I Tried the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro That TikTok Is Obsessed With—Here’s My Honest Review

Courtesy of brand

As hard as I’ve tried, I’m not a skin-care-device girl. I have lots of the latest bells and whistles, but nothing has ever landed a permanent spot in my routine. From LED masks to microcurrent devices, most tools usually end up collecting dust underneath my bathroom sink.

It’s not that skin-care devices don’t work for me. I’ve tried plenty of tools that can deliver results after consistent use. But those are the key words: consistent use. Picking up a device and making it a daily part of my routine has always been the biggest hurdle. It’s great if you have the time (and money) to invest in your devices every night. But the truth is, most people can’t sit around waiting for a device to fully charge or spend 15 to 25 minutes wearing an LED mask. Personally, I don’t have the patience to decipher a manual and watch online tutorials to learn how to use my tool.

Medicube Age-R Booster Pro 6-in-1

$228.00, Amazon

A skin-care device has only ever worked for me when it fulfills two criteria: It’s handheld and user-friendly. I want to be able to turn it on and off with ease and use it while I’m watching TV or scrolling through my phone. I don’t want to push too many buttons or remember setting combinations. My nighttime routine is the rare time when I get to decompress and take care of my mind and body. I don’t want to complicate things by piling on another chore.

I’ve written about my love for the Solawave Radiant Renewal Wand, a no-frills, straightforward wand with galvanic current and red LED light therapy that depuffs my face and brightens my complexion after immediate use. However, I’ve recently been introduced to a new device that checks all my boxes and then some: The Medicube Age-R Booster Pro.

What is the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro?

I first heard of the South Korean skin-care brand Medicube last year through model Hailey Bieber. In a Get Ready With Me video posted on TikTok, the Rhode founder shared her love for the first iteration of the Booster device, the Booster-H. Like most trends and products Bieber approves, the device quickly went viral. Everyone from skin-care obsessives to the biggest beauty influencers are posting reviews on the video-sharing platform, showing their visible results.

As the number-one-selling skin-care device in South Korea, the Medicube Booster-H claims to increase skin-care-product absorption by 490% to improve texture and brightness. It also promises a noticeable change in your skin’s appearance with just five minutes of daily use.

Given all the hype, the Booster-H sat on my device wish list until this February, when I heard news about a new and improved version: The Age-R Booster Pro. It has all the skin-boosting benefits of the first model but with an additional five settings targeting various skin concerns. In total, the Booster Pro is a six-in-one device, featuring electroporation, microcurrent, EMS, electric needles, LED, and sonic vibration.

How does the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro work?

Booster Mode, as shown in Bieber’s video, features purple light and electroporation (quick high-voltage pulses) to create “temporary fine holes” in the skin to absorb actives. If you’re looking to smooth facial lines and increase volume, Microcurrent Mode uses green light and low-voltage electricity to stimulate the muscles and skin, while Derma Shot Mode utilizes mid-frequency energy currents to increase elasticity and contour. Lastly, Air Shot Mode creates “non-damaging passageways” in the skin with electric needles, to improve pores and target acne. Each setting has a custom vibration pattern to assist with the targeted skin-care concern.

Each mode can be set to different power levels ranging from one to five (one being the lowest, five the strongest). It’s especially great for skin-care-device newbies, who have never felt the sensations of microcurrent or electric needles before, but is also strong enough to impress even the most experienced beauty buffs.

For example, I’ve tried in-office microcurrent treatments and at-home microcurrent devices, and I can vouch that the Age-R Booster Pro is the closest you’ll get to an in-office treatment. The electric pulses and vibrations are strong—as in, you can feel it in your skull—and give you immediate results. Simply apply your favorite moisturizer or serum to your face and press the device to your skin, pulling from the center and out. Just look at the difference in my face after treating it for two minutes with the microcurrent setting. My complexion looks brighter and my skin looks lifted, particularly in the jaw and cheek areas.

The amount of treatment time needed for each mode can vary, but none run longer than 10 minutes. Typically, I would recommend reading the manual to make sure you’re not overdoing it, but this is where the Booster Pro shines: It comes with a self-timer and voice guide telling you what mode you’re selecting, the strength level, and how many minutes have passed since you began treatment. Once you reach the time limit, it notifies you when treatment has been completed and turns off automatically, so you never have to keep track. If you really want to take things a step further, you can download the AGE-R App to get customized treatment and skin-care tips, and to track your progress.

The pros

My most-used settings are Microcurrent and Derma Shot modes, to help lift and sculpt my jaw and cheeks. My face shape is pretty round—not to mention, I grind my teeth, which has resulted in enlarged masseter muscles in my jaw—so I’m always looking for ways to slim things out. The device is so user-friendly and compact, I can easily use it before a big event like a wedding or while I’m sitting on the couch watching TV. I’m also a big fan of Air Shot Mode, which I use on my cystic acne breakouts to bring down swelling. It’s not a cure-all, but it definitely decreases redness and irritation.

To drive the point home, I decided to use the Microcurrent and Derma Shot modes on just one side of my face. You can see the difference in lift and firmness, particularly around the eye, brow bone, and jawline.

Another impressive feature? The extra-long battery life. I’ve used the device pretty regularly since I received it in February, and have only had to charge it twice. Yes, twice. The device displays its battery level on the screen and will signal when it’s low on power, giving you plenty of time to recharge before you run out. Best of all, the charging port is USB-C compatible, which is used in most Apple devices and the iPhone 15, which I own. Instead of having to dig for the Medicube Booster Pro charger in my junk drawer, I plugged it into my regular phone charger. Convenient!

I’m not the only Glamour editor obsessed—digital director Perrie Samotin says, “This device is no joke. I swear I can see my pores shrinking after one use, as well as notice a visible increase in hydration. My go-to is Booster Mode, which the brand says exists to boost the efficacy of whichever product you use beforehand by allowing it to sink deep into your skin as opposed to resting on the surface. I’m partial to using it with a serum—I’ll alternate between hyaluronic acid or something with actives—then add my favorite moisturizer of all time, Weleda Skin Food. After just five (sometimes three) minutes, my skin looks like it just downed 40 ounces of water and woke up from a restful night’s sleep.”

The cons

Despite my love for the Medicube Booster Pro, I do have one small critique: The buttons that control the device are placed where your fingertips grip, which makes it easy to accidentally hit a button and change settings to throw off your treatment. To avoid this, I recommend using a light grip so you don’t accidentally press a button while you’re using the device.

So, is the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro worth it?

At $399, the Booster Pro falls around the same price point as most luxury at-home skin-care devices. I saw immediate results when I used it, and it’s very easy for anyone to pick up and operate—a huge bonus for beginners. With multiple settings and innovative technology (it’s a six-in-one device, after all), it’s definitely worth the investment.

Originally Appeared on Glamour