Medicube keeps releasing more AGE-R devices ~ this is their latest device and I received it for review purposes from Medicube. Currently, the Medicube AGE-R device line up consists of
- AGE-R ATS Air Shot: Pore Care
- AGE-R Booster-H : Glow Booster
- AGE-R Ussera Deep Shot: Wrinkle and Skin Rejuvenation Care
- AGE-R Derma EMS Shot: Elasticity Care
The latter two AGE-R devices do take more time to return results, but the first two do not! I reviewed the ATS Air Shot here and I find the Booster-H works really well with it.
Skin Type/Concerns: oily, blemish prone, aging concerns, pores, fine lines/wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation
I received these products complementary to review and was not paid. All reviews are my own honest opinion and I never have been asked to write copy for a brand. This blog post might contain promo codes, affiliate and referral links, which using my links will help generate a small commission that helps support my blog at no extra cost to you.
image from “recent advances in transdermal drug delivery systems: a review“
AGE-R Booster-H is a needle-free skincare boosting device, using electroporation. Electroporation is a technique where within a short time period, high voltage pulses are applied to the skin and it creates non-damaging, temporary micropores in the cell membranes. Creating local transport regions (LTR’s) in the outermost layer of your skin, increasing the absorbability and penetration for a skincare product. (source: A Model of Transdermal Drug Delivery through Electroporation, Authors: Adair, J; Chou, E; Metzloff, M; Tse, T) It is highly effective and not sensitizing to the skin, and “has also successfully been used to enhance skin permeability for molecules with different lipophilicities and sizes including high molecular weight biopharmaceuticals (proteins, peptides, and oligonucleotides)” (source: Perspectives on Transdermal Electroporation, Author: Ita, K).
Medicube calls electroporation “Glow Poration Technology” and yes, this device does boost your glow level! Medicube compares this to the microinfusion procedure where an esthetician injects ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, glutathione and botox under your skin for a more plumped up look. Unlike the AGE-R ATS Air Shot, you apply your skin care first and then use the Booster-H to open up those micropores and push the product deeper into your skin using those LTR’s. The skin normally passes molecules that are 500 or less daltons, but using the Booster-H and creating those micropores, your skin can absorb higher molecular weight and functional ingredients in excess of 40,000 daltons.
image from medicube.us
Medicube has conduced numerous studies to evaluate the effectiveness of this device, measuring hydration, skin brightness, volume and texture, skin elasticity and skin barrier functions, along with skin sagging, pores and under eye skin. Their studies have shown an increase of 490{c30f02d1a3839018c3a3c8c7102050a0b32e2e4f8eba54dea6cc544f0247e749} of skin absorption compared to just using your hands, 57.4{c30f02d1a3839018c3a3c8c7102050a0b32e2e4f8eba54dea6cc544f0247e749} improvement over skin glossiness, 4.5{c30f02d1a3839018c3a3c8c7102050a0b32e2e4f8eba54dea6cc544f0247e749} and 16.5{c30f02d1a3839018c3a3c8c7102050a0b32e2e4f8eba54dea6cc544f0247e749} of inner and outer skin hydration, respectively, and 6.8{c30f02d1a3839018c3a3c8c7102050a0b32e2e4f8eba54dea6cc544f0247e749} improvement over skin texture.
Oh and yes, you read that correctly ~ you can use this on both the under eye and eye lid skin, but select the first intensity. In fact, you can use this all over your face and neck area, except on the Adam’s apple, as that is where your thyroid gland is hiding out. Never mess with your thyroid gland. There is no recovery down-time and you can use this 1-3 times daily
Booster-H in black, ATS Air Shot in white
The size of the AGE-R Booster-H is about the same size as the AGE-R ATS Air Shot, a slim device that is about 1.4 x 6.6 x 1.38 inches and weighs about the same. The device comes with a USB charging cable and the user manual, but this is a very simple device to use, so I never referred to the manual after reading it the first time, except for gathering information for this review. For those interested, this is made and produced in South Korea, along with a business that specializes in lasers, high frequency and ultrasonic waves devices. This has been certified by KC (Korea), CE (Europe), FCC (USA), RCM (Australia) and PSE (Japan).
image from medicube.us
The design is both ergonomically efficient and safe, with an 120 angle probe teardrop shaped head that can reach all areas of your face and one button to control all functions ~ press firmly to turn on or off, press lightly once the device is on to select the level you want. It weighs only 80 grams, which is less than a smartphone, and has an automatic block system to prevent over voltage and overload.
This device has 5 intensity levels and an audio guide that tells you which level you are at, plus that voice will also tell you how many minutes you have used the ATS Air Shot. After five minutes, the device will shut off automatically.
There are three ways to use this device and you should try each one before determining the most effective one for you
- Boosting for elasticity and radiance care, used with nutritional skincare, such as their Collagen Glow Bubble Serum ~ this is such a lightweight yet very moisturizing and nutrient rich skincare product. Push the probe head against your skin, massage in sliding manner
- Watering for hydration and radiance care, used with hydrating skincare, like hyaluronic acid. Push the probe head against your skin, massage in a rolling manner
- Focus for concentrated care, used with sheet masks and highly concentrated skincare, such as vitamin C, BHA or AHA products. Push the probe head against your skin, and press spot by spot.
image from medicube.us
You must keep the head in close contact with your skin at all times, as this will allow the skincare to fully absorb. You can use it on your eyelids and under eyes, starting at level 1 and push outwards gently.
Medicube recommends that you start off at level 1, but after few tries, I went up to level 5. To use, wash and dry your face, then apply your skincare. You do all of the skincare at once, or if you want to target with a specific skincare item. You must use skincare, otherwise, this product won’t really help you. I used all three motions, depending on the area on my skin. I honestly didn’t feel much of anything, except a slight tingling but nothing painful at all. After the skincare is absorbed, use the Focus method and press the device for 2 to 3 seconds on your face and move to another area, repeating this until you have completed all areas, for an intensive care treatment.
After 5 minutes, the device shuts off. I then normally pat my hands against my skin and follow up with a hydrating toner and sunscreen, if daytime and if during my bedtime routine, a hydrating toner plus a sleep pack. After use, I just wipe the head with some alcohol using a soft cloth or cotton pad, and dry. DO NOT wash the device, as you will ruin it ~ it is an electronic device and should be treated just like your cellphone. Medicube recommends using their products during the session
- Collagen Glow Bubble Serum: Collagen for elasticity and radiance care
- Zero Pore One-day Serum: For pore care, hydration & skin brightening
- Deep Vita C Ampoule: Antioxidant vitamin C brightening for pigmentation, blemishes and latent melanin (see my review here)
- Collagen Serum: Elasticity care with triple collagen
- Super Cica Cream: Moisturizing and soothing skincare for sensitive skin
I REALLY love using the Collagen Glow Bubble Serum, which is a new skincare product from Medicube. Read on if you want to know more about this product or skip to read my final say for the Booster-H device. The Collagen Glow Bubble Serum has eleven types of collagen: 47923.21ppm soluble collagen, 7.001ppm atelocollagen, 97.406ppm collagen extract, 6.7ppm desamido collagen, 3.76ppm hydrolyzed collagen, 0.71ppm collagen, 0.61ppm collagen amino acids, 0.1ppm procollagen, 0.001ppm soluble collagen crosspolymer, 0.001ppm rosin hydrolyzed collagen and 0.001ppm potassium myristoyl hydrolyzed collagen, for a grand total of over 48,000ppm of collagen! Collagen is deeply moisturizing and nourishing, and using this product with the Booster-H makes perfect sense.
This also has a 7-Hyaluronic Acid Complex of varying molecular sizes so it can hydrate and lock in moisture in both the outer most layer and into deeper layers of your skin: hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid,sodium acetylated hyaluronate, hydroxypropyltrimonium hyaluronate and sodium hyaluronate. Hydrolyzed elastin moisturizes and conditions while helping bind water to your skin, while niacinamide and PHA glutathione are anti-aging antioxidant ingredients that will help fight free radicals and repair skin damage, resulting in a brighter skin tone. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory thioctic acid boosts the effects of glutathione, helping to delay fine lines and wrinkles and aids in collagen production
Adenosine helps improve the reduction of wrinkles and is also an anti inflammatory while allantoin moisturizes, exfoliates and softens skin, making it look smooth and refined, while reducing and relieving irritation. This also has four anti-aging, hydrating peptides to round out the forumula: acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester, acetyl hexapeptide-1, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, and acetyl octapeptide-3.
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, *Soluble Collagen (47923.21ppm), Glycereth-26, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Dextrin, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Allantoin, *Collagen Extract (97.406ppm), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, *Atelocollagen (7.001ppm), *Desamido Collagen (6.7ppm), Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Elastin, *Hydrolyzed Collagen (3.76ppm), Caprylyl Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, Cholesterol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sorbitan Laurate, Silica, Retinal, Glutathione, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, Thioctic Acid, Ceteth-5, Ceteth-3, *Collagen (0.71ppm), *Collagen Amino Acids (0.61ppm), Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, *Procollagen (0.1ppm), Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Disodium EDTA, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, *Soluble Collagen Crosspolymer (0.001ppm), *Rosin Hydrolyzed Collagen (0.001ppm), *Potassium Myristoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen (0.001ppm), Fragrance cosDNA
image from medicube.us
This is skincare in a can! Just shake well before using and press down gently ~ the foam will come out immediately ~ go slow with it as this serum goes a LONG way on the skin. According to Medicube, the micro bubbles will improve the absorption rate by 11 times, compared to regular emulsion skincare. I didn’t really notice a fragrance and regardless if I use this with the Booster-H or pat it in with my hands, this emulsion is not sticky or greasy. It is very moisturizing and rich, so it is best to use as a night time product unless you have really dry skin. I feel that my skin feels more firm and bouncy after I use this. This didn’t cause my pores to be clogged and I love using it with the Booster-H as it really provides my skin with a nice healthy glow that lasts even to the next day.
Final Thoughts
The Glow Booster-H and ATS Air Shot are devices that I have used the most in the Age-R line. I still have two more to review, but tehse are my favorite ones to use as they are so easy and quick. The ATS Air Shot (full review here) is the white device with the rounded head and red LED. This is a needle-free pore care device ~ think of micro-needling without needles! I use this twice a week, and it helps open up temporary non-damaging passageways in my skin, so that I can then use vitamin C or BHA skincare afterwards. I like using it with vitamin C, as I find that works best for me, but you would use the active that works best for you.
This is a 5 minute treatment (it counts down the minutes for you!) with 5 levels of intensity. This device is best used on clean dry skin and you can use either the tapping, sweeping or brushing method ~ I like the tapping best for me. This can sting a little bit, but not a lot, and you can control the strength of the treatment. I find this preps my skin for the Booster-H, which is used daily and up to 3 times a day. The Booster-H is also a 5 minute treatment with a countdown and 5 levels of intensity. This helps open up micropores to “push” your skincare in deeper ~ those micropores are temporarily and non-damaging. For me, using both the ATS Air Shot and the Booster-H as part of my normal skincare routine, I have found that my skin feels more smooth, my pores look smaller and my skin looks more radiant and healthy. Quite frankly, I do recommend getting both of these products.
Where to Purchase
Medicube USA! If you find that you love this line of skincare products as much as I do, it pays to join their M-Club program. You can save 40{c30f02d1a3839018c3a3c8c7102050a0b32e2e4f8eba54dea6cc544f0247e749} on products, plus free shipping. There is an annual fee of $39.00, which the fee is given back to in payback coupons, so in a way, it turns out to be free. You also get credit for how much you spend there, which can be converted to coupons that you can use at Medicube. To learn more about M-Club, read here. Currently Medicube is having 30{c30f02d1a3839018c3a3c8c7102050a0b32e2e4f8eba54dea6cc544f0247e749} off sale, so the regular prices have been crossed out here in this blog post. Medicube does have ShopPay for 4 interest-free payments or 3-36 month payment for qualifying accounts with Affirm
You can also purchase these Medicube products at Amazon USA
For international shipping, you can find Medicube at BeautyBoxKorea and Medicube also has websites for Korea, Singapore, Japan, China and Vietnam