Why the 6-in-1 Device Is Worth the Hype
Back in May, I met a friend for a happy hour after leaving a facial appointment. The first words out of her mouth were, “Did you just get Botox?” Seeing as I hadn’t had Botox in a few years, I was surprised by this–not to mention I showed up wearing zero makeup (a rarity, especially when out for drinks). I had not come from any sort of injection appointment–but I did come from a treatment at dermatologist Dendy Engelman’s office in New York to test out a buzzy new tool, the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro.
While I now see people singing the device’s praises on my TikTok, at the time, I had never heard of the Korean device that had just arrived stateside. I have too many beauty tools in my bathroom to count, but after my friend’s accusatory Botox compliment, I decided to give the Medicube device a whirl at home. After just one week of using it, the device quickly replaced a majority of tools in my skincare routine, and I truly haven’t put it down since. After using it for months religiously, I’ve gotten dozens of compliments–including one from my favorite esthetician, Elizabeth Grace Hand of Ställe Studios, who is also now a Medicube Stan herself. Ahead, I dive into how the device works, how I like to use it, and why it’s truly worth every penny.
What is the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro, and how does it work?
Known as the “glass-skin tool” in Korea, this device may be small and compact, but it sure is mighty. Medicube, as a brand, offers a plethora of devices, and the Age-R Booster Pro combines the best of them all with even stronger technologies than the one-off devices. The Age-R Booster Pro has a small digital screen that shows what mode (Air Shot, Booster, Microcurrent, or Derma Shot) and level (each modality has five power levels) is currently in use. LED light therapy has taken the beauty world by storm, and Medicube harnesses the power of five LED colors that each serve a different purpose in conjunction with the other technologies used in each mode. One of the best parts of the Medicube is that you can opt to use one mode or all–regardless, you’ll get an effective treatment. While the modes are in order of how they should be used, you’ll still get the same effects if used out of order (like I do, as seen below).
Beauty editor Katie Intner after using the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro only on the left side of her face.
The first mode is Air Shot, which uses blue light to kill bacteria, while a needle-like technology creates non-damaging pathways on the skin to improve pore size and elasticity, plus diminish acne. The Booster mode uses orange light and “electroporation” technology to help active ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin and improve skin radiance. The brand recommends using the Microcurrent mode next, which, similar to other microcurrent devices, employs the technology to stimulate the energy-carrying molecule of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to boost collagen and elastin production. The microcurrent here is coupled with green light, which further improves collagen production. The last mode is Derma Shot, which uses red light and electric muscle stimulation (EMS) to revive and tone facial muscles for firmer, more lifted results.
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How I tested the Medicube
I dedicated my tools routine to road-testing the Age-R Booster Pro to its fullest potential, using it whenever my skin needed a glow-up or lift, which was just about every day. For the last three months or so, I’ve used the device almost five times per week. Since each mode has a maximum timer of five minutes, it never takes more than ten minutes of my time to go through the entire routine. What sets the Medicube device apart from other tools I’ve used is that there’s no need to apply a gloopy, messy conductor gel. You can use any serum or cream that provides enough slip for the device to move across your face. Medicube has an efficacious skincare line that I will sometimes apply before using the device. My favorite is the Collagen Jelly Cream, which I apply a thick layer of, like a mask, and then wash off. But I’ve used the Medicube on top of my daily skincare, and it’s worked just as well.
I start with the microcurrent mode every morning. I love the lift and sculpt I get from the technology, but the Medicube iteration works overtime to give instant results–you can even see your face wiggle as you use the device, which is very satisfying. This is one of the strongest at-home microcurrent devices I’ve tried, and that’s saying a lot, as I’m an avid microcurrent user. Not only does this carve out cheekbones and a jawline, but it encourages lymphatic drainage in the face.
Katie using the microcurrent mode.
After doing five minutes on my whole face (although I sometimes dedicate five minutes to each side depending on how puffy I look), I switch to the Derma Shot mode. I love the Derma Shot mode’s subtle pulsations, which I focus on my jaw area. Lastly, I use the Booster mode to ensure my skincare products are fully absorbed into my skin and to add glow and suppleness. While this is technically not the order recommended by Medicube, this is the routine that works best for me.
The only mode I use less often is the Air Shot mode, but the brand recommends using this every two to three days, maximum. I love using this on breakouts to zap away the bacteria, and it subsequently decreases the lifespan of a pimple. My secret combination when I have a breakout is using the Air Shot mode directly on the spot and finishing with my French pharmacy holy grail, Hexomedine.
Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream
What are the benefits of the Medicube?
For the last few months, I’ve been gushing over the Medicube to anyone who would listen, and for good reason. Aside from the fact that it has made my skin plumper, smoother, and lifted, it is practical and easy to use, which shouldn’t be overlooked. The issue with most at-home devices is consistency, and a lot of times, for me, that lies in adding another step to my routine in the form of applying a conductor gel. I love that you can use the Medicube on top of your skincare, making my already-beloved formulas even more efficacious. The device is also super gentle–it can even be used around the eyes and neck area without irritating. Battery life can also make or break how consistent I am with a skincare device. Luckily, the Medicube devices have an extremely long battery life–so much that I used the device every day on a two-week trip and still had plenty of battery life when I arrived back in New York.
I am not the only Bazaar beauty team member to become obsessed with the Age-R Booster Pro–Bazaar beauty director Jenna Rosenstein jumped on the bandwagon and is a regular user too. Her favorite feature is that it can be charged with your iPhone cable.
Are there any drawbacks to the device?
I know, this all sounds too good to be true. While this device is practically a ten out of ten in my book, I would love it if the buttons were more spaced out on the device. It’s easy to accidentally hit a button while using a mode, which completely changes the setting and resets your treatment. Regarding aesthetics, if black isn’t your style, the brand just released a beautiful baby pink shade that looks nicer in your bathroom.
If you recently have had Botox or fillers, talk to your dermatologist before using the Medicube as the technology is so strong that it can disrupt injectables as they settle into your skin.
Is the Age-R Booster Pro worth it?
Multifunctional devices of this statue can be pricey, but the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro normally rings in at $228, which is about the same as other tools on the market that only offer microcurrent. But right now, the device is on sale for $150 at Amazon for Black Friday 2024, which is why it’s the perfect time to try one for yourself.
Katie Intner is the associate beauty editor at Harper’s Bazaar across print and digital, where she covers (and tests) everything from the latest aesthetic treatment your dermatologist loves, to science-forward fragrances, to the biggest beauty tech innovations and at-home tools. When Katie is not working on a story or connecting with brands to delve into the latest and greatest formulas, she can be caught scouring a French pharmacy in Paris, or checking out a buzzy new spa or wellness haven. Before joining the Harper’s Bazaar team, Katie held fashion and beauty positions at Nylon, The Zoe Report, and People.
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