The Best Facial Tools to Use Before Your Wedding, Tested and Reviewed

Best Multitasking

Foreo UFO 2

View on Amazon View on Foreo.com View on Currentbody.com

This small, circular device, combined with either your favorite sheet mask, serum, or FOREO’s UFO-activated masks, has hydrating, sculpting, brightening, softening, de-puffing, and skin-evening capabilities, all working in two minutes. Our tester used this device over six weeks and was impressed with the results. She also notes that she got “compliments from random people about how great [her] skin is.” 

So, how does it work? First, choose a UFO-activated mask to insert into the device, which includes formulas for hydrating (Bulgarian Rose), clarifying (Green Tea, and Manuka Honey, Acai Berry), and moisturizing (Coconut Oil). After your mask is locked into the device, activate your pre-programmed treatment on the FOREO app and glide your device across your face. With this device, you’ll get treatments like thermo-therapy, which helps each mask’s formula absorb into your skin; cryo-therapy, which tightens and reduces puffiness; and T-Sonic massage therapy for increased glow. Finally, you can find a full spectrum of LED lights to help even the look of fine lines. You can even utilize this device with the serums and sheet masks you already own and that you know work well with your skin—the treatments will work all the same.

When we tested this, we noted that after a six-week period, our skin felt softer, brighter, and more even. We also saw less inflammation and swelling, making it excellent for sculpting and lifting.  It's beneficial for anyone dealing with any skin dryness, breakouts, fine lines and wrinkles, or hyperpigmentation.

Type: Handheld device | Weeks to See Results: 1 week | Skin Type: Dry, acne-prone, oily, uneven 

Alastin Skincare HA IMMERSE Serum

View on Alastin.com

Few things trigger skin sensitives quite like extreme dryness, and you don’t want to show signs of tight or cracked skin underneath your exquisite wedding day makeup. Consider using Alastin’s HA IMMERSE Serum after your FOREO UFO 2 treatment. This serum boosts the amount of hyaluronic acid already found in your skin to hydrate and smooth out the skin’s surface layers. When we tested it, we loved its ultra-fast absorption and non-sticky feel. 

Best Brightening

Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand with Red Light Therapy

View on Amazon View on Nordstrom View on Solawave.co

Suppose blemishes themselves aren’t typically your problem but rather the marks they leave behind after they’re gone (or after you’ve picked them to oblivion). Before your big day, you’ll want to target this hyperpigmentation for a more even complexion. Enter the Solawave 4-in-1 Advanced Skincare Wand, a handheld red-light therapy device that you can use for up to 30 minutes per day with proven results when it comes to targeting hyperpigmentation.

Red light therapy is a unique technology that utilizes the power of low-wavelength red light to trigger your skin’s cells to function more efficiently and, therefore, help minimize the look of wrinkles, fine lines, scarring, dark spots, and more. The device couldn’t be easier to use. We think it’s a soothing activity to help center you during that busy pre-wedding season. When we tested it in our lab, our tester noted it felt like a “tiny, hot massage over my face.” 

Apply your go-to serum to your face and touch the head of the wand to your skin to activate your device. Once it’s turned on, glide your wand upward and outward across your skin, covering the entirety of your face. 

Type: Handheld device with red light therapy | Weeks to See Results: 2 weeks | Skin Type: Acne-prone, uneven complexion

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

View on Dermstore $182 at Skinceuticals.com $182 at Bluemercury.com

We’re fans of Skinceuticals’ C E Ferulic serum, a potent vitamin C serum (with a concentration of 15 percent vitamin C) that combines the antioxidant capabilities of L-Ascorbic acid with that of ferulic acid and vitamin E to brighten and hone in on reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Best for Acne

Solawave Bye Acne Pimple Spot Treatment

View on Amazon View on Nordstrom View on Goop.com

This tool is an excellent way to target any blemish or two that pops up unexpectedly, even days before your wedding. The Bye Acne: 3-Minute Pimple Spot Treatment is a handheld tool that uses red and blue light therapy to prevent and treat breakouts. You only need three minutes daily to help heal the affected area. Cleanse your face before use with your go-to face wash, pat it dry, then place your Solawave device over the area on your skin with a breakout.Repeat this process over any area with blemishes for a quick and efficient treatment within days. When trying this product for ourselves, our tester loved how it “improved skin texture,” specifically the bumps from acne on her cheeks, “very quickly” without any irritation. 

Those who struggle with hormonal acne in the same spot will find solace in this targeted red and blue light treatment, which not only treats breakouts when they arrive but can also prevent them from popping up in the first place. Of course, anyone who is regularly acne-prone will benefit from this tool as well.

Type: Handheld device with red and blue light therapy | Weeks to See Results: Less than 1 week | Skin Type: Acne-prone 

The Outset Purifying Blue Clay Mask

View on Amazon View on Nordstrom View on Theoutset.com

We love spot-treating acne with the Purifying Blue Clay Mask from The Outset. This mask contains ingredients detoxifying breakouts and calming inflammation with blue clay, soothing pansy extract, and rejuvenating salicylic acid. It’s also gentle enough to use all over.

Best for Detoxifying Skin

Ranavat Facial Massaging Tool

$70 at Amazon View on Ranavat.com $70 at Sephora

The Kansa Wand from Ranavat uses copper and tin to withdraw impurities from your skin. The wand's pH-balancing capabilities limit redness and inflammation, ridding your complexion of impurities that could cause breakouts. As you maneuver the wand across your skin, the areas that are not pH-balanced will turn gray. When you complete your facial massage, you can swipe away the gray residue for a glowing complexion and more relaxed facial muscles. 

When we tested the wand, we noted its superior craftsmanship. It’s handmade in Rajasthan, India, by sixth-generation artisans, and the quality shows. Our tester noted how soothing the process was, helping to “destress” her during her routine. She also reported “brighter, more supple, refreshed, and more balanced skin after each use.” 

Type: Handheld tool | Weeks to See Results: Less than one week | Skin Type: All, but especially acne-prone

Ranavat Brightening Saffron Serum

View on Amazon View on Sephora View on Ranavat.com

We’ve tested tons of serums at Brides HQ, and this one is a standout product for its short ingredient list of superstars. Saffron is the hero ingredient in this formula, known in Ayurveda to have similar effects to vitamin C, brightening the complexion and reducing the appearance of fine lines and hyperpigmentation. The texture is divine and sinks into the skin for immediate smoothing results. 

Best for Puffiness

Kitsch Stainless Steel Gua Sha

View on Amazon View on Target View on ASOS

We’re not surprised if you’ve already seen or tried out a gua sha for yourself, as the tool has seen a surge of popularity in recent years, particularly in the jade variety. Still, if you’ve yet to add one of these to your pre-wedding beauty ritual, we’d recommend grabbing Kitsch’s Stainless Steel version. 

Shaped as a traditional gua sha yet made with a stainless steel exterior, this tool is more hygienic than its jade counterpart because this material is nonporous, meaning bacteria won’t get trapped inside the tool and cause breakouts with use. As for the tool’s function, its shape makes sculpting your face easy and reduces puffiness. We had a first-timer test it out for us, and she noted that “it was easy to handle and super intuitive to use.” She was also surprised at how quickly it delivered results, reporting that the first side she massaged was tighter along her jawline and cheekbones, and her “dark circles looked lighter on the mornings after use.” Apply a serum, oil, or moisturizer beforehand, so your gua sha has some slip and doesn’t irritate your skin. 

This tool is something that anyone should have, as everyone deals with some puffiness once in a while. Those who are acne-prone can use this tool without worrying about the tool itself causing breakouts, all thanks to its stainless steel construction which doesn’t let bacteria in.

Type: Handheld tool | Weeks to See Results: Immediate results | Skin Type: All 

Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream

$72 at Amazon View on Tatcha.com $72 at Kohls.com

Your gua sha needs a slippery serum to get a proper facial massage while using it, and we love Tatcha’s The Dewy Skin Cream for this task. The lightweight yet creamy consistency makes it perfect for your gua sha tool, enabling it to maneuver easily around your skin. We’d be remiss not to mention how well this formula works for any brides-to-be with dry skin, as it’s made with hyaluronic acid and squalane, which help maintain your skin’s moisture and smooth out fine lines.

Best Targeted Treatment

Dr. Dennis Gross DrX SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

View on Amazon View on Nordstrom View on Sephora

This is a hands-free, full-face mask with red and blue light therapy devices. It's a splurge, but this FDA-cleared device delivers the benefits of a professional-grade treatment from the comfort of your home.

We love this mask for brides-to-be because of its rapid three-minute treatments. Its dual-light therapies tackle two skin concerns, both of which you can work on separately or simultaneously. The red light treatment targets texture and promotes collagen production, and the blue light treatment combats breakouts. We love how comfy the mask is thanks to the adjustable silicone strap in the back.

This face mask will benefit three types: acne-prone, fine-lined or wrinkled, and hyperpigmented.

Type: Face mask with red and blue light therapy | Weeks to See Results: 2 weeks | Skin Type: Acne-prone, uneven complexion

Dr. Diamond’s Instafacial Emulsion

View on Drdiamondsmetacine.com

To boost the effects of your device, pair a powerhouse serum with it and apply it daily. We love Dr. Diamond’s Instafacial Emulsion packed with hyaluronic acid and squalane for hydration, skin-renewing niacinamide, and youth-boosting retinoids.

Best Firming

Omnilux LED Contour Face Mask

View on Omniluxled.com

If you’re looking to tighten up the appearance of any fine lines and wrinkles before the big day but don’t have the time to wait for retinol to work its magic (and potentially irritate your skin), the Omnilux Contour Face is the ideal alternative. Similar to the Dr. Dennis Gross mask, this red light therapy mask is hands-free and FDA-cleared, so you’ll get a professional-grade treatment with every use. The red light therapy technology helps build more collagen and repair damage on your face from overexposure to the sun. We think it's perfect for any bride-to-be whose wedding comes after summer months spent in the sun.

The key to this product’s efficacy is consistency, so you apply your mask at least three times a week for at least four weeks. While adding this mask to your pre-wedding skincare regimen may feel like a big commitment, this treatment only requires 10 minutes.

Retrouvé Intensive Replenishing Facial Moisturizer

View on Neiman Marcus View on Retrouve.com View on Bluemercury.com

While we love the Omnilux Contour Face's effects on its own, they won’t last if you’re not keeping your skin hydrated. Retrouvé’s Intensive Replenishing Facial Moisturizer is the perfect moisturizer to pair with this face mask, as it contains ultra-nourishing ingredients like shea butter and squalane, as well as apple stem cells to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. 

Best for Your Wedding Day

Latme Ice Roller

$7 at Amazon $7 at Walmart

Sometimes, the most straightforward tools can make the most significant difference, and simplicity is key on the morning of your wedding. The wedding day is not the time to try anything novel or complicated with your skincare, but rather a time to relax, reflect, and soothe your tense facial muscles. This ice roller has not only skincare benefits but also meditation benefits. Take five to 15 minutes before your hair and makeup routines start gently gliding this ice-cold tool across your face in upward and outward motions. When we tested this, our tester loved how “refreshed” she felt whenever she used it, noting that even after the first use, she knew this "would be something beneficial to add to her routine.”

The massaging motions help reduce puffiness like a gua sha does, yet the ice-cold aspect promotes blood circulation in the face, resulting in a more rejuvenated, radiant appearance. Using an ice roller in your routine can relieve headaches and alleviate eye strain, sore muscles, and facial redness. Pro tip: We love this for recovery on any honeymoon flights.

Type: Handheld device | Weeks to See Results: Immediate results | Skin Type: All

Blue Lagoon Skincare BL+ Eye Serum

View on Amazon View on Bluelagoon.com

This serum has a rollerball applicator that de-puffs your under-eye area as you apply it. The microalgae and silica in the formula have antioxidant and collagen-building properties, respectively, helping to create a tighter, more radiant under-eye area.