FAQ™ 401 & FAQ™ 402 Clinicals Review

Imagine if you were just chilling by the Nile some 3 millennia back. What does that have to do with dual microcurrent? Well, that's when the microcurrent facial toning you now know and adore as an at-home facelifting, pocket lightnings started its integration into human life, health, and subsequently beauty routines. This quick microcurrent genealogy will be very useful, but feel free to skip it if you're so inclined and go straight to the FAQ™ 401 & FAQ™ 402 clinicals. For you who want to know more, here we go.

How microcurrent got into skincare

Far, far away from the demure nature of modern, precisely calibrated and very safe microcurrents, there were the unruly Nile catfish with a capability to give off an electric discharge (up to 300-400 Volts). Now, they would primarily use it to shock other fish into becoming dinner or to defend themselves in case something had a silly idea of making the catwish their dinner. They mostly didn't care about shocking humans just for the fun of it (unless we were the ones fancying catfish for dinner). But people noticed that getting shocked relieved chronic pain and soon decided that electric catfish had more to offer than just some juicy protein. That's how humans began using the catfish's electric charge to deliver premeditated electric shocks for pain management. After all, the catfish was easier to catch than lightning (plus, people still haven't connected these dots as far as we know).

We skip forward a couple of thousand years from the practice of being smacked with a catfish on the Nile shore to 600 BC, Greece, and the work of Thales of Miletus. A very smart guy, a philosopher who thought that water was the key principle from which all other forms flowed (making this the first known attempt to explain the physical world without introducing divine intervention or myth for all we don't understand). He was also the one who observed the replicable phenomenon of creating static electricity by rubbing amber with silk. Skip forward a bit more and the mid 18th century finds Benjamin Franklin holding a silk kite fluttering in the storm proving that lightning we see is electrical charge by channeling the electricity through metal wires and wet hemp to a key pendant that threw sparks (BTW, just so you've got your electric and eclectic history right, the kite was not directly hit by lightning, as this would most likely kill Mr. Franklin).

In the late 18th cetury Galvani, an anatomist no less, was the main electricity man to know. He made (no longer living) frog legs dance in touch with various metals, but was wrong in presuming that this was "animal electricity" inherent to the animal's tissue. Then there was a whole thing with another Italian scientist, Alessandro Volta, a bit younger, who was convinced that the frog leg served only as a (squishy, wet) conductor, which was (and is) true. Still, a fight over frog legs changed the course of history by leading to the development of a voltaic pile (by Volta), considered the first battery. Thomas Edison appeared. He had a love of money and an engineer's approach, which played a big role in making electric current something that could be produced consistently and used commercially, sold and bought freely, and turned over money. It was first used for street lighting and then permeated every aspect of our daily lives. The modern us have become so dependent that we feel like we've imploded backward into history during an hour-long power outage. The phone is at 3%, woe is us, and the whole globe will fall out of the ellipse around the sun and hurl into a dark, unhospitable nothingness of space to be forgotten forever, or we'll revert to caveman morals the moment the last candle burns out.

But returning from this absurdity at the edge of reason and good taste, we now take a look at the first targeted use of current in the modern medical community, which served as a jumping-off point that catapulted microcurrent into the toned and tanned arms of the beauty industry. In the medical field, there was this wonderful Dr. Thomas Wing, who flew high when he conceived of electricity as a possible treatment for facial muscle paralysis in Bell's Palsy. Bell's Palsy patients looked similar to stroke victims, with one side of the face drooping and sagging, and muscles inactive. Dr. Wing took it upon himself to re-educate muscles by providing an electrical "workout" in hopes of getting them responsive again and reducing sagging. In the 1980s, the FDA approved microcurrent devices for muscle reeducation, healing, and pain relief, but soon there were apparent "side effects". In addition to being successful in their approved dominions, microcurrent also resulted in smoother, tighter skin in the treated areas.

 

The always-on-the-lookout beauty market noticed, and we entered the era of aesthetic migration, where a medical technology trickled into beauty clinics, salons, and spas. Here, microcurrent was used by trained professionals to lift, tone, sculpt, and reshape the face and body, hitting the skin surface and the musculature below the skin. The happy accident was soon explained by science. Current and electric potential are naturally present in the body. To keep our brains functioning, heart sbeating an muscles and nerves talking to each other. But when applied as a regular targeted treatment from the outside, microcurrent stimulates mitochondria (basically cell powerplants) to produce more cellular energy - ATP - the production of which decreases as we age. More energy means the cell is no longer limited to necessary functions but can invest extra energy in cellular repair and collagen and elastin production.

Still very exclusive at the end of the previous century, the repetitive and expensive microcurrent treatment that only a few can afford (time and money-wise) got democratised and swept up in the miniaturisation craze. New beauty companies and brands recognised that if they taught their customers how to use this simple yet effective technology at home, there was a huge market out there - people who would never have had the chance to get their treatments in salons and clinics. And so the at-home microcurrent toning devices, which you can now fit in your pocket, were born and revolutionized anti-aging. It was one of those moments that once you know better, you're obligated to do better. There is no unseeing it. A single investment microcurrent device, a conductive medium of some sort, and a minute of training. That's it. What started with brands like NuFace evolved through the work of FOREO, and now includes the new kid on the block, FAQ™ Swiss, FOREO's anti-aging-focused sister brand.

Technologies and benefits of FAQ™ 401 & FAQ™ 402

Why is the FAQ™ 400 collection special at all?  It is, in essence, a new evolutionary step, signifying another branching on the tree of good ideas, where a basic (but effective) microcurrent treatment transmutes into a dual microcurrent. The revolution is that regular microcurrent (with 2 spheres) that once hits the surface and reaches a certain tissue and muscle layer, now becomes a 3D power grid with 4 spheres channeling current, much more powerful and treating various levels of tissue at the same time in a non-invasive, highly biocompatible way.

Explained simply, this smart intervention into an old design schematic created an elegant facelift wand that fuses the power of two microcurrent devices into one, simultaneously working on the horizontal and vertical axes to greatly amplify microcurrent toning results while remaining safe and comfortable. This alone would have been enough to raise the beauty community's well-shaped eyebrow of interest, but the coated brainiacs behind FAQ™ Swiss believe in clean minimalism, high-powered self-care items, and multifunctionality of objects you let into your life. Just buying more stuff does not make you affluent or enviable; it makes you naive and just a number in quarterly sales reports. Buying single items you'll be using daily for years to come, with no drop in the quality of service, is what the rich do. It's sort of like getting quality basic pieces for your capsule wardrobe, rather than indulging in marginal quality and design of fast fashion. Get one seriously good little black dress that you can wear multiple ways, flatters your shape, and fits your lifestyle, rather than 4 cheap ones. This is how I would explain what they did: in FAQ™ 400 collection, dual microcurrent is combined with a compatible high-tech angle that hits the same crucial (and I really don't use this word lightly) mechanisms of energy production, healing, and cell turnover. Seriously, no energy means cell death, no repair means radical dysfunction, no turnover means you look old, tired, dull, and worn out, keeping your senescent (old) cells that refuse to die and give their place to a new, fresh cell.  

The most important FAQ™ 401 & FAQ™ 402 differences

Basically, you can't go wrong here. Both devices have similar features and benefits, and which one fits you better will depend on your age and the state of your skin (because age truly is just a number, and people vary wildly in skin quality depending on genetics, lifestyle, self-care routines, and diet).

The major difference between the FAQ™ 401 & the FAQ™ 402 is that 402, designed for more advanced signs of skin aging, is a bit stronger, adouble shot rather than a single, with a better kick at up to 680 uA of power over 5 intensity tiers, rather than the 401's 580 uA, better suited for prevention and mild to mid-tier signs of aging.

When it comes to microcurrent modes, the 402 offers 4 patented modes (Advanced, Lifting, Tapping, Sculpting), while the FAQ™ 401 offers 3 (Advanced, Lifting, Tapping). Each one of these has a very special purpose (which you can read in the in-depth overview of the FAQ™ 400 collection), but basically, what you need to know is that the easy-to-use 402 has been more calibrated towards some serious sculpting.

LED light therapy wavelengths span blue and red light in FAQ™ 401 to effectively hit wrinkles and uneven skin textureby supporting collagen production. The advanced FAQ™ 402 has all of the above, but also features near-infrared (NIR) light that can penetrate deeper into tissue and will be more effective if your lines and wrinkles have been there for a while.

Perhaps the largest difference between the 401 and 402 is that FAQ™ 402 offers electroporation capabilities. Noticed in the mid-18th century, electroporation entered laboratories in the 1980s and was used to push things into a cell, like foreign DNA or targeted medicine, like electrochemotherapy. Basically, you make the cell transiently a bit more permeable with electric pulses to deliver what you wish, in our case, skincare actives, which can now actually be used rather than just sitting on the surface, losing potency and getting washed off. Oh, how much money ended up down the drain over the years.

Finally, both devices feature the famous T-Sonic™ massage, which penetrates the skin vertically to improve lymphatic drainage, depuff, and instantly boost radiance by stimulating microcirculation in the outermost layer of the skin. It's like afterglow on demenad, you know which one we speak of. Both devices will also have built-in AI, making real-time micro-adjustments to your specific skin needs. Both are app-connected, 100% waterproof, USB rechargeable, and last about 240 minutes per charge. Not bad at all. But now for the money shot, let's look at the clinical evidence behind the FAQ™ 401 & FAQ™ 402.

Clinical evidence: FAQ™ 401 & FAQ™ 402

It would be wonderful if we could just live in a la-di-da, utopian society where all are honor-bound to tell the truth. But we live in capitalism, where it is our job to vote with our money and demand that brands back their product claims with hard proof, ideally obtained by 3rd-party testing. You cannot trust a brand that tests something itself, as that is a conflict of interest. Even if they find the product subpar, why wouldn't they sell it, since they've already invested time and money in producing it? So look for 3rd party testing to be sure you're getting the truth. This is what we'll do here: provide the conclusions from 3rd-party testing of FAQ™ 401 & FAQ™ 402, so you know you're investing your money in a solid device, not a very pricey night light.

All of the following claims are based on a couple of 3rd party clinical testing with a large age span, because a quarter of a century or more difference between participants will give you a more realistic picture of what you can expect than taking just young people to try anti-aging products.

FAQ™ 402 clinicals

FAQ™ 402 is clinically proven to significantly improve deep wrinkles, skin firmness, and skin elasticity in just 1 week* & increase skincare infusion by 469 %**

* Based on 3rd-party clinical testing with 40 subjects aged 25 - 55 years. 
** Based on 3rd-party in-vivo human clinical testing.

We'll break this down into the data taken immediately after use, 1 hour after, to demonstrate the long-term effects of the treatment, and the general conclusion, and we'll also add some real before-and-after images of real women.

Immediately after use:
• 469% increase in skin permeability
• 24% increase in skin elasticity 
• 15.3% decrease in wrinkle volume
• 15.9% decrease in wrinkle length
• 13.3% decrease in wrinkle area   
• 13.9% increase in skin firmness 
• 11.9% decrease in pore area
• 9% improvement in skin texture

1 hour after use:
• 32.2% increase in skin elasticity 
• 25.6% decrease in wrinkle volume
• 23.2% decrease in wrinkle length 
• 21.7% decrease in wrinkle area 
• 20.6% increase in skin firmness
• 11.5% improvement in overall skin health (evaluated by assessing skin hydration, skin plumpness, skin fullness, and skin texture)

Conclusions
FAQ™ 402 is clinically proven to decrease wrinkle length and volume and to increase skin firmness. and skin elasticity over time.*  

* Based on 3rd-party clinical testing with subjects aged 30 - 55 years.
 

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FAQ™ 401 clinicals

FAQ™ 401 is clinically proven to significantly improve fine lines, skin firmness, and skin elasticity in just 1 week*
 

* Based on 3rd-party clinical testing with 40 subjects aged 25 - 55 years.

Immediately after use:
• 20.2% increase in skin elasticity 
• 10.5% improvement in crow’s feet wrinkles
• 3.9% decrease in wrinkle depth
• 9% improvement in skin texture 
• 10.8% decrease in pore area
• 5.9% decrease in pore count

1 hour after use:
• 26.1% increase in skin elasticity 
• 11.4% improvement in fine lines
• 7.8% decrease in wrinkle depth

Conclusions
FAQ™ 401 is clinically proven to decrease wrinkle depth and increase skin elasticity over time.  

* Based on 3rd-party clinical testing with subjects aged 30 - 55 years.

GET FAQ™ 401

Keep in mind that you’ll need some kind of conductive medium wth all microcurrent devices to safely channel the current from the device into the skin and muscles. For optimal results, we recommend the FAQ™ P1 Manuka Honey Primer, developed specifically for use with FAQ™ microcurrent devices. But, if you want more information on why you need an official conductor and what alternatives you can use, feel free to explore conductive gels. So, please, don’t go at it dry, whichever device you end up choosing.

Conclusion

From electric catfish on the Nile to AI-adjusting dual microcurrent devices that fit in the palm of your hand, the story of microcurrent is really a story about curiosity - humans noticing that microcurrent works, refining it, testing it, and slowly turning raw discovery into precise, repeatable results. What once looked like a happy accident has become a controlled, clinically studied technology with measurable effects on skin firmness, elasticity, and visible signs of aging.

But even the most advanced device is not magic. There are facts of how and why it works that rely on scientific principles in a beneficial interplay with human biochemistry. FAQ™ 401 and FAQ™ 402 are high-tech tools that work best when used consistently in routines, paired with realistic expectations, and integrated into a broader understanding of how skin actually ages.

The clinical results show meaningful improvements, from increased elasticity and reduced wrinkle depth to enhanced skincare absorption, but they always reflect enhancement of what is already there, not morphing into a face you don’t recognize.

FAQ™ 400 collection’s dual microcurrent, deeper LED penetration, electroporation, and real-time AI adjustments represent a shift from single-function beauty gadgets toward multifunctional, biologically compatible technology that respects the complexity of skin and of individual needs. The difference between FAQ™ 401 and FAQ™ 402 isn’t about better or worse. It’s about matching intensity and depth of treatment to your current need, whether you’re focusing on prevention or addressing more advanced signs of aging.

Ultimately, good anti-aging technology should enable you to support the skin’s natural capacity to repair and maintain its structure for as long as possible. Maybe that’s the most honest conclusion: progress in beauty isn’t about shock value, but refinement, evidence, and giving people access to proven tools that help them look like they take good care of themselves. We hope you've found this information helpful in some way, we tried to give ou a whole overview. Stay cool, curious, and enjoy living in your gorgeous skin.