On the list of items that excite me, gadgets give me a special thrill. Whether they are mechanical device or just an ingenious piece of kit, I am a firm believer that gadgets make life easier. I can spend hours drooling over specialty kitchen items or waxing lyrical about my AirPods.
So when you marry gadgetry and skincare, that’s a real bonanza for me. Here are a few gadgets that have made it into my homecare routine.
If I ever have a break in my day between clients, I use my facial serum-infusing machine on my chest to improve the sun damage I accumulated in my teenage years through improper sunscreen application. Helping vitamins and peptides penetrate further than with massage application, the Environ DF machine delivers results clients love.
And now I can get this boost more regularly with a handheld device specifically designed for at home use. A 15-minute programme a few times a week has further strengthened my skin. With a variety of settings, this gadget offers both sonophoresis (sound current) and iontophoresis (electrical current) pushing serums deeper into the skin, helping to improve current appearance and future cell development.
Because collagen production starts slowing beginning in our 20s, I take any opportunity to keep my skin looking buoyant. Right now, I get the best support from a dermal roller. Covered in tiny needles (0.1mm) that are safe for regular use at home, when this is rolled along the face, it invisibly punctures the skin, which then works to repair the “wound” by producing collagen. And not just any form of collagen, but the type you find in baby skin. How’s that for a refreshed, more youthful appearance? To get the most out of using the roller, I highly recommended pairing it with a strong vitamin A moisturiser, which will also boost collagen production.
While gadgets aren’t always mechanical and improving the sun damage on my chest is a long-term game, I’m always looking for new options to add in. So when I learned recently that silicone patches could help my “clinkles” or cleavage wrinkles, I quickly hit the Add to Cart button.
First used to heal scars more evenly, silicone helps keep skin smooth at night, which is beneficial because my side-sleeping is not helping my chest. Silicone draws hydration to the skin’s surface, which makes it look plumper, while improving an uneven surface. I’m early into trying the patches out, however excited about seeing results. They can also be used on the neck and the face, which maximises the use of hydrating masks. I’ll let you know how I get on.
Another new toy I’m trying out is this LED mask, which promises to help lessen fine lines around the eyes with daily use of just three minutes. Sounds easy enough to add into the routine, right? Mine arrived at Christmas and was used extremely irregularly over the break, so I’ll have to report back on this as well.
Possibly my most low-tech gadget is this piece of jade to stimulate circulation and refine skin through acupressure points. Whether I wake up feeling a bit puffy or need some pampering before bed at night, this cooling stone has been used in self-care for centuries by the Chinese.
Are you wondering why my list doesn’t include a Clarisonic brush? I tried it, but even with the most gentle head, I found this too rough on my skin. I know many people who are devoted to this tool. I will suggest that if you are using this to clean your face, you should use it no more than twice a week or you will overexfoliate your skin.
What gadgets do you love?