DewscopeSkin Devices3 min read
FOREO BEAR 2 Review: Does Microcurrent Lift Better Than NuFACE?
FOREO's $399 BEAR 2 pairs up to 680 microamps with sonic pulsations and a current-sensing safety system. It is more comfortable than most rivals, but the evidence that any home device lifts a face is thinner than the marketing.
Our verdict
The BEAR 2 is a comfortable, well-built microcurrent device that is easier to use daily than most, and its anti-shock system is a real convenience feature. It does not lift a face better than NuFACE in any test we could find: the independent evidence for home microcurrent is weak, and FOREO's own figures come from self-reported surveys. At $399 you pay for comfort and speed, and you should expect firmness, not a surgical result.
Best forPeople who want daily, comfortable microcurrent and accept modest results
What we liked
- Four microcurrent modes plus five T-Sonic massage patterns in one device
- Anti-Shock System 2.0 reads skin resistance about 200 times a second for comfort
- USB charging with up to 300 minutes of use per charge
- Short sessions make daily use realistic
What held it back
- $399 is a lot for a result that independent science cannot confirm
- Needs FOREO's conductive serum or gel on every use
- Company survey figures such as 95% look younger are self-reported
- Effects fade within weeks if you stop using it
Anyone shopping for a microcurrent device meets the same question before they meet the price: does a handheld gadget really lift a face? We tried to answer that first, because it decides whether the BEAR 2 is a sensible purchase or an expensive hope. Our answer is that the device is good and the promise is oversold.
What the BEAR 2 actually is
FOREO sells it at $399 in the US (£379 at a UK retailer). The maker lists output up to 680 microamps, four microcurrent types it calls Advanced, Lifting, Tapping and Sculpting, and five T-Sonic massage patterns that include lymphatic drainage and shiatsu. Charging is by USB, and FOREO quotes up to 300 minutes of use per charge. You apply its conductive serum first, as with every device in this category.
The feature that sets it apart is Anti-Shock System 2.0, which FOREO says measures skin moisture and current resistance 200 times a second and adjusts the current. In plain terms, it tries to stop the sharp prickle you sometimes get when the electrodes cross a dry patch. One comparison we found called the anti-shock system genuinely effective, and that matches how the feature is supposed to work.
