When I was prepping for this feature surrounding two of the most exciting bits of beauty tech available I was determined to develop a consistent routine and focus on following a set of guidelines to maximise my experience; consistency is key. I dream of having the time and money to book a facial every single week but for now I set out to discover whether I could create a high-performing facial at home with easy to use tools and deliver clinic worthy results.
The ZIIP Halo is a beautiful piece of equipment packed with a whole lot of innovation working with both micro-current and nano-current to lift, tone and replenish the skin. Using the gel provided you can sync the ZIIP via their app to a selection of different facials and programmes to give an immediate lifting effect or stimulate the cells to repair and replenish. In addition to the electrical muscle and cellular stimulation I also wanted to introduce LED light therapy as it has become a mainstay for many facialists worldwide. With LED you want to make sure that the one you choose is really reaching these penetrative depths to optimise cell regeneration and for this reason I started using the Current Body Red Light Therapy Face Mask: Series 2.
Both the ZIIP and CurrentBody benefit from regular use so I set myself the daunting task of using them three times a week over a four week period with a single session once a week of an extended facial a la lifestyle of a Hollywood starlet. The CurrentBody is only ever ten minutes at a time and it’s comfortable so that fell easily into my evening routine whilst the ZIIP has an in built four minute session that is perfect for when you are time poor; adding that in didn’t feel too much of a stretch. Once a week I set time aside to line everything up and give myself an at home facial that took every ounce of my motivation to do yet was so satisfying that I found it became easier to repeat when it rolled around again.
Whilst this is really about the tech you need to get your hands involved to understand what’s going on with your skin and so I started with the renowned Suqqu Gankin Massage. This pressure point and lymphatic drainage technique anchors you and and awakens the skin, helping to loosen facial tension and stimulate blood flow in only three minutes. You can follow their helpful guidance video or book yourself in to one of their masterclasses to learn the technique for yourself; it’s a good time to set an intention and connect with your body as well as for the visual benefits. Whilst I often utilise this technique on set and with clients I rarely take the time to do it for myself yet it has made me so much more aware of the tension I hold and how my lymphatic system operates; releasing this tension pre facial leaves your skin ready to receive the maximum benefit of anything that follows.
Post massage I use the ZIIP synced with their Everything Facial; this is really, really easy. I love the little tug of the muscles around my mouth and eyes when the micro-current hits them (it’s hilariously beyond your control) and when the nano current is going you really can’t feel a thing. At the end of the twelve minutes I rinse off the gel and then pop on the Current Body for ten minutes to let it do it’s thing. Note to self; do not attempt to make a cup of tea whilst wearing the LED mask (it’s mildly visually impairing), instead take the time to relax, rest and enjoy being still, its only ten minutes. Once the mask automatically switches off I felt my skin; calm yes, plump yes, slightly lifted? I think so
Week one, my skin feels happy and I’m getting the hang of fitting it all into my routine. Week two, I’ve had a tiny breakout that is stopped in it’s tracks by a ZIIP Acne session. Week three, I’ve noticed a slight lift in my brow that I can’t stop looking at and by week 4 I’m really quite impressed. Everything feels slightly smoother, my cheekbones feel more defined and the sebaceous filaments around my nose that have driven me insane have finally gone. It’s a subtle difference but a damn good one.
This exercise has been illuminating and not just for my skin. Setting this kind of time aside for myself can be difficult but using tools like the ZIIP and CurrentBody LED Mask has forced me to do so; to slow down aspects of my skincare and focus on following instructions to the letter. Both of these tools can give you optimal results at home and are just so easy to use; high performance with excellent results all from the comfort of your own home, my favourite combination.
