FOREO BEAR Mini Review, What the Smaller BEAR Does
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
Read bio
Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
Read bio
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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The FOREO BEAR mini is a smaller, lower priced FOREO microcurrent device with three intensities, T-Sonic pulsations and an Anti-Shock System, best for a simple lower face routine rather than a full face workout.
This review covers what you need to decide, such as:
- what the BEAR mini costs
- its features, from intensities to the app
- how it compares with the BEAR 2
- who it suits and who it does not
- how it compares with other brands
and many more!
We make a competing device, PureLift, so every FOREO figure here comes from FOREO and its retailers.
Key Points:
The FOREO BEAR mini has carried a regular retail price of around $199 to $219 and is often discounted.
It offers three microcurrent intensities, compared with five on the original BEAR.
Retail listings describe T-Sonic pulsations and an Anti-Shock System that measures skin resistance and adjusts the current.
We identified FDA clearance K200803 covering the original BEAR and BEAR mini, and FOREO does not publish a microamp figure for the mini.
It suits a simple, gentle routine, while people who want a published output or a stronger setting should look at other devices.
What the FOREO BEAR mini is
The BEAR mini is a compact version of FOREO's original BEAR microcurrent device, aimed at a quicker, simpler routine.
FOREO's app routine for the mini focuses on the lower face and lips, while the full BEAR routine covers the face and neck.
Prices and specifications were checked on brand and retailer listings in October 2026 and change often, so confirm them before you buy.
Price
The BEAR mini launched at $199, and a regular retail price of $219 was listed in October 2026, with sale prices around $175.
Features
Three microcurrent intensities
The mini has three microcurrent intensities, compared with five on the original BEAR. FOREO does not publish the microamp output for the mini.
T-Sonic pulsations
Retail listings describe T-Sonic pulsations, a gentle vibration that combines with the microcurrent.
Anti-Shock System
Listings say the Anti-Shock System scans your skin's resistance and adjusts the microcurrent automatically.
App
The device connects by Bluetooth to the FOREO For You app for guided routines, or you can change intensity with the single button.
FDA clearance
We identified FDA clearance K200803 covering the original BEAR and BEAR mini. Check it yourself in the FDA 510(k) database, as explained in our guide to checking a clearance.
BEAR mini vs BEAR 2
The BEAR 2 costs $339 and FOREO publishes up to 680 microamps for it, the highest microcurrent figure among the competitors we track. We could not identify a separate clearance for BEAR 2.
The mini is smaller and cheaper, with fewer intensities. Our BEAR 2 review is in our FOREO BEAR 2 review.
Who the BEAR mini suits
Anyone who wants a small, simple device for the lower face.
Anyone who likes app-guided routines.
Anyone who wants the FOREO brand at a lower price.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone who wants a published output figure for the exact model.
Anyone who wants a full face and neck routine with more intensity options.
Anyone who wants a stronger EMS setting on the same dial. Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10, plus an Infuse pass, on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and they work with any water-based conductive serum.
Our comparisons are in PureLift vs FOREO BEAR and our best microcurrent device for face article.
Results to expect
Like any microcurrent device, the BEAR mini works on muscle tone. Expect a subtly firmer look after several weeks of regular use.
A randomized controlled trial by Kavanagh and colleagues, published in 2012, measured the effect of facial electrical stimulation after twelve weeks of regular use.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FOREO BEAR mini worth it
It is a reasonable choice for a simple lower face routine at a lower price than the BEAR 2. It does not publish its output and has only three intensities.
How much is the FOREO BEAR mini
It launched at $199, and a regular retail price of $219 was listed in October 2026, with frequent discounts.
What is the difference between FOREO BEAR and BEAR mini
The BEAR has five microcurrent intensities and a full face and neck routine, while the mini has three intensities and a lower face routine.
Is the FOREO BEAR mini FDA cleared
We identified FDA clearance K200803 covering the original BEAR and BEAR mini.
Does the FOREO BEAR mini need gel
Yes. Like any microcurrent device it needs a water-based conductive layer that stays wet throughout the session.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.