When I was 12, a classmate and I were rewriting the lyrics to a well-known song in Singapore called One people, one nation, one Singapore. My friend, thinking of homonyms, had renamed it “One pimple, one facial, one single pore.” Our teacher walked in after we finished writing the lyrics on the whiteboard, took one look at the title, and asked the class, “Did you all write that song about Cherlynn?”

I don’t remember exactly how I felt or responded in the moment, but that memory clearly stayed with me. Since then, I’ve felt like I was battling to salvage my face. My mom did her best to help, as did various family members, by taking me to facial treatments and giving me product recommendations and diet advice. But my hormones brought on years of angry acne that covered my whole face and parts of my body, and I picked at those zits with self-loathing. That led to deep scarring and the development of raised scar tissue called keloids all over my shoulders, chest and upper back. My sensitive skin, combined with a family history of keloids, made managing my complexion feel like an insurmountable challenge.

These days, thanks to two rounds of Accutane in my early twenties and having sunk many hours into researching skincare, I feel a lot better. I’ve become the person in my friend group who knows the most about things like actives, occlusives, sheet masks, overnight masks, sunscreens and how different formulas and suspensions affect the absorption of a product. I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but chances are if there’s something new in beauty, I’ve either read about or tried it.

PMD Beauty

One such beauty gadget is PMD Beauty’s Personal Microderm Classic, which I bought in 2019 for $159. I had been looking into tools that could help remove dead skin cells and trigger new cell growth. Between microneedling and microdermabrasion, the latter felt like a safer option. (I bought a microneedling kit last year that I haven’t yet dared to use.)

According to Healthline, microdermabrasion “is considered a safe procedure for most skin types and colors.” It could help with common concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, dullness and more.

As with all skincare products, I must remind you to check with your dermatologist before buying and using anything. I did not, but in this case it was a risk I was willing to take after reading a ton of reviews.

The PMD is a handheld device roughly the size of an electric razor with a spinning disc at its tip, covered by a plastic cap. The set I bought came with four discs of varying intensities, and a guide in the box describes which of the color-coded options you choose for your first few rounds.

Using a combination of the spinning discs and suction, the machine is supposed to exfoliate surface skin cells and increase circulation. PMD’s website says “Once this barrier is removed, skin care products can penetrate 20X deeper maximizing the benefits of skin care.”

I can’t tell you exactly how much dead skin it’s removed or if my beauty products get absorbed precisely 20 times deeper than before. But I’ve definitely noticed that in the days after using the PMD, my serums do seem to penetrate my skin more quickly.

The guide also describes how to use the device. After inserting the appropriate disc, turn on the PMD and place the suction cup on your (clean, dry) face and drag it outwards. The company cautions against going over any part of your face more than once, though when I did by accident, it didn’t destroy my skin. In fact, at no point in my nearly three years with the PMD have I felt any pain or irritation.

Immediately after each session, I like to slather on a moisturizing mask as my face feels slightly dry and exposed. The company recommends it, too, and it does help me feel like the ingredients are more effectively absorbed. You can do an overnight sleep mask (I love the one from Laneige), a sheet mask or a 20-minute rinse-off option, but I would still use a moisturizer after washing off a mask.

PMD Beauty

In the days after a PMD session, I also avoid using any other exfoliants, peels or ingredients like retinol, and instead consistently use more hydrating products with hyaluronic acid, for example. I used my PMD weekly during my first few months with it, switching to discs of greater intensity every six weeks or so. I tapered off to using the device every other week, and after about a year I noticed the pitted scarring on my cheeks look shallower. My temples still have noticeably uneven texture, but they look less obvious now.

Can I attribute all of this improvement to the PMD? I’m not sure. As with many skincare products, it’s hard to tell what’s working and what isn’t. It could be the microdermabrasion that made the greatest impact, or it could be the The Ordinary peel I’ve been using in tandem (on weeks when I didn’t use the PMD). But I do feel like the device has helped.

My quest to get clear, smooth skin is neverending (though, I’m pretty happy with where I am at the moment). And of course, a flawless face is an unrealistic goal that no one should feel pressured to attain. If you happen to be looking for an at-home version of microdermabrasion procedures, which according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons costs about $167 per visit on average, the PMD feels like a less-intimidating, low-stakes approach. Of course, the gadget is not likely to be as advanced as those you’d find in a clinic. At $159, the PMD isn’t exactly an impulse purchase, but this isn’t the kind of device you want to cheap out on.

Therabody, best known as the maker of Theragun percussive recovery devices, is launching its first product for your face. The company unveiled the $399 TheraFace Pro, which offers a mix of functions, including percussive, light and microcurrent therapies. It can also provide cryothermal treatment, which the company said can help reduce tension, relax muscles and “[address] discomfort related to migraines, headaches, and jaw pain.”

Therabody says the TheraFace is FDA-cleared, which is different from approved, as it simply requires the company to provide evidence that the device is substantially similar to a previously cleared or approved product.

Still, according to the twolistings for TheraFace in the FDA database, it’s cleared for “wrinkle reduction” and “pain relief.” Now, I haven’t experienced any headaches or jaw pain in the days I’ve had a sample unit of the TheraFace Pro, so I can’t tell you how effective it is at relieving pain. I’m also blessed to have no obvious wrinkles (yet), so I can’t vouch for the device’s ability to reduce them.

The bundle I received came with a tube of the company’s TheraOne “conductive gel,” which you’re supposed to use like a typical rinse-off mask (even though it sounds like it will electrocute your face). The handheld device is about the size of an electric razor, except that it has a bulbous top with interchangeable attachments.

Therabody

Two magnetic heads were included: one with a light ring and one with two metal knobs. The latter is for applying and rubbing a mask all over your face, and, with microcurrents, the company said it’ll also tighten your skin and improve muscle tone and contour in the face/neck. There were also three attachments that connect to the percussive part of the machine that gently punch your face.

That might sound weird but it’s exactly what the TheraFace does. It’s basically a mini Theragun that’s a lot less intense. Even at the highest of its three intensity settings, the TheraFace never felt like it was going to leave a bruise, and I did feel an odd sense of calm during the massage.

Therabody said the idea for this feature came in part from customers who “shared anecdotes about using Theragun on their faces — which is not recommended.” The company combined its percussive technology with other modes “to address the face’s more than 40 muscles,” adding cleansing brushes, LED light and microcurrent therapies. The company also says the TheraFace is “the first device to combine a deep cleansing apparatus with percussive therapy.” My kit also came with hot and cold rings for thermal treatments.

Therabody

You can use the three buttons on the handle to turn the device on, select vibration strengths or cycle through LED colors: red, blue or red and infrared. A small screen shows a simple menu that is hard to understand without Therabody’s guide as a reference. The options also vary depending on the attachment you’ve snapped on. TheraFace’s magnets are strong and secure, though sometimes putting the rings on can be a little tricky because the magnets in the middle want to repel them. I also appreciate that the machine charges via USB-C.

Though I haven’t used the TheraFace long enough to see any results, the company says it conducted a (very small) clinical study “with 35 US-based participants ranging from ages 25 to 61, presenting all skin types and self-perceived signs of uneven skin tone, lack of elasticity, lines and wrinkles, or a dull complexion.” For 12 weeks, the participants used the TheraFace either six minutes six days a week or 45 minutes once a week. According to Therabody, the vast majority of participants reported feeling like their skin looked healthier, had a decrease in wrinkles and noticed improvements in radiance, muscle tone and skin tightness.

I’m not sure how well the TheraFace Pro will address my skin concerns just yet, but as a face massager it’s certainly effective. For $399, this is a well-made device with a comprehensive range of features. Remember, though, that if you want the hot and cold rings, they’ll cost you an extra $99. That’s a fairly expensive package, but in the emerging beauty tech market, it’s a unique combination that might just cater to all your facial needs.