Sonic skincare awareness month is amongst the hottest trends in the beauty industry. For several years, sonic skincare solutions have gained momentum as the public has been more willing to try new technology to solve old skin problems like acne, wrinkles, and aging skin. Yet the exact nature of sonic technology and the different applications are somewhat misunderstood. When the same word is being used to describe your toothbrush, your skin wand, and your nephew’s favorite blud hedgehog, a bit of confusion is to be expected. 

Today, we will review some common sonic and ultrasonic skincare products, the differences and similarities between the two, the efficacy of ultrasonic exfoliating wands and brushes, and how sonic skincare will continue to grow moving forward.

 

What are Sonic Skincare Products?

The term sonic can refer to anything which vibrates within the audible range of the human ear. When it comes to skincare products and tools, the “sonic” term essentially means that the product will vibrate and/or oscillate to perform a certain task. Sonic skincare tools can be used in a number of ways, but the most common include:

 

• Sonic exfoliating products: perhaps the most well known and well used of all sonic skincare  items, exfoliating brushes and wands oscillate to jar dead skin, dirt, and debris from the surface of the skin.

• Facial/skin massager: sonic products may also be used to gently massage facial skin or skin elsewhere on the body. 

• Skin firming: sonic products are also touted to firm, tighten, and rejuvenate skin through pinpointed massage techniques.

• Skincare product application: some wands and/or brushes may also be used as moisturizer applicants. This can be thought of as the yin to the exfoliator’s yang. Where oscillation works to remove debris, it can also work to deliver nutrients evenly to the skin.

 

Ultrasonic vs. Sonic: What is the Difference?

A question we often receive when it comes to skincare is: what is the difference between sonic and ultrasonic products? Are the terms interchangeable? The answer is yes and no. Sonic and ultrasonic technology is the same — the difference lies in the power of the product.

Sonic skincare products vibrate at a rate which is audible to the human ear. The standard human hearing range is between 20 hertz (Hz) and 20 kilohertz (kHz). If you can hear your toothbrush or your sonic skincare wand vibrating, most likely it is a sonic product.

Ultrasonic skincare products vibrate at a rate higher than the sonic range. This means that any ultrasonic products will likely oscillate at a frequency higher than 20 kHz). Most ultrasonic products are essentially silent. If you hear any residual noises, it is likely reverberations of the product touching something nearby.

 

Efficacy of Ultrasonic Exfoliating Wands

This brings us to the question of the hour: do sonic and ultrasonic products really work? Scientific research suggests that yes, they do. When it comes to sonic exfoliating brushes and ultrasonic exfoliating wands, users and researchers alike have declared that they are more effective than standard skincare practices. There are a number of reasons for this effectiveness.

The first is uniformity. Unless you are a robot, you will likely go over some portions of the skin more than others. This can leave skin looking and feeling uneven, in addition to possibly irritating certain sections of skin from overuse. Wands and brushes make it easier for the user to focus on an even, spread out application.

Another reason is the oscillation and vibration disrupting blackheads and other impurities. Ultrasonic wands in particular do a great job of literally jarring loose impurities from beneath the surface of the skin. 

 

The Future of Sonic Skincare

Sonic and ultrasonic skincare solutions are here to stay. From a clinical perspective and a home-use perspective, these products are reasonably priced, effective, and safe to use. Men and women are adopting this technology more as time goes on and wands and brushes become more mainstream. While these products have been around for many years at this point, the “strangeness” factor of it has diminished greatly.

The future of ultrasonic skincare awareness month will likely remain in exfoliation with a new exploration of nutrient delivery and facial massage. As technology continues to advance and the public grows even more accepting, we believe that we will only see more sonic and ultrasonic skincare solutions for a long time to come!

Music City SCALE 2020 Will Cover Sonic Skincare awareness month and More!

This July, come join us in Nashville for the 2020 Music City Symposium for Cosmetic Advances & Laser Education. Our robust lineup of presenters includes some of the most well known and respected aestheticians, dermatologists, surgeons, and other skincare professionals from around the globe. Our convention is interested in cutting edge developments in cosmetics and dermatological procedures ranging from invasive surgeries to everyday products like sonic exfoliators. While our list is always expanding, click here to view our current exhibitors and sponsors for 2020!