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14 Best Skincare Devices and Facial Tools, Tested and Reviewed by Cosmo Editors

The techy upgrades your at-home beauty routine deserves.

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Skincare devices and gadgets are trending, which means there are more options than ever to pick from. But with so many choices comes confusion, which is exactly where this guide, filled with the best skincare tools money can buy, comes in handy. Cosmo's team of skin-obsessed editors has tried and tested all—from viral facial massager tools to celeb-favorite microcurrent devices and high-tech LED masks—over the years. As a result, we've got some strong thoughts on exactly which skincare tools are worth the hype and deserve a spot in your routine.

So to save you from an unnecessary (and pricey) game of trial and error, we're dropping our 14 favorite skincare devices and tools to use at home below. Each of these editor-vetted picks can be used to treat a variety of skin concerns, from acne to dark spots and even fine lines, all from the comfort of your couch. Keep scrolling for the full list, plus key details on how each device works along with first-person beauty editor reviews.

CryoGlow LED Face Mask

Pros

  • Pre-set timed sessions are targeted for treating specific skin issues
  • Remote control saves session info so you can keep track of treatment frequency
  • 2025 Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award winner

Cons

  • We wish the battery lasted longer
  • Can feel kinda bulky on your face

What it is: An LED mask with red, blue, and infrared light to help treat signs of aging and breakouts. Also has cooling eye inserts to relieve puffiness.

Cosmo editor review: "I’ve never stuck to a beauty tool as religiously as this mask. The remote makes it so easy to select and modify your settings (and check how much time you have left), and the cryo effect is truly next-level for a full self-care experience. I love that you can personalize your session and choose the skin treatment you want. It’s the highlight of my bed-rotting ritual. And the fact that it requires less than 10 minutes a day is pretty incredible and super convenient." —JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR

Read Cosmo's full Shark CryoGlow mask here

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Features at a Glance

BrandShark
Device TypeLED Mask
Best ForFirming, brightening, anti-acne
Cordless?Yes
High Frequency Wand

Pros

  • Great for reducing redness and inflammation around a breakout
  • Easy to incorporate into your everyday routine
  • Device is kinda big, so not travel-friendly

Cons

  • Can feel a bit tingly/prickly on skin
  • Not all that effective on cystic acne in my experience

What it is: A high-frequency wand with four attachments to help target existing breakouts and prevent new ones from forming by killing acne-causing bacteria.

Cosmo editor review: "This is just as effective as when I get a high-frequency add-on during a facial with my aesthetician. I just hold the device over my zits for a few seconds, and it helps kill bacteria and heal my pimple faster. A huge bump will go down in a day or two when I remember to pair this with my topical spot treatments." —BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR

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Features at a Glance

BrandSkin Gym
Device TypeHigh frequency wand
Best forAnti-acne
Cordless?No
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 TheraFace Depuffing Wand

Pros

  • 2025 Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award winner
  • Great for travel, thanks to compact size and glow-boosting benefits

Cons

  • Depuffing effects are only temporary

What it is: A facial massage wand with heating and cooling features to help depuff, minimize the look of large pores, encourage lymphatic drainage, enhance skincare product absorption, boost circulation, and brighten dull skin to improve overall radiance.

Cosmo editor review: "I have the memory of a goldfish, so it's just not in the cards that I'm gonna consistently throw an ice roller in the fridge to have cold when I wanna use it. Which is why this device is legit perfect for me. With the press of a button, I can glide an ice-cold metal tool all over my skin to depuff and wake me up in the mornings. The hot setting is also nice for sore muscles in the evenings, although I definitely rely most on the cooling option. A charge lasts forever too (helpful for people like me who forget to charge things)." —BG

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Features at a Glance

BrandTherabody
Device TypeHeating/cooling wand
Best forDepuffing, soothing
Cordless?Yes
Pro Laser

Pros

  • 2025 Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award winner
  • Requires weeks of consistent use before yielding visible results
  • Treatments are quick (only two minutes a day)

Cons

  • Some users say it can feel a little spicy on skin

What it is: A non-fractional, non-ablative laser that helps stimulate collagen production to smooth fine lines and boost firmness without downtime.

Cosmo editor review: "I've gotten many in-office laser treatments with a myriad of results. So when I first heard of the Nira—a laser you can do at home—I laughed and assumed it was too good to be true. Now, two years later, I'm obsessed with the device and fully consider it the reason my skin looks taut and smooth. I can treat my entire face in just two minutes with the Pro device, so it's easy to remember to do daily in the mornings. Although it warms up quite a bit, it really doesn't hurt at all (nothing like an in-office laser, that's for sure). And there's legit zero downtime or redness. I can immediately go on with my day after a session. But best of all, it really works. I noticed smoother, brighter skin in just a few months of consistent use." —BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR

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Features at a Glance

BrandNIRA
Device typeLaser (wavelength of 1450 nm)
Best forWrinkles, sagging
Cordless?Yes
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Eye Recovery Pro LED Light Therapy Eye Mask

Pros

  • 2025 Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award winner
  • Users say the soft, comfortable material feels nice around the eyes
  • Portable and lightweight design is great for travel

Cons

  • Experts say if you're going to use LED, it's best to just go for a full-face mask

What it is: An LED mask just for the eye area that combines red, near-infrared, amber, and far-red light to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Cosmo editor review: "I feel like a skincare superhero when I wear this mask, lol. While I’ll always advocate for a full-face LED mask, this is perfect for those who are mainly concerned with crow’s feet, puffiness, and dark under-eyes. I love that it comes with an eye cream to boost the effectiveness, and because it’s a three-minute treatment, there’s literally no excuse not to work it into your routine.” —MARY HONKUS, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY EDITOR

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Features at a Glance

BrandSolawave
Device TypeRed light mask for eyes
Best forCrow's feet, crepeiness, and puffiness around the eyes
Cordless?Yes
Booster Pro

Pros

  • With all the different functions and modes, it's easy to create your own specific skincare routine
  • The device actually speaks to you while you're using it to tell you how much time has passed, so you know how far along you are in your treatment.
  • Charge lasts around three full weeks

Cons

  • Button placements can make it easy to accidentally reset your treatment
  • Air-shot mode can feel a bit jarring to use at first

What it is: A multitasking tool with six functions: Electroporation to increase product efficacy and absorption, microcurrent to firm, EMS (electric muscle stimulation) to sculpt your face, LED light therapy to help increase collagen production, sonic vibration to relax and soothe, and electric needles to boost elasticity and even skin texture and tone.

Cosmo's editor review: "I’m so impressed by the striking results I experienced (literally from the first use, mind you) and feel like continued consistency will give me glass—scratch that—diamond skin. In fact, I adore this so much that I plan on retiring some of my other skin tools. It feels pretty damn close to a lot of the in-office professional treatments I've tried, right from the comfort of my tiny lil bathroom." —MH

Read Cosmo's full Medicube review here

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Features at a Glance

BrandMedicube
Device typeMultitasking wand
Best forLarge pores, brightening, smoothing, lifting
Cordless?Yes
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LUXE+ Sonic Dermaplaning Tool for Face Peach Fuzz Removal

Pros

  • 2025 Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award winner
  • Make skin super smooth for flawless makeup prep
  • Nearly impossible to nick or scrape your skin with this device

Cons

  • Much more expensive than other DIY dermaplaning tools

What it is: A sonic dermaplaning tool that gently removes peach fuzz, flakes, and dead skin cells while protecting your skin from nicks or cuts.

Cosmo editor review: “This tool is so chic, you’ll want to leave it on your countertop. I am blown away by the thoughtful design—the handle is slightly twisted to make for a natural and comfortable hold. It comes with a charging stand and cord, a small bottle of skin prep, and four razors. The motorized razor element is also really nice (versus something like a tinkle razor where you’re doing all the work) and makes the treatment go by pretty fast. My skin felt so soft afterward.” —CHRISTEN A JOHNSON, SENIOR LIFESTYLE EDITOR

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Features at a Glance

BrandDERMAFLASH
Device typeHair removal
Best forHair removal, skin smoothing
Cordless?Yes
FIX Microwand

Pros

  • 2025 Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award winner
  • 3 minute treatments allow you to target specific areas (like eyes, brows, or lips) quickly
  • You get more than 50 uses with each charge

Cons

  • Too small to conveniently treat larger areas like the cheeks or jawline
  • Requires a lot of serum (whether you use your own or the NuFACE one) for the device to easily glide on skin

What it is: A compact microcurrent wand that focuses on line-smoothing, eye de-puffing, *and* lip-plumping with quick, three-minute treatments.

Cosmo editor review: "If you’re looking to target fine lines and are ready to commit to a daily device, I’m obsessed with the results from NuFACE’s Microwand. It completely depuffed and smoothed my eyes, and other Cosmo editors noticed the diminishing of fine lines after literally one session. I even saw it sharpen my jawline—despite that “snatching” effect not even being what I was going for." —JH

Read Cosmo's full NuFACE review here

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Features at a Glance

BrandNuFACE
Device typeMicrocurrent wand
Best forTemporary lifting
Cordless?Yes
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Facial Massager

Pros

  • 2025 Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award winner
  • Easily hugs contours of the face to sculpt and boost blood flow
  • Excellent for relieveng tension from TMJ
  • May help with skincare product absorption when used to apply serums and creams

Cons

  • The least techy option on our list
  • Other similar options that are way less expensive exist (although this is still our favorite)

What it is: A metal facial massage tool with rolling balls that help ease facial tension and give skin a more sculpted appearance with continued use.

Cosmo editor review: “The way this tool contours my cheekbones and melts away the tension on my jawline is nothing short of magic. The little rolling balls gently manipulate the skin in the same way fingers would during a pro face massage—the effect is bliss.” —LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR

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Features at a Glance

BrandJoanna Czech
Device TypeMassager
Best forTension relief, temporary lifting/sculpting
Cordless?Yes
Radio Frequency Skin Tightening Device

Pros

  • 2025 Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award winner
  • Proven to improve skin tone and texture when used once a week for 8 weeks

Cons

  • Even though they're only once a week, treatments can be time-consuming
  • Cannot be used if you'd had injectables (like Botox or filler) in the last three months

What it is: Inspired by more powerful in-office radiofrequency facial treatments (like Thermage and Everesse), this non-invasive device emits radiofrequency energy to heat the skin to 104°F for effective collagen remodelling, giving you visibly tighter, plumper skin.

Cosmo editor review: “I’m convinced at-home radiofrequency is the future, and this is the best device I’ve tested. It doesn’t hurt at all—just feels like hot stones rolling across my face—but over eight weeks, I definitely noticed a difference in the firmness of my face.” —BG

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Features at a Glance

BrandCurrentBody Skin
Device TypeRadiofrequency
Best forTightening, firming
Cordless?No
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TheraFace PRO

Pros

  • Compatible with TheraFace's hot and cold rings for additional therapeutic benefits
  • Excellent for anyone who wants one compact tool that does multiple thing
  • Massage heads are great for relieving sinus pressure or tension from TMJ

Cons

  • LED lights are not as powerful as the kind you'd get from a full-face mask
  • Device can take a little time to get the hang of using
  • Cleansing attachment isn't all that useful, IMO

What it is: This multitasking device has interchangeable snap-on attachments, including three LED rings, a microcurrent head, and different massagers, to

Cosmo editor review: "I can really tell by looking at my face when I have or haven’t used my TheraFace PRO for the day. Considering it is a facial device, I’m happy with how it made me look, but more than that, the massage element of it is a game-changer. I enjoy having all the different attachment heads for one device because it feels more useful, economical, and space-saving rather than having an LED gadget, a cleansing brush, a separate microcurrent device, etc." —LISA DESANTIS, CONTRIBUTING BEAUTY WRITER

Read Cosmo's full TheraFace PRO review here

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Features at a Glance

BrandTherabody
Device typeMultitasking handheld
Best forDeep-cleaning, depuffing, lifting, brightening, and skin-clearing (depending on the attachments you use)
Cordless?Yes
LED Light Therapy Mask: Series 2

Pros

  • 2025 Cosmo Readers' Choice Beauty Award winner
  • Comes with eye inserts so you can easily read or scroll while wearing the mask
  • Flexible silicone material provides complete (and comfortable) coverage

Cons

  • Doesn't utilize blue light so it won't be as effective for treating acne as some other LED masks
  • A bit more expensive than other comparable LED masks on the market

What it is: A soft, flexible LED mask that uses red (633nm), near-infrared (830nm), and deep near-infrared (1072nm) light to kickstart collagen production for smoother, tighter, and firmer skin.

Cosmo editor review: "A lot of LED masks can feel heavy and clunky on my face, but this is surprisingly comfortable to wear—especially when you pop in the eye inserts. As for the cosmetic benefits, I really love how this helps to fade my post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from old breakouts and give my skin a smoother, plumper, all-around glowier look." —LB

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Features at a Glance

BrandCurrentBody Skin
Device typeLED mask
Best forAnti-aging, skin brightening
Cordless?Yes
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Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand

Pros

  • Combines multiple modalities to address various skincare concerns at once
  • Emits gentle warmth for a relaxing effect
  • Reviewers say it can be really helpful for treating marks from old breakouts

Cons

  • Takes three minutes to treat each area of the face, which can end up being time-consuming
  • If you're most interested in the red light benefits, a full-face LED mask may be more effective

What it is: A 4-in-1 wand that utilizes red LED light, galvanic current, therapeutic warmth, and gentle massage to help treat signs of aging, hyperpigmentation, puffiness, and reduce facial tension.

Cosmo editor review: "I've had mine for years and love it. I was surprised at how it actually made a difference in my skin with regular use (I was v skeptical at first), but even just a few minutes a day definitely brightened and tightened my complexion. I've recommended it to friends, too, because it's more of an accessible price point compared to traditional LED face masks." —MACKENZIE DUNN, SENIOR COMMERCE MANAGER

Read Cosmo's full Solawave review here

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Features at a Glance

BrandSolawave
Device TypeMultitasking LED Wand
Best forBrightening, smoothing, depuffing
Cordless?Yes
Laser PRO Starter Kit

Pros

  • Upgraded versions of the original Lyma can treat larger surface areas for quicker treatments
  • Loved by celebs and A-list aestheticians
  • Zero pain or downtime
  • Can also choose the original LYMA, which costs less and is smaller in size

Cons

  • Hard to justify the price when Fraxel or a CO2 laser costs less than a third

What it is: A non-ablative and non-invasive device that uses low-level laser therapy to stimulate collagen production, enhance blood circulation, and facilitate skin healing.

Cosmo editor review: "Immediately after a LYMA treatment, my skin looks extremely glowy and lifted. TBH, ever since I started using it, I've been getting compliments on my skin constantly. Someone even asked what foundation I was wearing one day that I had nothing on, because my skin looked so damn radiant and even." —BG

Read Cosmo's full LYMA review here

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Features at a Glance

BrandLYMA
Device typeNear-infrared laser light
Best forSmoothing, brightening, anti-aging
Cordless?Yes
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Why Trust Cosmo?

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Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan with more than a decade of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best skincare routine for your 30s to a comprehensive Hydrafacial review. She regularly tests and analyzes new skincare tools and devices while working with the industry’s top dermatologists and aestheticians to assess new technologies.

Headshot of Lauren Balsamo
Lauren Balsamo
Beauty Director

Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram

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