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. For more skin treatment road tests, check out our Beauty section.

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. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NuFACE (@mynuface) How to use the NuFace device 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