were certainly enough to wake us up — in fact, they were so powerful at times that our metal orthodontia, like permanent retainers, started to buzz when we slid the globes in areas around our mouths. However, we soon became accustomed to the light vibrations and found that its svelte design allowed us to get into hard-to-reach areas, like our brow bones and under-eye areas, which we really loved. It was a bit harder to understand the ins and outs of this device than others, but after downloading the app, we found that we were able to get the hang of it after trying a few guided programs. We’re also pretty picky about the conductive gels that each device calls for, so we were pleased to find that this serum was everything that we were looking for — non-sticky, non-irritating, and didn’t dry out before we were done with our treatments. In general, it’s safe to say that we were very happy with how our faces looked after just one use (the term one tester used was “snatched”), and it continued to show long-term results as we used the device more frequently. “This is the only skincare device I've used that actually does what it promises to do,” the tester concluded. FDA-cleared: Yes | Treatment time: 4-10 minutes | Targets: Anti-aging, toning | Technology: Dual waveform technology (microcurrent and nanocurrent) | Power source: USB-C charging cable Best De-Puffing NuFace Mini+ Starter Kit PHOTO: Dermstore $250 at Amazon $250 at Nordstrom $250 at Ulta Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Performance/Effectiveness 4/5 Features 5/5 Overall Look 4/5 Pros This small device had all of the benefits of the full-size Nuface Trinity, just in a travel-friendly version. Its accompanying app allows you to try targeted treatments as well as use the device manually. The price is a bit lower than several others on the market today, making this model more budget-friendly. Cons The gel was prone to drying out before we could get to that section of our face, which resulted in a lot of stop-and-go. Don’t feel like splashing out on the full-size NuFace Trinity? We don’t blame you — which is why the discovery that this de-puffing extraordinaire device has a smaller, less expensive version was a big win for us. If you stack the original NuFace and mini version next to each other, you’ll see a significant difference. One is taller and comes with a few extra bells and whistles (eye and lip attachments, targeted treatments), while the other is stout and comes in a few cute colors — but what doesn’t change is the microcurrent technology. The mini has the same three levels of gentle electricity that can be used to wake up and tone the muscles in your face, resulting in an instantly de-puffed appearance that can last for a couple of hours. Its metal globes were cooling on our skin, fitting perfectly into the contours of our cheekbones and jawlines to give a bit more definition while migrating between its three gentle microcurrent settings depending on the app-selected program we were using. The conductive gel that came with the mini starter kit performed somewhat well, never causing irritation or breakouts, but it did tend to dry down easily. This resulted in us having to apply the gel section by section to get the most out of the treatment, which was, admittedly, a bit bothersome. If we did feel a bit of a shock, it was only when we had the device working on the highest level, which felt like the smallest snap of a rubber band — only mildly uncomfortable. Though we could certainly see a difference in the puffiness of our skin pre-treatment and immediately afterward, we question its staying power after more than a dinner out. For $250, we appreciate how much this little device can do: The app allows you to try targeted sessions for different areas of your face and you can essentially get the same benefits of the full-size device for significantly less. If you want something that’s on the more cost-conscious side (though these are all arguably splurges), we think this would be the one to try. FDA-cleared: Yes | Treatment time: 5-10 minutes | Targets: Puffiness, toning | Technology: Microcurrent | Power source: USB charging cord PHOTO: People / Sophia DeVito PHOTO: People / Sophia DeVito PHOTO: People / Sophia DeVito Add to Cart While you decide which microcurrent device to go with (there's a lot to choose from, we know!), consider these other PEOPLE-Tested skincare must-haves. Our team diligently and thoroughly tests each product, putting them through the ropes to sift out everything but the best. Isdin Isdinceutics Hyaluronic Concentrate $115 at Amazon $115 at Dermstore $109 at Isdin.com Face Gym MultiSculpt $66 at Sephora View on Facegym.com View on Spacenk.com L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Cream $26 at Amazon View on Lorealparisusa.com Glow Recipe Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum $48 at Amazon $45 at Sephora View on Glowrecipe.com Things to Consider When Buying a Microcurrent Device Treatment Type Just as you’d book specific facials for different outcomes — a light therapy session for dark spots or microneedling for wrinkles — each microcurrent device brings something different to the table. Roller-ball designs like the Evertone Everlift can also be used as massagers in addition to their microcurrent ways, making models like this one a great choice for someone who wants their investment to offer more than just an electrical charge. On the other hand, some tools like the SolaWave Skin Care Wand only provide light therapy settings. Designed to treat puffiness and acne instead of contouring your cheekbones for that “facelift” effect, the Solawave is more of a complexion device rather than a sculpting one. And if you want a real face workout, you can opt for the Foreo Bear — a device that comes with an app loaded with choreographed settings that spot-treat specific areas of the face. Though these are far from the only options a microcurrent device can offer, it’s important to consider which kinds of treatments are most important to you before deciding on a final model. (And if you want one that can do pretty much everything, we suggest the Theraface Pro.) Device Design While all of these devices are handheld, several design factors separate one from the other. For example, the Evertone Everlift and ReFa Carat Ray Face feature Y-shaped rollerball heads that are meant to act as sculpting devices, fitting into the contours of your cheekbones, jawline, forehead, and neck to work away at lymphatic drainage. On the other hand, the TheraFace Pro and Solawave were designed with flat heads to work over the skin rather than sculpt it (though you can swap the TheraFace’s head for percussive attachments depending on your desired treatment). If you want to be able to get into the harder-to-reach areas of your face, like your eyebrows or lips, you can opt for a device with small, swappable prongs like the NuFace Trinity+. The Ziip Halo was another model that was able to reach even the tough areas of our faces like our under-eyes thanks to its small stature. Consistency The best things in life are the ones worth waiting for, right? Well, that’s one notion that every interested shopper needs to keep in mind when their microcurrent device shows up at their doorstep. “In-office treatments have much more power,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban. "Home devices are relatively low, so consistency is key. The more you use these devices, the more results you will see.” Just like the use of a cream for wrinkles can take weeks to provide benefits, many devices claim to show results after 6-8 weeks, which means that it may take about two months or longer to see more permanent results from your dedicated treatment. “It’s like going to the gym,” Dr. Idriss adds. “You might see temporary results immediately after using it; however, you need to be consistent in order to see long-term results.” People / Katrina Cossey How We Tested Trying out 13 microcurrent devices at home was a labor of love, but one we were more than willing to take on here at PEOPLE Tested. Over the course of eight weeks, we massaged, sculpted, and pampered our faces with a range of new and popular tools, assessing each facet for a variety of qualities — ease of setup, in-hand comfort, maneuverability, conductive gel quality — the list goes on. But the most important rating of all came after the eight weeks concluded, when we recorded whether or not these devices really did make a difference in the way our faces and complexions looked. Since every device was unique from the next, each tester carefully read and obliged by the instructions that came with each handheld and its accompanying accessories, if relevant. This includes interchangeable heads, charging cords and/or docks, and the cleaning process that each requires. However, each tester used their device as frequently as its instructions required, most being around three to five times per week. Each tester prepped for their treatments by washing their faces with an oil-free cleanser and then applying the conductive gels or serums that were compatible with their devices. From there, they went about their individualized treatments depending on the type of tool they had and the personal goals they set for said device (i.e. more sculpted cheekbones, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, etc.). If the tool had digitally timed treatments, then the testers would wait for the device to notify them that it was time to move to another section of their faces. But if it was a solar-powered or roller device, then the testers would spend at least 20-30 seconds per section before moving onto the next. After their treatments were done, each product was carefully cleansed with a clean tissue to avoid bacteria buildup and stored or charged accordingly. Throughout the eight weeks, we recorded their real, honest feedback and graded the qualities of each device on a scale from one to five (five being the best) before leaving an overall rating of its performance. Spoiler alert: You just read the list of which ones ended up making the cut. People / Alena Kharlamenko Frequently Asked Questions How often should you use a microcurrent device to see results? While usage will look different according to each device (something you can usually find in the instructions), you can expect to use most of these devices several times a week, or even daily, depending on your treatment type. Dr. Shamban recommends about five minutes of use per day, though this is subject to change depending on your particular device. “Oftentimes results are immediate but fleeting, where you may see or feel an instant lift but it is temporary,” she says. “Ongoing cumulative results that are more permanent benefits take considerable time.”As previously mentioned, it may take up to eight weeks to see longer-lasting effects after dedicated use, but rest assured that they can happen. A few professionally administered microcurrent treatments can do far more in a shorter amount of time than a home device, but you can still reap the benefits of these tools with a bit more time and effort. “You can generally get great results from a professional machine with treatments monthly,” says Tuttle. “For an at-home device, you may need to use it around five days per week to get similar results.” Is there anyone who shouldn’t use microcurrent devices? While these tools are safe for most people, there are certain cases in which people should avoid using a microcurrent device or receiving an electrocurrent treatment from a professional. “Pregnant women and nursing people should stay away from these devices or discuss with their appropriate doctors before trying any technology, tool, or device,” advises Dr. Shamban. “These devices should also not be used by anyone who has epilepsy, cancer, or who has had a recent facial surgery,” she adds. Dr. Mian suggests that those with metal plates or a history of blood clots avoid using these devices, as well. If you’ve recently gotten Botox treatment or fillers, you can still partake in the microcurrent craze — just be sure to wait two to four weeks before going back in with your favorite device, according to Tuttle.As with all new skincare products, Dr. Shamban recommends conducting a patch test with the tool and conduction gel or serum to make sure that your skin doesn’t react poorly before going straight to your face. How should you prepare your skin before using your device? Depending on your device, prep will look different for everyone, but the first step is to start with a clean face. “I always recommend a double cleanse first,” says Tuttle. The next step is to go in with your conductive gel or a serum that is compatible with your tool. “Some devices come with a serum, which is usually a hyaluronic acid serum that helps with gliding the device over the skin,” says Dr. Mian. These kinds of gels help the microcurrent reach the skin, thus helping your products permeate the dermis and stimulate your muscles. “Avoid excess tugging or pulling on the skin, and use a topical glide for smooth application,” Dr. Mian adds.Your skin is now prepared, but what should you be prepared for? “You should feel a slight tingle, [and] there is often a metal taste in the mouth,” says Tuttle. “And there may be occasional twitching of the muscles.” So if you find that gliding over a certain area in your cheek makes your eye twitch, it’s normal — don’t worry. Are there any post-treatment steps to take? Once you’ve completed your treatment, you’re free to wash off your conductive gel (if the instructions of your device say to do so) and finish your skincare routine as you normally would. Add a skin-tightening cream for a double anti-aging boost.Though many people use this device before going out to an event like dinner (or in the stars’ case, a red carpet) to don an extra-fresh face, it can be helpful to integrate this step into a particular time of day to build a habit. “There is no specific time of day that is best, but you can make it part of your nighttime ritual to practice consistency,” Dr. Idriss recommends.All there’s left to do is carefully clean off your device and set it aside for the next treatment. Why Trust PEOPLE? Alyssa Brascia is a shopping writer for PEOPLE specializing in fashion and beauty. She has also written shopping stories for other Dotdash Meredith brands such as InStyle, Shape, and Southern Living. For this piece, she called on the expertise of three board-certified dermatologists and an accomplished esthetician to get the most sound advice when it comes to complex beauty tools such as microcurrent devices. Brascia relied heavily on the real-world findings of PEOPLE Tested volunteers, where testers routinely used each device for eight weeks to determine which tools were up to the PEOPLE standard, leaving five on the cutting floor. Meet Our Experts Dr. Ava Shamban is a Beverly Hills-based board-certified dermatologist and founder of both Ava MD Dermatology and Skin Five Medical Spas. She and her team offer several treatments involving low-voltage currents and microcurrent therapy, making her a practiced source for this kind of treatment. Dr. Kiran Mian is a New York City-based board-certified medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatologist at Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery. Her expertise lies at the intersection of cosmetics and medicine, making her no stranger to the recent trend of microcurrent therapy and at-home treatments in her own practice. Dr. Shereene Idriss is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, founder of Idriss Dermatology, and the creator of the #PillowtalkDerm series on Instagram. Dr. Idriss also has her own line of skincare products, aptly named Pillowtalk Derm, where you can shop dermatologist-formulated products that aim to prevent the appearance of aging, puffiness, hyperpigmentation, and more. Miriam Tuttle is the lead esthetician at New York City’s flagship location of The Well, a wellness center that provides a full-service spa, cafe, and fitness studio, and offers various forms of medical practice — including the “Remodeling Facial,” which utilizes a bio-electrotherapy machine and serves as the facility’s professional version of a microcurrent treatment. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.