beauty

I Turned 40 Without Botox. These Four Beauty Devices Became My Non-Negotiables.

26/7/26

I've never had Botox, fillers, or a cosmetic procedure. Maybe one day I will, maybe I won't. But until then, I've found my own alternative to in-office treatments—in the comfort of my own home. These are the beauty secrets I've never shared before.

Makeup by Oksana Deneka

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I turned 40 this year.

And surprisingly, the number itself didn’t scare me. What surprised me was something much more subtle: the way my skin started changing.

It wasn’t about wrinkles appearing overnight. It was about noticing that my face was beginning to tell a different story. The skin that had always bounced back after long flights, late nights, fashion weeks, and too many coffees was suddenly asking for a little more attention.

At 40, my biggest beauty concern isn’t necessarily lines. It’s firmness. It’s that subtle, almost invisible shift that happens when collagen production naturally starts slowing down and gravity starts becoming a little more present.

And this is usually the moment when people ask the question:

“Have you thought about Botox?”

The answer, for now, is no.

Before anyone misunderstands me: I am not against Botox, fillers, or aesthetic treatments. I think we live in a time where women have more choices than ever, and I completely respect anyone who chooses those treatments. Maybe one day I will change my mind. Never say never.

But until today, I have never had Botox, fillers, threads, a facelift, or any in-office cosmetic procedure.

Instead, over the past year, I have built a beauty routine around something slightly different: technology.

Four beauty devices have become my non-negotiables. They live between my bathroom and my suitcase because, as anyone who knows me understands, I spend a lot of my life travelling. My skincare routine has to survive airports, hotel rooms, fashion weeks, and constantly changing time zones.

And these four devices are the ones I genuinely use.

A little disclaimer before we begin: I am not a dermatologist, an aesthetic doctor, or a skincare scientist. I am a fashion editor who became fascinated by beauty technology and started testing these devices on myself. Everything here is based on my personal experience, combined with what current research and the brands’ available information suggest. What works for me may not work exactly the same way for everyone.

But after months of consistency, these are the devices I personally swear by.

1. Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite FaceWare Pro LED Mask

The three-minute ritual that changed my skin

If someone told me a year ago that I would become the person who travels internationally with an LED mask in my suitcase, I probably would have laughed.

And yet, here we are.

I have been using the Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite FaceWare Pro for almost ten months, and it has become one of my favourite steps in my entire beauty routine.

Red LED light therapy has become one of the most talked-about beauty technologies because of its potential to support the skin’s natural processes. Research around red and near-infrared light suggests that it may stimulate fibroblasts, the cells involved in collagen production, and help improve the appearance of fine lines, skin tone, and firmness over time.

The key word is consistency.

This is not a magic mask that transforms your skin after one use. It is a commitment.

I try to use mine almost every evening. Do I succeed every single night? Of course not. Life happens. Flights happen. Fashion weeks happen. But I genuinely do my best.

The reason I love this particular mask is that it is realistic. It takes only a few minutes, and I can do it anywhere. I have used it in hotel rooms, before dinner, after a long day of shows, and sometimes even while answering emails.

I usually do between three and five rounds of the three-minute treatment, depending on how much time I have.

After almost ten months, I can honestly say I see a difference in my skin. It feels healthier, more balanced, and more radiant. The biggest change I notice is that my skin simply looks more “alive.”

Is it expensive? Yes.

Would I buy it again? Absolutely.

For me, this is one of those rare beauty purchases where the price feels justified because it has become something I genuinely use.

2. NuFACE Trinity+

The device that became my daily lifting ritual

My biggest skin concern has always been firmness.

At 40, I am very aware that collagen naturally decreases with age, and maintaining the appearance of lifted, healthy-looking skin has become my priority.

This is where the NuFACE Trinity+ entered my routine.

I bought it with the starter kit and have been using it for around seven months. Like the LED mask, it has become something I travel with regularly.

The NuFACE uses microcurrent technology, which delivers gentle electrical currents designed to stimulate facial muscles and improve the appearance of facial contours. Many users notice an immediate temporary lifting effect after using it, while consistent use is intended to support longer-term improvements in the appearance of firmness.

And this is exactly what I have noticed.

After one use, I can see a difference. My face looks slightly more sculpted, refreshed, and lifted for the following hours.

But the real reason I love it is the consistency.

When I use it regularly, almost daily, I feel like I am maintaining something. It has become part of my prevention mindset. Instead of waiting until I feel like my skin has changed dramatically, I am actively taking care of it every day.

The NuFACE gel is an important part of the process. I actually really like it—it is hydrating and has wonderful skincare benefits. However, using the device almost every day means you go through the gel quite quickly, and it can become expensive.

My personal solution? I sometimes use other conductive gels, including ultrasound conductive gels that are much more affordable and work perfectly well for me.

The important thing is not the most expensive product. It is consistency.

3. Medicube AGE-R Booster Pro

The device I tell everyone about

If I had to choose one device that surprised me the most, it would probably be the Medicube AGE-R Booster Pro.

I have been using it for around six months, and I honestly cannot imagine my routine without it anymore. This is the device I recommend most often because it feels like having several different beauty tools combined into one.

The Booster Pro has four main modes:

Booster Mode
Designed to help skincare products absorb more effectively by using electrical stimulation technology. This is the mode I use most often with my serums because I genuinely feel like my products perform better afterwards.

MC Mode
Uses microcurrent technology designed to improve the appearance of facial firmness and contours.

Derma Shot Mode
Designed to stimulate facial muscles and support a more defined appearance.

Air Shot Mode
A needle-free electrical technology designed to improve the appearance of pores and skin texture.

I use all four settings depending on what my skin needs.

The immediate effect is what impressed me first. After using it, my skin looks brighter, smoother, and somehow more “awake.” It gives that feeling of a professional facial, without actually leaving home.

But what interests me most is the long-term effect.

With regular use, I feel my skin texture has improved, my face looks more plump, and my skincare routine feels much more effective.

This is the device that always comes with me when I travel.

If I am packing only one beauty gadget, this is usually the first one I put in my suitcase.

4. ZIIP Halo

My ultimate travel beauty secret

The newest addition to my routine is the ZIIP Halo.

I have been using it for about a month, but it immediately became one of my favourite travel companions.

The reason is simple: I travel constantly.

While I love my NuFACE Trinity+ and still use it when I am at home, it is slightly bulkier and less convenient when you are constantly moving between airports and hotels.

The ZIIP Halo was made for my lifestyle.

It is compact, lightweight, easy to pack, and incredibly travel-friendly.

The device combines microcurrent and nanocurrent technologies. Microcurrent is designed to improve the appearance of facial contours and firmness, while nanocurrent works with very gentle electrical impulses that the brand describes as supporting the skin’s natural processes.

The device comes with conductive gels, and I have to say: these gels completely impressed me.

They are not just something you use because you have to. They feel like a real skincare step on their own—hydrating, comfortable, and they make the device glide beautifully across the skin.

What I notice immediately after using the ZIIP Halo is that my face looks less tired. It gives a temporary lifted effect, helps my skin look more sculpted, and I feel like it helps reduce that slightly swollen feeling that can happen after flights or long days.

And because my biggest concern is always firmness, I love that it fits into the same philosophy as my other devices: supporting my skin consistently over time.

My personal combination is simple:

At home: NuFACE Trinity+.

On the road: ZIIP Halo.

Both have earned their place in my routine for different reasons.

Ageing, but on my own terms

Turning 40 did not make me want to look 25 again.

Actually, the opposite.

It made me want to look like the best version of myself at 40.

My beauty philosophy has changed. I am less interested in chasing perfection and much more interested in consistency. Taking care of my skin every evening, even after a twelve-hour travel day, feels like a small act of self-respect.

Maybe one day Botox will become part of my story. Maybe it won’t.

But for now, you will probably find me somewhere between Florence, Paris, Copenhagen, and Dubai, wearing an LED mask that makes me look like a character from Star Wars, using a device that looks slightly futuristic, and enjoying every minute of it.

Because ageing is inevitable.

Taking care of yourself is a choice.