Beauty & Grooming · Head-to-head
FOREO BEAR 2 vs NuFACE MINI+ Starter Kit
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Microcurrent Face Devices: 6 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The BEAR 2 has the widest published intensity range, a stated 680 uA ceiling, a long battery life and a waterproof body. The MINI+ costs less, keeps the routine simple and comes from the brand most people know, at the cost of a lower 335 uA maximum and only three intensities.
FOREO BEAR 2
Buy itA light, waterproof two-sphere toner with 10 intensity levels, a published 680 uA ceiling and a 300-minute battery.
- FOREO publishes the numbers most rivals skip: up to 680 uA of microcurrent, a 90 g body, a 520mAh battery and up to 300 minutes of use per charge.
- Ten intensity levels split into a default Beginner Mode (1 to 5) and an app-unlocked Pro Mode (6 to 10), plus four microcurrent types.
- The maker lists it as 100% waterproof silicone with a 2-year limited warranty, and its Anti-Shock System 2.0 measures skin resistance 200 times per second.
- Pro Mode, guided routines and most settings live in the FOREO app.
- FOREO says it must be used with a conductive serum and recommends its own SUPERCHARGED Serum 2.0, a recurring cost.
- The manual caps use at 3 minutes per area per session and says the long-term effects of microcurrent are unknown.
NuFACE MINI+ Starter Kit
Buy itNuFACE's smaller, cheaper FDA-cleared device: three intensities, a simple routine and the same activator-gel system as the TRINITY+.
- NuFACE calls the MINI+ FDA-cleared and says it uses the same technology as its larger TRINITY+.
- The routine is short and clearly spelled out: 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 60 days, then 2 to 3 times a week.
- At a stated 142 g with a 4-hour full charge and a 20-minute auto shut-off, it is easy to live with, and NuFACE lists a 2-year warranty and 60-day returns.
- Its manual lists a 335 uA RMS maximum, the lowest published ceiling among the two-sphere devices here (TRINITY+ is 600 uA).
- Only three intensity levels and no boost button or swappable attachments.
- The manual says to keep it away from water, so it is not a shower device.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| FOREO BEAR 2 Our pick | NuFACE MINI+ Starter Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Buyers who want the most adjustable, best-documented two-sphere device and do not mind using an app. | First-time microcurrent buyers who want a recognised, FDA-cleared device at a lower price and a routine they can follow without an app. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Contact design | Two spheres | Two spheres |
| Published max current | Up to 680 uA | 335 uA RMS |
| Intensity control | 10 levels (6 to 10 via app) | 3 levels |
| FDA status (maker wording) | FDA-cleared | FDA-cleared |
| Conductive medium | Conductive serum required | NuFACE activator always |
| Water resistance | 100% waterproof | Keep away from water |
| Battery / charge | Up to 300 min per charge | 4 hr full charge |
| Warranty | 2-year limited | 2-year |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the FOREO BEAR 2 if
buyers who want the most adjustable, best-documented two-sphere device and do not mind using an app.
Know before buying: pro Mode, guided routines and most settings live in the FOREO app.
Pick the NuFACE MINI+ Starter Kit if
first-time microcurrent buyers who want a recognised, FDA-cleared device at a lower price and a routine they can follow without an app.
Know before buying: its manual lists a 335 uA RMS maximum, the lowest published ceiling among the two-sphere devices here (TRINITY+ is 600 uA).
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the FOREO BEAR 2 - A light, waterproof two-sphere toner with 10 intensity levels, a published 680 uA ceiling and a 300-minute battery. Choose the NuFACE MINI+ Starter Kit instead if first-time microcurrent buyers who want a recognised, FDA-cleared device at a lower price and a routine they can follow without an app.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Microcurrent Face Devices: 6 Compared (and One to Skip).