There are many, many microcurrent devices on the market, both pro and home devices.
What is the best microcurrent machine?
Well, this all depends on some key questions you must ask yourself.
Namely...
- Do you want a simple “Slide-and-Glide” style device?
- Are you seeking pro-like results from a dual probe, “Pinch-and-Hold” style device?
- Do you prefer a pre-set program to follow or do you wish to be able to adjust the wavelength?
- Are you seeking quick results for special events which go away without daily use?
- Do you prefer longer-lasting muscle retraining which requires ~ two months of frequent weekly treatments which eventually only needs maintenance 2-3x per month?
- Do you wish to master the basics and advance into more personalized results?
- Do you have a lot of loose skin and muscle?
- Are you in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s or in your 60s and above?
- How much money can you invest into your home microcurrent device?
- How much time can you invest to learn beyond the basics for pro-like results?
Yeah...this is a lot to consider.
But this long list is important for you to really consider when you’re asking such a definitive question: Which is best, or more precisely, which is best for you?
All home microcurrent devices fall into two (2) categories:
- Slide-and-Glide
- Pinch-and-Hold
There are microcurrent devices for every need and preference.
NOTE: Often imported gadgets coming from Asia will refer to their ‘simple setting’ as a favorable selling point, will not explicitly state it is microcurrent, or state a frequency range. And they will not state that they adhere to any ISO Standard certification for medical devices. (See more about the ISO Standards at the bottom of this article.)
Many hand-held and pro-level devices coming from China don’t have the engineering and manufacturing standards behind them to support your safety and deliver results. Many of these devices use high levels of electricity that not only tingle or shock because they are too high, but will actually stop the production of ATP in your cells. Such devices can be damaging and detrimental overall.
Quality microcurrent devices, both pro-level and handheld personal devices, are engineered with specific waveshape, frequency, are bi-directional with specific output calculations which deliver immediate improvements and long-term results.
Using a microcurrent device engineered to randomly target your skin, facial muscle groups and connective tissue is fantastic. The ClareBlend Mini does this.
Why Do You Want This?
Because randomly cycling the targeted structures of your face and neck acts like circuit training for your different facial muscle groups, connective tissue and skin, therefore keeping them all’ on their toes’ guessing what comes next.
And the expectation for optimal results is that you will use your microcurrent device 3x per week for 60 consecutive days to achieve a foundation of lifting, firming, improved circulation and fibroblast stimulation.
These professional brands of microcurrent also make a hand held personal microcurrent device which is FDA approved (class II medical device) for facial toning and stimulation and are made in the USA.
- ClareBlend Mini (“Slide-and-Glide” with Preset Randomized Program), professional version is Jeunesse Pro
- The Pico Toner (“Pinch-and-Hold” with Preset and Customizable Settings), professional version is Neurotris Pro
- 7E MyoLift Mini (Both with Preset and Customizable Settings), professional version is 7E MyoLift MD Pro
- BT Sculpt (Both with Preset and Customizable Settings), Bio-Therapeutic launching in 2021
The NuFace is a “Slide-and-Glide” style of personal microcurrent device and doesn't have a pro version. It’s easy to use and very convenient. This device gives good results quickly, but because it’s not engineered to significantly re-educate your facial muscles, once you stop using it daily you’ll quickly lose all of your gains.
How Do They Compare?
Pinch-and-Hold Style
Here’s the deal, the Pinch-and-Hold style has the greatest punch yet it takes more skill and time to learn! And the Pinch-and-Hold style does require both hands to use rather than just the one.
With the exception of the Pico Toner, a conductive gel is needed to deliver the current into your skin and muscles.
Individual treatment times vary on your detailed application, and typically take ~45 minutes. Of course, you can use them for longer treatment sessions if you wish.
The price of well-engineered Pinch-and-Hold devices ranges from $290 - $600 and cost on average 30% more than the handheld devices. They typically come with a manufacturer’s warranty of 6 months to 2 years, with some even longer.
Slide-and-Glide Style
The Slide-and-Glide style of microcurrent is the easiest to use, requires only one hand and minimal skill to operate...but individual devices vary in engineering quality and achievable results.
You will need to use a conductive gel with these devices in order to deliver the current into your skin and muscles.
Typically, these treatments are faster, even if they are less detailed. A single home treatment typically takes ~25 minutes and can go on much longer if you are giving more attention to detail.
The price of well-engineered Slide-and-Glide devices can range from $200 - $460 depending upon the manufacturer and the quality of the engineering. Manufacturer warranties vary greatly with handheld personal devices, from no warranty at all to 1 year.
Why Choose The Pinch-and-Hold Style?
The Pinch-and-Hold technique is a detailed, high-results technique that uses two-handheld probes to deliver outstanding, pro-like results. This style takes some skill to use than the handheld and a bit of training, but once you understand the basics, applying this technique becomes intuitive.
How does Pinch-and-Hold Work?
The Pinch-and-Hold style centers around isolating the tendon, which is the message center of the muscle where the brain signal communicates into the muscle. By holding one probe at the tendon, and holding the other probe on the belly of the muscle, (the bulkiest part of the muscle) to shorten the muscle towards this tendon. This pinching between the probes is held for a few seconds before being released.
True microcurrent is alternating polarities or bi-directional current, meaning that each probe alternates between positive and negative charges from within the microcurrent range which leads to strengthening the muscles by bringing more definition to the muscles of your face and body.
By reproducing your body’s own biological current you can re-establish muscle memory naturally. This action is mimicking the electrical signals between your brain and muscles which leads to reshaping, firming and tightening your face. You look younger.
How often should you do Pinch-and-Hold for long-term results?
By giving yourself a Pinch-and-Hold microcurrent treatment 3x per week for 60 consecutive days, you retrain your brain to recognize and maintain this higher average muscle tone, resulting in your tighter, firmer facial contours which then only require 2-3x per month to maintain your younger appearance.
If you’re 50, 60 or more years of age your facial (skeletal) muscles may be lacking tone and muscle volume.
Everything I’ve already outlined above still applies, but for you to get the results you’re looking for, you may need to build up muscle volume in the muscles of your face. Then, once they’re stronger and have more muscle that can respond to microcurrent, retraining them to be firmer, tighter, and higher will be more effective.
For ages 50 years and above, 3x per week for 90-120 consecutive days is your best bet. Consider combining this microcurrent facial retraining with guidance from your physician for the latest protocol in addressing muscle atrophy. (See my FYI below.) Then maintain at 4-5x per month thereafter. Make sure you’re taking a good multi mineral and getting plenty of hydration in order to maximize your results.
FYI: Numerous medical studies of frail, eldery patients with muscle atrophy (sarcopenia) suggest adding in nutritional supplementation of Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT) combined with BOTH leucine-rich amino acids and Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) to increase skeletal muscle mass and strength. It’s quite possible that this will aid you in rebuilding the skeletal muscles of your face and body while you are also using microcurrent to the same ends.
Always check with your doctor or Sports Physician before embarking on any type of nutritional change or supplement. This reference is to draw your attention to current research that may complement your personal goals and is in no way intended to represent or replace medical advice. As always, please do your own research and consult your MD.
Applied knowledge is powerful...and can yield terrific results when responsibly applied.
Why Choose The Slide-and-Glide Style?
The appeal of the Slide-and-Glide style of microcurrent device is how easy it is to use and get good results with very little training. Beginners can get a good result by simply following basic instructions.
The Slide-and-Glide works by combining a unique electrical microcurrent waveform from within the frequency of the microcurrent ranges from 0.1-680 Hz. This bi-directional, or alternating current, is discharged between the fixed, dual probes which pass positive and negative microcurrent frequencies through the muscles of your face and neck...or wherever you slide-and-glide it.
When applied with some mild to moderate pressure into the belly of the muscle, and gliding up to the tendon attachment, a shortening effect is achieved. The probes are designed for optimal contact with faces of all shapes and sizes. The device continually alternates between the positive and negative probes and allows you to adjust the current settings for a personalized comfort level.
While not as detailed, nor as shortening as the Pinch-and-Hold method, this style of microcurrent delivers a good result. If this style of device is well-engineered to cycle through randomized, multiple-depth bi-directional microcurrent frequency, like ClareBlend Mini does, the results can be very impressive and do accumulate and build much like the dual - probe, Pinch-and-Hold style produces.
How often should you use your Slide-and-Glide device for long-term results?
The beauty of the Slide-and-Glide devices is that you have flexibility.
Some of the simpler Slide-and-Glide handheld microcurrent devices are made for quick, just-in-time results. They get you looking better quickly even if they don’t actually accumulate and build up sustained muscle retraining.
If you know yourself to not have the weekly discipline, or your lifestyle doesn't accommodate weekly treatments, the NuFace and other simpler devices will do the trick.
Likewise, by using a well-engineered Slide-and-Glide microcurrent device, such as the ClareBlend MINI, 3x per week for 60 consecutive days, just like the other method, you will effectively retrain your brain to recognize and maintain this higher average muscle tone of your face and neck, resulting in your sustained tighter, firmer facial contours which then only require 4-5x per month to maintain your younger appearance.
Yes, using a Slide-and-Glide device does take more for maintenance once you've laid your ‘foundation of firm’, but you can still achieve staying power for your more youthful facial contours that last longer than a few days.
And of course, if you’re 50, 60 or more years of age your facial (skeletal) muscles may be lacking tone and muscle volume and this can present challenges. And there are solutions.
Once again, everything I’ve already outlined above still applies. However, for you to get the results you’re looking for, you may need to build up muscle mass in the muscles of your face.
Then, once they’re stronger and have more volume and more ability to respond to the electrical current, retraining them to be firmer, tighter, and higher will be more effective.
For ages 50 years and above, 3x per week for 90-120 consecutive days is your best bet.
Once again, consider combining this microcurrent facial retraining with guidance from your sports doc or medical provider for the latest protocol in addressing muscle atrophy aka sarcopenia. (See my FYI below.) Then maintain at 4-5x per month thereafter. Make sure you’re taking a good multi mineral and getting plenty of hydration in order to maximize your results.
FYI: Numerous medical studies of frail, eldery patients with muscle atrophy (sarcopenia) suggest adding in nutritional supplementation of Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCT) combined with BOTH leucine-rich amino acids and Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) increase skeletal muscle mass and strength.
It’s quite possible that this will aid you in rebuilding the skeletal muscles of your face and body while you are also using microcurrent to the same ends. Always check with your doctor or Sports Physician before embarking on any type of nutritional change. This reference is to draw your attention to current research that may be complementary to your personal goals and is in no way intended to represent or replace professional medical advice.
As always, please do your own research and consult your MD. Applied knowledge is powerful...and can yield terrific results when responsibly applied.
As you sort through the many different microcurrent devices on the market, both dual-roble and handheld, please look for these industry standards to ensure you are getting a quality product you will be happy with.
And lastly...ISO medical device classifications, and manufacturing standards you will find very informative when choosing your device.
Quality manufacturers will always label the ISO standard for transparency and superior manufacturing standards. They wish to gain your trust and will state this openly.
Microcurrent devices, for esthetic use, are classified as Class II medical devices and therefore fall under ISO standards for medical devices.
Devices With The Iso 9001 And 13485 Certified Manufacturer
The ISO 9001 standard is the world’s most widely recognized quality management system (QMS) certification. With more than 1 million companies certified in over 170 countries, ISO 9001 defines the requirements for companies who wish to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer requirements, satisfaction and who continually improve their business processes.
Industry standards that govern electronic devices and medical products, ISO 13485 is one of the most important standards for medical device designers and manufacturers. This standard defines a broad range of requirements on quality management system (QMS) for medical devices and equipment.
Class I and II ISO & FDA standards
Specifically, ISO 13485 specifies requirements for organizations involved in one or more stages of the medical device life cycle. ISO 13485 expands on the QMS fundamentals defined in ISO 9001. Among the list of requirements in ISO 13485, device designers, engineering services firms, and manufacturers must comply with a list of documentation, management, design and development, traceability, documentation, auditing, testing, sterilization, and other production requirements.
If you don’t see any of these standards stated on the microcurrent device you’re interested in, reach out to the seller or manufacturer and ask! If they deflect or avoid answering, consider this in your overall decision.
Personally, if any seller or manufacturer avoids answering my direct questions, I would never use their products.
In Conclusion...The Best Microcurrent Device
Ultimately, the best microcurrent device is the one you will use, that will maximize the benefits it delivers in the times you have to use it and will deliver your best results...now and over time.
Over the long game, your preferences and purpose will ABSOLUTELY determine your satisfaction with whichever device you invest into.