Let me open this by saying I’ve used NuFace for years. Not 30 days, or a few months, like other online reviews that weigh in on the product. NuFace has been an embedded part of my beauty routine for the better part of five years and is a device I use borderline religiously.
My NuFace Trinity (or in my case, the Mini) is my desert island beauty product: the one skincare essential I couldn’t go without. I’ve gone so far as to repurchase it despite the initial eye-watering cost and even with mounting cost-of-living pressures, I’d do so again in a heartbeat.
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With regular use alongside a fairly comprehensive skincare routine, I’m now approaching 34 years old with a face free from Botox or filler. I’ve never seriously thought about it either. ‘You don’t need it,’ say my friends and I think my NuFace is the reason why.
That said, I don’t think it’s for everyone. From skin concern, to usage, there’s a lot to unpack about the device before I think anyone should feel confident to outlay the several hundred dollars it costs to buy from Mecca. Here’s what you need to know.
What is NuFace and how does it work?
NuFace isn’t exactly a product, but a brand that offers a range of facial devices and associated skincare. It’s most known for the Trinity, a facial toning device that runs a small electrical current (or microcurrent) through your skin to exercise the muscles underneath. The aim is to give your face a more sculpted, toned and ‘lifted’ appearance, which is why most people seem to buy the product.
While there’s little evidence to support the claim that NuFace’s Trinity device will have you looking ‘snatched’, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence online. There’s also scientific research that points to benefits of microcurrent stimulation like reduced inflammation, boosted circulation and improved muscle function.
Then, there’s the fact that for decades, doctors have been using technology to treat Bell’s Palsy, a condition which causes paralysis of the facial muscles. As you’d expect, the NuFace website lists myriad more benefits to microcurrent, including lymphatic drainage, which you can find here.
NuFace offers a number of attachments for its Trinity device, including lip, eye and red light attachments, all promising different benefits. Personally, I use the NuFace Mini, a smaller version of the Trinity device with exactly the same microcurrent power at a much lower price point. The benefits are the same as the more expensive device, you just can’t swap in and out attachments.
The idea of running an electrical current through your face might seem scary, but the process is entirely painless. In fact, it would probably be more accurate to say it’s ‘sensation-less’, as you don’t feel anything if you use the device properly. I only know the device is turned on because of its periodic beeping sound, which tells me it’s time to move.
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How to use the NuFace
For the NuFace Mini to work, you need two components: the device itself and a specific activating gel to ‘conduct’ the current, ensuring it reaches its end point. NuFace sells this gel as well as a more premium ‘silk crème’ activator which promises other skincare benefits. Both are made with hyaluronic acid, known for its hydrating properties, so the company encourages you to keep the gel on after application. Personally, I found the gel broke me out, so I prefer to wash it off when I’m done and apply my own serums in lieu.
You start by applying the gel to clean skin (in sections, so it doesn’t dry out) then either gliding the device along set facial lines in sets, or doing a procession of ‘static holds’ at designated facial points. Movements always flow from the centre of your face, upward and outward.
There are different ‘routines’ to choose from based on your specific concerns (lowered lids, jowls, a sagging neck) or a longer, full-face routine to target all areas of the face and neck.
When I first picked up the Trinity Mini in 2019, I followed a written instruction book and searched YouTube for support. Since, the NuFace world has expanded pretty significantly. There‘s now an app with instructional videos that you can follow along in real-time, which is helpful as you’re getting the hang of the things.
As a long-term NuFace user, I’ve also been known to vary my routine beyond what the brand recommends. Prior to my wedding a few years back, I saw a facialist in Melbourne who used the Trinity, alongside a gua sha, for a specialised ‘lifting’ facial. She trained me on a slightly different technique that she says she learnt from NuFace representatives who travelled to Australia for professional inductions. While I haven’t followed her training to the letter, I’ve gone for a hybrid approach.
It’s important to note that certain ingredients will block the microcurrent, so oil-based cleansers that can leave residue on the skin are a no-no.
For anyone curious or contemplating buying the NuFace, you can book in for a 30-minute ‘Lift and Firm’ facial at Mecca which uses the NuFace device and is redeemable on product. You’ll get a sense of how it works and feels, see how a professional uses it, and see some of the device’s instant results.
There are some small, immediate effects that come after using the Mini but if you’re not entirely impressed, don’t be too quick to judge. The real impact of the NuFace Mini comes from its repeated, long-term use.
How often should I use my NuFace?
Whenever I sing this tool’s praises, I’m always careful to liken it to a gym membership. If you go to the gym once, you can’t expect to notice any signifcant difference. But if you go regularly, you’ll start to notice real changes, slowly, over time. The more conscientious you are about your gym visits, the more quickly you’ll see results. Likewise, if you stop training, you’ll probably lose some or all of your gains.
The NuFace is also stimulating your muscles, so similarly, consistency is key. To anyone contemplating a purchase, I’d implore you to consider how religious you are about your skincare. If you’re diligent about your twice-daily, multi-step routine, the NuFace is probably a good fit for you. But if you inconsistently slap on serums and regularly ‘forget’ to remove your makeup, you may not see the results you want from the device.
NuFace markets its Trinity and Mini devices as adding only five minutes to your daily routine. To really get results, I’ve gone a little bit further than the brand’s suggestions, and usually spend 15 to 20 minutes a day on my routine. I started this under the direction of my aforementioned facialist who recommended I do six passes along my facial lines, rather than the suggested three.
I’m quite religious about my NuFace routine too, maybe missing only one night a week. The brand recommends starting your routine at five days per week for the first 60 days, then switching to three days per week for maintenance.
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Does NuFace work on jowls?
From what I can gather online, this is a relatively common question and is what first led me to NuFace. I picked up the Trinity Mini for the first time because of my concern about the early formation of jowls in my late twenties. I’d started to notice some sagging of the skin around my mouth that I felt was completely changing the appearance of my face.
Regular use of the NuFace made a noticeable difference in the appearance of my jowls, and improved my confidence as a result. It’s important to note that not everyone will see similar results, though.
NuFace doesn’t work by treating the skin but rather the muscles underneath it, stimulating them as a way to increase their mass. Not unlike how fillers work, more muscle mass means a more sculpted appearance, as any excess skin needs to spread to cover the extra mass. Once those muscles shrink, the skin will likely travel back downwards.
My early jowls were a result of weight gain and loss. An increase of facial fat had stretched my skin, and once that fat was lost (for me, a result of weight loss but also a natural consequence of ageing) that skin began to sag. Importantly, my jowls were only minimal so a slight increase in muscle mass was enough to pull them back. For others who are, says, significantly older or with more significant sagging, the results will likely not be as visible.
Is NuFace worth it?
Maintaining a NuFace routine is expensive. The initial cost of the device is steep at $429 for the NuFace Mini starter kit and $678 for the Trinity starter kit, both available at Mecca. It’s a lot to spend on any product, let alone a product that may or may not work for you.
That said, if your concerns and approach to skincare sound like mine, I’d say it’s well worth taking the plunge if you can afford it. I’ve put my money where my mouth is on this point too, replacing my well-loved Trinity Mini that broke after years of use (and a few too many clumsy drops in the sink).
In my opinion, though, the cost of a NuFace routine is less in the initial outlay and more in the maintenance. As noted above, you need to use a special gel with the product to ensure the microcurrent can penetrate the skin If you’re as diligent about your NuFace routine as I am, this gel gets used fairly quickly and isn’t cheap to replace starting at $51 for a 50ml bottle – a number that seems to keep increasing with time. It’s easily the most expensive part of my skincare routine.
Redditors do say you can replace the gel with alternatives, but given the time investment each night, I personally prefer to know the product is working as it needs to.
How does it compare to other microcurrent devices?
I’ve not tried other microcurrent devices so can’t speak to the pros and cons. From my research, if the power of the current is the same across devices, I can’t imagine there would be notable differences in results. Some devices may have a longer battery life, or combine LED, or have other benefits, so it may be worth considering alternatives from that perspective. That said, having used and loved the NuFace for many years now, the brand has my loyalty and I wouldn’t buy from elsewhere.
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NuFace before and after
There are plenty of NuFace ‘before and after’ images to explore online. Some showcase the device’s immediate results, while others show its results over time. I don’t feel the need to add to the visual noise here. I will say, though, there has been a definite ‘before’ and ‘after’ for me when using (and not using) this product.
I used NuFace for years with positive results, until I fell pregnant and had to set my device down for a nine-month hibernation. It wasn’t long after stopping my NuFace routine that I started to notice my jowls creeping back. Of course, there could be a host of contributing factors here (pregnancy hormones wreak havoc on your skin), but postpartum, when I started my NuFace routine anew, I noticed my face quickly start to appear more ‘snatched’ again.
What are the NuFace side effects?
As a matter of course, side effects vary from person to person, so I can’t speak to this broadly. Users have reported headaches, numbness, tingling and muscle twitching from the NuFace, so it’s important to keep that in mind. Personally, my side effects have been minimal and mostly linked to incorrect usage. As warned by the company, I’ve seen stars when bringing the device too close to my eyes and tasted metal when running the device near my mouth. If I’ve done a particularly long session, I feel some muscle soreness, as though I’ve slept with a clenched jaw.
The biggest concern I’ve faced is changes to my thyroid with improper use. NuFace warns against running the device too close to the centre of your neck where the thyroid sits, instead instructing users to begin slightly left and right of this space, depending on which side of the neck you’re treating. Having used my device for so long, I forgot this rule, and ultimately ended up with an overactive thyroid and all its icky side effects. Once I realised my mistake, my thyroid settled and those side effects quickly faded.
So, should I buy it?
As with almost anything in the realm of skincare, the answer to this question depends on you. Your skin type, concerns and budget should be the primary deciding factors, but you also need to give serious consideration to how diligent you’ll be in maintaining your routine. Unlike professional cosmetic treatments that take minutes and last months, NuFace requires a significant time investment.
Would I repurchase it if my device broke again? Absolutely. But skin changes over time, so in another decade or so, the story may be different.
Find reviews and more about the NuFace Mini and NuFace Trinity here.
This article My honest review of the NuFace Mini, as someone who’s used it for years appeared first on Fashion Journal.
2025-05-30 13:02:00
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