Hi-Tech Beauty-Buster Fixers

Beauty is going high-tech!

Whether your problem is thinning hair or acne, there are a few hot, new products on that claim to take away everything from wrinkles to too much hair. The products use some of the same technologies that a dermatologist may have used on you -- lasers, LED lights, and infrared light -- and you can use them all in your own home.

But do they work?

"These products provide at-home versions of procedures typically performed in a doctor's office: light treatments, laser hair removal, or chemical peels," says Linda Wells, editor in chief of Allure magazine.

"In terms of at-home treatments, this is just the beginning."

Wells and some Allure staffers visited The Early Show Wednesday and reported on the effectiveness of products the staffers tried for several weeks.

"For safety," Wells explained, "these at-home gadgets can't be as strong as in-office treatments, but the technology for at-home gadgets is getting better, and the gadgets we have (on the set) are easy to use and safe. Allure's testers found that some of these gadgets work really well."

AGELESS BEAUTY MARVEL-MINI RED

$225

Manufacturer Product Description: Marvel Mini Red uses red light therapy is to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The red light penetrates into the skin to help promote increased blood flow. This type of light also stimulates fibroblasts within the dermis to produce new collagen, accounting for its ability to reduce the lines and wrinkles, giving the look and feel of a non-surgical face-lift. It's like getting an injection of your own collagen. Red light can also help to decrease inflammation and thereby lighten the redness associated with rosacea and eczema, while rejuvenating aged or sun-damaged skin. Professional, painless results are achieved in the comfort of your own home at a fraction of the price. It can be used on any part of the skin, but is especially effective on the face, neck and chest. Designed for individuals who want to manage their own treatments and touch ups at home or while traveling.

Allure Description: A handheld light-emiting diode (LED) device for wrinkles

The claim: A light panel stimulates collagen and elastin production to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles when held over them for nine minutes, three times a week.

The finding: "A dermatologist told us the LED here is not strong enough to make a significant change in skin, and we found that this did not reduce lines around the eyes," Linda says. But, "It does have an immediate lifting and firming of the skin that is noticeable for several hours. It also reduces redness and inflammation."

ILIFT

$395

Manufacturer Product Description: The ilift Anti-Aging Ion Therapy Device is the most technologically advanced home use instrument and skin care treatment designed for the reduction and prevention of facial wrinkles and the overall improvement of skin vitality. ilift helps reduce the depth of wrinkles, improve the texture and brightness of the skin, and helps to firm facial muscles with its daily 16-minute relaxing regimen. The ilift technique is based on the property of ion therapy combined with infra-red rays and cellular micro massage. The beneficial energy of the ions attacks the bacteria of the skin and strengthens the capability of cellular resistance to increase skin elasticity, reduce visibility of pores and sooth the skin. The infra-red rays improve the circulation of the blood-vessels and speed up skin metabolism while the micro-massage strengthens the elasticity of the skin, rendering it younger and more luminous. The ilift acts as a real mini-facelift with immediate results.

Allure Description: A micro-massager with infrared light to zap acne and firm skin

The claim: Rubbed over your face, the massager emits ions that attract acne-causing bacteria, infrared rays that boost collagen, and gentle pulses that strengthen elasticity. Treatments take 15 minutes a day.

The finding: "It takes 15 minutes a day," Linda says, which can be tedious. But, "Our tester had fewer breakouts after using this, and said it felt like she was getting a facial. She also noticed her skin looked slightly plumper directly after the treatment, probably caused by the massage it gives which increases vascular flow and provides a bit of rejuvenation." And, our model Ellen says she's had significantly fewer breakouts since she started using it.

NO! NO!

$250

Manufacturer Product Description: no!no! is based on a new and exciting advancement in hair removal technology called Thermicon. Thermicon uses the scientific principles of thermal transferance to conduct a gentle pulse of heat to the hair. One of no!no!s unique innovations was the development of a thermodynamic wire to transmit the heat to the hair. The patented thermodynamic wire and built in safety mechanisms has enabled Radiancy to adapt this professional hair removal technology to a home use product. Imagine... One day all your unwanted hair just disappears. There's no stubble the day after you shave. No ingrown hairs after you wax…. No nicks cuts, scrapes or PAIN during hair removal. You know that sound the paper makes as it rips the hairs from your skin? Imagine that once you removed hair it never grew back. Now wake up… In a perfect world, there would be no need for no!no!. But, since the world isn't yet perfect and there is still unwanted hair to remove - no!no! can make it that much easier. Why no!no!? Because you deserve the carefree pleasure of hair density reduction WITHOUT PAIN!

Allure Description: A hair-removal gadget that looks like an electric razor but has a heated wire instead of a blade

The claim: A heated wire singes unwanted body hair on contact. And, after eight weeks of biweekly treatments, it weakens the follicle so that hair grows back slower and sparser

The finding: "This company has good clinical data that shows it reduces hair growth almost as effectively as a laser does - it just requires more treatments," says Linda. "We found that it does have an off-putting smell of burning hair (it does not burn your skin), but our tester reported that hair did grow back in finer and sparser after a few weeks of treatment."

HAIRMAX LASERCOMB

$545

Manufacturer Product Description: Thanks to the HairMax LaserComb, you no longer need to worry about expensive, time consuming regimens that yield little or no results. Most importantly, because of the HairMax, baldness is now a choice instead of a reality. Clinically proven to work, and grounded in over 20 years of scientific data, the HairMax LaserComb is the first and only medical device cleared by the US FDA to promote hair growth. Whether you're looking to re-grow hair, or simply maintain what you have, the HairMax LaserComb has been demonstrated effective through countless clinical studies, and is supported by medical professionals worldwide as a safe and effective treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia.

Allure Description: A hair-growth device with plastic teeth through which low-level lasers hit the scalp

The claim: Lasers increase circulation to make hair follicles stronger. In a company-sponsored study, 93% of participants saw new hair growth after 6 months after using this for 15 minutes, 3 times a week

The finding: "Dermatologists like it, and in a company-study, 93 percent of participants saw new hair growth after six months of use for fifteen minutes, three times a week," Linda says. "Our tester also noticed some new growth around her temples."