Cillian Murphy's Skincare Routine/Gift Guide 1
tools, devices and sephora
Hello!
Welcome to the first of my gift guides. I’ve tried to be more judicious in my recommendations and detailed in my justifications than ever before. Many gift guides are just gift lists. I don’t want to provide lists, I want to guide you on your journey and make shopping straightforward without sacrificing the excitement and delight that is giving and receiving presents!!! I am a gift giving conductor, here to steer you and your wallet in the right direction.
To start off, we’ll talk about the big ticket items: beauty devices. There are only 2 that truly matter and 3 worth mentioning. We’ll then jump right into the Sephora Savings Event action that started today. This will likely cut off in your email, but it’s worth opening in your browser.
As a reminder, I leave for my honeymoon in Japan on Thursday, so Hotline Skin will be a little different for the month of November. Also, tbd what the general vibe will be after next week. GO VOTE!
P.S. My books for January are now open if you want a facial appointment!
DEVICES
Beauty tools and tech are top wishlist items during the holidays and with hundreds of fun looking gizmos and gadgets, it can be tricky to know what’s worth asking for. The only skincare that works is the skincare you use consistently and that goes tenfold for devices. If you’re going to put in the effort of using a device, better make it count with one of these.
ZIIP and CurrentBody gave me exclusive 20% off codes for the entire month of November. Confirmed by the brands, this is the best deal they will offer UNTIL NOVEMBER 2025.
If you prefer to shop on ZIIP’s direct site, all of the ZIIP related codes are valid there too. Otherwise, you can buy both the LED and ZIIP from CurrentBody’s site. The sets/kits are by far the best savings. You should also take advantage of the deal on 3 gels.
Series 2 LED Mask and ZIIP Kit: already discounted and use code JOLIECB for an additional 20% off. Gets you both products for $624.80. This is a savings of $243.20.
Christmas Superior Gift Set: 10% off already, plus an additional 20% off with code ZIIPJOLIE
CurrentBody Series 2 LED Mask (and all other CB products): 20% off with code JOLIECB
ZIIP HALO: 20% off with code ZIIPJOLIE
ZIIP Gel Deals:
If purchasing 2 Gels: 15% off already, plus an extra 20% off with code ZIIPJOLIE
If purchasing 3 Gels: 25% off already, plus an extra 20% off with code ZIIPJOLIE
Individual Gels: 25% off with code JOLIEGEL
CurrentBody Series 2 LED Mask
If you want a device, a high-quality LED mask should be your first move. It’s the most versatile and widely beneficial of the skincare devices, which is why it’s my first pick for a big-ticket item. The CurrentBody Series 2 is the best option on the market and my top pick, but the CurrentBody Series 1, Omnilux or Light Salon are solid offerings that you don’t need to upgrade if you already have–get a ZIIP instead. (Discount code: JOLIECB).
Why LED
A high-quality LED mask can help stimulate collagen and elastin production, reduce inflammation and assist cellular repair and communication. With consistent use, you’ll notice a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, tighter, smoother, more even-toned and radiant skin and less reactivity. These masks are meant to last a very long time, quickly bringing the cost per use to pennies and benefitting your skin in the long-term.
For the most part, the main wavelengths that matter are red, near-infrared (NIR) and blue. They are the most studied and widely used in LED devices. Usually wavelengths are associated with a color, but just to the right of the visible light spectrum you’ll find near-infrared (to the left, that’s where ultraviolet or UV radiation is!) The anti-aging, reparative benefits of LED are seen with red and NIR. Blue light kills acne-causing bacteria in inflamed acne, it won’t help blackheads or whiteheads. Despite that specific therapeutic benefit, my professional recommendation for everyone, even those with inflammatory acne, is red and NIR over blue. A blue light mask won’t do much for you once your acne is resolved and red/NIR will still greatly help by reducing inflammation and speeding up healing time. Yes, there are some good devices with both red and blue, but none worth getting over the Series 2.
LED is a very precise science and you are paying for what you get. The efficacy of a device depends on a few key parameters, including the wavelength (the more precise the better), the irradiance (the power of the lights) and dose (how long is the treatment). In other words, are the lights targeted enough to reach where they need to go, powerful enough to stimulate what they’re supposed to and in contact for long enough to make a difference.
Just having colorful lights doesn’t mean anything! In fact, that’s usually a sign of a low-quality mask, since most colors don’t have evidence behind them and some can even have adverse effects.
Why the Series 2
CurrentBody is continuing to establish themselves as a leader in the LED space, even surpassing in my opinion, some professional devices. Prior to the Series 2 release a few weeks ago, the Series 1 was my top recommendation (still an excellent mask). Below is the brand’s side by side comparison in full and these are the key improvements worth noting:
Still has the same well-proven specifications (wavelength, irradiance and dose), specifically the precise red and NIR wavelengths. The Series 2 has an additional new wavelength, deep NIR, that targets even deeper wrinkles. Those bulbs are strategically placed around the eyes and mouth.
The mask is curved and has a chin strap (!!!) providing more coverage and an improved fit for more direct contact with skin. The adjustable straps now include an optional top strap. Overall, it feels significantly sturdier and more secure. (I have one gripe related to the fit that I’ll touch on in a sec).
The power cord now has a clip so it’s much easier to walk around hands-free.
Each mask comes with its own Veritace® NFC card that allows you to view the specifications, quality checks and test results for your specific device. It is really smart of them to differentiate themselves by giving consumers real insight into the efficacy of their product and being so transparent. They’re answering everyone’s number 1 question: “will it work?” I trusted them before, but this just seals the deal.
My gripe with the straps is that seem like they were designed as a bit of an afterthought, especially in terms of how you adjust them initially. The upgraded neoprene material is very sturdy, but it took some trial and error to adjust both the sides and the top to fit snugly. You can see in that snippet below. I’ve heard from others they also struggled with this. The good news is that once you do it once, you don’t have to do it again! It does make you look like your brain is being studied by aliens. Since the mask and straps aren’t attached, I wouldn’t be surprised if the brand comes out with an upgraded strap in the future. This gripe does not nearly outweigh any of the other benefits.
Other Considerations
FSA/HSA eligible!!!
This mask is not worth getting if you can’t commit to using it at least 3 times a week, ideally 5. You won’t get any benefit from using it once in a while. It’s all cumulative, baby!
Though bright, the mask is completely safe for the eyes. The Series 2 comes with optional eye pads that block some of it, but I want the full benefit of the lights near my eyes, so I don’t use them.
It has a 2 year-warranty and I’ve found they provide great customer service.
It’s pregnancy and breastfeeding safe.
An LED mask is the most sensible LED choice for pretty much everyone, but if you/your gift recipient is very specifically concerned about hands, I strongly recommend the Omnilux Contour Glove. It’s a particularly thoughtful gift for anyone who works with their hands and is the best long-term solution I’ve found for keeping my blistering eczema at bay. Another reason I love it is because I can just flip-flop between my hands while watching TV. Ease of use is key for any device!
It is so funny that this testimony is on the CurrentBody product page and even funnier that famously ultra-private Cillian Murphy’s personal groomer is spilling the details!!!! Cillian may only agree to do interviews about his movies, but this fact tells me plenty about his private life and makes a compelling case for the mask. The man is 48 years young!!!!!!!
ZIIP Halo Facial Toning Device
After an LED mask, the ZIIP is the next best device to invest in. It’s a bigger lift to incorporate consistently due to the gel, app and the fact that you need to glide it around your face. It’s not overwhelmingly involved, but definitely more active than strapping a mask to your face. (Discount code: ZIIPJOLIE)
Why ZIIP
I already wrote an extensive comparison between ZIIP and NuFACE, which will answer pretty much every question you have about the two and why I prefer ZIIP. Here’s the tl;dr and my two cents for gifting purposes:
There’s nothing wrong with it at all, but NuFACE is just microcurrent. It sculpts and tones your facial muscles. Think of it like a workout for your face. It absolutely works, but the results only last as long as you maintain them. ZIIP is both microcurrent and nanocurrent. You get the immediate sculpting and toning benefits plus all of the long-term cellular rejuvenation and repair (collagen, elastin, increased cellular energy). There is one pre-loaded treatment on the ZIIP that you can use app-free, but the magic really lies in the app. It took me a few years to fully appreciate this and make the transition from NuFACE to ZIIP, but now there’s no going back for me.
Nanocurrent is more similar to the benefits of LED, but they work beautifully together, so it’s not redundant to have both. You’d use your mask first, then ZIIP.
If you already have a NuFACE and LED, your bases are covered.
If you have a NuFACE, I’d advise getting an LED mask before upgrading to a ZIIP.
If sculpting is all you care about or you don’t think you can commit to the app, get a NuFACE.
Other Considerations:
FSA/HSA eligible!!!
You do have to use conductive gel, so there’s an additional cost unlike LED. You can use ZIIP’s with NuFACE and vice versa. Aloe vera or ultrasound gel are very cheap and work fine, but they’re not the most pleasant to use.
The ZIIP Halo comes with this conductive fluid, which I like a lot and use most frequently. Their speciality gels are $$$ but meant to be treatment gels & do more for the skin than just provide conductivity. They’re a nice addition to gift.
You will get some very temporary lifting and sculpting if you just use the device every once in a while, but for real results you want to commit to at least 3 times a week.
ZIIP has this incredible 4-minute nanocurrent program called “problem solver” which uses negative ions to kill acne causing bacteria and help heal blemishes faster.
You can’t use if pregnant, breastfeeding, or if you have epilepsy, a pacemaker or other electrical implants.
TheraBody Depuffing Wand
The two devices above do pretty much everything one could want and you know I’m usually not interested in new device launches. No need to add new variables into the equation if it’s hard enough committing to what you already have! So I wasn’t expecting to like the depuffing wand as much as I do and I certainly wasn’t expecting to find it so useful that we now use it in facials at work.
The device has proprietary heating and cooling technology that gets hot/cold in seconds. It’s honestly remarkable how quickly it happens. It has 3 settings for each hot and cold and shuts off automatically after 6 minutes. A full charge gets you 32 minutes of use and 1 minute of charge = 1 minute of use, which is very convenient for on-the-go. Keep it by your bed, on your coffee table, in your bag. No freezer needed.
Cold helps to reduce inflammation and calm the skin, as well as sculpt and depuff. It also just feels really nice, especially for headaches. I used it post-vaccine to reduce pain at the injection site. The contour tip makes it really easy to go around the eyes. Heat can help improve product penetration, promote radiance and ease sore muscles. I don’t use it on my face personally, but it’s been great for the back of the neck and as a heating pad alternative.
It’s definitely a nice-to-have, not need-to-have tool, but it does stand out among the hundreds of other devices on the market. I would not recommend this over the other 2 devices on this list, but it’s also a very different type of product and gift. The convenience is a main selling point and makes it a very easy point of entry to the device world. No consistency is required. It offers an easier solution to something you may already do (ice your face, use heat) and some added benefits that require no extra work or effort.
Plus, they sell it at Sephora, which means it’s 20% off right now if you are Rouge. A great price and worthwhile sale buy. I’m sure it will go on sale again, but it's unlikely to be more than 20%. If you’re hoping to buy, I would still probably snag for 10-15% off but don’t open until after black Friday so you can return it if you find a better deal.
Bonus: Flawless Facial Hair Remover
This $20 lil doo dad is for people with restraint. It’s basically an electric peach fuzz razor meant to be used before makeup. I use it on my upper lip. It’s incredibly simple and immediately addicting. Do not, I repeat, do not overdo it. You will irritate your skin and destroy your barrier. It’s an excellent stocking stuffer. Click here to learn why it’s different from other methods.
SEPHORA SAVINGS EVENT
I talked about my general philosophy for the sale in last week’s newsletter, primarily concerning those who aren’t Rouge.
Continuing my efforts to make actually good, junk-free gift recommendations, I had to really think about what to recommend from this sale. I made shelves by category last year and it felt very satisfying to look through and see that most of my recommendations haven’t changed. In my opinion, Sephora shines in the makeup & hair categories, followed by body. Most of the skincare I use and recommend isn’t available at Sephora, so my skincare recs are the shortest of the bunch. I linked them all below and added some callouts.
If you’re curious about Oribe, try the minis while on sale. You get a decent amount and save a ton.
You’ll notice this brush cleaner in my top 15. It might even be in my top 5. Wash your damn makeup brushes! This makes it so easy. The cleanser + this set = excellent gift for white elephant-esque things.
The majority of wedding makeup is on sale.
This is my all-time favorite sunscreen stick. I buy one during every sale. Alex uses it too. Can’t go wrong for yourself or a stocking.
I wrote about Crown Affair last week, specifically what makes their gift sets so great. A follower asked me to talk more about what makes a good vs. bad gift set, which I had so much fun with on my Instagram story this week. The GOOD ones are all included in the list above.
Click the image to enlarge and read!
Office Hours Reminder
Join us for Office Hours on Sunday! This exclusive weekly opportunity is available to paying subscribers.
This is the last Office Hours until after Thanksgiving!
Every Sunday at 5pm EST, I’ll begin a new thread for the week in Substack Chat, where you can ask me anything. Every Monday from 5-6pm EST, I’ll be in that chat live, answering questions for the hour. That way, if you can’t make it, you can submit any time after 5pm Sunday and still get an answer. If you can make it live, join in! You can ask questions in real time and (hopefully) interact with others in class ;)
Thanks for making it all the way here! If you found it helpful, give it a like or share with a friend. I will update it as soon any sales for the devices are announced, so check back! If I helped you decide on a purchase, I sincerely appreciate you using my links to shop.
Have a great week and don’t forget to vote!
xx,
Jolie