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As I get older, I’ve become more focused not just on smoothing, but keeping my skin sculpted—without turning to Botox. That’s where the best lifting devices come in. Most of them work by stimulating the facial muscles—kind of like a workout for your face. Over time, this can help lift and improve skin firmness by encouraging muscle tone and boosting collagen production.
To find out which ones actually work, we’ve tested more than a dozen of the top-rated options on women over 30. After months of use, we narrowed it down to seven of the best microcurrent devices and gadgets that truly made a difference. Our top pick? The NuFACE Trinity, which is easy to use and hits that sweet spot between effectiveness and price. But if you’re on the hunt for something else—like a compact wand or a gadget with a built-in massage mode—there are plenty of other great choices ahead.
The best facelifting devices, at a glance
- Best Overall: NuFACE Trinity Starter Kit, $395
- Best Microcurrent Facial Device: Foreo Bear 2, $329
- Best With Red Light Therapy: Solawave Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand, $169
- Best for Sensitive Skin: ZIIP Halo, $399
- Best Sculpting: Skin Gym LitLift LED Facial Tool, $60
Best Overall: NuFACE Trinity Starter Kit
- What we love: Intuitive to use; additional attachments add to the versatility
- What could improve: Bulkier than other options
In the nearly two decades since its debut, the NuFACE Trinity has become one of the most recommended microcurrent devices by dermatologists and estheticians alike. Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC and Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group; both back the device for its long-standing reputation and effectiveness. It works by delivering gentle electrical currents to stimulate facial muscles, lifting and contouring the skin over time. You can also purchase add-on attachments for targeted treatment around the eyes and mouth or incorporate red-light therapy for more advanced antiaging benefits. We picked it as the best facelifting device because of its value and because it works quickly.
Glamour contributor Deanna Pai has been using the NuFACE for years, and praises it for the immediate and ongoing results. “After doing half my face, I could see my brow looked more lifted and my cheek less puffy,” she says. “I have more definition along my cheekbones and jawline too. But what really impressed me is that after 10 or so days of consistent use, my nasolabial folds look less noticeable.”
Best Microcurrent Facial Device: Foreo Bear 2
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- What we love: Five intensity levels that automatically adjust to your skin’s conductivity; built-in massage for puffiness; easy to hold
- What could improve: Some reviewers wish there was a battery-indicator light
The Foreo Bear stands out for its sleek design and customizable settings—great for anyone new to facelifting devices. It offers five pre-programmed microcurrent intensities, plus five more you can access in Pro mode via the compatible smartphone app, so you can tailor your treatment to your comfort level. It also features T-Sonic pulsations that help reduce puffiness, boost circulation, and improve the absorption of your skin care products. There’s no need to worry about going too aggressive too soon, either, since the device is equipped with a unique anti-shock technology that ensures the microcurrent levels stay safe and comfortable for your individual skin.
“I found that the lower settings were effective yet gentle, and the higher settings matched the experience I’ve received during professional treatments,” says our tester, commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary, who has been testing this rechargeable device for a couple months now. “The slim design is easy to maneuver around your face, and it didn’t feel uncomfortable at any point. I liked the silicone grip, as well, because I felt that it gave me a ton of control and flexibility as I moved it around my face. I really felt that my skin looked less puffy and more snatched after my treatment.”
Best With Red Light Therapy: Solawave Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand
- What we love: Easy to use; travel-friendly; combines multiple skin therapies in one
- What could improve: Activating serum sold separately (though you can use any skin care with it)
The Solawave Wand may be compact and one of the more affordable beauty gadgets out there, but it packs a lot of punch. The wand combines four technologies—red-light therapy, galvanic current (similar to microcurrent), warmth, and facial massage—making it one of the most multitasking devices on the market. Rebecca Marcus, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at North Dallas Dermatology, is a fan, telling Glamour that with continued use, it can stimulate collagen for real skin tightening.
Glamour’s Kilkeary uses hers as part of a weekly wind-down routine. “Where you’ll find me on a Sunday night? On my couch, preferably with the Syfy channel on, using this renewing facial wand,” she says. “I’ve been using the Solawave nonstop for a few months now every week, and my skin has never looked more even-toned and smooth. My skin almost immediately looks plumper and fresh, and my fine lines are way less noticeable than they ever were before.”
Most Versatile: Medicube Age-R Booster Pro
- What we love: User-friendly; compact; targets a variety of skin concerns
- What could improve: Easy to accidentally change modes because of where the buttons are located
This high-tech skin care tool (popularized by Hailey Bieber in a #GRWM video on TikTok) combines four modes—air-shot, booster, EMS, and microcurrent—for versatility and convenience. Use it to improve pore elasticity with the air-shot mode, help skin care products penetrate better with the booster mode, make skin firmer with EMS, or lift with microcurrent. Despite all of this, it’s surprisingly user-friendly with adjustable intensity levels and voice guidance.
“I’ve tried in-office microcurrent treatments and at-home microcurrent devices, and I can vouch that the Age-R Booster Pro is the closest you’ll get to an in-office treatment,” says Glamour senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco in her in-depth review. “The electric pulses and vibrations are strong—as in, you can feel it in your skull—and give you immediate results.”
Best for Glowing Skin: Silk’n Titan MultiPlatfrom
- What we love: Four intensities for comfort; three-in-one beauty tool; two treatment heads for different areas of the face and neck
- What could improve: Long treatment time
The Silk’n Titan offers a three-pronged approach to facelifting, combining bipolar radiofrequency (RF), near-infrared heat, and red-light therapy. It helps stimulate collagen and elastin production to reduce wrinkles, lift skin, and improve overall skin tone. Despite the multifunctionality, the beauty device is easy to use and comes with two treatment heads: one for smaller, more precise areas like crow’s feet or smile lines and a larger one for bigger areas like the neck, cheeks, and forehead.
You do need to use a conductive gel (something like aloe works just as well if that’s more convenient for you), and each treatment area takes around 15 minutes, but I thought the payoff was worth it. I noticed an immediate lift to my face, particularly around my eyes, but the resulting glow was what impressed me the most. I also liked that the warm, slightly tingly sensation makes the experience feel like a soothing spa session, not just another annoying step in my skin care routine.
Best Sculpting: Skin Gym LitLift LED Facial Tool
- What we love: Combines massage and LED therapy; easy to use; delivers instant results
- What could improve: Easy to accidentally hit the power button while using
Skin Gym’s compact facial tool contours to the shape of your face and neck and uses a combination of LED light therapy, heat, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and vibration to deliver skin benefits in one device. The heat, EMS, and vibration all help boost circulation, while the red and blue lights target skin texture and tone. (Like LED face masks, use the red light for antiaging benefits and to reduce redness and the blue for acne-prone skin.)
“I use upward motions to sculpt my neck, jaw, and cheekbones—and the results are pretty instantaneous,” said Glamour contributor Emily Tannenbaum after testing the device for more than a month. “The heat was definitely noticeable but not too strong, and I comfortably used the tool for a full three minutes on each side of my face. While I definitely saw the promised glow, I was most impressed by the way it contoured my jaw.”
Best for Sensitive Skin: Ziip Halo
- What we love: Compact; gentle enough for all skin types; tons of in-app tutorials
- What could improve: Conductive gel can leave a greasy residue
The Ziip Halo combines nanocurrent (a very low-level current) and microcurrent technology for a super-gentle option that’s best suited for beginners or people with sensitive skin. You won’t feel the pulses while they work over the course of the four-minute treatment time, but they’ll still help lift, firm, and smooth over time. And for those who want to work up to a little more, you can access more advanced routines via Ziip’s compatible smartphone app.
“I couldn’t feel a single sensation as I swiped it along my face,” says Glamour contributor Mary Honkus, who tested the device for a few weeks. “Yet by the end of the four-minute express treatment—which is already pre-programmed into the tool—my entire face appeared to be lifted and the lines along my eyes softened.”
