Ok, let’s talk about at-home beauty devices! I mentioned in my February Loves blog post that I was thinking about putting together a post about all my favorite beauty devices, gadgets, toys…. whatever you want to call them. Women love to feel pretty, whether at the spa, at a doctor’s office, or even at home. With all the dreams and promises to look like a Disney princess how can we resist getting sucked into these amazing little beauty gadgets?? Some of the ones I have are amazing, and others I’ve downright hated… oh the list is long!
I started to create an entire blog post on all of my favorite home beauty devices, but the list got long very fast and I had a lot to say about each item so I thought it would be best if I split up the post. Occasionally I’ll review beauty devices on their own like the PMD Clean but because I’m a busy Mama/Wifey/DIY/Decorator/Blogger I quickly run out of time, so I see more combined beauty posts in my blogging future.
It takes a while to see if I really like these gadgets, and also new ones are always coming out. So while I am already planning at least a 2 part series on this beauty device blog post, I’m thinking parts 3 and 4 aren’t that far away because they’re always coming out with new amazing devices and HELLO… I’m an addict remember??
Haha.. sometimes I feel like a beauty gadget addict for real though. I’m always asking my awesome esthetician Linda if she’s heard of any new skincare devices coming out, and I cruise websites in the dark hours of the night looking for the newest “at-home anti-aging beauty devices”. So here I am world.. my name is Laura and I’m addicted to at-home skincare gadgets. Those who are curious, I’m here to help, I mean why not try things out? It’s cheaper than plastic surgery right?
At the present moment none of these blog posts have been sponsored. Sponsored meaning I’m gifted a product for an honest review. Although I do put in my affiliate links in blog posts (dude…I make only a few bucks I promise) everything was bought with my own money and I’m honest with my reviews. I don’t abuse store return policies but if a product doesn’t work for me occasionally I will make a store return and I’ll let you know in the review when that’s happened.
In honor of today… Valentine’s Day I thought I should start with my skincare love of red light therapy. I’ll be mentioning a few other light therapy devices later, but let’s start with my true love of red light and how we first met. It’s all a blur now, but red light therapy was my first ever skincare gadget, even before the ever so popular Clarisonic!
When I was 32 I had a sudden panic attack that I was about to be 40…. in 8 years. I know try not to laugh, but I suddenly started freaking out and knew it was time to step up my skincare game if I wanted to age well. After some research I discovered the wonderful benefits of red light therapy and my first beauty gadget addiction started with the red light LED panel below.
I feel like this blog post will get way too long if I go into all the science and benefits of red light therapy. I’m going to give you an extremely abbreviated version if you are unfamiliar. Basically red light therapy was discovered by NASA, it works to improve the skin from within stimulating collagen, reversing sun damage, and improving skin texture. There are numerous articles you can read online about the benefits, but 9 years later I must say I’m a true believer that it works. Red light is supposed to be used on clean skin, free of makeup and sunscreen. After washing my face I do red light therapy and afterwards apply my normal skincare. It can be used day or night and it contains no UV rays.
REVIVE LIGHT DPL RED LIGHT THERAPY $399
I actually have the older DPL light version that isn’t hinged like the newer version as you can see above in the photo, but it’s still the same device. Every day or every other day I would hold this device over my face for about 18 minutes a day. After a few weeks I saw definite results. The lines around my mouth had completely softened, my skin looked plumper, had much better skin tone and more of a natural glow. After months of using this device I was hooked. I used this device on other parts of my body and also saw a huge improvement in my skin. I was so thrilled that years ago I convinced my mom to buy one. I’ve worked this baby hard over the years and she’s done me well. The newer hinged version looks amazing and I love the DPL so much I have a feeling I’ll be rebuying the entire newer version in the near future. I love how large this red light panel is and how it covers the entire face and you can use it on other body parts like the chest or legs easily. Those who suffer from acne, this device improved my breakouts but didn’t eliminate it. I definitely recommend this product.
QUASAR MD PLUS $595
I actually cried when I bought this. Because I was so hooked on red light therapy I had known about the Quasar MD Plus for years but never wanted to pay the price. Luckily it’s dropped a bit in price, at one point it was over $700! It’s supposed to be the strongest red light therapy device on the market and I lusted after it for years. I bought it when I turned 40 and I cried from happiness I finally bought it and cried also from the fact I bought such an expensive device. This light is definitely stronger than the face panel above, but it also takes a little more work. The light stays on for 3 minutes while you move it around sections of your face. There are instructions on how to section off areas of your face and how long to use it. I’m definitely impressed with the results, I glide the area over my entire face several times a week and also hold the device over trouble areas, which are around my mouth and the eyes. Occasionally I’ll over use it and my skin gets a bit dry so I’ll take some time off but I always go right back to it. I think it came with goggles but I’ve never worn them or had issues with eye sensitivity. It comes with a nice long cord, and I find it easy to travel with. I definitely recommend this product.
TANDA ZAP ACNE CLEARING DEVICE $16
Blue light therapy works to eliminate acne by killing bacteria beneath the skin. For years I suffered from bad acne and looking for a cure I discovered the benefits of blue light therapy. Blue light therapy absolutely works but run from this device. First off it constantly ate through batteries, and the light head is also really small, only meant for one blemish at a time. So if you’ve got a lot of breakouts it’s pretty time consuming, blue light can be used as a preventative for acne so a larger surface is ideal. If you suffer from acne definitely give blue light a chance but I’d go with the Lightstim or the Baby Quasar Blue, both are larger and have charging cords. I don’t even know what happened to this, I either threw it away or it’s under Haley’s bed. I do NOT recommend this device.
LIGHT LED COLOR FACE MASK $89
This is a quirky one, you full on look like a freak while you use it, but it didn’t stop me from buying it! This device is a mixed bag for me, I bought it for a few reasons. I could watch TV while using it, and I can but towards the end the light bothers my eyes, closing helps but then I can’t watch TV. Another reason that appealed to me was that I could change the light to be red, green, or blue. Red light is best for anti aging, blue light is great for acne, and green light is supposed to be good for pigmentation in the skin. I say “supposed” just because there isn’t as much information on green light out there as there is for blue or red. I’ve been very curious on green light therapy but I’m not sold quite yet like red and blue, just from lack of knowledge. I think this light is great for those curious about light therapy, and under $100 it’s very affordable for what you get. Clearly it’s not one of the stronger lights out there, but I still think you’ll get benefits. The mask feels slightly heavy but tolerable over your face and you can set the lights to a timer. Overall I do recommend this product for those on a budget wanting the most bang for your buck. What I don’t like is how the mask didn’t properly fit over my face. If my mouth is closed and my face is relaxed the mouth part comes up to my nose. To get the mask light to fully fit my face I must hold my mouth and jaw open in an awkward position and it gets tiring, but it’s not a deal breaker. NOTE: I have the 3 color light version, the newer one has 7 colors. I have not studied or reviewed the benefits of the 4 other light colors.
GLOPRO MICRONEEDLING REGENERATION TOOL $199
The first time you use an at home micro needling device it’s definitely a little scary, it gets easier I promise! Because this roller has a built in red light I decided to include it in this review. Yes, you can buy cheaper basic version without LED red light, but I’m a light addict remember? What microneedling does is create a tiny controlled injury to the skin, triggering the skin’s natural healing process and stimulating collagen production. It also helps skincare absorb into the skin 200 times more effectively, and the addition of red light is pure genius. Honestly this device doesn’t hurt, it just feels strange at first. Immediately afterwards my skin looks a little flushed and sometimes just a little itchy afterwards so you’ll want to use gentle skincare. I’d skip retinol and any other strong exfoliants. Separate attachments are available for the body, lips, and around the eyes. Another bonus is that the device can be used with a battery or plugged in. The only negative is you will need to buy replacement heads depending on how often you use it. I definitely recommend this product.
GLO BRILLIANT TEETH WHITENING DEVICE $199
This device delivers excellent teeth whitening results, but it’s expensive and I have a hard time remembering to charge it. I do like how comfortable the mouth tray is and how even the LED lighting is. The Glo Smile teeth whitening gel is sold separately but I discovered any and I mean any teeth whitening gel will work with it. Unfortunately mine stopped working after 2 years, I mean it’s dead, I even bought a new $85 mouth piece and it still wouldn’t work. I do NOT recommend this device anymore, I just don’t think it’s worth the high price. I’ve founded a much cheaper alternative for you that works below!
AURA GLOW TEETH WHITENING LIGHT $18.99
At under $20 this teeth whitening light is my new favorite! It takes a battery so there is no charging, making it perfect for travel and quick teeth whitening anytime you need it. You can use your own favorite teeth whitener with this light so it’s definitely budget friendly. I’ve used it for months and the battery is still going strong. The mouth piece is just one whole device and your lips hold it in place. It’s pretty light weight and not a burden, the only down side is the mouth piece isn’t quite as comfortable as the Glo Brilliant but I can overlook that considering the huge difference in price. I definitely recommend this device.
I’ve tried to give the most honest reviews possible, if you have any questions leave them below and I’ll try to answer them. I honestly believe all light therapy has amazing benefits, especially red light. When it comes to purchasing a device you really need to look at your budget and your skincare needs.
I definitely love skincare but I’m not an expert by any means. Being over 40 I’m a definite believer in the benefits of high quality skincare and at-home devices. I’ll soon be adding Part 2 of my skin care device review, where I’ll dive into Nuface, at-home microdermabrasion, and a few other nifty devices. So stay tuned, and if you find any new life changing beauty devices contact me immediately… I’m serious.
