There's plenty to look out for when it comes to the latest technology in skincare treatment. But if you're on this article, this means you've boiled it down to two possible skincare treatments of interest: radiofrequency treatment and microcurrent treatment.
They both claim to help reduce the signs of ageing by giving your skin a much needed lift and reduce fine lines and wrinkles through the use of electricity. But which one among the two popular beauty tools technologies is the most effective for you?
Let's look into the differences between radiofrequency vs microcurrent facial treatment, the benefits they provide, and how you can get the one you need and use it safely at home!
What Is Radiofrequency for Skin Care?
Radiofrequency (RF) for skin care is a non-invasive energy technology that is used to treat various skin conditions. Radio frequency facial treatments use low levels of heat and electricity which helps stimulate the production of collagen fibers in the skin.
As collagen is what keeps our skin looking youthful, producing more of it helps restore or improve the appearance of various skin issues. This includes:
- acne scars
- wrinkles
- age spots
- rosacea (acne)
- melasma (dark pigmentation on the cheeks)
- varicose veins
- etc.
Some benefits of using RF machines for skin care include:
- Helps skin recover faster and reduces pain and inflammation
- Promotes better cell turnover and accelerated healing
- Reduces the appearance of scars and wrinkles by promoting collagen production
There are a few potential risks associated with radio frequency treatments and the use of RF devices for skin care. These risks increase when the treatment is done by an inexperienced provider, or even using an unregistered device. This includes an increased risk of burns, paired with possible side effects such as mild swelling, redness, and tingling.
It's important to discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor before beginning skin care treatment with an RF device!
Better yet, opt for a properly certified and registered RF beauty device that can be used safely at home. Here are some great examples!
Silk'n Facetite Z
Silk'n Facetite Z is the perfect device for those who want to reap the benefits of RF skin care at home. The device uses three types of energy source: Bipolar RF energy, LED light energy and infrared heat energy.
We love the fact that this technology delivers safe and effective treatments without any harmful side effects, helping to reduce wrinkles, loose skin, acne scars, age spots, and other blemishes with increasing usage.
This lightweight beauty device can be used on a variety of areas of the body, such as the face, neck, arms, and hands. It is also lightweight and easy to use, making it ideal for people who are uncomfortable with traditional treatments.
We covered a detailed Silk’n Facetite Z review here, so be sure to check it out to know its full benefits!
TriPollar STOP Vx GOLD 2
For those who want to truly treat their skin, the TriPollar STOP Vx GOLD 2 is as luxurious as it gets. Equipped with 24-carat gold plated electrodes, this revolutionary device combines Multi-RF and DMA (Dynamic Muscle Activation) technologies. It's even up to date with the latest RF innovation so you know you’re getting the best in the market.
The device also includes a 3D temperature monitoring system, which allows for the most precise treatment by matching the right temperature for optimum results. It helps to contour your jawline through improving muscle tone and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, so Tripollar STOP Vx Gold 2 is something worth considering beauty enthusiasts looking to up their youthful look.
Not sure if this beauty tool is for you? We compared the STOP Vx Gold 2 with its predecessor models, namely the Tripollar STOP Vx and Tripollar STOP Vx Gold here in our carefully curated Tripollar STOP Vx Gold 2 review!
What Is Microcurrent for Skin Care?
Microcurrent, also known as Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS), is a type of skin care treatment that uses tiny electric currents to improve the appearance and function of skin. The tiny electrical current causes blood flow to increase in specific areas of the skin. This increased circulation helps remove toxins and dead cells from your skin while promoting new cell growth.
This type of treatment has been shown to be effective for treating various conditions, such as age spots, blemishes, sagging skin and wrinkles. It can also help reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks - we can definitely attest to that after using the tech ourselves!
The benefits of microcurrent treatments includes:
- Stimulate facial muscles to help contour, tone, firm and lift the muscles and the skin on your face
- Improve the look and feel of your skin by removing toxins and promoting new cell growth
- Improve product penetration as it helps your skin get the most out of your skincare ingredients
In general, microcurrent treatments are pretty safe overall. However, it does come with some risks of burns, scarring, and even infection when not done properly or the device isn't properly licensed or registered. It’s not recommended to those who are pregnant or have epilepsy, heart conditions, or any implanted medical devices (ex: pacemakers)
This treatment can be quite expensive when conducted in a clinic as you need multiple sessions. However, if you're looking for a more affordable type of microcurrent treatment, then beauty devices are the way to go. Here are some great recommendations!
BELEGA Cell Cure 4T Plus
The BELEGA Cell Cure 4T Plus promises to tackle sagging skin and give you that much needed v shape face lift thanks to its improved beauty technology!
The CellCure 4T Plus is a palm-sized compact facial treatment device that features the Patented "I.W. Wave" or Interwind Wave Effect. It has four electrodes that directly act on the fascia layer to generate microcurrent and interference waves in order to exercise facial muscles.
This then stimulates your skin to be more toned, and it also helps with collagen production and even elastin production to improve fine lines and wrinkles. The technology can also help minimize pores after cleansing, making it the overall ideal device to fight the signs of ageing!
You can find out more about the device with our Belega CellCure 4T Plus review.
Dr. Arrivo Zeus II
With 9 electrodes 24k gold-plated guided heads, you know you're getting the ultimate skin care with Dr. Arrivo Zeus II (宙斯美容仪). It contains core patented technologies that provide Mid-frequency Interval Pulse (MFIP) and Ultra Pulse (UP) in a single device.
Most importantly, the device comes with EMS that promotes muscle stimulation by repeatedly passing alternating currents through the 9-pole elements in the device to train facial muscle cells. Paired with its other features such as RF technology and LED light therapy, you will gain that youthful appearance you're looking for!
DPC Skin Iron
If you're looking for a microcurrent beauty device that can iron out all your skin issues (pun intended), from sagging skin to fine lines and wrinkles, from head to toe, then the DPC Skin Iron is perfect for you.
With its unique iron shape design, the device is able to reach the biggest areas of your body like your stomach and thighs, right down to the tiniest corners such as around your eyes and lips.
DPC小熨斗 comes with microcurrent and microvibration technology that can stimulate collagen production and elastin production, as well as promote facial microcirculation. Through this, it can help lift your eyes and double chin, improve smile lines and forehead wrinkles, improve elbow skin and stomach elasticity, and more!
Quick Comparison Between RF vs Microcurrent Technology
To get a better idea of the differences between microcurrent vs radio frequency, here’s a quick breakdown comparison:
Factors |
Radiofrequency |
EMS Microcurrent |
Current type |
Thermal energy |
Microcurrent |
Usage frequency |
2-3 times a week |
Daily |
Time needed to see effect |
Takes longer to see effect, but results lasts longer |
Immediate effect, but results fade away faster |
Skincare benefits |
Increases the total amount of collagen in dermis to achieve wrinkling and firming effect |
Improve skin surface fine lines and wrinkles, restore skin young, smooth, soft and tender |
The basic summary between the two of them are as follows:
- RF promotes collagen and elastin production through heat and minor injury which restores firmness to our bodies and faces.
- EMS primarily focuses on toning and strengthening the muscles, especially facial muscles, that lie beneath the skin through electric currents, which boosts cellular metabolism.
Regardless, both work well to help with skin tightening and reduce the signs of ageing.
FAQ for RF vs EMS Therapy for Skin Tightening
Which is more effective at treating signs of ageing?
The one most effective at treating the signs of ageing is typically microcurrent therapy. This is because it targets the muscles that cause loose skin or skin sagging and fine lines and wrinkles, which are typical signs of ageing.
With that said, RF therapy is still great at addressing skin issues such as tissue damage and inflammation. In the end, the best treatment is one that addresses your needs.
Which tech gives a longer lasting result?
Between RF and microcurrent therapy, it is RF that is known to be long lasting, due to how it stimulates collagen production and new skin cells, providing a long-lasting natural-looking result. Microcurrent offers instant results, but requires more sessions to either get the results or even maintain it.
Is radiofrequency or microcurrent treatment painful?
Both radiofrequency and microcurrent treatment are not painful. However, they do give off different sensations that may be uncomfortable for those not used to it.
With RF, the sensation is more warm to hot, while microcurrent has a more tingling sensation due to its use of electric current. Using the right device, both treatments should not cause any painful sensations.
Can you do microcurrent and radiofrequency together?
Yes, you can do both microcurrent and radiofrequency treatment together! In fact, it is generally encouraged because they are not only compatible, but can also improve each other's results by targeting different areas of concern and layers of skin and muscle.
This is why some of the beauty devices recommended such as Dr. Arrivo Zeus II and TriPollar STOP Vx GOLD 2 provide both RF and EMS features. Used together, you may be able to achieve the best outcome of youthful skin.
Can microcurrent or radio frequency damage your skin?
No, microcurrent and radio frequency treatment should not damage your skin as long as the devices are licensed and approved by the FDA. With that said, there are some possible side effects with RF as it can penetrate deep into the skin. Done incorrectly, there could be some level of damage.
But this is why it's important to use the right device by getting them from authorised distributors (such as from our beauty store BeautyFoo Mall) and if done in a clinic, it should be done by an experienced professional.
Deciding the Best Treatment for You - Should You Get Both?
Based on what we've shared, it's clear that both RF and EMS are great at skin tightening and improving the skin from the signs of ageing. But which should you get?
If you prefer stronger tech that gives you long lasting effects, then get an RF device like the Silk'n FaceTite Z or the latest TriPollar STOP Vx GOLD 2. You only need to use it 2-3 times a week and the results will last longer.
If you prefer something you can use daily and has immediate effects, aim for an EMS device such as the DPC Skin Iron, Dr. Arrivo Zeus II or the BELEGA Cell Cure 4T Plus. You can use it daily and see results almost immediately as you use it!
Remember that it’s perfectly fine to combine both RF and Microcurrent technologies for the best outcome, so you’re more than welcome to get both devices to help you achieve your goal of younger, firmer, and youthful skin - we recommend you to do so in order to harness the complete benefits of both techs!
In conclusion, the best skincare technology is one that suits your needs, lifestyle and preference. If you're looking to find out more about the best skin care tools available in the market today, then look no further than BeautyFoo Mall!
As the sole authorised distributor in Malaysia for many world-class beauty device brands, BeautyFoo Mall strives to help you learn about the latest beauty care trends and technologies so you can make a more informed decision when getting your ideal homecare beauty device, be it from Japan, Korea and more. Check out our range of beauty tools by Cellreturn (Korea), Dualsonic (Korea), DPC (Korea), Artistic & Co. (Japan), Belega (Japan), Silk'n & etc!