As of this past March, I can no longer call myself a 30-something blogger, as I turned 40! This birthday wasn’t as dreadful as I had thought, although trying to celebrate a milestone birthday during COVID lockdown definitely ruined the vibe.
And given that I’ve just turned 40, am not into fillers or invasive anti-aging treatments and can’t leave the house much due to COVID, I was ecstatic when FOREO gifted me the BEAR mini microcurrent facial toning device, along with their pink, bubble-filled Serum Serum Serum to test out and review for the blog.
And spoiler alert: the combo gave me great results in just a few weeks!
So what does the BEAR mini by FOREO Sweden do? How does it work? Does it hurt?
I’ll be sharing answering all your microcurrent questions and giving you tips on how to use this lifting and toning skin care tool in the details below.
*all products gifted for review. Links are affiliate*
What Is The FOREO BEAR mini?
The BEAR mini is a smart microcurrent facial toning tool that uses an Anti-Shock System to deliver the safest, shock-free, at-home microcurrent treatment for your face.
FOREO boasts that the BEAR mini “feels like a facial, tones like a workout” and it’s easy to see why. The BEAR mini uses advanced microcurrent and T-Sonic pulsations to exercise over 65 muscles in your face and neck (43 in your face and 26 in your neck, to be exact).
Sadly, like the rest of the muscles in our body, these face and neck muscles lose their tone and firmness the older we get. But don’t start creating frown lines just yet! Because we can effectively exercise the muscles in our face and neck to keep them firm and lifted in just 5 minutes a day using the BEAR mini (God bless technology, am I right?!).
The BEAR mini delivers three microcurrent intensities for targeted facial toning results and is safe enough to be used on a daily basis. Does it hurt? No – the Anti-Shock System uses advanced sensors that continually scan and measure your skin’s resistance to electricity and automatically adjust the intensity to eliminate any chance of shock.
The BEAR mini also comes with an optional T-Sonic pulsation setting that sends intense pulsations deep into the skin to increase circulation, eliminate toxins and ease facial tension, puffiness and stress, resulting in smoother skin that glows from the inside out. These pulsations can also help your skin care products to absorb better.
The BEAR mini links to the FOREO For You app that registers and activates the device, lets you adjust your microcurrent therapy settings and provides a guided facial fitness routine to get you started. The FOREO BEAR mini comes in two colour options and a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty and offers up to 90 uses per charge.
The BEAR mini comes with a sample packet of the FOREO Serum Serum Serum, a charging USB cord, an acrylic stand, a storage bag and instructions for use.
Looking for a stronger treatment? Check out the FOREO BEAR – it has five microcurrent settings to choose from!
Thinking of purchasing from FOREO? Make sure you register for a free Rakuten account to get a percentage cash back on all your FOREO and other participating online retailer purchases.
To learn more, read my detailed Rakuten post here. I’ve received over $200 cash back so far!
What Are The Benefits Of Microcurrent Facial Treatments?
Microcurrent facials are nothing new and have been used in professional salons for quite some time to reduce the signs of aging. Specifically, microcurrent treatments use electrical currents that mimic your body’s own natural processes and improve the skin by:
-building collagen
-repairing elastin
-lifting and toning facial muscles
-reducing fine lines
-making skin look more plump and smooth
-lifting or de-puffing tired skin fast
Basically, if you’re looking to plump and lift tired skin and aren’t interested in Botox, fillers or other invasive options, the FOREO BEAR mini is a great non-invasive option that’s easy and safe to use whenever you want – and with no chance of electric shock, I promise!
BUY THE BEAR mini: SEPHORA | ULTA | FOREO
FOREO Serum Serum Serum
The brand also sent me their Serum Serum Serum product to test and review, which – you guessed it – is the serum they recommend for use with the BEAR mini. However, you can use any water-based, oil-free serum with the BEAR mini to act as a conductor for the microcurrent.
The FOREO Serum Serum Serum is made with hyaluronic acid and squalane to hydrate and nourish the skin in a lightweight, gel-based formula. It also includes antioxidants to protect skin from free radical damage.
The serum is fragrance free, non-greasy and really lovely to use – I enjoyed it! It richly hydrates the skin and absorbs quickly and easily. The bubbles in this pink serum are also particularly pretty if you’re into pretty product textures.
SHOP SERUM SERUM SERUM: ULTA | SEPHORA | FOREO
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When Will You See Results from the BEAR mini?
I found, along with other reviewers, that you can see a bit of lift and slimming of the face right after the first few uses of the BEAR mini.
However, it’s recommended that you use the device for a full two months daily to see full results, after which you can decrease usage to two or three days per week for maintenance.
How To Use The FOREO BEAR mini In Your Skin Care Routine
The BEAR mini is super easy to use and literally takes five minutes for your entire face and neck, so there’s no excuse to skip this facial workout! After registering and activating the device with the FOREO For You app and your smart phone, simply:
1 . Make sure the BEAR mini spheres are clean and dry. Clean your face and neck using an oil-free cleanser. Pat skin dry and ensure there is no remaining residue on the skin (any oil on your face will deflect the microcurrent, making it ineffective, so save your oil-based products for after your microcurrent session).
2. Massage the FOREO Serum Serum Serum (or any other water-based serum you would like to use) over all the areas you wish to treat until fully absorbed. I like to apply my water-based toner and essence before the Serum Serum Serum.
Note: Never use the BEAR mini without a conductive serum, gel or cream.
3. Press the power button to activate BEAR mini’s microcurrent. There are three indicator lights beneath the power button that light up to indicate the microcurrent intensity being used; the first indicator light should be lit after powering on the device. To increase the intensity, press the power button once for each intensity level; you should see the indicator lights turn on with each press. To turn on the T-Sonic pulsations, quickly double-press the power button; the device will start to hum and pulsate. To turn off T-Sonic pulsations, double-press the power button and the humming sound and pulsations will stop.
To access a “Pro” level of microcurrent intensity, visit the app and adjust to the Pro setting when you need an extra kick or are a more seasoned microcurrent user.
4. Lightly press both metallic spheres to your face and glide them across the face and/or neck. Both microcurrent spheres should touch your skin at all times to complete the circuit! Always glide the BEAR mini slowly in an upward and outward motion with light pressure for best results. You can find a treatment routine on the app. There is a timer on the BEAR mini that will automatically shut off the device after a few minutes, but if you need more time, you can program it to run longer using the FOREO For You app or simply turn it back on.
5. Once finished with the treatment, press and hold the power button for three seconds to turn off the device; all indicator lights will turn off. You can now apply any skin care products you wish to complete your skin care routine. The BEAR mini can be used morning or night and a slight tingling sensation and pinkness is normal afterwards, especially if you used the T-Sonic pulsation setting.
Where Should I Not Use The FOREO BEAR mini?
As per the instructions that came with my device, it is not recommended that you use the Bear mini your eyelids or inner eye area (I stay on top of the orbital bone), the midline/centre of your neck (the sides of your neck are ok), your chest/breast area or groin/genital area.
You should also avoid raised moles/warts or other lesions, major arteries, infected areas, metal implants and any implanted electrical devices. If you are pregnant, you should also avoid using the BEAR mini.
If you have just had a laser treatment or chemical peel on the skin, you should also let your skin heal before using the BEAR mini.
RELATED READING: Glowing With The Paula’s Choice 25% AHA +2% BHA Exfoliant Peel
My Thoughts On The BEAR mini & How I Use It In My Skin Care Routine
I’ve been using the BEAR mini almost every day since I received it (roughly three weeks) and will definitely continue to use it. I love that it only takes five minutes to use and it leaves my face feeling tingly and relaxed afterwards.
While the T-Sonic pulsation setting is optional, I always use it for an additional facial massage; it provides really intense pulsations that literally make the bones of my face shake and helps to reduce my puffiness. Definitely great for anyone who holds tension in their face from continual squinting, jaw clenching or teeth grinding.
I originally used the FOREO For You app to activate the device and get started on a treatment routine, but the routine on the app only worked the face below the eyes, so I ended up finding and following a microcurrent routine from YouTube that did a full face microcurrent treatment using the BEAR (once activated, you don’t need to use the For You app to use the device).
I use the BEAR mini on the highest setting – level 3 – and have never felt any pain or shock of any kind. Truly, it feels like nothing on the skin. Truthfully, the only time I feel anything with the mini is when I run it over the areas of my face that have some thicker facial hair (along my upper lip, near my eyebrows or on my chin). This is usually a reminder that I need to spend a bit of time with my facial razor to get rid of the fuzz, which usually gets rid of any prickling sensations in these areas.
In terms of changes in my skin, I’ve noticed that my skin feels softer and smoother and my pores look more minimized since I’ve started using the BEAR mini. It’s also a great skin plumper and perfect for days when you need a quick lift and glow before heading out the door or want a relaxing evening of at-home self care while you wear your ratty bathrobe and put your feet up to watch an episode of Outlander.
But the biggest difference for me that I got from the BEAR mini came in the changes in my face shape. I have a very round face (which I have hated forever) and carry a lot of extra pudge in my cheeks and around my jawline, which has gotten more saggy as I approached 40. It’s for this reason that I spent a lot of time working on treating my cheek and jawline area (avoiding the centre of my neck) with the BEAR mini hoping to slim and contour these spots a bit more.
The mini definitely whipped my baby-faced cheeks into shape and I’m super impressed at how much slimmer my cheeks and the jowl area appeared after just a couple weeks of using it.
I also like to lift and hold the area just below my eyebrows with the BEAR mini and as a result, even my droopy, hooded eyelids look much more lifted and refreshed – something my best retinol couldn’t do.
The FOREO For You app has a “Pro” microcurrent setting for when you need some extra juice in your therapy session; I of course just had to try out this setting for myself and can report that no painful shocks occurred during this professional glow-up therapy session!
Finally, I love that I can use my BEAR mini for a quick, at-home facial, as I’m not a person to venture out to a salon or spa to have one done professionally right now (and probably not ever, I’m quite a home body!).
BUY THE BEAR mini: SEPHORA | ULTA | FOREO
Do You Need The BEAR Mini?
Should you get the BEAR mini by FOREO Sweden? The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, in my opinion.
If you are in the 30+ crowd looking to do a bit of facial maintenance that’s quick and easy, and don’t mind that it requires continued use, then I would DEFINITELY give the BEAR mini a try.
If, however, you are terrible at using skin care products or tools consistently and end up tossing them into a drawer never to be seen again after a couple months – you really need to commit yourself to at least using it consistently for two weeks so you can see the results and want to keep using it.
Personally, I’m really glad I got the chance to test out the BEAR mini and plan on keeping it in my nighttime skin care routine going forward; I love the smoothing and slimming effects I get from using it.
Stay tuned for my comparison review of the full-size FOREO BEAR! FOREO kindly gifted it to me shortly after this review to try out next!
BUY THE BEAR mini: SEPHORA | ULTA
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Overall, I love my FOREO BEAR mini! Stay tuned for my review of the FOREO LUNA mini 3 and FOREO BEAR next!
