FACIAL MASSAGE TOOL
We’ve always been big fans of facial massage to lift and oxygenate the tissue – best of all perhaps from a good facialist but a lot can be achieved DIY. It used to be just a case of hands on but now there are some wonderful tools and devices to potentiate and accelerate the effects. Interestingly, many testers remarked it wasn't just their skin that benefited: they also felt much more relaxed, a bonus they rated highly.
GOLD AWARD Temple Spa THE SCULPTOR Multi-purpose Massager
From this hugely popular and respected British brand, comes a tool designed to mimic the massage technique used by professional therapists. Twin shiny metal (a zinc alloy) roller balls on a stem gently knead skin, stimulating lymphatic drainage and oxygenating tissue. Use with your favourite product (we like oil but could be cream or balm) to enhance the absorption. Our testers found it also great for easing tight muscles around jaw and up to the ears; we like it on tired foreheads and around eyes.
£30 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10. Who needs a professional facial when you have the Temple Spa Sculptor? This provides a glorious mini-face massage leaving my face feeling smooth, comfortable and completely refreshed. Skin looks pinker and plumper and feels more pliable and bright, feels more relaxed and stimulated in a good way. It’s a lovely way to rewind at the end of a long day and it’s really easy to multi-task – read a book, watch TV and use the Sculptor at the same time’ • ‘My skin is mature with both fine and deeper lines and my jawline is becoming less refined. Skin appears plumper and healthier; this definitely helped to tone the skin on my jawline, which was very surprising to me. Also after 28 days, my skin has a more youthful glow and appears plumper. I feel more confident with my skin now and I’ve had compliments that my finer lines are less visible and face looks plumper’ • ‘My skin is smoother and plumper-looking and my finer lines are also less noticeable. My jawline has been starting to loosen and sag and I feel this has really helped to tone it; I feel like I have had a facial massage after using this, which is also very relaxing to me, and it helps serums and moisturisers to work more effectively’ • ‘I would definitely purchase this product - and have bought an identical one for my sister for her birthday this month. She is a real skin guru and I am excited to hear about her experience of using the Sculptor!’ • ‘I feel my serum and moisturiser have been absorbed deeper into my skin, working overnight.’
£30 - click to buy
SILVER AWARD Olivanna Rose-Quartz Facial Roller
The double-ended tool, designed to complement mother-and-daughter skincare brand Olivanna’s skincare, is dual purpose: the smaller end helps to reduce puffiness and the appearance of dark circles round the eyes, while the wider end rolls round your face and neck – anywhere really – to boost blood flow, relax facial muscles (and mind!) with the aim of a more ‘lifted’ look. No instructions, but there’s a video online. It got a mixed reception from testers, with a few who liked it a lot, whereas others saw little difference and benefits were short term. (A couple of testers had to fix the roller when it fell apart!) PS Sarah used this to very good effect on a friend with cancer whose legs were ‘angry’ and uncomfortable.
£18 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘This roller really helps relax my face, and has noticeably improved my Gordon Ramsay frown lines. I have a stressful job and a particularly furrowed brow when I am working due to tenseness in my eyes and forehead; I find popping the roller in the fridge and using in the evenings works wonders. When I use this product at night, I have found that more people the next day comment on me looking fresh, less stressed or well-rested. This seems to be the case, irrespective of what other products I use, or whether I am wearing make-up’ • ‘This face roller is like all the best bits of a forehead kiss, mixed with a face massage and a cooling headache band. It also reduces puffiness and stress lines’ • ‘Very easy to use with or without a product; felt very cooling and relaxing on the skin I keep it to hand always and can pick it up and use it anytime; I often use it while watching TV’ • ‘The smaller end feels lovely on the eyes. Skin looks brighter and less puffy; it seems to oxygenate the skin, which in turn gives the skin an instant glow (I found that true of both rollers)’ • ‘It was particularly nice to use to apply facial oils where you only use a few drops of product as it made it easier to spread -vs- using your fingers.
£18 - click to buy
BRONZE AWARD Nu Skin AgeLOC Boost Beauty device
We could have placed this in the OTHER DEVICES – ELECTRICAL category, but since it offers an electrically-powered facial massage…well, here it is. Nu Skin designed AgeLOC to be used in tandem with a specific serum, which our testers did try (though – ssssssshh – you could certainly try using it with any favourite product). Again, some of the testers absolutely loved it – really loved it; others were very much less wowed. (And we do have to point out: it’s definitely not cheap.)
£357.08 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I’ve been told I look well. My skin looks clear, a line on forehead less visible and skin appears moisturised’ • ‘I love this! You put three pumps of serum on the device and then do outward movements on one side of the face; the device automatically bleeps after a minute and then you put three pumps on the device and do the other side again. I didn’t feel pain or pressure; the device is quiet and the instructions are so simple and clear. Results are amazing and it’s easy to use’ • ‘Not time-consuming to get toned and brighter skin which felt less puffy around the jawline and brighter, as well; my husband commented on my brighter-looking skin’ • ‘My skin definitely look plumped and hydrated; I've found it easy to add this into my nightly routine and love the way my skin looks after use: brighter, more radiant and tighter across the cheekbones and neck/jawline area. There is a reduction in puffiness and it tightens the skin’ • ‘The programme is very quick and the tool is shaped to fit around the crevices of the face; I enjoyed using it. Easy to charge; charge lasts a long time. With the serum, my face felt hydrated and the area around my eyes less puffy – but it was all temporary. I have no lasting overall improvement’ • ‘I found the best way to learn how to use it was by watching a video on YouTube’ • ‘My skin felt very soft, smoothed and plumped, but no long-term improvements. Perhaps not a device for mature skin? Maybe too much to expect lifting or tightening on a 64-year-old face!’
£357.08 - click to buy