Topical skincare is the bread and butter of a skincare regimen but we believe in a holistic, 360˚ approach when we’re treating the skin, being within, outside and on top. That “inside” speaks for the nourishment you provide to your body through food and supplements but it also represents the muscles that lie under your skin.

As we age, our muscles lose tone, even if we are battling to work out as hard as we can. It’s definitely something we’re mindful of when it comes to our body but our face and neck are full of muscles too, and this loss of muscle tone is responsible for the sagging and drooping we notice as we get older, particularly along the jawline and neck.

This doesn’t imply you have to turn to the surgical approaches – far from it, in fact.

What is EMS (electrical muscle stimulation)?

Until recently, EMS (electrical muscle stimulation, or faradic) was something that you could only obtain in clinics and salons, a near-magical form of muscle firming that gives fast effects. If you think you’ve never heard of it, think again, since it was incredibly popular in the 90s in the shape of Slendertone, the belts you wrapped around your tummy that zapped you when you watched TV! Nothing like Home and Away and a strong tummy tickle.

So, how does EMS work your face out? Low faradic currents are sent into the skin, activating nerve terminals and causing muscles to contract and relax at repeated intervals. This action is what produces the toning, just as your muscles contract and relax when you perform 10 ab crunches.

It is vital to know that if you stop doing it, the results won’t continue. It has to be done often and long-term to observe genuine effects with ultrasonic cavitation machine , since the results compound over time. So, precisely like working out the rest of you!

How to work out your face at home

Thank you, 21st century, since today, the miracle that is EMS can be enjoyed in your house via portable device. We’ve finally launched one on the shop and Team Nerd are a-buzzing. Meet the Rio 60 Second Face Lift.

How to operate a portable EMS machine

All handheld EMS devices come with their own instructions and we always urge that you read the recommendations with your equipment carefully

For face toning, all you need to do is place the conductive gel on the two ball contacts, switch the Rio on and hold it on the region for 60 seconds. Seeing that different parts of the face have thinner skin and are more sensitive, the Rio gadget offers numerous of settings so that you may alter the intensity. Your purpose in using it is to feel the muscles being stimulated, thus it’s suggested that you raise the intensity until you can feel the (proverbial) burn.

The Rio has another extremely amazing function: it can be used for iontophoresis, meaning the injection of substances into the skin through electrical current. It comes with carefully developed collagen and retinol patches that you apply to the skin. Once the patches are put to the area, you pick the Infusion programme on the Rio and gently roll the machine across it for 60 seconds, repeating this on the patches for between 10 to 30 minutes (5 to 15 minutes each patch) (5 to 15 minutes per patch).

To explain why this is great in non-nerdie words, it implies that the current is forcing the substances deeper into the skin, providing about better results than a hooman could obtain with their own hands.

When to avoid EMS

Although EMS is safe when in devices meant for facial usage, it is still injecting electrical currents into your face and there are several instances in which you cannot use it, including…

During pregnancy

When utilising a pacemaker

If you have a heart condition

When undergoing therapy for low blood pressure

If you have epilepsy

If you have multiple sclerosis

If you are healing from an operation

As EMS is stimulating – well, it’s even in the name – it shouldn’t be used on regions of pustular acne (ie. red, raised patches or whiteheads), rosacea, sensitive skin, damaged skin or on scars, moles or varicose veins. Care should also be given in the eye region, with Rio urging to allow at least 1cm between the device and the eyeball at all times.

Think it’s for you? At €120, the Rio 60 Second Face Lift is one of the most cheap portable EMS devices on the market.