Steve Jobs once said that “Innovation is the only way to win” - or at least his name was applied to a semi-motivation piece of wall art no doubt plastered across the LinkedIn pages of wannabe entrepreneurs.
Innovation may be winning but it’s not without its drawbacks. Advancements in technology move rapidly and while they benefit the consumer in many ways, it can leave us with a classic case of having all the year but no idea.
Beauty tech, in particular, evolves at breakneck speed in a bid to create devices to combat the ageing process and at-home gadgets to rival those in a professional clinic. Often coming at a premium and with beefy manuals we’re unlikely to read, the rushed purchases are left to gather dust as the next fad emerges.
ZIIP Halo is not such a device.
The palm-sized gizmo was created to be used in tandem with a companion app where founder and Electrical Esthetician Melanie Simon walks you through each treatment like your own personal live-in facialist.
Specs
- Frequency: 50 Hz
- Power Levels: 900nA to 400µ
- Charger: USB-C
- Dimensions: 29mm x 50mm x 99mm
- Weight: 67.5g
- Default Programme Time: 4 minutes
Set-up
The set-up process consists of freeing the Halo from the confines of its box and downloading the companion app. In the box, you will find the device, the USB-C charging cable and the brand’s Electric Complex Gel. A thin layer of the latter should be applied to the skin before any treatment. This acts as a conductor to encourage the wavelengths to penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin and a little goes a long way.
I went liberal after the instructions detailed 4-8 pumps. This was way too much product and made the Halo slip and slide all over the place. I advise using more sparingly and washing hands immediately after for fear of launching the tech halfway across the room. It is an essential part of the treatment, and not just any old gel will do so prepare your bank account that each top of the Complex will set you back from £35.
Another thing to note: take good care of the USB-C charging cable. With my phone, headphones and WHOOP all powered through USB-C, I have a fair amount of these cables lying around the house but they don’t seem to work in charging the Halo - only the designated cable appears to power it up (not sure if this is just me?).
The ZIIP Halo and app are linked through Bluetooth but unlike wireless earbuds, the connection occurs in the ZIIP app once you have started a treatment rather than in Bluetooth settings. This doesn’t always work right away. You press the only button on the Halo and it vibrates if the connection is successful. If not, there is an in-built treatment, but more on that later.
The device has two globes that you glide across the face in up and out movements. Use on clean, dry skin as oil can impact the current. Be sure to match the placement of the tool to the video paying attention to the charging port that is on one end to ensure that it is the right way up. The orange light flashes when it has low battery.
Technology
Created by Jennifer Aniston's go-to facialist Melanie Simon, the ZIIP Halo uses the power of electricity to tighten and brighten the complexion. It uses a trademarked Dual Waveform Technology that combines lifting microcurrents that work on a muscular level with collagen-stimulating nanocurrents and works on a cellular level. The combination is exclusive to the Halo with its competitors like NuFace harnessing solely microcurrents.
Applied on the jawline, cheekbone and browbone, the currents work in different ways. Microcurrent is responsible for the instant lifting and toning by stimulating the facial muscles to contract and relax. The impact of this - the smoothing of fine lines and definition - is said to last for up to 72 hours. Nanocurrent, on the other hand, has a longer-term impact. You can’t feel the waveforms because they are smaller and designed to repair deeper in the skin’s layers to combat wrinkles, contour and encourage a glowy complexion.
The currents stimulate the release of a natural chemical known as Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) that is attributed with providing the energy for essential cellular processes and can make skin more supple, hydrated and radiant.
Programmes
While you can immediately partake in The Lift, a four-minute facial to contour the face, as soon as you charge it up and turn it on, connecting to the app opens a wealth of treatments with a diverse mix of full-face and area-specific. Each ranges from three to 12 minutes. There are also programs like Wedding Prep, Glass Skin or one too good to resist, Best Skin of Your Life in 30 Days.
I have been following the 30-day one and it encourages you to do a treatment every other day, so it’s not as big of a commitment as it sounds. You run through the likes of the Founder’s Favourite (a gentle full facial), Eyes - suitable for the delicate zone and I threw in the Problem Solver for good measure to combat a hormonal breakout.
Effectiveness
The expert Electrical Esthetician talks you through the process on a pre-recorded video that you can mimic with timely vibrations and beeps to keep you on track. Each has a different intensity level, the most tingling of which is The Lift. It’s not painful, far from - and the occasion flicker of the eye shows you that it’s working. If you find it too intense, the trick is to add more gel to soothe.
Gliding over one side of the face at a time through a six-minute session entitled Instant Gratification, showed its prowess, offering a real-time before and after that’s impossible to refute. I’ve often found that I give up with home treatments or don’t quite do it for long enough, but following along with Simon not only ensures that you are doing it for the proper amount of time but even the longer 12-minute programmes fly by.
Simon reveals tips and tricks from her extensive experience – like avoiding the trachea because of the thyroid and encourages you to follow along with upward movements - ‘up and out’ is the technique to see more impact.
As with all things, the more you use the Halo, the better the results. But even if you struggle with consistency, an all-over Instant Gratification for 10 minutes ahead of makeup application creates immediate contouring. It is also designed to complement your skincare routine, and not replace it, but many users report its reduction in the signs of ageing, a feat that is near impossible to achieve with skincare that is typically preventative.
Verdict
ZIIP Halo
Innovation in beauty tech moves at pace. While we rapidly invest in the hopes of achieving the youthful appearances of the age-defying celebrities singing their praises, we are typically left with all the gear and no idea. Enter ZIIP Halo.
Created by Jennifer Aniston’s go-to facialist Melanie Simon, the palm-sized device harnesses the power of electricity to tighten and brighten the complexion. It uses a trademarked dual waveform technology that combines lifting microcurrents that work on a muscular level with a collagen-stimulating nanocurrent that is exclusive to the brand and works on a cellular level.
You can perform The Lift, a four-minute facial to contour the face, as soon as you have charged it up and turned it on. But connecting to the app opens a wealth of treatments — from “wedding prep” to “glass skin” or one too good to resist: “best skin of your life in 30 days”.
A pre-recorded video talks you through the process, with timely vibrations and beeps to keep you on track. Simon also reveals tips and tricks from her extensive experience — such as using up and out movements — to optimise the results.
It’s not painful, far from it, and the occasional flicker of the eye or soft electric stimulation shows you that it’s working. Gliding over one side of the face at a time during a six-minute session called “instant gratification” showed its defining prowess, offering a real-time before and after that’s impossible to refute.
Buy now £379.00, CurrentBody
