8 Best Face Sculpting Tools to Lift, Tone, Contour

As a child of the ‘90s, whose North Star of beauty inspo in the early aughts included the likes of Devon Aoki and Kate Moss, I have long dreamt of having high cheekbones. But what I didn’t get through genetics (I am blessed with long, thick healthy hair and look so much like my mom when she was my age, so definitely not too mad at my genetic makeup for this), I realized I could achieve with a facial sculpting tool.

Aptly named, a face sculpting tool is designed to help give your face an added lift. Some are manual tools, such as a gua sha, while others are made of smart tech to contour and accentuate the cheekbones. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, says face sculpting tools come with many benefits, including temporary reduction in facial puffiness and more defined appearance, improved circulation, relaxation of tight facial muscles, and enhanced absorption of skincare products when massaged in. For microcurrent devices, Dr. King says that you may notice subtle lifting and toning.

“[They are] a good option for someone who is looking for a daily pick-me-up,” Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, agrees. “These tools are good for those looking to complement a good skincare routine or maintain results between professional treatments, rather than those expecting permanent lifting or dramatic contouring.” That said, Dr. King advises to set realistic expectations. Ahead, a look at the best face sculpting tools that are actually worth the investment.

This all depends on your goals. If you’re looking to reduce puffiness and relax facial tension, Dr. King says that a manual tool like a gua sha or a facial roller works well to achieve that. If you’re looking for subtle, but temporary, lifting and muscle toning, a microcurrent device may be the way to go. For skin tightening or collagen stimulation, she says you might have to invest in devices that incorporate LED light, radiofrequency, or other technologies.

In general, Dr. Garshick recommends looking for a device that has clinical data supporting its technology, is FDA-cleared (when appropriate), and offers clear instructions. “It’s also important to consider whether the treatment fits into your routine, since consistent use is key when it comes to seeing results and benefits,” she adds.

What are the downsides to a sculpting facial tool?

When used correctly, downsides should be minimal when using a face sculpting tool. The biggest downside, says Dr. Garshick, is the upkeep. “It requires consistency to see results,” she says. Lifted results are also mostly temporary, she adds, as they are often related to reducing fluid retention rather than changing facial structure.

To be safe with these tools, Dr. King recommends avoiding gua sha or facial massage over active acne cysts, open wounds, sunburn, active eczema or dermatitis flare, skin infections, or recent facial surgery. With microcurrent devices, she says it’s not generally recommended for anyone with pacemakers or implanted electrical devices, certain seizure disorders, are pregnant, or have active facial infections. And if you’re dealing with significant rosacea or very sensitive skin, proceed with caution; a vigorous massage can worsen redness, she says.

Can you use a facial sculpting tool after getting Botox and filler?

“Timing is important,” says Dr. King. She recommends waiting 24 to 48 hours before using massage tools or microcurrent over treated areas with Botox to minimize the risk of affecting injectable placement while it’s still settling in. With filler, early massaging could potentially alter filler placement while it’s integrating into the tissue. She recommends waiting at least two weeks after filler injections to be safe. For a face lift or facial surgery, it may be six to eight weeks or longer, but it’s best to wait until your surgeon clears you so it doesn’t interfere with recovery.

When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.

As it relates to facial sculpting tools, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: modality, strength, ease of use, ergonomics, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you. Read more about our testing methodology here.