Medicube Age-R Booster Pro review

I’ve had a fixation on the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro, and I’m not the only one. Beauty enthusiasts around the globe have made this Korean beauty device go mega viral, even garnering stamps of approval from celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber, both of whom are considered beauty industry titans. But trust, it’s not just great for twentysomething celebrities who have their own beauty lines; this multipurpose skin care tool is arguably even better for those of us who need more help in achieving clear, glowing skin.

After using the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro every day for over a month, I think it’s worth the investment. Here’s why.

The Booster Pro unlocks a healthy, plump and lifted complexion thanks to its skin-enhancing technology. It offers four modes that target different areas of facial wellness, allowing you to tailor the treatment to your skin’s specific goals and needs. Did I mention it also makes a great gift?

Modes and settings that can be mixed and matched

The Booster Pro comes loaded with four different modes and is designed to replace multiple beauty tools. As someone with a drawer full of tested beauty devices, from microcurrent tools to red-light wands, I know there’s plenty of demand for a multimodal tool that can save space (and money) in the long run. I found the combination of modes to hit a sweet spot that encouraged me to pick up the device every day. Whether I only had a minute to spare or could take my time with the treatment, I’ve reached for the Booster Pro every day for over a month because it’s fun to use and I’m actually seeing the benefits. The device’s automatic timer — it literally tells you “one minute passed,” “two minutes passed” and so on, up to five minutes — helps me stay on track too.

After I started testing the Booster Pro, I raved about it to my colleagues and even convinced a couple of them to pick it up too. CNN Underscored managing editor Rachel Quigley, who covered the beauty products she swears by as someone over 40, included the Booster Pro in her picks since she’s seen a genuine improvement in the elasticity and surface of her skin.

Each mode targets a different skin concern and can be adjusted among levels 1 through 5, but all contribute to your overall skin health and glow. Here’s a rundown of each of the anti-aging modes, their benefits and how to use them.

I think of this mode as a skin primer. It uses what Medicube calls “electric-needle technology” to create microchannels in the skin to improve product absorption and pore elasticity. With Air Shot mode, you’re supposed to brush the device on your clean, dry skin — before applying any products — up to three times per week. The device has a sensor that will only activate when it’s close to your skin. When it’s in range, it starts sending out the pulses, which create a zapping feeling on the skin. Honestly, it’s not very pleasant, and it even creates a slight burning smell. According to Medicube, this is because the electric stimulation can burn and remove your peach fuzz. Since I’ve taken lasers to the face and done a bevy of more intense beauty treatments, this didn’t intimidate me too much, but I noticed that a minute of Air Shot mode made my cheeks a bit red and sensitive, and I’ve only kept it on level 1. I could see why others, especially those with sensitive skin, would want to skip this setting altogether.

Booster mode is safe to use daily, both morning and night. It uses electroporation, a technology consisting of electrical pulses that, similarly to the “electric-needle technology,” creates microchannels to aide product absorption. You should pair Booster mode with your preferred serum, essence or other skin care.

If I’m short on time, I will only use Booster mode and skip the device’s other treatments. It feels much milder compared to Air Shot mode, and I’ve been able to build up to level 3. The electroporation feels more like a vibration or current going through the skin, similar to microcurrent. Best of all, I can feel that my products have been absorbed and it always leaves my skin glowing.

Microcurrent is known for its sculpting powers. Electric muscle-stimulation devices have been well regarded in the beauty world, often incorporated into professional facials. Microcurrent tools stimulate the muscles, creating a toned and lifted effect. I’ve tested a number of other microcurrent devices, but there are very few multiuse ones like the Booster Pro.

I was impressed with the power of the Booster Pro’s Microcurrent, or MC, mode. Similar to other leading microcurrent tools, it really stimulates the muscles. Sometimes this caused my facial muscles to twitch, which you can see in the video below.

Some advice when using MC mode? It requires a skin care product or else it won’t be able to conduct the current and be effective. I prefer the CosRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence since it has a slippery texture that doesn’t dry too quickly. This provided the ideal amount of lubrication for this mode, so if lifting and sculpting is your priority I’d highly recommend this combination.

Lastly, always use upward motions. Since the goal is to lift, using upward strokes will help define your features.

Derma Shot mode is what takes me to the finish line of my skin care routine. According to Medicube, this setting uses electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to boost the skin’s firmness. If it sounds a lot like microcurrent, that’s because the technologies are related. EMS targets muscles a bit deeper, using stronger electrical currents than microcurrent. That’s why Derma Shot mode feels a bit more intense, or sharper, during treatment. I typically use my moisturizer with Derma Shot mode and keep it on level 1 or 2, whereas I can consistently take Microcurrent mode to level 3.

It’s also worth noting you can further customize your Booster Pro treatments using the Age-R app. Once you’ve paired your Booster Pro, you can use the app as a remote of sorts to change its modes and levels, as well as for more advanced settings such as LED color, vibration and even volume. The app will also create reports for each session so you can track your routine and progress over time.

To be honest, I haven’t paid much attention to the app and prefer to use the tool’s physical controls, but it could be added value for those who are more tech-savvy.

Unlike skin care tools that require a special conducive gel, the Booster Pro is compatible with most skin care products. Since you want the tool to glide across the skin and not pull or tug, it’s recommended to use water-based serums or gel products that will provide some slip.

As I’ve gotten more experience with the Booster Pro, I’ve found that my personal preference falls for lighter, looser serums for the Booster and Microcurrent modes, then I’ll switch to a more nourishing moisturizer to use with the Derma Shot mode. This way, I’ll typically spend a minute each on the Booster and MC modes and finish up with two to three minutes of the Derma Shot mode to conclude my routine. You can always make adjustments and do what feels best for you and your skin, but below are the current mode-and-product combinations I’ve been loving.

One of the most immediate results I see using the Medicube Booster Pro is how my serums, essences and moisturizers truly sink into my skin. Typically, when layering on multiple steps of skin care, I’ll feel the products sitting on the surface of my skin, but each of the Booster Pro’s modes assists with product absorption, essentially maximizing the efficacy of my topical skin care. It leaves my skin looking especially glowy and plump but without feeling overloaded or too slick with products, truly delivering the “glass skin” effect.

This means it’s also great for giving skin a boost before makeup application — one of the reason’s why Beyoncé’s makeup artist, Sir John, signed on as Medicube’s creative director.

From an anti-aging perspective, the tool helps deliver your skin care’s active ingredients — retinol, vitamin C, etc. — more effectively than your hands alone. This in turn means a boost in the benefits of your products, whether they target hydration, fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation or elasticity.

The Booster Pro is a powerful tool, so I had to ease into using it daily. Each mode feels different on the skin; some have a more uncomfortable sensation than others, and the range of the power levels can vary from mode to mode too. Air Shot mode, for example, feels like a sharp zap as I graze it over my skin, so I’ve kept it on level 1 even after a month of testing. Most of the other modes I use on level 3, and I’m gradually working up to level 4. Depending on your threshold for discomfort and your skin’s sensitivity, the tool may not be a great fit for you.

Don’t get me wrong, the Medicube Booster Pro does a lot, and I consider it a multiuse tool. However, it’s often cited as a 6-in-1 device, providing electric-needle technology, electroporation, microcurrent, EMS and LED therapy, but I feel it falls short on that last one. Each mode of the Booster Pro is paired with a different LED wavelength, which you’ll see on the head of the device, and there are five LED colors: blue, orange, green, red and purple. While LED therapy for skin is well researched and has been vetted by dermatologists and other skin experts, it’s typically done on clean, dry skin, not after you’ve applied skin care products, so I’m skeptical of the Booster Pro’s efficacy when it comes to LED therapy.

At approximately $220, depending on where you buy it, the Booster Pro is expensive, but it offers an impressive suite of technologies that rivals other single-modality devices in the same price range. Since I’m often testing different beauty tools, it’s easy for me to get fatigued from adding yet another to my routine, but the Booster Pro has been an easy addition I’ve gladly stayed consistent with. I love that it works with the skin care products I already use and that it makes an immediate, glow-boosting improvement to my complexion. Plus, it’ll help my skin stay more youthful over time, thanks to the lifting and sculpting from the MC and Derma Shot modes.

If you aren’t quite ready to commit to the cost or if you want a simpler device, I also recommend the travel-size Medicube Mini Booster Pro, which is under $100 and offers the same Booster treatment in a smaller tool.

CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we’re testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw tested the viral Medicube Age-R Booster Pro skin care device for more than a month, incorporating it into her daily skin care routine.