It’s becoming increasingly difficult to navigate the deluge of innovations in wellness and beauty – new brands and product launches, hero ingredients we should know about and protocols we should be following. There aren’t enough hours a day. And while it’s fun trying new beauty products, it’s disheartening to spend money on skin care and beauty tools that disappoint us and end up languishing unused in our bathroom cabinets. 

Investing in beauty tech is a whole other level of commitment. Many devices promise (and cost) the Earth, and we’ve all been left unimpressed by gadgets that make no discernible difference. But you may have heard people talking evangelically about the ZIIP Halo and wondered what the fuss is about …

This hand-held tool was co-created by Hollywood aesthetician Melanie Simon and uses microcurrent and nanocurrent to stimulate lymphatic drainage, delivering an electronic pulse to muscles beneath the skin to create tone and definition. Accompanied by an app with various protocols designed to target specific concerns – from contouring to toning, lifting and tackling breakouts – the ZIIP Halo has caused a stir in the beauty world. More recently, the brand has released the ZIIP Dot – a new device designed to harness the same micro- and nanocurrent to focus specifically on clearing and calming breakouts.

While many other comparable devices on the market also use microcurrent to give an immediate boost, ZIIP claim their Dual Waveform Technology™ has a longer term, cumulative effect. It’s too early to lend much weight to these assertions (the evidence isn’t particularly conclusive), yet there is a chorus of voices in the beauty world praising ZIIP for the instant cosmetic benefit it offers. But is it a novelty of a genuinely worthwhile practice to consider incorporating into your routine? Below, we speak to three recent converts about their experiences with the much-vaunted device.

Emily Dinsdale

“I’ve tested a few micro-current devices before and never noticed any effect, so I couldn‘t be bothered with them. I have so many protocols already with the gua sha-ing and dry-brushing and infrared mask and the many steps of my skincare regime, I’m always reluctant to add another time-consuming beauty ritual into my life. But people were so evangelical about the ZIIP Halo and the benefits of nanocurrent, I couldn’t resist trying. Now it’s a firm fixture of my routine. 

“I use it around four or five times a week, either in the morning or when I’m getting ready to go out. I find the effect to be pretty instantaneous, so I prefer to use it before I’m out and about, otherwise I feel like I’m wasting it. 

“My particular skin concern is to try and keep everything firm and defined, so I tend to do the default four-minute Lift, and if I have time, I’ll do the Contour programme too as a little extra. I really notice on the days I don’t use it – particularly in photos. I haven’t noticed a difference to my skin tone or texture, but I find I look more snatched when I’ve Ziiped. 

“Apart from the sacrifice of five minutes a day, the only downside is that the ZIIP Halo (and the ongoing cost of the gel) is a financial investment. But I justify that with a cost-per-use equation that, as the months pass by, becomes more and more economically justifiable.”

Dominique Sisley

“I’ve been using a Ziip for the last six months or so. I’d heard whispers about how amazing it was for tightening and lifting the skin, which is a new concern in my 30s. This is my first experience with a microcurrent device but my skin feels tighter, more lifted. It’s also been good for fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead, they’re definitely less noticeable. 

“I particularly love the app. The range of exercises and formats is great, and I love the suggested programmes and schedules, as they stop you from getting overwhelmed by all the options.

“I use it five times a week, often at night because that’s when I have the time. I tend to use the standard four-minute Lift programme, but if I’m about to go out out, or when I‘m feeling particularly tired and unglamorous, I opt for the six-minute Instant Gratification. But I also use their recommended plans. I like the Founder’s Favourite often as I feel like it offers more long-term effects; it’s a nice way to ‘seal’ all the work in.”

Alex Peters

“Recommendations from friends has always been the backbone of the beauty industry, and its something that holds a lot of weight for me, so when someone on my team says they love a product I always take note and when that person is Emily Dinsdale – the chicest member of the team – I always get my hands on it. 

“Emily had been raving about Ziip Halo to me for weeks when the brand launched its next device: the Dot. As someone who has always battled with breakouts and has been going through a particularly rocky patch with my skin recently, my ears immediately perked up. The Dot is a nanocurrent and microcurrent spot treatment device that works to reduce inflammation and bacteria that cause blemishes while helping calm your skin and promote healing.

“The Dot has two modes, one for the whole face and one for targeting particular spots. I mostly use the whole face mode (I wish it was just one spot that needed targeting), although I do spend a little more time around the chin area as that’s where most of my breakouts tend to be. There is a slight metallic taste in your mouth when you are using the device around this area, which is a strange sensation at first, but it’s not uncomfortable. I’ve been using it in the evenings before bed and when I wake up in the morning, I’ve definitely noticed a difference. Depending on the type of spot, I’ve found that it helps to either dry it out or speed up the process so that you get to the end point faster. 

“There is no miracle product or device that can instantly get rid of breakouts completely, but the Dot combined with the skincare I’ve been using (Dr Barbara Sturm’s Clarifying Serum and Face Cream) has really helped clear up my skin and it’s something that is definitely staying in my routine from now on.”

Shop ZIIP devices via ziipbeauty.co.uk