Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.
As a shopping editor, it is my job to discover cool new products, try them out, and write about them for you, the readers. When you think about it, I'm essentially a one-woman testing lab. Many things I am sent are great and likely included in many of my articles, but there are certain standout items that simply deserve their own posts, like my recent appraisals of J.Crew's leather belt and Ourself's lip plumper. A short while ago, I received NuFace's recently-launched and FDA-cleared Mini+, and after a few uses on my tired, puffy skin, I knew this gadget needed to get one of those stand-alone reviews.
To be fully transparent, this is the first beauty tool I've ever used, so I didn't quite know what I was getting myself into. The NuFace Mini+ is a microcurrent device, which is a tool that works by delivering a gentle electrical current to facial muscles, which in turn, helps lift, tone, and tighten skin. In other words, it's like a long-term workout for your face. But the thought of using low-voltage electricity on my skin? Understandably, that sounds frightening, but as a newbie in the beauty tool game, I can promise it is painless and works as it promises.
The Mini+ offers three intensities. I started on the lowest setting first and built my way up to the second, and only recently started on the third. It comes with two activators, a hydrating gel and a firming and brightening cream, that's supposed to be applied to skin with the accompanying brush before a treatment. The Aqua Gel is packed with hyaluronic acid and is great when my skin needs an extra dose of moisture and when I want it to look plumped and supple, and the Silk Crème is perfect for when my skin has been through the wringer and it needs a bit of tightening.
Another cool feature is that the device can connect to the brand's exclusive app, which offers several at-home treatments for different areas of the face. There's the classic "5-Minute Facial-Lift" that targets the neck, forehead, and cheeks, as well as a longer 15-minute version. There are also two app-exclusive facials, including a toning mode and tightening mode that helps blur fine lines and wrinkles. The app even allows you to track your progress through before and after pictures, and the results are always truly mind-blowing.
As a consumer, I am often skeptical about many products and their claims, but all I needed was two five-minute classic facials with the Mini+ to prove that this was far from a gimmick. I have been using it three times a week for the last month, and my skin has never looked better. Forehead wrinkles are gone, cheekbones are chiseled, and skin is lifted and radiant without much effort. It's not time consuming, it's easy, and quite frankly, it's a great tool to use when you're in a pinch or in between your monthly facials. And the fact that it's small and compact, and comes in three colorways? Well, that makes it just about the best stocking stuffer or holiday gift there ever was.
Sophie Dweck is the associate shopping editor for Town & Country, where she covers beauty, fashion, home and décor, and more.
