Do Ultrasound Skincare Devices Boost Serum Absorption?

Rubbing a serum in by hand only gets a fraction of it past the skin's outer barrier. That's the gap "introduction" devices are built to close, and the three main approaches — ultrasound (sonophoresis), galvanic current (iontophoresis), and laser micro-channeling — do it in different ways. In lab comparisons, ultrasound has been shown to increase skin permeability more than iontophoresis, because the vibration temporarily loosens the lipid structure of the stratum corneum and widens the pathway for ingredients to diffuse through it, according to an in vitro transdermal delivery study published on NCBI. We build THOME's water-drop ultrasound device, TLDM-12, around this same mechanism, and pair it with the serums and creams meant to be used underneath it. This guide breaks down how each introduction method works, and the order that actually gets a serum where it needs to go.

Why Serum Doesn't Just Soak In

The stratum corneum — skin's outermost layer — is built like a brick wall: corneocytes stacked together, sealed with lipids such as ceramides and cholesterol. The tighter that lipid seal, the better it blocks outside substances, and unfortunately that includes the water, vitamins, and peptides in a serum, not just dirt and bacteria. That's the whole reason "introduction" devices exist: patting a serum on with your fingers rarely does enough to move it past this barrier on its own. Getting an ingredient through generally means temporarily disrupting that seal, and each device family does it differently — which is also why the method you use ends up dictating what you can safely put underneath it.

Three Ways Devices "Introduce" a Serum

Method | How it works | Best-suited formulas | Irritation level
Ultrasound (sonophoresis) | Vibration in the tens of thousands to millions of cycles per second disrupts the stratum corneum's lipid arrangement, widening the diffusion path. Low-frequency ultrasound has shown significantly greater permeability gains than iontophoresis for the same compound in lab testing, per research on NCBI | Hydrating and peptide serums, creams | Low — generally tolerated by sensitive skin
Iontophoresis (galvanic) | A mild direct current uses polarity to push ionized ingredients through skin; the negative pole is typically used for hydrating/vitamin ingredients, the positive pole for drainage-style routines | Ionized actives like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid | Moderate — pairing with alcohol-based toner or AHA/BHA exfoliants can increase irritation
Laser micro-channeling | Creates microscopic channels in the epidermis to physically open a path | Highly concentrated ampoules | Comparatively high — treatment-like, mostly used in professional settings

All three claim to "help absorption," but the mechanisms differ enough that you can't pair any serum with any device without thinking about it. Galvanic devices in particular can turn irritating fast if used with an alcohol-heavy toner or exfoliating acids, so a gentle, low-irritant serum is the safer pairing. Ultrasound tends to run milder, which is part of why it's commonly recommended for puffiness and circulation goals even on reactive skin.

One condition applies across all three methods: transferring ultrasound or current energy into skin requires a gel- or cream-type coupling medium between the device head and the skin, or transfer efficiency drops off, as documented in patent filings covering ultrasound/energy skin-coupling devices. In practice, that means an introduction device is never meant to be run on bare skin — it only does its job with a serum or cream already in place underneath it.

What Makes Water-Drop Ultrasound Different

THOME's TLDM-12 (999,000 KRW) uses what we call "water-drop ultrasound" — a way of distributing standard low-frequency ultrasound vibration evenly across the whole face, the way ripples spread outward from a drop of water. It's manufactured in Korea and carries KC certification (R-R-EYM-TLDM12), and it launched in July 2025. The underlying mechanism lines up with the broader sonophoresis research: ultrasound has been shown to raise stratum corneum permeability more than iontophoresis in lab comparisons, and the same cavitation-driven mechanism shows up across the independent literature: ultrasound-induced bubble collapse at the skin's surface disrupts the stratum corneum's lipid bilayer, which is what opens the wider diffusion path. Separately, patent documentation on low-frequency ultrasound delivery devices reports that the transient pores this creates in the stratum corneum range from roughly 1 to 100 micrometers in diameter — meaningfully wider than what hand application alone can open.

We don't sell the device as a standalone gadget. It's the center of a 4-step at-home routine we built around it — Tome Epic Radiant Glow Cream, a facial gua sha tool, a sheet mask, and the G-Peel program are all designed as parts of that routine, not separate products competing for attention. We've logged roughly 5,100 reviews internally with a 4.9 satisfaction average, and we say — based on our own internal sales tracking, not third-party certification — that the device ranks first in Olive Young and TikTok Shop's water-drop ultrasound category. We want to be upfront that these are our own figures, not an outside audit, so read them as directional rather than verified.

The Order That Actually Works

An introduction device isn't a massage tool you run after applying serum — it's closer to a delivery mechanism that helps the serum cross the barrier in the first place. That makes sequence matter.

Cleanse thoroughly. Leftover oil or makeup residue on the skin's surface blocks ultrasound or current energy from reaching the stratum corneum at all.

Tone to prep the skin. If you're using a galvanic or iontophoresis device, skip high-alcohol toners — they raise the irritation risk considerably.

Apply your serum or ampoule evenly across the face. In our routine, this step uses the Radiant Glow Cream or a G-Peel Program action kit. This layer also functions as the coupling medium between the device head and skin, so don't run the device on skin that's already dried down.

Glide the device slowly and evenly across the face while the serum is still wet. Moving steadily across the forehead, cheeks, and jawline — rather than lingering in one spot — reduces irritation risk.

How fast results show up depends on the method and the person. For galvanic-family devices, general guidance points to visible texture improvement around 2 weeks in, pore and tone improvement around 4 weeks, and wrinkle-related change closer to 8–12 weeks of consistent use. Ultrasound routines follow a similar logic — they're built around consistency, not an overnight transformation.

Three Mistakes People Make With Introduction Devices

Running the device on bare skin. Without a serum underneath, the energy has nothing to carry, and what's left is friction rather than absorption benefit.

Pairing it with the wrong ingredients. Galvanic and iontophoresis devices in particular can turn irritating fast when combined with alcohol toners, heavily fragranced products, or AHA/BHA exfoliants — stick to gentler formulas underneath them.

Holding the device in one spot too long. Alternating goals by day — lifting and firming one day, hydration and calming the next — tends to reduce cumulative skin stress compared with running the same setting daily.

FAQ

Can I use any serum with an ultrasound introduction device?

It depends on the method. Ultrasound is generally mild enough to pair with a wide range of formulas, but galvanic and iontophoresis devices are more sensitive to alcohol-based toners or AHA/BHA acids, so a gentler serum or ampoule is the safer match there.

What introduction method does the TLDM-12 use?

It uses water-drop ultrasound: standard low-frequency vibration distributed evenly across the face to widen the stratum corneum's diffusion pathway. It's manufactured in Korea and KC-certified (R-R-EYM-TLDM12).

Does the device work without a serum or cream underneath?

No. Transferring ultrasound or current energy into skin requires a gel- or cream-type coupling medium between the device head and the skin. Run it on dry, bare skin and there's little for it to carry.

How often should I use an introduction device?

Recommended frequency varies by product, but alternating goals by day — rather than running the same setting daily — tends to be easier on skin while still supporting consistent use over time.

What's the order for THOME's routine specifically?

Cleanse, apply the Radiant Glow Cream or a G-Peel Program action kit, glide the TLDM-12 over damp skin to help it absorb, then add the facial gua sha tool or sheet mask as needed. It's a 4-step sequence built around the device, not four separate products.

Sequence and ingredient pairing matter more than the device itself. Choosing a formula that fits your introduction method, and avoiding harsh combinations, changes the outcome of an at-home routine more than any single piece of hardware. You can see how the pieces fit together on the TLDM-12 product page or check the Radiant Glow Cream it's designed to pair with.