I tried Emface skin tightening for my dark under-eyes

My honest review of Emface Under Eyes.

There’s something uniquely humbling about the under-eye area. You can drink two litres of water a day, get eight hours of sleep and apply a small fortune’s worth of eye cream and still catch your reflection in harsh bathroom lighting wondering why you look like a slightly unwell Victorian child.

For me, it was the hollowness. Not puffiness, not fine lines (yet) but that subtle volume loss under my eyes that made my dark circles look deeper than they actually were. No concealer quite fixed it. Some days I looked bright and rested; other days I looked like I’d just binge-watched an entire season of Girls in one sitting.

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I’d tried the usual suspects over the years: a Nuface device, a rotation of brightening eye creams and caffeine-infused serums. They helped slightly, but nothing addressed the structure of the area itself.

Ironically, I first heard about Emface while scrolling through Instagram in the early hours. The idea of a non-invasive treatment that didn’t involve filler or needles, but still targeted both skin and muscle, intrigued me. After a consultation at Unveil Aesthetics in Melbourne, I decided to commit to the full course.

What is Emface, exactly?

Emface is designed to work on two levels at once: the skin and the underlying facial muscles. It combines High-Intensity Facial Electrical Stimulation (HIFES) to activate facial muscles with radiofrequency (RF) energy to gently heat the deeper layers of skin. “Together, this is intended to support improvements in the overall look of firmness and facial definition over time,” explains Unveil Practice Manager, Stephanie Nathan.

“Treatment areas can be selected based on individual goals, for example, brow and forehead, cheek area, or under-eyes,” she says. The Under Eyes applicators specifically target the delicate area beneath the eyes, where early volume loss and fine lines tend to show up first.

At Unveil, Emface is offered as a course of four treatments (priced at $2,800), with sessions spaced one week apart. Each appointment can target up to two areas. My primary focus was under-eyes, but we paired it with forehead treatment to support overall balance.

Suitability is determined during consultation, as it’s not appropriate for everyone, including those with certain implanted medical devices, metal in the treatment area, pregnancy or some neurological conditions.

My Emface Under Eyes review

From the moment I walked into Unveil, the energy was calm and reassuring – which matters when someone is about to attach technology to your face. Each session took around 45 minutes. After my skin was cleansed, the applicator pads were placed under my eyes (and across my forehead). Once the machine started, I braced myself for discomfort, but there wasn’t any.

Instead, I felt a mild electric sensation that was strange at first, but not painful. It’s more of a rhythmic muscle contraction, paired with warmth from the radiofrequency. If anything, I found it oddly relaxing.

The biggest surprise was that I left glowing after every session. While full results take time to develop (more on that in a moment), there was an immediate post-treatment radiance, likely from the circulation boost and RF warmth. The clinic finished each appointment with a beautiful serum and SPF, and I walked straight back into my day.

The results

Unlike injectables, Emface isn’t about instant transformation, it’s a slow build. Changes can continue to develop over the weeks and months following the completed course, with progress typically reviewed around the three-month mark.

In saying that, I saw a huge improvement after the first session and was excited to see how things settled after my second. Now, a few months on, I’m genuinely happy. The hollowness under my eyes feels softer and less shadowed. There’s noticeably less volume loss, and my under-eyes look brighter and more well-rested. Not dramatically different, just generally tighter and more refreshed. Like I’ve been sleeping better than I actually have.

That’s the thing with non-surgical, non-injectable treatments like this: it’s subtle. You won’t walk out looking like a different person, but that wasn’t my goal. How long results last varies from person to person, depending on factors like skin condition and lifestyle. Some people opt for maintenance sessions down the line, based on practitioner guidance.

Before and After Emface Under Eyes

Yasmine’s results shown here relate to Emface only.

Would I do it again?

Yes, particularly because it aligned with what I was looking for: non-invasive, no needles and minimal downtime. It felt like a proactive investment in my skin, rather than a quick fix. Under-eyes are delicate territory. For me, Emface struck a balance between doing something and not doing too much. And if I can look a little more rested (even when I’m not), I’ll take it.

Like all cosmetic procedures, Emface should only be administered by trained medical doctors and dermal clinicians. Images are provided for informational purposes only. Individual results vary. 

For more on Emface skin tightening, read this.