FOREO Bear 2 Advanced Microcurrent Facial Device - Lifting & Toning

Why it's worth it

Bear 2 reads your skin's resistance 200 times a second and caps the current it delivers, so it's the least intimidating microcurrent device here. It costs less than our top pick and travels better, but it won't turn on at all until you pair it with your phone.

Microcurrent can zap you. It usually happens when your skin's resistance spikes — a dry patch, gel spread too thin, a spot you missed. Bear 2's Anti-Shock System 2.0 measures resistance 200 times per second and adjusts on the fly, and Foreo caps delivery at 250 microamps. These devices generally work in a 200 to 400 microamp band, so this sits at the gentle end. That's the right end for sensitive skin.

If you've never done this before, the app is the reason to choose it. Foreo's guided programs tell you where to glide, how long to hold, and which of the four microcurrent modes to use. There are also five T-Sonic massage patterns layered in for circulation and puffiness. The learning curve that trips people up on other microcurrent tools mostly disappears here.

From our review of 7 at-home skincare devices, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +Microcurrent can zap you
• +If you've never done this before, the app is the reason to choose it
• +Owner feedback clusters around one benefit in particular: morning de-puffing
• +It pairs with Foreo's Supercharged Serum as the conductive layer, which Foreo says increases type 1 collagen production

What to know

• –The phone dependency is real
• –The anti-shock system isn't perfect
• –Some owners say the tightening wears off within hours, which pushes them toward morning and evening use