As the years tick by, I genuinely feel like my face is falling closer and closer to the floor. Call it losing collagen, call it tech neck from staring at a screen all day, or call it the fact there’s a lot going on and I’m frowning at the news more than ever — who knows? But my face is undoubtedly showing its first signs of ageing. Whenever I feel like my face looks droopier than a bulldog, I turn to sculpting treatments like FaceGym workouts (aka one of the best facials) to help snatch my face and give me any semblance of a jawline. So, I was excited to get hold of the new FaceGym Pro tool to see if I could replicate the effects of one of my favourite facials at home.
How we test
I used the device four times a week for five minutes at a time. I followed the same routine each time, focusing on sculpting the jaw, neck, cheekbones and lifting the brow area. I used it with the FaceGym Powerlift EMS Activator Gel in the evenings after cleansing and before doing my skincare routine.
FaceGym Pro Review
I’m no stranger to EMS tools, but if this is your first rodeo, let me give you a quick lowdown. EMS tools are used to tone and lift the muscles in your face. They send low-level electrical currents into the skin to stimulate the muscles underneath. If you’ve heard of microcurrent devices, they do similar things, but EMS tools work on a deeper level.
This is the exact tool used in FaceGym’s signature workouts, so it’s essentially like bringing the facial home. If you’re a fan of these and regularly spend a small fortune on facials, the £500 price tag doesn’t feel too bad (each workout starts at £110), as you’re able to do mini sculpting facials whenever you like.
The tool has ten intensity levels, each increasing how much it tenses your muscles and, therefore, how much it tones.
It replaces the brand’s previous EMS tool, with stepped-up tech, greater intensity and clinical evidence to back up its claims (a 51% improvement in jawline sagging and 37% improvement in cheek sagging stood out to me).
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I love having this device used on me in FaceGym studios, but I was even more excited to try it at home, FaceGym Studios are great but they are not relaxing they are pumping out David Guetta hits and unz-unz music for the duration, as it's meant to feel like a workout studio, so while I love the results I relish being able to do this in the comfort of my home. I went into a studio to quiz the team on how to get the best results, and the number one thing they said for improved performance, was the motion I should use when toning. To tone my jaw and cheeks, my trainer (that’s what FaceGym calls their beauty therapists) taught me the ‘hook’ motion: running the device along my jaw, finding the hollow of my cheek, then lifting up along my cheekbone towards my temple.
The motion can feel a little repetitive, but it becomes almost ritualistic, doing that for a couple of minutes on each side before moving up to my forehead and finishing on the sides of my neck (always avoid your thyroid — the centre of the neck). I opted for level seven for my face and five for my neck, as it’s more sensitive.
If you’re someone who’s good at sticking to a skincare routine, this is genuinely easy to incorporate, and you really do see an instant lift. It's one of those things that a lot of people say that they don't think I have saggy or wrinkles, but I can see it myself, and I genuinely noticed a difference to the slight droop at my jaw and in my jowls from the first use. Keep it up and you notice a real difference in the firmness and bounce of your skin, week-on-week.
The charge lasts well too. I’ve only had to recharge it twice in the two months I’ve had it.
My biggest bugbear isn’t actually the price. £500 isn’t cheap, but I compare it to something like the Dyson Airwrap, which sits at a similar price point. If skin sagging is a big concern, this feels like a comparable investment — in the same way the Airwrap is for great hair days. For me, the bigger gripe is the need for the EMS Activator Gel. I’ve nearly finished a bottle in the two months I’ve had the device because you need at least four pumps per section to use it properly. At £40 a bottle, it adds up — and you can’t use the device without it.
Final thoughts
The bottom line: this is a great device. It tones and lifts impressively, so much so, it really does feel like you have a FaceGym workout in the palm of your hand. The price is steep, so it’s a considered purchase. But if sculpting and toning are high on your priority list, this is an excellent buy.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
