shutterstock 1642358386

Aesthetics have never been purely about the latest technology. In fact, some of the most tried-and-tested tools outlast electronic advancements. Throughout the centuries, beauty routines have always relied on the help of a device (or two!) to enhance one’s physical appearance, and — until recently — none of them were battery powered. 

From ridding the body of toxins through manual exfoliation to boosting the lymphatic system with massage, our ancestors seemingly knew that when the body feels good, it looks good. So, while we could go on and on about the benefits of microcurrent gadgets and the advantages of state-of-the-art electrotherapeutic wands (they’re great, too!), it’s important to note there are ancient-inspired and new-age devices that don’t require charging. 

With a focus on the basic principles of beauty that go back millennia, we’ve rounded up the best beauty tools that both the tech-savvy and tech-averse will love.  

### **1. Body Plane** 
![esker-body](//images.ctfassets.net/zw35sfestf1t/60En9iWTuVWMnZQylosqlv/1da4c797403192f9726333db25ea6aaa/esker-body.png)
Inspired by the bathing rituals of Greco-Roman gladiators who would lather their bodies in oil and remove it with a scraping device as a means of exfoliation, the [Esker Body Plane](https://eskerbeauty.com/products/body-plane) is a take on the ancient 'strigil' — a tool that was was used to cleanse and exfoliate. Easy to use and chic in its design, the ergonomic device is made from premium teak wood (note: it can handle water well) and sterling silver-plated stainless steel that is antibacterial to prevent breakouts and inflammation. “The plane has a semi-sharp edge that you drag along damp, oiled skin to gently lift off dirt and dead skin cells without irritating or damaging your skin's moisture barrier,” explains Shannon Davenport, the founder of Esker Beauty. 

A great tool for the summer months when sweat and increased SPF usage are the norm *and* for colder weather when the skin is dry and flaky, the Body Plane helps remove the buildup that a body scrub or dry brush might not get. “It's particularly good for thicker skin, like arms and legs, and is great for ingrown hairs and keratosis pilaris,” Davenport shares. “It's super invigorating and stimulates your lymphatic system.” It’s recommended for use once a week to keep the skin healthy and pairs well with the *scent*-sational [Esker Firming Body Oil](https://eskerbeauty.com/collections/body-oils/products/firming-oil). 
 
### **2. Gua Sha** 
![alder-ny-gu-sha](//images.ctfassets.net/zw35sfestf1t/23kiAJq6nqUEpdpaoebcW1/35602b286765bac97d44642382af3103/alder-ny-gu-sha.png)
While it may be enjoying a renaissance, the gua sha has long been known for its ability to relieve puffiness and improve lymphatic circulation — and the benefits extend to the face *and* body. Applying the same principles as the face, gliding the gua sha towards the heart with slight pressure on freshly oiled skin (we recommend [Bathing Culture’s Outer Being Face & Body Oil](https://bathingculture.com/collections/everything/products/outer-being-face-body-oil?variant=31375963062361)) reveals smoother, brighter, and more sculpted limbs. Oh, and it soothes sore muscles and releases tension, too. 

The [Alder New York Black Obsidian Gua Sha](https://aldernewyork.com/collections/discount/products/black-obsidian-gua-sha-tool) is an elegant addition to any nightstand (for those who want a massage before bed) and is optimal for travelers thanks to its compact size. You can read our in-depth look at the [benefits of the gua sha and how to use here](https://aedit.com/aedition/everything-you-need-to-know-about-gua-sha), but you’ll see and feel results after just a few minutes of use each day. 

### **3. FasciaBlaster™**  
![ashley-black](//images.ctfassets.net/zw35sfestf1t/2aiDhyOrcOTnV3jk4mFRN9/efa1e880e1f39dd1672dab9a621b0350/ashley-black.png)
Before we talk about ‘blasting’ anything, let’s first talk about fascia. The fascia is the layer of connective tissue that covers the muscles, bones, and organs and can knot up to limit movement. The current research on fascia is limited, but there is no denying the anecdotal evidence touting the benefits of tending to it.

Perhaps the most modern tool on the list, fitness guru Ashley Black’s famous (or, perhaps, infamous) [FasciaBlaster™](https://www.ashleyblackguru.com/pages/about-ashley-black) targets the muscles for a myofascial release that increases circulation, lessens joint pain, and decreases muscle pain. You won't physically be ‘blasting’ anything, rather you’re giving the body a deep massage with the claw-like modules. Bruising in the targeted area is common at the beginning, but it lessens with regular use. Devoted fans report a lessening of cellulite and fat in the regions it’s used on, and it is recommended to be used up to five times a week for one to five minutes in conjunction with the brand’s [BlasterOil and AfterBlaster Cream](https://www.ashleyblackguru.com/collections/all/products/blaster-oil-and-after-blaster).   

### **4. Kansa Wand** 
![Uma-kansa-wand](//images.ctfassets.net/zw35sfestf1t/4cgI4BDh0lBn8wH1EScY1B/2c69c19730bc1aa05ac9fd2e5456a0cf/Uma-kansa-wand.png)
Though it has only recently migrated west, kansa (‘kansa’ is the Sanskrit term for ‘bronze’) wands predate the gua sha and jade roller. Originating from India, the kansa wand has been a staple in Ayurvedic practices as it stimulates facial muscles, relieves the appearance of inflammation, and eases the up tension for a more relaxed complexion. “Ancient Ayurveda has texts on procedures such as nose jobs, so it’s little wonder that these older tools are making a comeback,” says Shrankhla Holocek, founder of UMA Oils. “There is a lot of knowledge-based premise there.” The brand's [Kansa Wand](https://www.umaoils.com/collections/new-arrivals-1/products/uma-kansa-wand) is special because “copper’s small molecules — when mixed with water — are heavily detoxifying to the body helping improve the body's natural electromagnetic functions,” she shares. This supports immune pathways and the body’s natural conductive behavior.

While the UMA Kansa Wand is specifically designed for the face and neck, the wand can be found in a variety of sizes and be used all over the body. “It is advised to be used on the marma (Ayurvedic medicine categorizes this as an energy center in the body) points, which is where the nerve and muscle meet,” Holocek explains. Pair with the [UMA Absolute Anti Aging Face Oil](https://www.umaoils.com/collections/face-oils/products/absolute-anti-aging-face-oil) to keep the wand from dragging the skin, while maximizing the detoxifying benefits.

### **5. Foam Body Roller** 
![faiam-foam](//images.ctfassets.net/zw35sfestf1t/2ergGrlvS4FB2Fzx5vjdfR/3809f9c234be2ec1b874d16c2c622d95/faiam-foam.png)
Massages have been hailed in every culture for several millennia because they ease tension in the body — aiding blood flow, relaxing muscles, and inducing rest, which we all know helps the body, skin, and mind restore itself. While it might not be as experiential as a trip to the spa, a foam roller can help you ease muscles daily from the comfort of your own home. 

Akin to a FasciaBlaster™, foam rollers offer an intense massage that can soothe knotted spots and activate the fascia. You might’ve seen them at your gym, but they are not just for athletes — the benefits are universal. Alleviating the tension in any muscle group you target while helping increase the range of motion in joints, rollers relieve inflammation and, in some cases, reduce the appearance of cellulite.

When choosing a foam body roller, note the size, firmness, and texture. Smaller sizes can target more specific areas (think: calves and flanks), while a larger roller is best for the back and thighs. A softer roller is good for those just starting out while firmer options provide a deeper rub. Most foam rollers, like ones from [Gaiam](https://www.gaiam.com/collections/foam-rollers/products/restore-marbled-foam-roller-18?variant=7082025025582), come in a smooth surface that is great for beginners, while those with a [grooved texture](https://www.gaiam.com/collections/foam-rollers/products/05-62133) can benefit those with a more active lifestyle.    

## **The Takeaway**
Beauty tools don’t need to be the highest-powered electronics on the market to deliver serious results for the face and body. Proving that everything old is new again, some of the most popular skincare devices actually date back centuries. In addition to soothing muscles, boosting circulation, and improving contour, the ritual of taking a few minutes each day to use these devices is a de-stressing mechanism in and of itself that might be just what the doctor ordered.

AEDITION complexion perfection-min

Beauty Collection | The AEDITION

Beauty

While modern technology has given us a plethora of high-tech beauty tools to choose from, non-electric devices offer a holistic approach to wellness — no batteries (or assembly) required. 

Beauty Massage Tools For Face And Body 

5 Beauty Massage Tools To Try Now

marvin-meyer-i6o6Z1l n c-unsplash

Despite a regular exercise regimen and healthy diet, [cellulite](https://aedit.com/aedition/the-complete-guide-to-cellulite) is something that many women — nine out of 10 of us, to be precise — can’t shake. There are many topical treatments (think: lotions and scrubs) on the market that temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite, and a few surgical procedures address the bands under the skin’s surface that can lead to dimpling. Now, there will be a minimally invasive cosmetic solution providing women an injectable option that goes below the surface of the skin to address the cause of cellulite.
 
Endo Aesthetics [recently received approval](https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8729551-endo-international-fda-approval/) from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Qwo™ (a.k.a. collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes), becoming the first injectable indicated to treat moderate to severe cellulite of the buttocks in adult women. 
 
## **How Qwo™ Works**
So, how does the cellulite-smoothing injectable work? New York City-based board certified dermatologist and Qwo™ clinical investigator [Anne Chapas, MD](https://www.unionderm.com/about/dr-anne-chapas/), says Qwo™ is the first-ever minimally invasive injectable procedure that releases fibrous septae enzymatically by specifically targeting types 1 and 3 collagen. “This means the injectable is targeting the bands beneath the skin surface directly, which results in the smoothing of the skin for the improved appearance of cellulite,” she adds.  
 
## **The Qwo™ Treatment**
[Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD](https://www.moderndermct.com/deanne-mraz-robinson), a board certified dermatologist and Qwo™ clinical investigator in Westport, Connecticut, says that the process for Qwo™ is quick and easy. “The area is first marked up with a pen of the target areas and then your doctor will inject the marked up area,” she explains. Patients do not need anesthesia (the treatment is, reportedly, relatively painless), and they can leave their doctors’ offices and go about their day as they normally would. “During the trials, my patients said it hurt less than Botox®, which makes sense since your buttocks have more fat than your face,” Dr. Mraz Robinson notes.

## **Qwo™ Recovery & Results**
“Although there is no perfect, quick fix, viable adult women patients can expect a distinct difference in the appearance of cellulite on their buttocks,” Dr. Chapas shares. In order to get FDA approval, clinical trial participants and investigators needed to ensure they were reporting a two-point improvement in cellulite severity, ”which basically means going from having a lot of cellulite to a visibly smooth bum,” she says. Endo included women of all [Fitzpatrick skin types](https://aedit.com/aedition/guide-to-fitzpatrick-skin-types) in the trial, with nearly 30 percent of those treated with Qwo™ being Fitzpatrick IV, V, and VI. “So, we know this works on women of all ethnicities, which is great because women of all ages, colors, and body types get cellulite,” Dr. Chapas explains.
 
How does Qwo™ compare to [Cellfina®](https://aedit.com/procedure/cellfina) and [Cellulaze®](https://aedit.com/procedure/cellulaze) — the two cellulite procedures currently on the market? “While Cellfina® and Cellulaze® also target the bands under the surface of the skin, they work by severing the septae mechanically, either by knife or with laser energy, and not showing significant results,” Dr. Mraz Robinson says. “Qwo™ is minimally invasive and injected into the skin, with a much simpler recovery and visible results.”

### **Side Effects**
Like any injectable treatment, there is a risk of swelling and bruising at the injection site. Dr. Mraz Robinson says patients can expect bruising to last up to two weeks, so she advises patients to plan their treatments accordingly. “You should not get this the week you are heading for a beach vacation,” she cautions. 

## **Qwo™ Cost & Maintenance**
Qwo™ requires a total of three sessions, spaced 21 days apart for a lasting result of a year or more. Each session takes about 30 minutes. While the cost of Qwo™ has not yet been determined, Endo Aesthetics aims to price it for widespread adoption. Dr. Mraz Robinson believes the market is ready for its arrival, for patients are eager for a cellulite treatment that actually works. “I expect that Qwo™ will be in high-demand when it launches in 2021,” she says.

AEDITION trendsetters-min

Now Trending Collection | The AEDITION

Now Trending

The FDA just approved the first-ever injectable treatment for cellulite, Endo Aesthetics’ Qwo™, and early indications are that it’s going to be a game changer.

FDA Approval Of Qwo Injectable For Cellulite Treatment In Women

Here’s What You Need To Know About Qwo — The New Injectable For Cellulite

shutterstock 319466393

It’s been a big couple of months for the injectables market with both the highly anticipated arrival of the Restylane® Kysse lip filler in May and the announcement of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving the first injectable cellulite treatment, Endo Aesthetics’ Qwo™, this month. 

In an industry [on track to grow to $21.3 billion by 2023](https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5018969/injectable-drug-delivery-devices-global-market?utm_source=dynamic&utm_medium=BW&utm_code=ndb5mj&utm_campaign=1382794+-+Insights+into+the+Worldwide+Injectable+Drug+Delivery+Devices+Industry+to+2030) — even with a slight dip this year due to COVID-19 — it seems R&D teams are working overtime to find different and better treatment options for aesthetics fans in search of minimally invasive solutions. And with the advent of faster-acting and longer-lasting products and totally new innovations and skin problem solvers, the future looks bright. 

Here, the latest batch of fillers, neurotoxins, and needle-based treatments that have either been released in recent weeks or will soon be making their way to a doctor’s office near you.
 
### **1. Restylane® Kysse**
**What It Is**: Hyaluronic acid-based lip filler
**Look For It:** Now
**The Skinny:** Previously available in international markets, Restylane® Kysse is the latest pout-plumping offering from Galderma. This hyaluronic acid filler, which is spiked with lidocaine for injection comfort, has grabbed attention for being designed with a technology that, as [Sejal Shah, MD](https://aedit.com/provider/sejal-shah-md-17984), the board certified dermatologist behind SmarterSkin Dermatology in New York City, puts it, “allows better integration with the tissue of the lip and results in a more natural look and feel.” This was borne out in a [phase four “kissability” study](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-international-kissing-day-the-restylane-brand-shares-first-of-its-kind-phase-iv-kissability-study-results-showing-both-subject-and-partner-satisfaction-with-restylane-kysse-301088170.html) funded by its maker, Restylane® Kysse, which found that all subjects (100 percent) and a majority of their partners (90 percent) were satisfied with their lips after treatment. Most partners (73 percent) reported “a more kissable and natural feel.”

What’s more? [In an earlier clinical trial](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29059146/), the filler required a lower amount of product compared to the control (1.82 mL vs. 2.24 mL) to reach an increase in fullness. And results lasted up to a year — longer than the six to nine months you typically get with other fillers.
 
### **2. BoNTE**
**What It Is**: Fast-acting, short-term Botox®
**Look For It:** On the horizon
**The Skinny:** Set to be a ‘gateway’ neurotoxin that can help introduce hesitant users to the wrinkle reducer, BoNTE is a kind of fast-acting, mini-Botox®. This neurotoxin offering (also referred to by its much less catchy name, EB-001A) takes hold in just 24 hours — as opposed to the week or so it takes traditional forms to work — and sticks around for just two to four weeks.
 
Still awaiting its U.S. debut and currently [in phase two of testing](https://www.allergan.com/research-and-development/pipeline), it was snapped up by Allergan in the [acquisition of Bonti in 2018](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allergan-to-acquire-bonti-adding-new-neurotoxin-programs-to-medical-aesthetics-pipeline-300712834.html). And, when it does come to market, [Jacob Unger, MD](https://aedit.com/provider/jacob-unger-md-2649), a Nashville-based board certified plastic surgeon, believes the quick results will cater to procrastinators, explaining the injectable “will be great for people who need last-minute touch-ups or have an upcoming event and either forgot or couldn’t get Botox® a few weeks in advance.” Dr. Shah also sees potential for other uses, such as in patients undergoing face or neck surgeries to temporarily reduce movement during the initial healing phase. Regardless, “it will be a premium product, but should find a place in the Botox® universe,” Dr. Unger says.

### **3. DAXI**
**What It Is**: A prolonged botulinum toxin  
**Look For It:** Fall 2020 (it’s been [accepted for review](https://investors.revance.com/news-releases/news-release-details/revance-announces-us-fda-acceptance-biologics-license) by the FDA with an action date of November 25, 2020)
**The Skinny:** On the opposite end of the time spectrum from BoNTE comes DaxibotulinumtoxinA, or DAXI, a buzzed-about neurotoxin from Revance Therapeutics making big promises to last six full months. Will it really be the answer for results in fewer derm visits? Possibly. In phase three clinical trials, DAXI helped reduce frown (a.k.a. glabellar) lines for a median of 24. However, Dr. Shah points out that, while it could be a game-changer, “I think we still need more on how it compares to more established neurotoxins.” Dr. Unger echoes that thought, adding, “time will tell — many prior promises have not necessarily come to fruition.”

### **4. Juvéderm® Volite**
**What It Is**: A hyaluronic acid-based skin-conditioning treatment
**Look For It:** On the horizon
**The Skinny:** Currently available in Europe, Juvéderm® Volite is more skincare than filler. “It’s an injectable hyaluronic acid treatment that improves the overall skin quality, [including] hydration, plumpness, smoothness and elasticity,” Dr. Shah explains. The treatment, which involves a series of small pricks throughout the targeted area, lasts up to nine months. Although you may see an improvement in fine lines, the real magic is its promise to erase dryness, dullness, and mild textural issues. The [results of a phase three trial](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6817835/) were released last year, so it could be coming to an office near you sooner rather than later.

### **5. Qwo™**
**What It Is**: The first injectable treatment for cellulite
**Look For It:** Now
**The Skinny:** If you noticed a ruckus on July 6, that may have been cellulite battlers everywhere letting out a collective cheer at the news that Endo Aesthetics’ Qwo™ (a.k.a. collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aae) was FDA approved to treat the condition in the U.S. “This is definitely a huge step forward in the treatment of this challenging problem,” Dr. Unger says. “[It’s] a true medication to help target the actual cause of cellulite has never before existed.” But there may be a catch. Because it works by breaking down the fibrous bands that cause the dimpled effect at the skin’s surface, “I would expect injector technique to be very important to target only the areas of tissue you want to destroy,” he cautions.

### **6. Teosyal® RHA 1**
**What It Is**: A hyaluronic acid-based filler
**Look For It:** 2021
**The Skinny:** The family of Teosyal® RHA fillers has one more on the way: RHA 1. This group of hyaluronic acid-based offerings made by Teoaxane and distributed by the Revance Therapeutics is created with a cross-linking process that Dr. Shah says is similar to technology used in Restylane® Defyne and Refyne that allows for very natural results. The fourth version will feature the same dose of numbing lidocaine for pain as the original three and simply add another consistency for doctors to choose from for wrinkles in the face, neck, and décolleté. 

It’s been a big couple of months for the injectables market, and The AEDITION is rounding up the latest batch of fillers, neurotoxins, and needle-based treatments.

procedures

by concern

by area

most researched

The AEDITION

collections

most popular

BEAUTY,
AEDITED BY YOU

The expert portal for beauty
treatments,
by the doctors
& editors that matter.

Procedures by Area

From The AEDITION

Procedures by Concern