Skincare Devices at Home: Here’s what you need to know.

Do they really work?

The internet, especially during home quarantine and in times of covid has afforded those who didn’t already know how, to learn to do more At-Home Beauty Treatments, as well as DIY masks and such. While staying indoors is the need of the hour, it is important to remember that this can on its own damage the skin barrier. Moreover, wellness has become paramount as a result of the pandemic.

From dermaplaning and doing peels at home to purchasing a tonne of devices: red light, blue light, microcurrent, and the like, it is essential to remember that overdoing it is possible, moreover, it is also important to note that the concept of #skinimalism is receiving growing interest as well.

How much is too much? Do you need all these devices? Well, that’s what we’re going to explore today.

Let’s Start by looking at all things tech, like in any industry the technology created for skincare continues to improve, from being able to analyze your skin type online to a plethora of options when it comes to devices at home, Skincare truly, continues to advance.

What is Light Therapy?

A new-age treatment for the skin, LED which stands for light-emitting diode, was originally created by NASA, to help promote plant growth. It has been found that different wavelengths of visible light across its spectrum, link to varying colours of LED light, hence also penetrating the skin through to different depths. Depending on the depth penetrated, LED lights are said to produce varying biological effects as well.

Red Light Therapy

• Increases collagen production, hence allowing the skin to become more elastic.
• Increases circulation between blood and tissue cells.
• Protects skin cells from further damage.
• Reduces fine lines.
• Improves facial texture.
• Reduces wrinkles.

Blue Light Therapy  

• Helps in the prevention of skin cancer.
• Reduces enlarged oil glands, hence helping with acne.
• Can be used to treat depression.
• Could help with psoriasis.
• Anti-bacterial

Disclaimer: Consult your doctor before use, as any form of therapy can come with its own side effects.

If having a million devices to charge really isn’t your thing, you’re in luck - there are many non battery-operated devices that do wonders for the skin!

Facial Rollers

Be it Jade Rollers, or Rose Quartz Rollers, or even Metal Sculptors, are all widely available today. Dr. Teo Wan Lin, an accredited dermatologist shares that jade rollers do in fact deliver promising results. While this has been something in question for a while, in 2018 a study was done regarding the use of tools such as the Rose Quartz or Jade Rollers, it found that after 5-weeks of consistent massages, one’s blood flow to the skin significantly increased, moreover, the skin was seen to show improvement vasodilation. It was concluded that facial massages that were done using rollers helped increase the flow of blood by 25% for more than 10 minutes after massage. It was also seen that the use of cool rollers that have been placed in the refrigerator overnight, reduced puffiness and tightened pores temporarily.

Gua Sha

Gua Shas also come in different materials, in fact, today, some of them come with microcurrents (for those of you who enjoy trying new tools, this is a great one). If you go by data and numbers, #Guasha has garnered millions of views on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram where every user is seen or heard praising this tool. According to content creators, this tool helps their skin look supple and sculpted, clear, and wrinkle-free.

While this is currently trending it definitely isn’t a new age device, the use of Gua Shas originated in China, then popularly known as ‘stone’ - it was used to treat several illnesses. Going by its literal definition, Gua refers to scratching of skin and Sha refers to the petechiae and texture appearing after scratching. When it comes to skincare, Gua Sha is known to fight acne scars, deal with cystic acne, and aid in lymphatic drainage. When you use a Gua Sha, it circulates blood to the surface of the skin which gradually renews skin cells, thus reducing the visibility of acne scars. There’s a common misconception about its usage over acne and we’re here to break that. The tool strives to reduce flare-ups, redness, and the size of the acne by slowly moving disturbance circulating blood. The only no-no for you here is to skip using it over pustules.

Ice Rollers and Ice Globes

Using something cold, or cooling to soothe and reduce inflammation and irritation has always been known as a quick hack. We’ve talked about ice cube facials, and their benefits here, however, it is important to note that no single method is for everybody. If ice cubes weren’t your thing, ice rollers are a great tool as well. Like other rollers, a key benefit is that they stimulate the lymphatic system. This on its own help reduces puffiness, toxin build-up, and muscle tension. Ice rollers have the added benefit of helping to reduce inflammation as well as redness, moreover, generally icing your face or rolling with an ice roller also helps with the tightening of the skin.