Once upon a time, all we had in our bathroom beauty arsenal was a face mask and (if we were lucky) an exfoliator. How times have changed. Thanks to huge advancements in the world of skincare and technology we are now able to mimic professional beauty treatments at home with a huge array of hi-tech at-home facial gadgets and tools. But which do we use and rate? Here’s how the 35 Thousand team get their glow on.
The at home facial
Foreo UFO II
This palm-sized gadget is a bit like the Swiss Army knife of the beauty world. If you haven’t seen it before, it’s a round silicon covered disc-shaped gadget with one side that has a ring round it that lights up (hence the name). On this (flat) side you attach one of the Foreo masks (you scan the barcode on the back of the mask so your device knows which one you are using) and a synced app on your phone will talk you through the next steps.
“Placing the UFO II against your skin it will either then vibrate (sonic massaging), use full spectrum light therapy, warm up to deliver ingredients into your skin and cool down to close pores. Editorial Director Susannah Taylor uses one and says “It’s a very clever piece of kit that makes skincare work harder. It’s perfect for these times when we can’t make it to a spa and my skin looks radiant since I’ve started using it. However the one downside is that you have to use the Foreo masks with it when you may prefer to use your favourite brand.”
Buy here
The Microcurrent device
ZIIP GX
The ZIIP is a handbag sized electrical facial tool that promises healthier more glowy skin. It uses nanocurrents and microcurrents to communicate with your skin cells, increasing their effectiveness and encouraging the production of elastin and collagen. Misty Reich founder of 35 Thousand says “It’s super portable and I love that there are different treatment programs you activate via an app on your phone that then load onto the device via Bluetooth. Each one also comes with a video which you mirror at home. Programs span 1-12 minutes and can be super focused – for example you can choose depuffing and brightening the eyes or treat your whole face and neck.”
The downside, Misty says, “Is that the shape of the device can make it tough to get into some parts of the face (such as round the eyes) and it has two larger contact metal pads that both have to be touching your face for the device to work. However the glow factor is great.”
Buy here ziipbeauty.com and here for Nuface Trinity
NUFACE Trinity
The Nuface is an advanced microcurrent device which helps to improve facial contours, tone skin, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles – all in just 5 minutes a day. With two models – Trinity and Mini – they both have similar power levels, but the Trinity is bigger and you can change the treatment heads to sizes and shapes to address specific areas (ie eyes or body). Meanwhile, the mini version is very portable, and great for on the go.
“The device beeps at regular intervals to tell you to move to another area and you can find and print out treatment programs to follow,” says Misty Reich, however she says the one downside is that there is no app to follow. “Microcurrent in general can give great results if used regularly for lifting and tightening – it has a subtle but real impact,” she says, “They all require use of a conducting gel of some sort- they will try to sell you their gel but Aloe Vera gel works great for me too.”
Buy here
The Contouring bar
The Gold Bar, Jillian Dempsey
Jillian Dempsey’s Gold bar is a high-tech 24 carat gold vibrating bar that promises to lift, contour, tone and revive skin. “I’m a big fan of this product,” says PR director and journalist Anna-Marie Solowij “It delivers a deep massage, making my skin glow, while helping to prop up sagging jowls and iron out ‘tech neck’ lines. I was lucky enough to have a masterclass with Jillian, in her studio in LA, and the way she used it wasn’t what I expected – with really firm pressure, working upwards to counteract gravity. Pre COVID, it was a key prep tool in my arsenal before a night out; ironically, now I’m not going out but have more time, I find I’m using it more.”
Buy here
The Dermaplaning tool
The Hollywood Smoother
Over the last few years, dermaplaning – the removal of the peach fuzz (known as ‘vellus’ to the beauty world) from your skin – has risen in popularity. According to CurrentBody who stock a huge selection of electrical beauty products, there has been a 58% lift of sales in home dermaplaning products since the beginning of lockdown. Here at 35 Thousand we feel it’s best to have a consultation with a dermaplaning expert before you attempt it yourself at home (removing the wrong type of hair can cause it to grow back thicker), however once you’ve learnt the ropes the Hollywood Smoother – which uses sonic technology to remove hair – can be useful for many reasons. Susannah Taylor says “Whilst I don’t use this to remove vellus, I actually use it for tidying up under my eyebrows and it works very well on removing random nasal hairs. I also use it on my husband’s ears which are becoming a bit furry around the edges! It’s much less traumatic than plucking.”
Buy here
The derma roller
Glo PRO Microneedling Regeneration Tool 0.3mm needles
If you are not familiar with a dermaroller then it is a hand-held rolling device covered in tiny spikes. The thought process behind it is that it will create micro tears in your skin which will allow product to penetrate more deeply but it will also cause the skin to heal in that area and rebuild with more collagen. Formerly just used in facials or by dermatologists, they have now made it into our bathrooms.
There are two lengths recommended for home use – 0.3mm and 0.5mm. Misty Reich says “The longer the needle the deeper the ‘channel’ in the skin and the deeper the skincare actives you apply afterwards will go. If used properly, where the device is kept sanitised, and you use it with good skincare and don’t overuse it you can get a great glow.” Misty says she also knows people who swear by using it on brows in conjunction with a growth serum for rebuilding over plucked or thinning brows.”
Buy here
The Gua Sha tool
Hayo’u Beauty Restorer
For those that like a more natural approach, then the Hayo’u Beauty Restorer is definitely worth a try. Made from one piece of polished rose quartz and inspired by the ancient Chinese tradition of Gua Sha (which means ‘pressed skin flush’) it is ergonomically designed to fit the contours of your face to improve circulation, lymphatic drainage, plump and sculpt skin and help reduce lines and wrinkles. Susannah Taylor says, “I use the Hayo’u Beauty Restorer regularly and love the glow that it gives my skin. I have tried many other brands but think this is the best for its thickness and design. In the mornings I often use it in sweeping movements from the centre of my face outwards with a few drops of facial oil and find it leaves my skin glowing and plumped for the day ahead.”
Buy here
The Ice Roller
001 Cryopress
Much has been written lately about Cryotherapy for the body – cold showers and wild swimming in chilly waters are said to increase blood circulation and immunity experts even believe a shock of cold can be beneficial for our immune systems. The ‘cold’ trend has now transferred to skincare – for many years facialists have spoken about splashing our faces with cold water after washing it to close the pores, but now we can take that one step further with a Cryotherapy roller. To be kept in the freezer, this one from 001 Cryopress is said to biologically trigger blood circulation which in turn increases oxygen supply to the skin as well as nutrients and an increase in cell renewal. Susannah Taylor says, “I personally love this tool for the way it feels on my skin – you take it out of the freezer and it’s ice-cold but feels very soothing on the skin. My skin looks like it does after a freezing cold walk (smooth, pores closed), but then transforms into an amazing glow. Perfect before a special event.”
Buy here
If you enjoyed reading this feature then you might like reading about skincare for maskne and wearing behind a mask here
