Imagine banishing wrinkles, age spots, and unwanted hair for a fraction of the cost of a trip to the local medical spa or dermatologist. Such is the promise of a host of new devices making their way onto retail shelves, but how safe and effective are these tools? It depends on the gadget, where you purchased it, how you use it, and how you define "effective."
Rod Rohrich, M.D., chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, notes that the wattage limits of over-the-counter light therapy units and laser hair removal tools, as well as the restrictions on how deeply consumer-available microdermabrasion units can penetrate the skin, typically keep these products from being able to achieve the sorts of results people are looking for. (Read: spa-quality.) "Basically, if they're strong enough to work they're probably not really safe for you to use at home, and if they're safe they're probably not strong enough to really work," he says.
However, there are some gadgets that the experts (including top estheticians) rave about. "Clarisonic is a very effective and efficient cleansing device," says Neal Schultz, M.D., a Manhattan-based dermatol-ogist. He notes, though, that Clarisonic is a cleansing tool only, not an exfoliating device or a microderm-abrasion replacement.
If you do opt to purchase an at-home beauty gadget, it's a good idea to do so at a spa or dermatologist's office (as opposed to a drugstore), where the products are typically of a more professional grade and the experts can assess your skin, show you how to use the tool, and ensure that there are no contra-indications. We tested a few of the most popular units available today and had mixed results.
| Product | Price | Claim | Results |
 Ansr: Acne Care |
$185 | Blue and red photo light wave applications reduce acne and fine lines when used for 10 minutes each morning and night. | "I haven't gotten a pimple since I started using it, and I think the fine lines around my eyes have decreased. But the skincare products that came with it left me with big red blotches." |
 Crystalift System |
$249 ($60 for monthly refills) | The home dermabrasion system uses micronized crystals to remove fine lines, clear pores, and smooth skin tone. | "My skin had a nice glow, but the wand needs to form a suction to work, and the tip was too wide to do so around my nose-where most of my clogged pores are." |
 Clarisonic Plus |
$225 | Supersonic cleansing helps improve the skin's appearance and the absorption of skincare products. | "It caused mild irritation when I used it daily, but when I switched to every other day at the recommendation of an esthetician, my complexion improved dramatically." |
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