Foreo BEAR Review with BEAR Mini Comparison

So earlier this month, I reviewed the FOREO BEAR Mini Microcurrent Device. FOREO also sent me the full sized BEAR, so let’s dive into a review with BEAR and then a quick comparison with BEAR Mini.

Skin Type/Concerns: Oily, blemish prone, pores, aging, hyper-pigmentation, fine lines/wrinkles

All reviews are my own honest opinion and I never have been asked to write copy for a brand. This blog post might contain promo codes, affiliate and referral links, which using my links will help generate a small commission that helps support my blog at no extra cost to you.

Foero is a Swedish based company that has created a line of skin and beauty devices, including LUNA 2, Mini LUNA 2, LUNA foto (so many Luna’s), UFO ~ smart sheet mask treatment (review here), ESPADA ~ a blue light acne treatment, IRIS ~ eye T-Sonic massager, ISSA ~ sonic pulse toothbrush, another product I will be reviewing and finally their new products, the BEAR microcurrent devices.

The fact sheet on the BEAR

BEAR is over 2x more powerful than NuFace Trinity.
BEAR delivers power to your skin over 6x faster than NuFace Trinity.
BEAR is the only device on the market with a groundbreaking anti-shock system for the world’s safest shock-free treatment.
BEAR is the only microcurrent device on the market with T-Sonic™ pulsations which extend deep into the pores to increase circulation, eliminate toxins and ease facial tension, resulting in smoother, softer, glowier skin.
BEAR is made from ultra-hygienic silicone which can be washed with warm water and soap to make sure your device is always 100% clean before using it.

Let’s Meet BEAR

image from foreo

The accessories are nice, but I bet you wanna know more about the actual device, right? Okay, let’s get down to it

Ergonomic oval shape with two ultra smooth microcurrent spheres
The device is wrapped in a fuchsia ultra-hygienic silicone, making it water resistant
Five microcurrent intensisties with a low level, FDA safety certified current value ≤ 335 μ a, which is safe, mild and without any side effects. This will help stimulate and aid in collagen production, elastin repair and will tone your skin as the electrical currents mimic your body’s own natural processes.
Anti-Shock System: The five microcurrent intensity levels on the BEAR have an Anti-Shock System that uses ultra smart sensors that scan and measure your skin’s resistance to the electrical currents, at a rate of 100 times per second. The BEAR will then automatically adjust the microcurrent intensity within .002 seconds. This helps eliminate that zip-zap shock that is common on microcurrent devices.
T-Sonic™ pulsations which massage your skin, helping increase blood circulation and ease facial tension and stress, so your skin will look smoother and softer, with a glowing radiance. I do know that when using the App treatment plan, the T-Sonic™ pulsations are much more intense than when I don’t use the App
Universal Power Button, which I do dislike ~ I like my power buttons to be separate or at least ones that require me to hold it down for a few seconds before it powers off. I know it states that you have to hold it for 3 seconds, but I have turned off my BEAR by barely touching the button.
BlueTooth Wireless Indicator lights for when you are pairing with your App

The BEAR merged together advanced microcurrent and T-Sonic™ pulsations which will exercise the over 65 muscles in your face and neck! With the patented Anti-Shock System, this device makes it more attractive to use on a regular basis as your skin won’t be in shock.

How to Use BEAR

First, you need to charge it up ~ it comes with a USB port cable ~ please use only cables that FOREO provides and sells on their website. Any of your FOREO cables will work as they are interchangeable. If you lose your cable, FOREO sells the USB recharger cable for $19.00. I just plugged mine in and let it recharge overnight. It seems that it can hold a charge a very long time and according to FOREO, it can be used 90 times on one charge.

Another thing you should note, is that if you do botox or fillers, you should wait 2 to 4 weeks after your last botox/filler treatment before using any microcurrent device in that area. I have read that you can start up only after 2 days, but I would rather err on the side of caution. If you do botox or fillers on your forehead only, it is safe to use BEAR everywhere else on your face and neck. You just need to avoid the areas you received the injections for a while.

To start off, I do suggest using the app to help you see how it works. You just download the FOREO app on your smart phone ~ iPhone or Android ~ and then register your BEAR. Once you register your BEAR , just select to start the treatment. It will ask you if you want T-Sonic pulsations and the intensity of the microcurrents. After selecting your level, you then begin the treatment. The same poreless pretty lady on the BEAR Mini treatment plan will walk you thru the steps, which the first is apply the FOREO Serum Serum Serum, a micro-capsule conducting product. You can use any conducting gel or serum, but the point is ~ you must use a conducting gel.

You will then go through a 2 minute treatment, which is a full facial and neck treatment plan. Some of the exercises are similar to the BEAR Mini. I was asked a lot about what muscles are activated or targeted with the App’s treatment plan, so I will point them out to you as I go through the steps.

You will first start out with gliding your BEAR over the side of your face, starting from the corner of your mouth, where the musculus risorius resides. This muscle is responsible for the sagging downturn of the mouth. Next up in the area, is the muscle that control your smile, musculus zygomaticus major. This is where the T-Sonic™ pulsations are at the higher speed.

Your forehead is next ~ you will glide the BEAR over the muscles that control your eyebrows and causes wrinkles on your brows and crowsfeet, venter frontalis musculi occipitofrontalis, and the muscle that is attached to the frontalis muscle, pyramidalis nasi~ this muscle is responsible for the elevenies (||) between your eyes and nose wrinkles. The T-Sonic™ pulsations will be at a lower speed

Back to the other side of your face, starting from the corner of your mouth, repeating the exercises in the first step and the T-Sonic™ pulsations are at the higher speed and will continue to be at a higher speed for the duration of the treatment.

Your neck is next to help with sagging, wrinkling and “tech neck” which are wrinkles caused by looking down at our mobile devices. You have a lot of muscles in your neck, so depending on where you are placing the device, you can be exercising several at once! The common ones you might be targeting could be musculus sternocleidomastoideus, superior fibers of musculus trapezius and musculus levator scapulae. NOTE: Now, one thing to remember is that you DO NOT want to use any microcurrent device down the middle of your neck, as it can affect your thyroid. I did that once and the next day, I had itchy bumps on the left side of my jaw line. Your thyroid is not something to be messed with, so do not use down the middle of your neck, only the sides. In fact, if you have a thyroid condition, skip the neck exercises completely

Now, onto your jaw muscle, musculas masseter, which if you don’t have extra fat on your face like I do, you can create that razor sharp definition. I have to lose some weight first!! At any rate, I am helping that muscle by exercising it ~ this is one of the most strongest muscles in your face and it can get overdeveloped if you grind your teeth or are a habitual gum chewer.

Just as with the BEAR Mini, there is only ONE treatment plan with the BEAR and it has been several months since this device was out on the market. I would think they would have more or at least longer treatment plans as to start over with the app, you are stuck with the poreless lady applying serum for the first 20 seconds or so. I also do not like the fact that the T-Sonic™ pulsations are not as intense when I do this manually. I hope FOREO changes this as I have no idea why they would limit the options of using the device. If they had a robust library of App treatment plans, that would be different ~ but they do not. As an older person, I would like to use my device for 5 minutes or so with the full power of the T-Sonic™ pulsations ~ so either give me a 5 and 10 minute treatment plan on the App or give me full access to the T-Sonic™ pulsations power levels.

Caring for Your BEAR

After each use, wash the device with soapy water and rinse with warm water. Pat dry. I purchased the FOREO Silicon Cleaning Spray so I use that instead of soapy water ~ I just spray the device and then rinse with warm water. NEVER EVER use products that have alcohol, acetone or petrol (yep gas) as it will damage the silicone and also irritate your skin.

Water-Based Conductive Serum

The Serum Serum Serum that I received with my BEAR is a hydrating micro-capsule gel product that contains squalane and hyaluronic acid, which will safely transfer the microcurrent from BEAR to your skin. FOREO states that if you use the Serum Serum Serum, make sure to apply a thin layer before using the BEAR and massage in until fully absorbed. Personally, the more Serum Serum Serum I added, the better. I needed to really apply it, not so much for any shocks from the microcurrents, but to help the BEAR glide smoother and activate the T-Sonic Pulsations. Serum Serum Serum is free from fragrances, parabens, alcohol, mineral oils, disodium EDTA, sulfates, silicones and is cruelty free and vegan. I have used other water based serums and conductive gels now that my Serum Serum Serum is all used up!

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Diglycerin, Xylitol, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Glycereth-26, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Betaine, Octyldodeceth-16, Glyceryl Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Gelatin, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Trehalose, Urea, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium PCA, Serine, Glucose, Algin, Disodium Phosphate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Pullulan, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Potassium Phosphate, Red 4 (CI 14700), Benzyl Glycol, Raspberry Ketone cosDNA

BEAR vs BEAR Mini

image from foreo

Read my original review here on the BEAR Mini for full details. This is just a quick comparison between the two devices. Outside of the obvious differences in size and price, BEAR Mini has less functions and it is more for targeted lower face work. The BEAR Mini App exercise targets the muscles that surround the lips, musculus orbicularis oris, and help smooth out and fills in those vertical lip wrinkles. It also targets the musculus risorius, which aids in the lips movements when you smile or frown. Finally, the BEAR Mini targets the lower lip by stimulating the musculus depressor labii inferioris. Now, in my original review, I said there was no reason why you couldn’t use the BEAR Mini all over your face and neck and I do stand by that statement. It is just that the FOREO app doesn’t have any other exercises with the BEAR Mini.

Other differences ~ BEAR Mini has 3 microcurrent intensities whereas the BEAR has five. I found the BEAR to be easier to handle and I rarely turned it off by accident. I guess which one to choose is a personal choice ~ if you have a smaller face or on a budget, you might want to use the BEAR Mini, if you are good with only 3 microcurrent levels. Otherwise, I would recommend the full size BEAR. You get more levels plus you can use it all over or target just like the BEAR Mini.

Final Thoughts

I do like the BEAR and the BEAR Mini and they both serve a purpose in my facial routines. That said, I wish that FOREO would give us full access to the power of the T-Sonic™ pulsations in manual mode and more Treatment Plans, including longer ones. This should come to no surprise to anyone, but the 43 facial muscles and 26 neck muscles lose their tone and firmness as you age, and believe me, I KNOW THIS NOW. I wish this device existed when I was in my 30’s. I didn’t do before and after photos, as I do think I need to use this for a lot longer than younger bloggers ~ I am older and I think with my chubby face and just starting-to-sag skin, it will take longer for results to show up in photos.

I will report back in a few months with before and after photos. I have a very uneven face, so I cannot do a compare between my sides as since one jaw line is bigger than the other, this would not be a fair comparison ~ in fact, most people have an asymmetrical face, so one side is always going to look slimmer by default. I do think that right now, my skin feels firmer and less puffy when I use it. I do feel that the treatment plan they provide helps with lymphatic drainage, which explains the reduction in puffiness and a more “awake” complexion. Microcurrent devices are preventative treatments, so don’t expect miracles if your skin is really wrinkled, sagging or damaged. These will help your muscles from sagging even further, so I would say you are never to old to use these.

PROS

Still very compact ~ in fact, this is smaller than my NuFace Mini
Comfortable in the hand
Easy to Use
Painless, no irritation or down time
No Shocks
T-Sonic Pulsations
Water Proof

CONS

Manual use has limited access to the microcurrent intensities
App has only one treatment of which 20 seconds is just the model applying the serum on her face

Purchasing

This comes with a 2 year warranty, where FOREO will replace the unit free of charge ~ you just need to activate the warranty once you receive it at your FOREO account.

When you purchase from FOREO’s site, they also have free shipping with purchases $50.00 and over. FOREO does ship to many countries worldwide as well! FOREO takes all different types of payments: major credit cards: MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, JCB International Asia; Paypal, Alipay, Amazon Pay and if you live in the USA, you can use flexible payments with Afterpay. And my review is in time for Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2020 DEALS! Take 35% off selected FOREO products until November 30th 11:59 EST. The BEAR is not part of the sale, but the UFO2 (click here to purchase | review here) is and that is my pick for the Holiday Season!

BEAR $299.00 USD
BEAR Mini $199.00 USD
Serum Serum Serum 1 oz $59.00 USD
Silicon Cleansing Spray 2 oz $9.90 USD
Papa BEAR Bundle $319.00 USD contains BEAR and full size Serum Serum Serum (a savings of $39.00)
Baby BEAR Bundle $219.00 USD contains BEAR Mini of your color choice and full size Serum Serum Serum (a savings of $39.00)