This is part of Alvin Goh’s Look Good, Feel Good column for STYLE. With Covid-19 causing havoc – including the repeated closure of beauty outlets in Hong Kong and elsewhere – many beauty businesses are cashing in on online sales. I have seen many ads on Facebook in which brands promote gadgets that claim to instantly transform your face shape after mere minutes of use. These are known as home HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) gadgets, and often seem too good to be true. So I called up Dr Yoon Song Eun, who has worked on the faces of the members of BTS, Big Bang and Girls Generation (just to name a few), to ask him for the lowdown. 5 skincare hacks to keep your face healthy and hydrated this winter He explained that not only can the videos be edited, but also that the immediate effects of using home HIFU don’t always last. You would need to use the devices regularly compared to undergoing a medical HIFU treatment, which can last up to six to 12 months per session. So if you’re understandably sceptical about HIFU gadgets, why not try LED beauty gadgets instead? They are all the rage right now in South Korea. These are the top LED beauty gadgets that are trending now, presented according to what your beauty goals might be: Skin clarity Brand : Aalok Snowfit Frequency : 415 nm (soothing blue); 520 nm (brightening green); 645 nm (firming red) Pakers has been the leader in the South Korean LED industry for more than two decades, acquiring numerous global patents and recognition. So it’s no surprise they were able to marry technology with beauty to come up with the sleek Aalok brand in 2019. This multitasking device promises to cater to three of our skin’s most common problems, including wrinkles and acne. Alvin Goh on why modern men shouldn’t shy away from beauty products The blue light is designed to soothe your acne and sensitive skin issues, while the green light brightens your skin and the red light tightens. The palm-sized gadget is also convenient and easy to store. I would suggest using it before applying a brightening mask. Eliminating dark circles Brand : Wibe B1 Heated Eye Mask Frequency : 630 nm (red); 830 nm (near infrared) This is another super mask that delivers great benefits and yet feels good on the skin. The product uses heat technology while stimulating skin regeneration around the eyes. Not only does it help to trigger collagen regrowth, the heating procedure also delivers a 38°C warming sensation, which is close to our own body temperature. This effect relaxes the muscles around the eyes and aids blood circulation. Extremely useful for those who are desk-bound at work or those who have severe dark eye circles. Blood circulation is improved while easing fatigue. It’s also great for those who suffer from oily skin around the eye area. Meibomian glands produce meibum, an oily residue that accumulates and hardens over time. This heating process will melt the oil and unclog the blocked oil glands. In addition to the heating effect, the LED benefits increases skin elasticity and hydration. I recommend using this product after slapping some lavish potions on your face or right before you sleep. Switch on your meditation music while you’re at it! Alvin Goh on the ups and downs of sneakers with insoles – video Anti-ageing Brand : Aalok Fitsera Frequency : 645 nm (red); 850 nm (near infrared) This other gadget from Aalok is targeted at jawlines and skin appearance. Each pulse has two beeps, one that helps skin density and clarity, and another to help activate the cells in your fat and muscle layers. As we age, our skin becomes thinner, hence the hollow, sunken-in look. But Korean celebrities boast luminous complexions and healthy, plump skin cells, while sporting sharp jawlines at the same time. My personal tip would be to focus on the eye area to give it an uplifted appearance (the top, side and bottom of eyes), and to use it before a firming mask. Trust me, droopy eyes ain’t sexy – at least not when you look haggard. Use your favourite serum product before using this gadget, and don’t forget to wear goggles for eye protection! 6 anti-ageing skincare tips, from techniques to ingredients Hair growth Brand : CellReturn Hair Alpha Ray Premium Frequency : 600-700 nm (Red); 800-900 nm (Near Infrared Alpha); 900-1000 nm (Near Infrared) With more than US$120 million in sales in 2019, CellReturn also took over Speclipse, one of the world‘s leading Laser-Induced Plasma Spectroscopy (LIPS) and AI-based medical diagnostic companies. 8 superfoods for sexier skin – without splurging on creams and masks What I like about this exclusive LED helmet is that, other than making me look like Iron Man, the gadget promotes and stimulates a healthy scalp through a wide spectrum of Near Infra-Red Alpha/Near Infra-Red/RED effects between 600-1000nm. Yes, it goes deep into your follicles without feeling discomfort or excessive heat. So how does LED light help hair growth? In a nutshell, cellular energy strengthens the cells and the area around it to create a perfect scenario for hair growth. Allow me to use a simple analogy. We all strive for a poreless complexion: the smaller your pores, the better it is. With our hair, the tables are turned. The bigger your hair follicles, the better it is for you to have thicker and healthier hair. Which means, when you have small hair follicles, you are likely facing hair loss or even baldness. So this is when LED technology helps to stimulate hair growth. Ensure your hair is clean and dry before donning the helmet and turning into Iron Man. My personal tip would be to add another stimulus by gently rolling over your scalp with a micro-needle and then applying hair serum over your entire head before putting on the helmet. And yes, micro-needling is proven to regenerate healthy follicles. This helmet wraps around any head shape and 20 minutes a day is all you need. Wear it while you are WFH or doing your household chores. I would wear it while I am working in the office too! Multitasking is for geniuses. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 이민호 leeminho (@actorleeminho) Heavenly bodies Lee Min-ho and Kang So Ra vouched for this brand, so it can’t be wrong. Want more stories like this? Sign up here . Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .