This is a sponsored post with affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
I try to embrace all aspects of my skin, the good days and the bad days. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t try to improve what I can. Historically, pore care for me consisted of double cleansing, regular use of SPF (to prevent pore sagging due to UV exposure), and occasional clay masks. While some people rave about the effects of microneedling at home, the professionals tend to advise against that due to the risk of infection. Well, we can have the best of both worlds now - Medicube Age-R ATS Air Shot offers needle-free pore care at home, with no ongoing expenses for replacement parts! The device is available on Medicube’s official site.
Medicube Age-R ATS Air Shot is a non-damaging skincare device that maximizes and accelerates absorption of other products and is especially great for minimizing the appearance of pores. It’s a well-known easy pore care tool in Korea that’s adored by local influencers and celebrities (there is a lot of non-sponsored, organic content about Air Shot).
According to the brand, skincare products are absorbed 432% better after using the Air Shot compared to applying by hand without the air shot. Medicube partnered up with a business that specializes in lasers, ultrasonic waves and high frequency devices to develop this tool. It is clinically tested and shows improvement in pore appearance, texture, hydration, and absorption of skincare.
How to use
If you are new, start with level one
Use on clean, dry skin
Press the power button - the device will announce the level. Press it again to increase the level, if needed
Experiment with using tapping, sweeping, or brushing and choose the method that best works for you. I personally prefer tapping
Use extra care on the neck as the device isn’t recommended for the throat / thyroid area
When done, follow with your regular skincare routine
The official instructions include a note that with first use, you may notice a smell coming from the device’s contact with facial hair / peach fuzz. I didn’t have that experience personally.
Tapping refers to lightly tapping the probe to the skin surface. Sweeping is making gentle contact with the skin, then sweeping the device upward in one direction. Brushing is moving the head around as if using the brush, without making direct contact with the skin.
I recommend watching this video tutorial. Medicube devices are quite popular in Korea, and you can find many non-sponsored videos about them on YouTube. I watched a few with English subtitles.
Air Shot can be used by itself / as part of your existing skincare routine. However, for best results consider pairing it with Medicube Zero-Pore One Day Serum, available on the official website. It’s formulated with 15.2% AHA + BHA + PHA to brighten, tighten, and smooth the skin overnight.
The serum comes in a pump bottle, has a liquid consistency and a faint blue color. It reminds me of a light skin oil because of how it glides over the skin, but the formula isn’t greasy or heavy. My skin feels immediately softer to the touch, and by morning all of the serum is absorbed, leaving me with smoother looking skin. Of course, the best results when it comes to the appearance of pores are achieved with regular use. I reach for this 1-2 times a week before bed - experiment and see what works for your specific skin type and condition.
My impressions
I have combination skin with an oily t-zone. Growing up, I didn’t have too much of an issue with pores, even as a teen, but I am noticing they are becoming visibly larger as I get older. I’m also a recovering skin picker, and years of self extractions probably didn’t help my pore appearance. My biggest area of concern is the zone right next to the nose. Not the nose itself, but the skin close to the nose / under the eyes - that’s where I notice my pores the most, and you can see them in a lot of my pictures, because I don’t use filters or much makeup.
Is there anything wrong with having pores, wrinkles, pigmentation, acne, etc? No. Am I still going to try to improve some of these things? Yes. I have never seen a device specifically for pore appearance until Medicube.
I’m a device skeptic - they really have to work and be easy to use for me to consider getting them - but I love Medicube Deep Shot (review here) so much that I agreed to test the Air Shot too.
Check out the picture from when I first started with Air Shot and compare it to a more recent one. To me, the pores look smaller and the area next to my nose seems smoother. The pictures are not edited, aside from cropping them to be the same size.
Using the wand is simple but it did take a little bit of getting used to, because it’s meant to stay a little bit away from the skin and not be in direct contact. Unlike actual needles, the Air Shot doesn’t hurt, but there’s definitely a specific sensation that comes with using it. The levels represent the number of passageways into the skin - the higher the level, the more passageways. I stick to levels one and two for now.
This has been a part of my evening routine a few times a week for about three weeks now, and I’m seeing a difference already. It may be a bit harder to identify in pictures, but it’s enough of an improvement for me in real life to keep using this. My next mission is to convince my husband that it’s time to move up from just face wash and sunscreen and try Medicube devices. Wish me luck!
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