At Home Facial Devices – A Skeptics Perspective
Whenever someone asks me about a product and if it will help them, my first question is generally this… “if you buy it, will you use it?” Because the truth is, if you aren’t going to use the product regularly, you aren’t going to see the results. In that case, I don’t even want you to buy it. I only want you to buy things you’ll actually use and use regularly. I’ve also often said that I don’t sell things I don’t personally believe in or use regularly myself. I can’t sell something I don’t believe in. So, this is why we don’t have many gadgets at Bellacara.
It isn’t that these gadgets don’t work. I’m sure there are tons of amazing beauty devices out there. In fact, I know there are. I’ve tried a few of them. The issue is this when I ask myself (the same question I will inevitably ask you), “will you use this regularly?” I generally say no. Not because it doesn’t work, but because I’m busy (lazy). Like many of you, I work all day, and then I come home to a house of chores. The laundry needs doing, the kids need feeding, the bills need to be paid, and so on. So, when all of that is done, beauty junkie or not, a glass of wine and a show on Netflix beats out a beauty device all day. It’s actually the reason the only devices I use are the Dr. Dennis Gross devices. I can put those on and sit passively while they do all the work. I swear by the Facewear Pro. Yes, I look like Hannibal Lecter wearing it, but I can do it watching television in my pajamas, and I still see the results.
Over the past 21 years, I’ve been sent some fun devices. One where you put this gel in a tray that you bite down on, and it plugs into this device via a USB, causing it to emit a blue light that helps to whiten your teeth. Did it work? Yes. Was I going to sit with that contraption on for 30 minutes twice a week? Absolutely not. And so on and so on.
When Ziip sent me their device years ago, I read all the reviews. They were glowing. Wayne Goss swore by it so much, he claimed his eyes actually lifted. He is such a believer that he asked them to create a less expensive conductive gel so he can use it every day instead of twice a week. I used it for three days straight, and I thought I noticed a distinct brightening of my skin. I also noticed pretty instant lifting results. Then, I got busy (lazy), and I stopped using it.
I never brought it in because I couldn’t answer the question “will you use it regularly?” in the affirmative. But in the last several months, I have been less “busy” than before. So, I picked it back up and started using it again to help me beat the “maskne” I’ve been battling during Covid. Not only did it clear up my breakouts, I haven’t had any new ones while using it. I’ve also noticed a brighter complexion, and I’m pretty sure my cheekbones are a bit more pronounced.
I now use it a minimum of twice a week and sometimes even manage to fit a couple of quick six-minute sessions in between. I can honestly say that this is one device worth having. As a result, we now have it at Bellacara. But don’t take my word for it alone – check out these reviews on Birdie and Girl Get Glamorous. If you think you can answer the question, “will you use it regularly” with a yes, then I wholeheartedly suggest you buy this one!
- About the boutique
Located in historic Old Town Alexandria, for more than 17 years Bellacara has been Northern Virginia's preeminent boutique for high end cosmetic, skincare and haircare products. At Bellacara you will find premiere beauty products that have been carefully edited by the store’s owner, Angela Sitilides, who personally tests all the products sold in store. The boutique carries only the best product lines – Kiehl’s, Jouer, Dr. Dennis Gross, Christophe Robin, Moroccan Oil, Bumble & Bumble, Fresh, Molton Brown, Skinceuticals, Smashbox, Stila, Mario Badescu, Clarins, Dermalogica, Kevyn Aucoin, Kai, Child, St. Tropez, Smith and Cult, and many more.
1000 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.299.9652
