From centuries-old gua shas to trailblazing LED masks, there is now a beauty gadget for every need. But if you’re on a time crunch and want something that delivers swift sculpting, the ZIIP Halo might be exactly what you’re looking for.
It has an A-list stamp of approval. In an interview with Bazaar UK, actor Elizabeth Olsen shares that she uses the device for skin prep. “It helps to lift your face, it helps de-puff,” she says. “It’s one of my favourite things to use when my face is really tired.”
Margot Robbie is loyal to her ZIIP Halo, too. “[It] has given me noticeable results. I’m not paid by the brand or anything. It’s really, really good,” she previously shared in an interview.
But what exactly is ZIIP Halo and how does it differ to the many face massage on the market? Bazaar takes a closer look.
What is the ZIIP Halo device?
This hand-held tool is co-created by Hollywood aesthetician Melanie Simon, who’s worked with stars such as Eva Mendes and Sarah Paulson. Together with leading tech expert David Mason, the duo created ZIIP which utilises both microcurrents and nanocurrents. This Dual Waveform Technology is patented.
ZIIP launched with ZIIP GX. "It took two years to create. I wanted to give people who couldn’t come into my salon complete control over their faces," Simon tells Bazaar. The latest version of ZIIP is known as ZIIP Halo.
How does the ZIIP Halo work?
This small, ergonomic tool uses a two-pronged approach to simultaneously sculpt your cheekbones and improve the skin texture. Microcurrent waves have been around since the Eighties, and essentially deliver low levels of electric current that stimulate and tone the muscles underneath your skin, thus creating a lifted effect.
For safety reasons, microcurrent devices that are available for consumer use are less powerful than those used by professional facialists, which is why ZIIP pairs its technology with nanocurrent waves. These tiny currents perform on a cellular level, giving the production of chemical ATP (adenosine triphosphate) a nudge. ATP provides the skin cells with the energy required to repair itself.
“Nanocurrent is even closer than microcurrent to the natural electrical waveforms already present in the body. With nanocurrent, the results come one to two days later,” says Simon. According to her, the results of nanocurrent will cumulatively build, and last.
Adds Simon: “I always say microcurrent gives me results right this second, while nanocurrent gives me results later (typically continuing to peak over the next two days). Microcurrent or nanocurrent alone cannot give us all that we need.”
What are the benefits of ZIIP Halo?
Rather than simply focusing on sculpting, ZIIP also aims to improve the overall appearance of your complexion – from brightening any dullness to refining wrinkles – as it works on both the muscles and the cellular level.
How to use the ZIIP Halo
Ease is one of ZIIP’s selling point, at least for this editor. After prepping your skin with its conductive gel (essential for the device to work properly) simply turn it on and glide the metal balls upwards on your skin. There is a gentle buzz that signals it's time to move on to a different area of the face. Once it beeps, switch to the other side of your complexion. The whole process takes around four minutes.
Like many modern gadgets, the ZIIP comes with an app for guided protocols specifically created by Simon. It’s the closest you can get to booking in a session with her.
“I'd suggest stacking treatments for maximum results, for example, if you have a big event the next day, hit your target areas with programs such as Lips, Jowls or Contour but finish out with Founder's Favorite. That's a pure nanocurrent treatment that will reset your skin overnight and give you an incredible glow for your event the next day.”
To clean your device, use a soft cloth. Occasionally, mist the fabric with a small amount of rubbing alcohol and wipe it down to keep bacteria at bay.
Can you use ZIIP Halo on sensitive skin?
For those who are prone to rosacea or fragile skin, it’s worth downloading the ZIIP app on your phone and using the Founders Favourite programme. This protocol uses only the nanocurrent waves which are gentler, and the brand advises to avoid using on any areas that are sore, bleeding, raised or broken. Start with a quick treatment every other day.
What else do you need to know?
While ZIIP is generally safe for most complexions, those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, epileptic, or undergoing cancer treatments should not use the device unless your medical professional says otherwise. Those with pacemakers should steer clear too.
Can you use ZIIP Halo after a tweakment?
The brand suggests waiting at least 10 days after your procedure, and always with the approval of your healthcare professional.
ZIIP Halo: The Bazaar Review
I’m blessed with full, cherubic cheeks, and while there are upsides to them (I still get ID’d for paracetamol), it does mean I’m prone to puffiness and there isn’t much definition to my face. I’ve tried many a face sculpting device, but the ZIIP Halo is by far the one that delivers the most noticeable results – and it’s all thanks to its convenience.
I’m a cynic when it comes to at-home skincare tech. Due to regulations and safety, they won’t hold a candle to in-clinic devices so in order to maximise the benefits of a sculpting tool, you must use it regularly – and ZIIP Halo makes it that easy. I prep my skin with a water-based essence (the accompanying gel is a tad too greasy for me) and glide it on for four minutes in the morning.
Yes, there is a clever app, but I love that you can see results even without it. It helps to take down puffiness and gives the complexion a noticeable extra lift and definition, though I can't say I've noticed any significant difference to the overall skin texture yet. As with all at-home devices, the effects will fade if you stop using for an extended period of time but considering how fool-proof the ZIIP Halo is, I'll be using mine for the foreseeable future.
