It’s called the Slendertone Face, and there’s a waiting list thousands of ladies long at Harrods in the UK today, despite the whopping £300 (about $500) price.
The headset device, compared to a natural facelift, uses electronic muscle stimulation to strengthen facial muscles. Clinical trials showed that regular use reversed some of the muscle weakening that comes with age.
“It’s very gentle and doesn’t hurt at all,” says Dr. Trish Smith, cardiologist and chief executive of Slendertone, “As it’s hands-free, you can wear it while you’re cooking or ironing.” Electronic panels sit directly over the cranial nerve (scary!), just in front of the ear from where all the facial nerves branch out, so the pulses gently stimulate every muscle in the face. source
Video interview with the developer of the Slendertone Face…
The trials, overseen by Dr. Michael Hennessy, head of neurology at the University of Galway, suggested that using Slendertone Face for 20 minutes five times a week for 12 weeks increases the volume of facial muscles by up to 46%, with the average improvement being 18.6%.
Not bad at all.
Electronic facial muscle stimulators manufactured by other companies have been used in salons for years — the CACI Non-Surgical Face Lift is one of them — but the Slendertone was the device examined in the latest trial.
What do you think, ladies? Electrifying new development or future class-action lawsuit?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Tavia says
September 9th, 2009 at 8:52 amInteresting really, but I dunno how many ladies will choose this option. I prefer to stick with La Prairie products:)
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Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 11:14 amHi Tavia,
I think it’ll be interesting to see if it catches on. Who knows?
sarahc says
September 9th, 2009 at 10:38 amThat’s freaky!
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 11:14 amHi Sarahc,
I know, right? Would you try it?
amy says
September 9th, 2009 at 10:54 ami guess only time will tell for this product. It almost seems like an very expensive gimick to me. This almost reminds me of those weight reduction belts that I see middle aged ladies were at the mall LOL. It is a probably be premature for me to try this product, I rather try so amazing skin care for now. I am dying to try some SK II products or a Clarosonic!
.-= amy’s last blog post… Medusa’s Makeup Face Blush and Body Shimmer Product Pictures and Swatches =-.
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 11:16 amHi Amy,
I didn’t know those weight reduction belts were still around, LOL!
As for skin care, I’ve been dying to try SKII. There’s an SKII counter at Bloomie’s, but I haven’t gotten around to picking anything up.
Anywhoo, how’s your Wednesday treating you?
Faye says
September 9th, 2009 at 11:01 amIt probably won’t hurt, but I very much doubt it will help either. I can’t help thinking of the vibrating weight-reduction belt from the 60’s — did anyone see that Season 1 episode of Mad Men?
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 11:18 amHi Faye,
LOL, I’ve seen those belts in several 60s era movies — often the woman using one is holding a cocktail.
Speaking of Mad Men, I keep hearing about this infamous accordion scene. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to learn how to play the accordion, so I’ve gotta track that episode down…
Kelly says
September 9th, 2009 at 11:52 amSounds like a total gimmick to me, but you mentioned Harrods so now I want it anyway! JK 🙂
.-= Kelly’s last blog post… MAC Nail Trend F/W ‘09 by Jin Soon =-.
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 1:11 pmHi Kelly,
Ha! I love that store. My parents gave me a tin full of Harrod’s tea a few years back. Even though the tea’s long gone I can’t bear to throw the tin away. 🙂
Abbie Johnson says
September 9th, 2009 at 1:04 pmHonestly I am not sure about something like this, you could easily move your jaw around for 10 minutes a day and do some facial workouts and get the same results. I still prefer using products that I apply to my skin, not ones that shake me skin off 😉
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 1:08 pmHi Abbie,
What skin care products are your favorites? Right now I’m loving a mix of stuff from Philosophy, Clinique and Clarins.
All Women Stalker says
September 9th, 2009 at 1:15 pmHmmm sounds like a bunch of hoo-haa.
-meream
.-= All Women Stalker’s last blog post… 5 Green Posts to BlogStalk … =-.
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 1:17 pmHi Meream,
LOL, that’s how I feel about so many so-called miracle workers, but the research that it’s backed by makes it interesting…
Cheryl says
September 9th, 2009 at 1:34 pmI’ve always been a fool for a gimmick, so I might try it. I just spent $2K for 20 sessions with a Diamond Medilift. Same concept. After 15 sessions, I’ve lost 1″ below navel, 1″ above navel, 1″ hips, 1″ waist @ 1/2″ at the braline.
Faye says
September 9th, 2009 at 2:33 pmHey Karen,
I think the scene is from episode 3 (not this week’s, but last week’s). Christina Hendricks is playing and I thought at the time, only she could make an accordion look sexy :).
Kelly says
September 9th, 2009 at 3:13 pmI could live in that store, for real. I got so much crap there! Even came home with some candies I didn’t even want because I liked the box, which I also still have 🙂
.-= Kelly’s last blog post… View From Above =-.
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 8:40 pmHi Kelly,
HA! That’s something I would totally do (sucker for the packaging).
Janelle says
September 9th, 2009 at 5:45 pmLOL it looks so ridiculous. It might work, but at $500 Im not shelling out for it, I’d just feel stupid wearing it XD
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 8:39 pmHi Janelle,
I know, couldn’t they have spent some money to make it any cuter?
CG says
September 9th, 2009 at 6:13 pmGEEZ LOUISE. whatever happened to aging gracefully?
but maybe I should shut up considering I am 25 XD
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 8:38 pmHi CG,
Aww, 25! I remember that year like it was yesterday. Wait ’till you start crawling into your mid 30s… stuff like this starts looking pretty enticing.
Roxy says
September 9th, 2009 at 7:47 pmOh my gosh, are they kidding?
This looks like some kind of contraption from 20 years ago or more, and that video frightens me. This reminds me of one of those Saturday Night Live spoofs where they make up a commercial about something completely ridiculous.
Whew …
.-= Roxy’s last blog post… Fab New Beauty Offer from Benefit Cosmetics =-.
Karen says
September 9th, 2009 at 8:37 pmHi Roxy,
Ha! I think they’re totally serious… hey you never know!
Alexzandra says
September 10th, 2009 at 4:33 pmI think there’s probably some truth to this and a lot of exaggeration. When I was in physical thereapy one of the things they used for me was an e-stim machine, it used little electric pulses to relax and strengthen the muscles in my back. This sounds very similar, only for your face, but while e-stim felt great and did some good things for me, it didn’t make my back look slimmer, firmer, etc. Besides, most facial droop-age has to do with fat loss and skin elasticity, and unfortunately I don’t think that this kind of machine can help you with those.