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Tired skin and fine lines don’t always require injections (or a scalpel) for a fix. As someone who has tested dozens of beauty tools, experience has taught me that the best microcurrent devices can depuff, lift, and produce a more youthful, rested appearance — and fast!

“Microcurrent uses electrical pulses to tone, lift, and re-educate muscles,” shared Kailey Boland, lead esthetician at facial studio Practice NYC. “It also stimulates cellular energy, ATP, improving skin tone and texture,” she explained.

In the 60s and 70s, the treatment was reserved for facial paralysis and tissue repair, but by the 80s, spas were using the technology, once it was discovered that it visibly toned and sculpted skin.

While many people (mainly beauty editors) describe these devices as a workout for your face, I think it’s more accurate to say they provide a natural-ish way to promote collagen, the main protein responsible for skin firmness and buoyancy.

We begin to lose collagen in our mid-twenties, which can result in sagging, crepiness and fine lines. Microcurrent is one of the few beauty technologies to help with skin density and wrinkle reduction by stimulating the body’s fibroblasts to produce more of this beauty protein. It’s a gentler, more holistic alternative to fillers or invasive surgical procedures.

The amperage used at aesthetic dermatology clinics and facial studios is higher, with complex frequencies. This allows them to achieve more dramatic results. (We were lucky enough to experience this firsthand when we visited Practice NYC last summer.)

However, if you don’t have access to a medspa or simply can’t afford to do frequent treatments, at-home microcurrent devices are an alternative.

“Preferences can be personal, but it’s important to think about comfort, ease and ergonomics as well as time settings and ability to adjust intensity,” explained Boland in regard to choosing a device for private use. “At-home devices are less powerful and tend to feel more zappy, but can be great for a quick lifting effect before an event, or as a way to maintain professional results at home.”

To help me recommend the best, I had a few members of Post Wanted play guinea pigs to find which ones were best for the body, depuffing and creating that “snatched” look.

The NuFace Trinity+ is considered the gold standard by many beauty editors and skincare lovers for its overall effectiveness. Designed to treat the seven areas of the face, it has three intensity settings, plus a boost button that amps up the microcurrent by 25% to lift sagging skin and reduce deeper lines. You have to use it consistently to see these types of results, obviously, but many users note improvement in less than a month.

It includes an attachment with an LED light to calm inflammation, as well as attachments that target the area around the eyes and lips. If you really want a professional-style type of treatment, download the app that has tutorials that can be tailored to your specific needs.

New York Post Review: “Let me cut to the chase: this thing gives immediate results. Like, treated-eyebrow-half-an-inch-higher-than-the-other results. And after two weeks of consistent use — morning sessions, clean face, conductive gel slathered on like I was prepping for daily facial ultrasounds — I caught myself in the mirror and had to do a double-take.

“The lift is subtle but absolutely undeniable, especially if you’re sleep-deprived, dehydrated or generally weathering life like a peach in a produce bag.

“Besides those immediate results, it’s not a magic wand. This is about maintenance, not miracles. It’s a 10-minute ritual that requires discipline, something I typically run out of. But when I do use it, the results speak for themselves: firmer, tighter, glowier skin that garners double takes from friends and family…and myself.” — Kendall Cornish, associate commerce editor

Settings: Three | Commitment: Once per day for five to 20 minutes for the first 60 days; (maintenance) two to three times per week | Design: Cordless; USB charger

K-beauty brand medicube has gone viral for its glass skin-producing skincare and devices. While there was some controversy over the medicube Age-R Booster Pro, the brand adamantly denied that the device caused Bell’s Palsy and there’s no real evidence suggesting that microcurrent causes the disorder. For this reason (and the fact is really does sculpt your face), the Age-R Booster Pro remains popular.

Less than $200, it’s one of the most affordable microcurrent devices on the market but the Mini Booster Pro is even cheaper! It offers two light therapies — red for collagen boosting, blue for calming inflammation — and up to five intensities of microcurrent.

New York Post Review: “The NuFace Mini was my entryway into microcurrent, and I saw how effective it was for plumping when I was consistent. The buzz about the medicube is what made me willing to take a break from it — just to see what all the fuss was about.

“It really was love at first try. I loved its lightweight and slim design, as well as its easy-to-use technology. You don’t have to use a conductive gel with it, but it can, allegedly, help products absorb better, so I use it after applying my vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid. Even at level 1, its microcurrent feels stronger than the NuFace.

“After one use of this thing, my skin looked completely re-energized. I use it almost every day now — definitely at least five days a week. I’ve noted that the general health of my skin has improved. It’s bouncier and thicker, and I really care about the latter, because thinning skin is what gets the crepiness and lines.

“The medicube mini has become one of my favorite beauty tools and the one I recommend most to people who want a single device that delivers results they don’t need a year or even 30 days to see.”

Settings: Five | Commitment: Once per day for five minutes for the first 30 days; (maintenance) two to three times per week | Design: Cordless; USB charger

The skin on our face isn’t the only thing some of us would like to improve. NuFace was the first ever FDA-approved at-home microcurrent, and its award-winning design is a favorite of one of our editors. Paired with its microcurrent activator gel, it sends gentle currents through the epidermis to trigger collagen production.

New York Post Review: “I started using the NuBODY after a particularly unhinged month of travel and wine a few years back, when everything below my neck felt like a memory foam mattress losing its elasticity.

“The device itself is about two to three times the size of the NuFace Trinity, but it’s just as intuitive to use. After a week of gliding it over my thighs, arms and stomach while watching reruns of “Farmer Wants a Wife”, I noticed a shift. Less puffiness, more tone, and (most noticeably) the kind of surface-level smoothness that makes lotion seem to absorb better and short skirts feel better.

“It’s not a cellulite eraser (nothing is, short of surgery and lies), but it does make my limbs look smoother and my skin bounce back faster. If you’re looking for a highly effective way to de-puff, this is one of the few tools that’s actually worth the time and money.” — Cornish

Settings: Four | Commitment: Once per day for five to 20 minutes for the first 60 days; (maintenance) two to three times per week | Design: Cordless; USB charger

For multiple skin concerns, such as uneven texture, fine lines and elasticity loss, the Foreo Bear 2 has a lot to offer. With 680 microamps of electricity, it has four different types of microcurrent ( advanced, lifting, tapping and sculpting), which can be used during treatment for a more customizable experience. In a clinical trial conducted by a third party, 100% of users saw improvement in sagging within the 28 day test. Similarly, 32% saw reduced fine lines and wrinkles within two weeks.

New York Post Review: “I used to use a Foreo Bear religiously, but after a few years of daily use, it started not working as well, and I lost my enthusiasm. I picked the Foreo over competitors because I experienced much less annoyingly uncomfortable shocks than other microcurrent devices I tried.

“Fast forward to a month ago, when I acquired the new and improved Foreo Bear 2, which claims to “lift, firm and tone the face and neck.” My skin had started looking less toned, but I thought it was caused by my toxic traits (like lack of sleep and not drinking enough water) — until I started again with the daily sessions.

“I know it sounds implausible, but from the first Bear 2 session, I saw slight skin tightening at my jaw and cheeks. You can use the Bear on a manual setting, but the Foreo app walks you through two-minute facial toning programs, which is helpful for using it correctly. You must apply a conductive serum first for the microcurrents to be effective. It also has additional features, like a massaging function that diminishes puffiness, which is especially nice after eating too many French fries.

“After using it for a few weeks (and I don’t have time every day), I can definitely notice an improvement in facial tone, texture and tautness. Dare I say that my skincare is absorbing better, and I wake up more glowy and smooth than before? Maybe it’s not remarkable enough that anyone has accused me of getting work done, but I am chuffed with the difference and am back to being a devoted user.

“The downside for me is the price of the serum, so I swap it for a more cost-efficient, vegan brand. Also, some app treatments are only available for a monthly charge. It comes with a small stand, so it has a place sink-side, and the compact size doesn’t have too big a footprint. I also appreciate that it only takes two minutes a day to get better skin beyond what skincare alone can do.” — Erica Radol, Page Six commerce reporter

Settings: 10 | Commitment: Two minutes, five days per week for the first 60 days; (maintenance) two to three times per week | Design: Cordless; USB charger

To determine which microcurrent devices were the best, we considered the following things:

Yes, microcurrent works for improving the appearance of aging skin.

In a 2023 study published in the Journal of the Korean Society of Cosmetology, researchers noted that subjects who used microcurrent on one part of their face saw improved dermal density and reduced eye wrinkles in the treated area.

Similarly, a 2021 study showed that microcurrent increased ATP production and encouraged cellular regeneration.

No, microcurrent doesn’t hurt. While users will feel a slight tingling or zap in the treatment area, it is mild and should be painless. It’s important to note that those who have braces or metal crowns may experience a metallic taste in their mouth during a treatment. This should be temporary and resolve itself in up to three days.

Yes, microcurrent can help lift jowls by strengthening the muscles beneath to give the skin a more lifted look. A 2025 study showed it was effective at firming skin, as well as reducing the look of fine lines.

However, research also indicates these types of improvements are most likely to be seen in those with signs of mild to moderate sagging. For more extreme cases, other treatment modalities may be more effective.

Most dermatologists agree that microcurrent is an effective treatment when it comes to lifting skin and promoting better skin health. However, maintenance requires consistent use and at-home devices are not as strong as the ones used at a medispas or medical offices.

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