Guest Blog with Skin Expert Mira Aguirre

There are so many skincare devices and tools getting attention right now in the beauty space that it can be overwhelming trying to pick the right one. And because influencers are constantly reviewing new devices, you can also find yourself with multiple devices that do the same thing because FOMO and the hype made you feel what you already had was inadequate.

My role as a content creator is to test things and tell you if they’re worth spending your hard earned cash on. But I also feel strongly that we should approach skincare in a thoughtful way, adding to our routine only when we’re missing something that will deliver results for our skin type and goals. I try to steer you all away from trends and hype.

This post will be on the NEWA Radio Frequency Skin Tightening device and why I think it’s the best at home option for RF, still outperforming newer releases. Make sure you read all the way to the end to see my routine with the NEWA!

Stay tuned for part 2 on the NEWA blog to see my interview with radio frequency expert Dr Joseph Lepselter, part of the NEWA clinical team and ENDYMED.

Disclaimer: I’m a NEWA affiliate (code MIRA10 will save you 10%) and group admin for the NEWA Community as of October 2020. I purchased it myself long before ever working with them. All thoughts are my own with no direction from the NEWA team on what to say. I was not compensated for this post.

Some links and codes may be affiliate, they add no cost to you but help support the author and her content.

 

What is Radio Frequency?

Radio frequency in the aesthetic field utilizes an RF generator which produces an alternating electric current and subsequently creates an electrical field through the skin. The skin’s resistance to that current is what generates the thermal energy (heat) and micro injury that triggers skin remodeling.

There are a few types of radio frequency, depending on the number of probes:

• monopolar, single prone with a grounding pad.
• bipolar, two probes.
• multipolar, consisting of a combination of bipolar and monopolar systems.

 Photo from ENDYMED

Benefits of RF treatments

In the short term, the heat from RF devices tighten collagen and elastin fibers for a temporary tightening effect. The current also creates temporary pores in the skin barrier (something called electroporation), enhancing the penetration of skincare ingredients into the skin.

Long term, the wound healing cascade and skin remodeling that occurs results in an increase of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production in the skin. This means the deeper layer of the skin (dermis) will be thicker, firmer, and more elastic.

 

Who is NEWA for?

If you’re experiencing thinning skin, fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity and firmness, and sagging then NEWA is an excellent treatment for you. It’s also a nice treatment in the morning before skincare and makeup thanks to the temporary benefits it offers as well.

It’s particularly helpful for women approaching menopause as well as lower estrogen in the skin leads to a decrease in hyaluronic acid and collagen synthesis. Evidence shows that early intervention via collagen induction therapy can make a big difference as otherwise you can lose up to 30% of your skin’s collagen in the first 5 years after menopause.

The NEWA is also a great choice for anyone who interested in microneedling but can’t get it done in office or doesn’t feel comfortable doing it themselves.

Contraindications

Here are a few of the main contraindications for NEWA and radio frequency:

• hyper-pigmentation, particularly melasma
• metal implants in the treatment area
• taking blood thinning medications
• autoimmune disorder or diabetes
• implanted pacemaker or heart disorder
• pregnant or breastfeeding
• on Accutane or within last 6 months

Challenges of RF Devices

There are challenges in creating effective, safe radio frequency machines and devices both for at-home and professional settings. In office, the skill of the provider is essential. Case studies on unintentional fat loss resulted from too much RF energy in too few passes. Bipolar RF can be too superficial while monopolar can heat too large of an area. Surface cooling is another consideration.

At home, the main obstacle is heating the tissue hot enough and deep enough to get results while also keeping the surface of the skin cool and not getting so deep that we’re reaching the subcutaneous tissue. Most home options don’t heat deeply enough or reach effective temps. Because treatments are done by a home user, they also need to be “foolproof” and give consistent, safe results.

 

NEWA’s 3DEEP Technology

NEWA is one of the most proven, effective devices with over 40 clinical studies. This is very rare for home devices, especially at a fairly reasonable price point. They’re also part of ENDYMED, a company that produces professional machines for in office and NEWA uses their same 3DEEP technology.

In my eyes, this device really stands out from competitors on the market in the following ways:

• 3 sets of bipolar electrodes allow it to precisely target the dermis, balancing efficacy with safety
• It heats the dermis to 50-52 Celsius while maintaining a surface temp of 40-42 C
• If the surface gauge exceeds the above temperature, it will stop the RF energy until its back within a safe range
• This features a 1 mHz current, within the .3-10 mHz range required for it to flow freely through our cells while also generating heat anywhere it encounters resistance
• In addition to the 40+ clinical studies, we also know that it can increase collagen by approximately 4% in 3 months and has been shown to work on women from their 30s up to their 70s
• It out performs other options on the market when it comes to specs and research yet is one of the more cost effective options

 

My NEWA Routine

Treatment Area: Lower Face and under the Jaw and Neck

Frequency: 2-3 days a week maintenance

Steps:

• cleanse skin with a low pH, gentle and water based cleanser like the St Ives Calming Chamomile Daily cleanser or Clearista Retexturizing Gel if I need some mild exfoliation
• I like to spritz the skin with a mineral mist or conductivity solution, something that is like water in texture so it won’t interfere with the NEWA gel. See my post on conductivity solution here and supplies here.
• Hydrated skin is less resistant to treatments with a current like NEWA however layering on products before can cause issues with the gel and isn’t advised. The NEWA serum is an exception though as it’s been formulated for use with the NEWA and uses ingredients proven to boost the efficacy of the treatment. I like to use one pump.
• I use the NEWA gel in Delicate (fragrance free) for the treatment with my favorite NEWA model, the Classic.
• After the treatment, I remove the gel thoroughly with a soft microfiber cloth and then proceed with my normal skincare routine. I like to use proven skincare ingredients that work well with the NEWA like Vitamin C, retinoids, niacinamide, DMAE, and growth factors and the next morning I protect my skin with sunscreen and antioxidants. Shop my favorites here.

 

Want a visual? I’ll be posting my NEWA routine on Instagram this week so make sure you’re following me there.

 

The Wrap Up

I hope this post helps cover why I’ve been such a fan of this device and why I think it really sets itself apart from other at-home RF. I’m a believer in the science behind skincare and thanks to the brand’s transparency and integrity, I think the specs and results speak for themselves

Have any questions on NEWA? Please comment below and don’t forget to check out the other part I wrote for the NEWA blog when it’s up. Thanks for reading!

If you’re interested in purchasing, you can save 10% with code “mira10”