8 Best Microcurrent Devices, According to Testing
Which microcurrent devices actually work? We put the most popular picks to the test to find out.
Tested by Chiara ButlerBeauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
Lifting, toning, contouring and firming are the key elements of an ideal anti-aging skincare routine — and the best microcurrent devices can address all of these needs. Once limited to professional facials, these devices are now available for at-home use.
Microcurrent devices use low-level electrical currents to improve circulation, promote lymphatic drainage and aid in collagen and elastin production, says New York City-based plastic surgeon Jennifer Levine, M.D., adding that they can also help with healing wounds and reducing inflammation. Just note that consistent use — roughly five times per week — is essential for effectiveness, according to New York City-based dermatologist Brendan Camp, M.D. You'll also want to apply a conductive face serum or gel to your face prior to using the device for optimal results.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has tested countless skincare and anti-aging products, including at-home microcurrent devices. In our latest test, we analyzed over 1,300 data points to find the top-performing microcurrent devices. Here are our current top picks, tested by our Lab scientists.
Pros
- Measurably firms skin
- Easy to use and hold
- Small, compact design
Cons
- Paired app can be improved
- Testers didn't love the brand's conductive gel (sold separately)
Boasting the second best score for firming skin in GH Beauty Lab tests with a 7.2% improvement, this easy-to-use, beginner-friendly at-home microcurrent device was popular among testers. (It even earned high marks for tester compliance, showing testers wanted to, and enjoyed, using the device five times per week.)
The Foreo device also earned a perfect score for being comfortable to hold, with one tester noting, "I love the ease of use; the different speeds are great and it holds a charge for a long time. It's small and compact, and I just found it really relaxing to do every night."
Another tester added that they felt their skin feels "softer and smoother" after using it for four weeks. Take note that the device also has an app to guide you through using the device, though testers didn't like that the app charges for extra tutorials and pushes other products. They also didn't love the brand's conductive gel, but it's sold separately, so you can use your own conductive gel or serum instead.
| FDA cleared | Yes |
| Suggested use | Two minutes per day |
Pros
- Delivers immediate, temporary results
- Affordable compared to other microcurrent devices
- Very easy to use
Cons
- Didn't improve skin's firmness in our testing
Lift your face for less with this pink microcurrent device. Another top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing, Skin Gym's budget tool earned a perfect score for being easy to use, as well as a good score for not causing discomfort on skin.
Testers commented that they saw an immediate lifting effect after using it: "I only have to do 2.5 minutes on each side of my face to notice a difference," one said. Another added, "I did notice an instant lift after using the device. If I was particularly swollen or puffy, I did find that the device helped reduce some inflammation in my skin." Just note that this device didn't notably improve skin firmness in our Lab tests.
| FDA cleared | Unspecified |
| Suggested use | At least five days per week for 60 days |
Pros
- Provided the best firming in our test
- Gives an instant lift
- Easy to hold
Cons
- Some devices may have a faulty design
Want to firm your face? This device will do the trick. Earning top rankings across the board, Ziip's Halo device received the best firming score in GH Beauty Lab testing with an 8.3% improvement, the best score among testers for giving an instant lift and a perfect score for being easy to hold. "It's cordless (and the charge lasts a long time!), compact, quiet and very easy to use," a tester raved.
However, the biggest downside is that two of the five devices we tested broke. With one device, the conductive globe came unglued and fell off. The other device would not recharge, and there was a loose piece inside that could be heard rattling around when the device was shaken gently.
RELATED: The Best Neck Firming Creams
| FDA cleared | Yes |
| Suggested use | Three to five times per week |
Pros
- Stimulates face muscles
- Feels more powerful than others we've evaluated
- Controls are simple to use
Cons
- Expensive
- Highest setting of the device may be uncomfortable for some
If you're looking for the most powerful microcurrent device, this may just be it. Though expensive, "This device feels noticeably more powerful than the others I tried," shared GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. "When using it at the highest setting, I can really feel and see my muscles twitching."
She found it simple to use yet still a true powerhouse that stimulates the face muscles: "It caused the muscles below my eye and around my lips to move involuntarily," she added. "I'm impressed with this one." Take note that she described the highest setting of the device as "uncomfortable," but the lower settings were fine.
| FDA cleared | Yes |
| Suggested use | At minimum, once a week for 10 minutes on the face and neck |
7e Wellness MyoLift QT Plus
Pros
- Has a hands-free option
- Lightweight
Cons
- Device only has one button and must be controlled mostly with the app
This app-enabled microcurrent device pairs via Bluetooth to your phone, where treatments are controlled in the companion app. Butler notes that you can enable the "app-free mode" in the app to program a treatment that will work when the device is not connected to the phone. However, the device only has one button on it; everything else is controlled via the app.
Plus, you've got even more options: It can either be used like other devices by massaging it across the face, or you can hook it up to stick-on electrode masks that allow you to use it hands-free. "The device itself is light and easy to hold," Butler said. "I do like the electrode masks as an option for those who don’t want to do the whole-face massaging routine."
| FDA cleared | Yes |
| Suggested use | 15 minutes |
Althea Skin C∙A∙R∙A Multi-Modal Tool
Pros
- Offers three treatment types
- Comfortable on skin
Cons
- No option to do just one treatment at a time
Using three different types of treatment at once — microcurrent, radiofrequency, and red and blue LED light — this device is a real multitasker. You can clarify skin with blue light, restore with red light or even activate both at the same time. "The microcurrent feels comfortable on skin, and the radiofrequency creates a gentle warming sensation," Butler said.
There are multiple buttons, one for each treatment mode, and no companion app. She found it simple, light and easy to hold. Good to know: There's no option to do the treatment methods individually (you can't use just microcurrent or just RF), as it always does all three.
| FDA cleared | Application in process |
| Suggested use | 10 minutes |
NuFace Trinity+ Starter Kit
Pros
- Consumer-loved device
- Testers reported firmer-feeling skin
- Can help treat fine lines and wrinkles
Cons
- Didn't show an improvement in skin firmness in Lab testing
When you think of microcurrent devices, there's a good chance you think of this NuFace one. A consumer favorite in GH Beauty Lab testing as well, testers gave it the highest score for firming (though it didn't show an improvement in actual skin firmness in Beauty Lab testing).
Along with earning one of the highest tester satisfaction scores and making skin feel firmer, it also earned good scores among testers for making fine lines and wrinkles less visible. "It was super easy to use and pain-free," a tester reported.
RELATED: The Best Anti-Aging Wrinkle Creams
| FDA cleared | Yes |
| Suggested use | Five minutes per day, five days per week |
Therabody TheraFace Pro
Pros
- Doesn't irritate skin
- Makes skin look less dull
Cons
- May not treat fine lines or wrinkles as well as other devices
Bring the spa home to you with Therabody's all-in-one facial device. Inspired by the brand's Theragun, the Theraface is, well, for your face. It features red light, blue light, percussion, heating, cooling, cleansing and microcurrent thanks to a set of included attachments, all tucked into a petite and efficient travel bag.
Users loved this device, though they didn't notice improvement in fine lines and wrinkles over the course of the test. In Lab testing, it earned good scores for leaving skin looking brighter and not causing discomfort on skin. "My skin looks less dull and somewhat fuller around my mouth and cheeks," a tester reported.
RELATED: 9 Causes of Dull, Tired Skin
| FDA cleared | Yes |
| Suggested use | Five to eight minutes per day |
How we test microcurrent devices
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab's most recent at-home microcurrent devices test, our scientists recruited 26 testers aged 35 and over.
Skin firmness measurements were taken with a Cutometer before and after four weeks of regular use. Our panel of testers also completed before and after pictures (one tester shown below) with the Visia Complexion Analyzer to see long-term visual improvement in wrinkles and "lifting" effects.
In all, our scientists evaluated, collected and analyzed more than 1,300 data points to determine the top-performing tools, taking into account ease of use, comfort, improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, ability to lift, firm, tone skin and more. This roundup includes winning products from that test alongside additional road-tested picks from our experts.
What to look for when shopping for a microcurrent device
✔️ FDA-cleared: For the safest experience, Dr. Levine recommends buying only FDA-cleared microcurrent devices.
✔️ Conductive gel: If your at-home microcurrent device doesn't include a conductive gel, make sure to purchase one separately. "The device needs a gel carrier in order to transmit the energy," says Dr. Levine.
✔️ Single or multiple functions: Consider whether you want to focus on using just microcurrent or try other treatment technologies as well. Some devices, like the Therabody Theraface Pro or Althea Skin CARA Multi-Modal Tool in this article, offer other functions such as light therapy or massage in addition to microcurrent.
Do microcurrent devices actually work?
They can, but commit to using them routinely. "Most of the effects are temporary," says Dr. Levine. "You may notice some immediate lifting and depuffing. There may be some benefit after using them consistently with firming and plumping." The skin-firming effects we saw in our Lab test were very modest.
It's important to use them regularly for at least several months to get peak results. The experts we spoke to advise using five times per week for the first 60 days, then two to three times per week after that to maintain results.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. She also conducted and oversaw this most recent test of at-home microcurrent devices.
Good Housekeeping Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to help deliver fact-based, science-backed beauty coverage. Over the years, she has interviewed experts, written product reviews and tested hundreds of skincare products, including professional and at-home devices, including microcurrent and red light therapy.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.
The Best Eye Creams
The Best Foot Spas
The Best Dark Spot Correctors
The 16 Best Night Creams for Glowy Skin
