Best at-home Radio Frequency devices for skin tightening
Tight & bright...
This round-up is all about Radio Frequency skin tightening at home.
First, you can find out how it works and what it can do for your skin. Then, you’ll find a concise summary of my testing feedback and the pros & cons of each of the best Radio Frequency devices to use at home.
The best at-home Radio Frequency devices from my tests
Here are the contents of this round-up and the best devices I recommend from my thorough testing:
The best RF devices round-up:
- Tripollar STOP VX my favourite for fast & thorough full face & neck sessions
- NEWA easiest, no fuss & fast results
- Sensica Sensilift comfy & lowest effort schedule
- Silk'n Facetite / Titan simple & affordable
A quick overiew of…
At-home Radio Frequency skin tightening
“Pleasant, warming, easy routines with a handheld device done 2 or 3 times per week which gradually tighten, lift, smooth, firm and brighten your skin.”
Top brands: Tripollar, Silk’n, NEWA, Sensica
Skin tightening & healing by controlled heat injury
Face, neck, chest, hands
All skin tones & types
💰 to 💰💰💰💰💰
Based on in-clinic cosmetic treatments
WHAT IS IT?
An electric current at radio wave frequencies is sent into your skin via a protective water or glycerin-based gel.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Ageing skin builds less and weaker collagen and elastin fibres so it’s not as bouncy and firm. Skin cell renewal also becomes slow and sluggish so your skin surface isn’t as fresh as healthy. This means sagging skin, textural issues, dullness and wrinkles.
Radio Frequency travels from one electrode to the other through your skin. It heats and stimulates the underlying structures of the skin down to the dermis, causing controlled damage. The results are collagen denaturing, dermal remodelling and boosting blood flow and so cellular metabolism.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
First, the heat causes your collagen fibres to unravel and then reshape in a tighter pattern (denaturing) which creates a skin-lifting effect.
Second, your skin goes into healing mode and your fibroblasts build bucket-loads of strong and fresh collagen, elastin and hydrating sugar molecules. These repair, revitalise and moisturise your skin. It’s called dermal remodelling.
And finally, your cells get a good detox because the heat increases blood flow (vasodilation). This brings more oxygen and nutrients to your cells and removes more waste stuff like carbon dioxide. This boosts your cell metabolism, meaning more energy to fuel dermal remodelling and keep your skin healthy.
EVIDENCE
Radio Frequency skin tightening origins are from non-invasive cosmetic treatments offered in clinics.
There’s some good evidence for aesthetic non-medical Radio Frequency facials. However, most evidence is based on small numbers of participants without control groups, and the methods vary greatly. The studies prove RF stimulates collagen synthesis, but we need further studies to clarify the best treatment parameters and to determine its overall effectiveness.
At-home devices are much less powerful, but a few clinical studies show they work.
The FDA indicates cleared at-home devices for the "non-invasive treatment of mild to moderate facial wrinkles and rhytides."
Learn even more detail about Radio Frequency facials in this in-depth article.
Ease of use
Requires gel
Cover your skin in small circles
Pleasant warming sensation
Painless
Leaves skin pink, plump & smooth
Rare side effects
Effort
30+ mins face & neck
1 to 5 sessions per week
Rest day in between sessions
For 4 to 10 weeks
Typically weekly top-ups
Results
See results from 4 to 6+ weeks
Further improvements up to 12 weeks
Take before & after photos! 📷
Results vary. You may see:
✔️ Tighter skin & smaller pores
✔️ Smooth, plumped & firm texture
✔️ Faded fine lines & wrinkles
✔️ Lifted lax skin on jowls, neck, chin & cheeks
✔️ Bouncy & glowsome skin
1. Tripollar STOP VX
"Super-smooth, tight, firm, & glowsome skin, lifted sagging skin too, & toned jawline muscles"
4.7 / 5
Fast & thorough RF
Radio Frequency &
Electric Muscle Stimulation
Face, neck & hands
💰💰💰💰💰
🇺🇸 US 30-day money-back guarantee
Tripollar STOP VX deals
I earn a small commission when you shop via my links. Thank you for your support!
BODYBEAUT
20% off code at Tripollar
🇩🇪 Deutschland
🇳🇱 Nederland
🇺🇸 United States
🇦🇺 Australia
🌏 International
Tripollar STOP VX Review Summary
I highly rate the Tripollar STOP VX models despite the upfront commitment, because they work to lift my under chin sagging skin. It feels lush and warm, and the maintenance sessions are super-easy to stick to. But boy is it pricey for the latest Gold VX model with all the fancy efficiency features.
Here's a quick summary round-up of my test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide...
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍
Easy RF sessions on face & neck, pleasant warming sensation. Requires a sticky conductive gel. DMA mode feels like teeny pinpricks but is totally bearable. Use morning or night, you can watch TV too. No pain or irritation. Leaves skin invigorated, red/pink & plump, which fades quickly.
Effort
💧💧💧
A high-effort device with 2 to 3 sessions per week for 6 to 8 weeks. RF takes 25 mins plus 10 mins DMA = total 35 mins. Then, a much more manageable maintenance plan with sessions either weekly, or 1 every 2 weeks.
Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skin feels smoother & firmer after just a few sessions. Collagen & elastin slowly rebuild to smooth, firm & brighten your skin, softening wrinkles & fine lines too. Skin also gradually tightens for lift around the chin, jaw & eyes. Best results after 6 to 8 weeks maintained with regular top-ups.
Pros
- Simple routine, painless & pleasant warming sensation
- Leaves skin invigorated
- Low effort maintenance schedule
- Gel lasts aaaages
- Lower cost gel alternatives available too
- Compact & lightweight
- STOP VX & Gold models are the fastest and easiest of the STOP models
- Clinically proven & CE certified
- FDA-cleared
- 30-day money-back guarantee in the US
Cons
- Very expensive
- No money-back guarantee outside the US
- Very sticky prep gel
- High up-front effort during start-up
- No clinical data for DMA/ELV
- No clinical data showing how much better Multi-RF is
Find more information on the Tripollar STOP VX models here. And you can learn how they compare to the other Tripollar STOP models too. If you think it's the device for you, please shop via my links (there's a special discount code just for you too!). I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support for my future reviews 🙏!
2. NEWA at-home RF
"Tighten, smooth, firm, glow & lift sagging cheeks & jowls, with patented RF technology"
4.6 / 5
No fuss & fast
Radio Frequency
Cheeks, jaw, under-chin & neck
💰💰💰
30-day money back guarantee
NEWA RF deals
I earn a small commission when you shop via my links. Thank you for your support!
BODYBEAUT
10% off code at MYNEWA.com
🇺🇸 US only
BODY5
CurrentBody voucher code
🇺🇸 United States
🇦🇺 Australia
NEWA Review Summary
If you want something to lift sagging cheeks, jowls and chin, I highly recommend the NEWA. That’s because the pampering warming sessions are the easiest of all the at-home RF devices I’ve tested. And they leave your skin super plump & smooth with noticeable results after just 4 weeks. It’s a more affordable choice, and with a 30-day money-back guarantee too.
Here's a quick summary round-up of my test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide...
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍👍
Very easy RF sessions on cheeks, lower face and under chin. Requires a gel. Treat your face in 6 zones, 4 minutes each, with slow & small warming circles. There’s a helpful built-in timer. It’s safe, quick & easy to heat your skin. Use morning or night, you can read or watch TV. No pain or irritation.
Effort
💧💧
A medium-effort device. All treatment zones take 24 minutes to complete. Do 3 to 5 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Then drop to 2 sessions per week for ongoing maintenance. Set aside 30 mins at the start and midweek, it quickly becomes habit. Repeat the start-up stage if you lapse with your sessions.
Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Leaves skin flushed pink, but this fades quickly. Skin also feels super-smooth & plump for several days after each session. See & feel noticeable results after just 4 weeks as fresh collagen & elastin smooths, firms, brightens, and softens wrinkles & fine lines too. Skin also tightens for lift around the cheeks, chin and jaw. See further improved results over 3 months, with continued twice-weekly top-ups.
Pros
-
Very simple & easy
- Lightweight & comfy
- Warms skin fast
- With a built-in timer
- Pleasant warming sensation
- Leaves skin smooth & plump
- You can do it as you watch TV
- Cordless model available (US only)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Clinically proven & CE certified
- FDA-cleared
Cons
-
Gel is expensive
- Not indicated for your forehead (so may not give results there)
- Not indicated for your upper lip
-
Cordless models are not available outside the US
Find more information on the NEWA at-home RF here. If you think it's the device for you, please shop via my links. I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support for my future reviews 🙏!
3. Sensica Sensilift
"Tighten, smooth, firm, glow & lift sagging skin, with optional massaging mode too"
4.3 / 5
Comfy & low effort
Radio Frequency &
massage
Face, neck, chest & hands
💰💰💰
60-day money-back guarantee
Sensica Sensilift deals
I earn a small commission when you shop via my links. Thank you for your support!
BODY5
CurrentBody voucher code
🇺🇸 United States
🇨🇦 Canada
🇦🇺 Australia
Sensica Sensilift Review Summary
There’s a lot to like about the Sensica Sensilift.
I love the easy roll-on gel and the device design is easy and feels very pleasant indeed. So, you’ll look forward to your weekly pampering session. I find my skin doesn’t feel as hot during sessions as with rival devices, but the results are still good. Plus, you get a 60-day money-back guarantee so you can try it, and return it if it’s not for you.
Here's a quick summary round-up of my test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide...
Ease of use
👍👍👍👍
Simple & comfy with a very pleasant warm, massaging sensation. Use with the Sensica gel – ❤️ the clever mess-free roll-on applicator. Choose from x3 RF heat levels, and x2 massage speeds. The temperature sensors prevent your skin from overheating. Use morning or night, very easy routines mean you can also watch TV. No pain or irritation. Leaves skin pink, plump & refreshed.
Effort
💧💧
The lowest effort home RF device with one session per week for 8 weeks. Each full face and neck session takes 45 minutes. More if you add in hands & decolletage, but you can spread sessions over alternate days. Super-low maintenance sessions recommended once every 4 to 8 weeks, but you may benefit from them more regularly.
Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Immediate smooth skin. Boosts cell turnover, collagen & elastin build gradually, refreshing and brightening. Healthier skin, faded wrinkles & pigmentation over a month or so.
Pros
- Comfy & intuitive to use
- Very pleasant warm, massaging sensation
- Use on your decolletage too!
- Easy, no-mess good value base gel
- Very easy routines, do it as you watch TV
- Easy to fit in weekly start-up sessions
- Low effort maintenance sessions
- A more affordable at-home RF option
- Clinically proven, CE certified & FDA-cleared
- 60-day money back guarantee
Cons
- Massaging action is a little noisy
- Rather time consuming full face & neck sessions
- Not suitable for the under-eye area
- No available clinical data on Dynamic RFTM (RF & massaging action)
- You may benefit from more frequent maintenance sessions than suggested
Find more information on the Sensica Sensilift here. If you think it's the device for you, please shop via my links. I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support for my future reviews 🙏!
4. Silk'n FaceTite / Silk'n Titan
"Smooth, bright, tight & firm skin, lifts sagging skin too. Red & NIR LEDs boost skin health & healing too"
4.0 / 5
Simple & affordable
Radio Frequency &
red light therapy
Face & neck
💰 to 💰💰💰💰
60-day money-back guarantee from silkn.com & silkn.ca
Silk'n FaceTite deals
I earn a small commission when you shop via my links. Thank you for your support!
BODY5
CurrentBody voucher code
🇳🇱 Nederland
🇺🇸 United States
🇨🇦 Canada
🇦🇺 Australia
🌏 International
Silk'n FaceTite Review Summary
The Silk’n FaceTite (or Titan in the US and Canada) is a pleasant and affordable home device that builds healthier, firmer, brighter and fresh skin over the course. It’s the perfect partner for nights in front of the TV. But it’s the highest effort home device I’ve trialled. So, if you’re short on time, it’s not for you.
Here's a quick summary round-up of my test scores, and pros and cons to help you decide...
Ease of use
👍👍👍
Lightweight & very easy to use, the latest US models are cordless with 20 mins run time, and work on mains power too. A simple and intuitive routine, but requires a gel which pills and clumps quite a bit. There's no pain or irritation, Just a pleasant warming sensation. You can use it as you watch TV.
Effort
💧💧💧💧
High up-front effort over 10 weeks. A full face & neck session (six zones) takes 1.5 hours! Do two sessions per treatment zone each week. You can split zones over multiple days so it's easier to fit in. Maintenance is much easier at just one session every 2 weeks.
Results
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skin feels smoother and firmer after just a few sessions. The effects become visible at around 5 weeks or 10x sessions. Collagen & elastin slowly refreshes to smooth, firm & brighten your skin. Wrinkles & fine lines soften, and lax skin tightens & lifts. Complete the full 10 weeks then maintain your results with top-up sessions.
Pros
- More affordable than most
- Durable & light-weight
- Latest models are battery & mains-powered
- Very easy to use & simple routine
- Painless, soothing & pampering
- Easy to do as you watch TV
- Slider Gel is excellent value
- Compact, sturdy storage case
- Low effort maintenance schedule
- Clinically proven, CE certified & FDA-cleared
- 60-day money back guarantee from silkn.com & Silkn.ca
Cons
- Time intensive for full face & neck done in one session
- High effort during start-up
- No timer built into the device
- Battery power is rubbish: a full charge takes 4 hours and lasts only 20 mins of use (but it works on mains power too)
- Faffy & clumpy gel needs several applications
- No UK & Europe money-back guarantee
Find more information on the Silk'n FaceTite here. If you think it's the device for you, please shop via my links. I earn a small commission, but your price stays the same. I really appreciate your support for my future reviews 🙏!
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