I Tested the Droplette Skincare Device for a Month and Here’s What Happened

• Ease of Use: 18/20
• Experience: 19/20
• Speed of Results: 20/20
• Quality of Ingredients: 19/20
• Value: 16/20

Total:            92/100

It seems like every day there’s a new high-tech skincare device that promises drastic results. In my experience, these guys work for a little while and cost as much as a car payment. But when I heard about the Droplette 2 ($199)— lauded by Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2022—I was curious to give the egg-shaped device a try. The buzzy tool promised to turn water-based serums into a “micronized mist” to penetrate the skin barrier more easily. It’s an entirely new way of solving one of the basic shortfalls of all skincare applications—that most serums evaporate on the epidermis without having a chance to properly absorb.

I used the Droplette 2.0 consistently for a month every morning, and to my beauty writer shame, I confess I used approximately zero other skincare products during that month. My poor Collagen Hydrofiller capsules ($40) had to do all the heavy lifting of an entire skincare regimen—which it did. After each session of misting with the Droplette, my face looked so dewy and plump, I didn’t want to ruin the results by rubbing any other lotions over it.

The purring motor combined with the cooling sensation of the mist passing over my face gifted me a soothing moment of zen in my otherwise hectic mornings. I liked that, unlike other skincare devices I’ve tried (and loved for their own merits) such as the microcurrent-powered Ziip Halo and NuFace Fix as well as the Solawave red light wand, I didn’t need to follow a video or even pay that close attention in the mirror, since I could feel the general area where the mist was touching. Pro tip: Once the Droplette switches off and you’re taking the capsule out to store in the handy recycling bag that comes with the device, turn the little egg upside down on top of your palm, so that your hands can soak up the last few drops of serum. (Shout out to Leah who told me that in the free one-on-one chat with a skincare pro at Droplette.)

In my experience, my skin looked more glowy and plumper immediately after the first use. However, after an hour or so, my skin looked about the same. As I used the device daily, I found the radiance lasting longer throughout the day, and around week two, I noticed my skin seemed slightly lifted, which I took to mean that some of the collagen was really working deep under my skin. My collagen-fueled regimen was the one recommended for my concerns, under the rubric “anti-aging” (oof, we really need to come up with a new term for that), but there are capsules that address other concerns like dryness, dark spots, oily skin, blemishes and redness as noted above. Though I can’t speak to how quickly they work, the Droplette site shows before and after pics with results in as little as two weeks.

Developed by two MIT engineering graduates Madhavi Gavini and Rathi Srinivas to treat a rare condition that causes skin to break out into slow-healing blisters, the device has received funding from NASA, the National Institutes of Health, and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Droplette's creators are currently working with veterans and the Department of Defense to treat blast wounds, and the device is currently pursuing FDA approval.

Daily use is recommended, however the brand recommends starting with a few times a week if you’re using stronger, sometimes irritating formulations like the Glycolic Illuminator Set. Also, since some ingredients like glycolic acid and retinol can sensitize skin, those capsules are recommended for use at night rather than the mornings.

At $200, plus additional costs for treatment capsules, the Droplette is a splurge, no doubt. However, I’d say its ease of use combined with its fast results makes me a fan. The morning mist I applied was a soothing moment of zen I could rationalize by making it into a sort of meditation. Its cumulative effects were noticeable, and I appreciate how the brand sets up a one-on-one with an esthetician to walk you through any questions you have before you start using the device. Also, each set of capsules comes with two cleaning capsules, a reminder that any skincare tool needs to be kept clean to prevent possible irritation or infection. Additionally, there are so many different capsules that are available. I’m looking forward to trying the lip plumping set to revitalize my dehydrated kisser next.

Dana Dickey is a PureWow Senior Editor, and during more than a decade in digital media, she has scoped out and tested top products and services across the lifestyle space. Suitcases to sex toys, she's got an opinion on what's best. Dana is based in Los Angeles; her work has also appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue and The New York Times. Check her out on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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