Beauty & Grooming · Head-to-head
Michael Todd Beauty Sonic Refresher vs Spa Sciences MIO Diamond Microdermabrasion System
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best At-Home Microdermabrasion Devices: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Sonic Refresher is the only device here that gives you three diamond grits and a wet mode, and it carries a three-year warranty. The MIO does the same two-step job with one grit and five speeds for a fraction of the price, and tells you exactly what to expect and when.
Michael Todd Beauty Sonic Refresher
Buy itThree diamond grits, three extraction heads, a wet mode and a three-year warranty.
- Three microdermabrasion heads at different grades, a coarse diamond head, a fine diamond head and a small fine head for delicate areas, plus three pore extraction heads.
- Wet and dry sonic operation with a hydrating micromist step, so exfoliation, extraction and rehydration happen in one routine rather than three devices.
- A 3-year warranty, three times the cover on the MIO, with a wireless charging cradle, a USB cable and 40 disposable filters in the box.
- Michael Todd publishes no speed count, no battery runtime, no weight and no dimensions.
- The world's first and patented claims appear with no patent number or date on the page.
- It costs considerably more than the MIO.
Spa Sciences MIO Diamond Microdermabrasion System
Buy itFive speeds, a travel-friendly battery and the clearest statement of what to expect and when.
- A laser-cut diamond rejuvenation tip plus three suction extraction tips in different shapes and sizes, with five speed settings to match the level of exfoliation to your skin.
- A USB rechargeable NiMH battery that is lithium-free and which Spa Sciences says is safe for carry-on or checked baggage, with a 60 minute maximum runtime and cord-free operation.
- Spa Sciences publishes what to expect: possibly softer skin after the first session, and significant improvement in fine lines, hydration, pore size and tone after eight to twelve weeks of weekly treatments, along with twenty single-use filters, full cleaning instructions and a 1-year limited warranty.
- One diamond grit only, where the Sonic Refresher ships with three.
- A 1-year limited warranty, the shortest of the three microdermabrasion devices here.
- Spa Sciences warns that using anything other than a 5V 1A or 5V 2A charger can cause the unit to overheat, a caveat Michael Todd also prints for the Sonic Refresher.
Side by side
The 9 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Michael Todd Beauty Sonic Refresher Our pick | Spa Sciences MIO Diamond Microdermabrasion System | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Someone who wants one device to exfoliate, extract and hydrate, with grit options for different areas. | A first microdermabrasion device, and anyone who travels and wants to take it along. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Abrasive type | Diamond heads, sonic | Laser-cut diamond tip |
| Grits or grades included | 3 (coarse, fine, small fine) | 1 |
| Extraction tips | 3 pore extraction heads | 3 suction extraction tips |
| Speed settings | Not published | 5 |
| Wet use | Yes, wet and dry, with micromist | No, clean dry skin |
| Battery | Rechargeable, runtime not published | NiMH, 60 min max, lithium-free |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year limited |
| Consumables | Disposable filters, 40 included | Single-use foam filters, 20 included |
| Expected timeline published | No | 8 to 12 weeks of weekly treatments |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Michael Todd Beauty Sonic Refresher if
someone who wants one device to exfoliate, extract and hydrate, with grit options for different areas.
Know before buying: michael Todd publishes no speed count, no battery runtime, no weight and no dimensions.
Pick the Spa Sciences MIO Diamond Microdermabrasion System if
a first microdermabrasion device, and anyone who travels and wants to take it along.
Know before buying: one diamond grit only, where the Sonic Refresher ships with three.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Michael Todd Beauty Sonic Refresher - Three diamond grits, three extraction heads, a wet mode and a three-year warranty. Choose the Spa Sciences MIO Diamond Microdermabrasion System instead if a first microdermabrasion device, and anyone who travels and wants to take it along.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best At-Home Microdermabrasion Devices: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).