Clinical Study Shows SkinSpa CryoCurrent Lifts, Firms, Tones, and Contours the Face
Published:
Clinical study partner: Validated Claim Support
Registered clinical trial: NCT07510581
A new study finds that the Therabody SkinSpa CryoCurrent™ device is clinically proven to lift, firm, and contour the face — after a single 15-minute session and eight weeks of daily use, with participants noting improvements to their skin’s look and feel.
This multi-therapy tool delivers microcurrent plus cold therapy to the face and is backed by the largest study of a beauty device that pairs microcurrent with cold therapy.
Learn more about how the study was conducted, what the study found, and how to use the CryoCurrent device for best results.
How do microcurrent and cold therapy work?
Microcurrent therapy is a gentle skin treatment that uses low-level voltage to stimulate the facial muscles. This treatment helps tone and firm the skin by causing subtle muscle contractions. [1] Microcurrent has been called a “workout for the face" because it can temporarily tighten, tone, and contour the treatment area. It has also been shown to reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles and make the skin look healthier and plumper. [2]
One study showed that four weeks of twice daily microcurrent use showed improvements in fine lines, overall appearance, radiance, tactile and visible roughness and evenness of skin tone. [3]
Cold therapy, or cryotherapy, is often used to decrease inflammation and swelling. When used on the face, it can help to reduce the appearance of puffiness, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends using a cold compress to help reduce under-eye bags. [4] Cold therapy used on the face should always be localized and delivered at a safe and consistent temperature.
Combining microcurrent and cold therapy delivers a more comfortable experience. Cold therapy typically delivers short-term, acute benefits like reducing puffiness, while Microcurrent delivers longer-term benefits, for a synergistic, beneficial treatment. [2, 4]
This is the largest, and among the first study to date of a beauty device that pairs microcurrent with cold therapy.
How was the study conducted?
This study was conducted in two phases: a single use trial and an eight-week daily use trial. During the first crossover trial, eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive either a 15-minute Microcurrent + Cold treatment, or Microcurrent alone first. After a 24-hour washout period, participants completed the second treatment arm. Skin outcomes were measured before and after each treatment.
Then, participants took the device home and completed a 8-minute Microcurrent + Cold routine daily for eight weeks. Post-treatment measurements and surveys were taken at the end of the study.
Who were the participants?
A total of 112 participants completed the first phase of the trial (single use), and 110 participants completed the second phase of the trial (daily use for eight weeks).
Participants included men and women aged 34–64 years of all ethnicities and Fitzpatrick skin types. 50% of participants had self-reported sensitive skin.
85% of participants were female, and the average age of participants was 50. About 44% of participants identify as Caucasian, 26% as Hispanic Latino, 20% as Black, and 10% as Asian.
Exclusion criteria included participants with acute or chronic disease, a history of skin conditions, Botox or Filler in the last several months, topical or systemic medications in the two weeks leading up to the study, and GLP-1s or other weight loss medications.
What did the study look at?
The study aimed to understand the benefits of using a microcurrent plus cold treatment after a single, 15-minute treatment, and the effects after daily treatments over an eight-week period.
Study outcomes included:
- Fine lines
- Wrinkles and their depth
- Firmness and elasticity
- Lift of eyebrows
- Plump of lips
- Smoothness of skin
- Tone and lift in mid face and jowls
- Facial and cheek contour
- Radiance / glow / luminosity
- Appearance of pores
- Smile lines
- Puffiness
What protocol did participants follow?
The participants followed a study protocol created by an aesthetician for both the single treatment and the daily eight-week treatment. The treatment was performed on clean, dry skin.
Download the single use protocol
Download the eight-week protocol
What tools were used to assess outcomes?
Objective clinical testing and subjective perceptual data was collected from participants through several methods:
- Expert grading: The grading system that is used to quantify and assess facial features like fine lines, deep wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, skin tone, overall appearance, and more.
- Tolerance grading: Used to measure dryness, erythema (redness), and edema (swelling).
- Clarity 3D imaging: This camera system performs a 3D reconstruction of the skin to measure wrinkle depth.
- Professional photography: These are the “before and after” images you see on product sites.
- VISIA®-CR imaging: VISIA®-CR imaging is a quantitative skin complexion analysis and visual assessment of facial features like wrinkle depth and texture. [5]
- Cutometer® MPA 580: This instrumental device measures skin elasticity and firmness. [6]
- Self-assessment: The survey was administered three times: after a single Microcurrent + cold treatment, after a single Microcurrent only treatment, and after eight weeks. The questions aimed to understand how participants felt their skin appearance, changes in fine lines and wrinkles, skin elasticity, skin tone, and more changed over the study period.
SkinSpa CryoCurrent clinically proven benefits
After a single use, the SkinSpa CryoCurrent device led to:
- Firmer-looking skin
- Improved skin elasticity
- Lifted, contoured cheeks
- Lifted mid-face & jowls
- Smoother-looking fine lines & wrinkles
- Fuller-looking lips
- More radiant skin
- Smoother nasolabial folds when using Microcurrent + Cold compared to Microcurrent alone
All 10 clinician-graded measures improved significantly after eight weeks of daily use compared to baseline, including having:
- Firmer-looking skin
- Improved skin elasticity
- Contoured cheeks
- Lifted mid-face & jowls
- Smoother-looking fine lines & wrinkles
- Fuller looking lips
- More radiant skin
- Improved skin tone evenness
- Improved nasolabial folds
- Improved pore appearance
Additionally, the treatment was well tolerated over eight weeks as erythema (skin redness) significantly reduced.
Here, we’ll walk through what the clinical study found.
CryoCurrent technology lifts, firms, and contours the face, leaving skin more elastic and lips looking fuller
Lifts mid-face & jowls
The mid-face and jowls appeared 10.8% more lifted after a single use and 11% more lifted after eight weeks, compared to baseline, as assessed via expert clinical grading.
54% of participants had a more lifted face after a single Microcurrent + cold use, compared to 59% after eight weeks.
After a single Microcurrent + Cold treatment, 79% of participants agreed their cheeks and eyebrow area looked more lifted, and 48% agreed that the corners of their lips appeared lifted.
After eight weeks, 90% of participants agreed their cheeks appeared lifted, 82% thought their eyebrow area looked more lifted, and 62% agreed that the corners of their lips appeared lifted.
*Unretouched clinical photography images. From Left to Right: Baseline 1, Immediately After Microcurrent only, Baseline 2, Immediately after Microcurrent + Cold, After 8 Weeks.
Skin firmness
Skin firmness was assessed via expert clinical grading. Clinical grading revealed skin firmness improved by 9.7% after a single use and by 8.6% after eight weeks, compared to baseline.
Skin firmness improved in 43.4% of participants after a single use and 42% of participants after eight weeks.
After a single Microcurrent + Cold treatment, 89% of participants agree or strongly agree that their skin looked firmer after eight weeks. 92% of participants agree or strongly agree that their skin looked firmer after eight weeks.
Skin elasticity
Based on expert clinical grading, skin elasticity improved by 11.3% after a single use and by 14.4% after eight weeks, compared to baseline.
Skin elasticity improved in 49.6% of participants after a single use and in 63% of participants after eight weeks.
After a single Microcurrent + Cold treatment, 75% of participants agree or strongly agree that their skin looked like it had more “bounce.”
86% of participants agree or strongly agree that their skin felt like it had more "bounce” after eight weeks.
Cheek contour
Contour of the cheeks was assessed via expert clinical grading. Expert clinical grading found cheeks were 7% more contoured after a single use with a 7.5% improvement after eight weeks, compared to baseline.
38% of participants had more contoured cheeks after a single use and 44% did after eight weeks.
After a single Microcurrent + Cold treatment, 81% of participants reported reduced facial puffiness, significantly higher than Microcurrent only treatment (72%). 74% noticed a more sculpted jawline, 72% noticed their neck and jawline felt tighter, 72% reported their face looked more chiseled, and 63% reported their face looked more “snatched” after a single treatment.
After eight weeks, 92% of participants reported reduced facial puffiness, 80% noticed a more sculpted jawline, 81% noticed their neck and jawline felt tighter, 79% reported their face looked more chiseled, and 83% reported their face looked more “snatched.”
*Unretouched clinical photography images. From Left to Right: Baseline 1, Immediately After Microcurrent only, Baseline 2, Immediately after Microcurrent + Cold, After 8 Weeks.
Lip fullness
Lip plumpness was assessed via expert clinical grading. Lips appeared 4% fuller after a single treatment and 3% after eight weeks, compared to baseline.
23.9% of participants had more lip plumpness after a single use and 28% did after eight weeks.
40% of participants felt their lips looked plumper after a single Microcurrent + cold treatment, and 44% of participants agreed after eight weeks of daily use.
Smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improves nasolabial folds
Fine lines and wrinkles
Fine lines and wrinkles were assessed via expert clinical grading. They improved by 4.7% after a single use and 6.2% after eight weeks, compared to baseline.
24.8% of participants had smoother fine lines and wrinkles after a single use, compared to 33% after eight weeks.
77% and 75% of participants agreed that fine lines around their eyes and forehead diminished, respectively, after eight weeks.
Nasolabial folds
Nasolabial folds were assessed via expert clinical grading. After a single use of Microcurrent + Cold, they improved by 3.2%, which was significantly greater than Microcurrent treatment alone. After eight weeks, nasolabial folds improved by 4.4%, compared to baseline.
12.5% of participants had clinical improvements in nasolabial folds after a single use, compared to 27% after eight weeks.
*Unretouched clinical photography images. From Left to Right: Baseline 1, Immediately After Microcurrent only, Baseline 2, Immediately after Microcurrent + Cold, After 8 Weeks.
Improves skin radiance, skin tone evenness, and the appearance of pores
Skin radiance
Skin radiance was assessed via expert clinical grading. Radiance significantly improved by 22% after a single use and by 17.9% after eight weeks, compared to baseline.
91% of participants showed clinical improvement in radiance after a single use and in 84% after eight weeks.
After a single Microcurrent + cold treatment, 88% and 57% of participants agree or strongly agree that their face felt more rejuvenated and resilient, respectively.
87% and 71% of participants agree or strongly agree that their face felt more rejuvenated and resilient, respectively, after eight weeks.
Skin tone evenness
Skin tone evenness was assessed via expert clinical grading, improving by 7.4% after eight weeks, compared to baseline.
Evenness did not significantly improve after a single treatment.
Skin tone evenness improved in 19.5% of participants after a single use and 45% of participants after eight weeks.
After a single Microcurrent + Cold treatment, 60% of participants thought their skin tone looked more even, significantly higher than Microcurrent only treatment (45%).
64% of participants agree or strongly agree that their skin tone looked more even after eight weeks.
*Unretouched clinical photography images. From Left to Right: Baseline 1, Immediately After Microcurrent only, Baseline 2, Immediately after Microcurrent + Cold, After 8 Weeks.
Appearance of pores
The appearance of pores was assessed via expert clinical grading, improving by 6.7% after eight weeks, compared to baseline.
The appearance of pores did not significantly improve after a single treatment.
The appearance of pores improved in 15.9% of participants after a single use and in 40% of participants after eight weeks.
Treatment is well-tolerated
The Microcurrent + cold treatment was well tolerated over eight weeks, with erythema significantly reduced with 97.8% of participants showing clinical improvement. Edema improved in 100% of participants.
Three adverse events were reported during the eight-week period, though two events had no relation to the product and one was unlikely related. One subject had cholecystectomy, one had front tooth loss, and the third had mild erythema under the right eye. No claims of injury were made by any subject.
Key takeaways:
- Visible results after one session: A single 15-minute SkinSpa CryoCurrent device treatment significantly lifted the mid-face and jowls, firmed and improved elasticity, and boosted radiance.
- Benefits compound with daily use: After eight weeks of daily use, all 10 clinician-graded measures improved significantly from baseline, including skin tone evenness and pore appearance, which weren't significant after a single use.
- Well tolerated across skin types: In a study of 112 participants spanning ages 34–64, all Fitzpatrick skin types, and 50% with self-reported sensitive skin, erythema significantly decreased and edema improved in 100% of participants over eight weeks.
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