Welcome to Retail Therapy by Prevention! In this series, our editors provide thoughtful, honest reviews of what we’ve been testing lately that we want you to know about—because we refuse to keep these game-changing finds all to ourselves. Whether you’re on a mission to find something specific or simply need a little retail therapy in the form of an impulse purchase, consider this your insider’s shopping guide to everything our team thinks is worth the buy.
Skincare tools that promise glowing, healthy skin are everywhere you look nowadays. While a clay face mask and a few slices of cucumbers over our eyes used to be all we needed for an at-home facial, the latest and greatest skincare tech is transforming bathrooms everywhere into personal spas.
As an editor, a big part of my job is testing products like these. And while it’s a lot of fun—it’s also a lot of stuff. I’m talking about microcurrent devices, LED face masks, and facial cleansing brushes (just to name a few). So when a multitasking skin tool that promises to cleanse, treat, and massage the face, started making waves online, I wondered: Could the TheraFace Pro, replace my existing array of gadgets?
If you’ve been wondering if the TheraFace Pro is really worth the hype (and money), keep scrolling.
What does the TheraFace Pro do?
A better question: What doesn’t the TheraFace Pro do? The tool is truly a multitasker, offering eight treatments that target everything from smoothing skin to relaxing tension, in one for a totally customizable approach to your skin care. It’s a handheld device that comes with a variety of attachments that easily snap on and off via a magnetic head. It’s made by Therabody, the company behind Theragun massage tools for full-body recovery.
The attachments include:
- Microcurrent ring
- Percussive therapy attachments (flat, cone, micropoint)
- LED light ring (red, infrared, blue)
- Cleansing ring
- Hot ring (sold separately)
- Cold ring (sold separately)
It’s cleared as a type two medical device by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), explains Karan Lal, D.O., M.S., F.A.A.D., double board-certified dermatologist with Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ. This means the device is considered to be both safe and effective.
While Dr. Lal notes that the device won’t compete with treatments done in a dermatologist’s office, it’s an excellent purchase for those who want to maintain in-office results at home. Overall, the TheraFace Pro can help you take your at-home skincare to the next level without buying several different devices.
How I tested
Over the last four months, I’ve been using my TheraFace Pro nearly every day. I love how easy it is to switch from one treatment to the next, and I’ve certainly seen an overall improvement over time in the appearance of my combination, acne-prone skin.
I use the LED light ring about every other day to zap breakouts and prevent premature signs of aging, and I take advantage of the microcurrent attachment about three to four times per week for the standard eight-minute treatment cycle. The hot and cold rings and percussive therapy are great for easing tension and headaches. Think of it as a gentle face massage. The only attachment I admittedly don’t reach for very often is the cleansing ring, as I’ve always preferred my hands to any type of cleansing tool.
Below, Dr. Lal and I break down every function of the TheraFace Pro:
How to use the microcurrent attachment
Microcurrent works by stimulating the muscles underneath the skin, essentially giving them a “workout,” Dr. Lal says. “It can lead to temporary tightening and firming of the underlying muscles, making your skin look tighter. Over time (and with consistent use), it may be helpful in giving you a more ‘snatched’ appearance long-term.”
I’ve been using the microcurrent attachment a few times per week, especially before an event or night out, and I always notice a more lifted, rejuvenated appearance. The effects of a single treatment session last for quite some time, and I’d like to think I’ve noticed long-term benefits since I picked up the tool for the first time a few months ago.
Using the tool is simple, too. Just pop the attachment on the device and apply the conductive gel (included) to your face to help the tool glide on your skin. Press the middle button up to three times for your desired intensity, and move the tool in upward and outward motions (think: lifted!) section by section. The tool beeps once when it’s time to move to the next area, and it beeps three times when the treatment session is over after eight minutes.
I like to use this before my morning or evening skincare routine. After the treatment, I rinse the gel off with lukewarm water, wash my face with cleanser, and move on the rest of my skin care.
How to use the percussive attachments
I truly didn’t expect to use the percussive therapy aspect of this device as much as I do. But I can confidently say it’s a game changer for reducing facial tension and headaches (especially in combination with the hot and cold rings). In terms of how I use them, I really just do what feels good at the time. I use the flat tip the most, but the micropoint is a bit flexible and works well on flat areas like the forehead, and the cone tip fits nicely under the cheekbones.
“Percussive therapy is really good for people that suffer from tension headaches, neck or jaw pain, and muscular spasms or tightness,” Dr. Lal explains. “Plus, there are not a lot of facial massage tools that help the muscles in the same way that this does. You can’t use just anything (like a tool designed for the body) and risk aggravating your nerves—but this is something that is safe to use on the face.”
It may help with wrinkle reduction, as muscle tightness can make wrinkles look more prominent, according to Dr. Lal. It also improves lymphatic drainage, he adds, which may help with inflammatory conditions like acne.
How to use the light therapy attachments
Since I’m an acne-prone gal, these were the attachments that I started using right off the bat. I’ve been battling hormonal acne almost as long as I can remember, and while I have it mostly under control with my favorite skincare products, I’ve always wondered if LED treatments would make those products work a little bit harder. Spoiler: They definitely do. I enjoy using the blue light setting on localized areas like my chin and jaw, where I tend to break out the most, and I use the red light setting on my forehead and around my eyes to prevent premature signs of aging. Infrared light, which is used in many in-office lasers and light-based technologies, according to Dr. Lal, functions similarly to red light.
Dr. Lal is a big fan of LED therapy. He says the device uses effective wavelengths of light to improve the look and feel of skin. “Red light for anti-aging is just amazing. I truly think it is something that people should be doing a few times per week because it has so many benefits, like decreasing inflammation, stimulating collagen, and helping reduce hyperpigmentation,” he explains. “Blue light is really good for acne, as it reduces acne-causing bacteria.” However, he doesn’t recommend blue light for people of color. “It can cause or worsen hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones,” he notes. As always, if you’re unsure if any skincare tool is right for you, check with your dermatologist before trying something new.
You can toggle between red, infrared, and blue light by simply pressing the middle button on the device. While you can pair the red and infrared light with percussive therapy, the brand warns against doing this with blue light to avoid spreading bacteria around the face. Once you select which setting you want to use, hover the tool closely over your skin while moving it to a different area every 15 seconds (the device will beep to let you know when it’s time to do so) for a maximum time of eight minutes.
How to use the cleansing attachment
You can think of the cleansing attachment as a Foreo, Clarisonic, or similar cleansing device. Dr. Lal says it provides an effective way to not only cleanse the skin but to gently exfoliate and remove dead skin cells.
While I don’t find myself using the cleansing attachment often, I do appreciate the silicone-like bristles that don’t feel at all scratchy on the skin like some other old-school cleansing devices. Plus, it’s useful for days when I’ve worn heavy makeup and need a little extra help getting my skin squeaky clean. I’ve also used it on occasion when trying to give myself an at-home facial and want to pamper myself a bit. The only thing I don’t like about the attachment is that it’s a tad uncomfortable to use on flatter areas of the face (like my forehead), since it uses percussive therapy and tends to “bounce” off the face.
To use the cleansing attachment, get the attachment wet and add a bit of face wash to the bristles. While the device is water-resistant, it is not water-proof, and the brand advises against using it in the shower or getting it completely wet. Then, simply massage the cleanser into your face in circular motions and rinse clean. Note: The brand also advises against using gritty cleansers or those with physical exfoliants to avoid irritating the skin.
How to use the hot and cold attachment
These attachments are the only ones you’ll need to purchase separately ($99 for the duo). Each has three temperature settings, with the hot ring reaching 95°F, 102°F, and 109°F, and the cold ring reaching 79°F, 72°F, and 64°F. They also come with a small, insulated travel pouch.
Much like the percussive therapy attachments, I wasn’t expecting to use these as much as I did. But they’re really useful in reducing pain, tension, and headaches. While Dr. Lal notes that their function is more therapeutic than cosmetic, I do find that using them in conjunction with my serums helps my products absorb better and makes my skin look and feel more rejuvenated. Plus, the cold ring may help with facial and under eye puffiness as well as inflammation.
The brand recommends using the attachments with serums or moisturizers to make them easier to glide across the skin. You also have the option to use the cold ring with a percussive therapy attachment, which I find useful for headaches. It’s important to note that the brand warns against using the hot ring if you have melasma or hyperpigmentation, as the warmth may worsen those conditions.
One last thing
I was so excited to try out the TheraFace Pro, and after months of testing, the verdict is in: This tool is definitely worth the splurge—if you are going to use it. For those who are serious about their skincare and want to kick things up a notch at home, I truly think the TheraFace Pro is one of the best investments (skinvestments?) you can make.
A lot of people wonder: Can you use the TheraFace Pro everyday? The answer is yes! The beauty of this tool is that it’s so customizable, you can choose a different modality (or a few) each day. And since everything is non-invasive, it’s safe to use each treatment every day, according to Dr. Lal.
Also asked: Does the TheraFace Pro help with wrinkles? Thankfully, yes. The device does help with wrinkles and the visible signs of aging, if that’s a concern of yours. Percussive therapy helps relax the face overall to prevent wrinkles from forming or looking more pronounced; red and infrared LED light helps stimulate collagen production to smooth the skin; and microcurrent effectively targets the muscles in your face for firming and toning.
If you’re still unsure about taking my word on the TheraFace Pro, let some of the glowing online reviews do the talking:
“I have never written a review before, but after using this for several weeks, I felt I needed to spread the word. This amazing device has so many uses and doesn’t cause any irritation to sensitive skin,” one Amazon reviewer wrote. “I don’t like to use a lot of products on my face, so this is the perfect way to make some improvements in that area. I can already see a difference in my skin, and I can’t recommend it highly enough!”
“I’ve been considering getting a competitor microcurrent device for a couple of years now but have held off due to cost and lack of versatility. I’ve also been considering an LED face mask, along with a facial massager for my TMJ,” another added. “I was thrilled when I saw that Therabody was coming out with a tool that could do more than just one thing. While the price seems high, it’s less than buying a bunch of separate tools (and saves room in my bathroom!)”
So, my only question is: What are you waiting for? Head to Amazon or Therabody now to snag your very own high-tech, do-it-all device.
Shannen Zitz is an Assistant Editor at Prevention, where she covers all things lifestyle, wellness, beauty, and relationships. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Prevention, she graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor’s degree in English. If she’s not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.
