Tighten, Brighten, Tone & Soothe
a comparison of the best at-home technologies for your skin
My love for both the CurrentBody LED Mask and ZIIP Halo runs deep and I largely credit both devices for the state of my skin. In 2024, I mentioned one or both of the devices in more than half of my newsletters. For free! Because I genuinely, personally and professionally, think they are the best of the best. Turns out, if you talk about something enough, you might just get their attention.
Today’s post is sponsored by both ZIIP and CurrentBody (!!!) and I am deeeeelighted to be officially partnering with both brands this year to bring you even more content and education around their devices. (They’re owned by the same parent company, which makes this even better.)
Future newsletters will delve more deeply into each device, but today I’m going to provide you with a cheat sheet of sorts, comparing and contrasting the devices, how they can work synergistically, where they shine individually and helping you determine what’s best for you.
DIFFERENCES AT A GLANCE
Using different, first-and-only-of-their-kind technologies, each device is capable of providing significant, long-term improvement to the health and appearance of your skin–things like fine lines and wrinkles, elasticity, skin tone, inflammation, cellular renewal and repair. This is because both devices stimulate the production of collagen, elastin and crucially, ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is the main source of energy for cells and the driving force behind pretty much everything. Like all good things, ATP production declines with age. So each device effectively tackles a wide range of concerns on its own, achieved in different ways. When used together, the results amplify, as you’re tackling the problem from multiple angles.
Here’s a graphic I made summarizing the basic differences:
CurrentBody Series 2 LED Mask is $469 (save 10% with code JOLIECB)
ZIIP Halo is $399 (save 10% with code ZIIPJOLIE) and includes one Electric Complex Gel. My code also works on their conductive gels.
They both offer free shipping, have a 2-year warranty, are FDA cleared and are travel-friendly!
What Makes the CurrentBody Series 2 LED Mask Stand Out?
LED is a very precise science and the efficacy of a device depends on a few key parameters, which I’ll explore in much greater detail in a future post. While CurrentBody’s Series 1 Mask met these requirements, Series 2 takes it up a notch, with an unparalleled level of precision and guaranteed quality assurance that no other mask has.
The mask uses 3 clinically proven and precise wavelengths, each able to penetrate to a different depth in the skin. In addition to red and near-infrared (also in the Series 1) the Series 2 has an additional new wavelength, deep NIR, with those bulbs strategically placed around the eyes and mouth, to target deep smile lines and crow’s feet.
In addition to addressing the above, the mask is particularly great for sensitive, reactive skin and inflammatory conditions, like rosacea, and has impressive reparative abilities, speeding up healing and reducing downtime from treatments such as microneedling.
The shape and fit of the mask is also optimized for improved efficacy. The flexible curved shape and chin strap provide more coverage and direct skin contact which is proven to increase light absorption in the skin. The power cord also has a clip so you can walk around hands-free.
CurrentBody developed their own testing equipment to measure the precision of each individual LED, something that’s never been done before. Upping the transparency, 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. This is a really commendable and differentiating feature, in my opinion.
A note on contraindications: Do not use this device if you suffer from Lupus erythematosus, photosensitive eczema, or Albinism, have any photosensitive disorder, suffer from light-induced headaches or are taking a medication that can cause photosensitivity. In the past, I’ve explained why it’s difficult to get a straightforward answer about pregnancy safe skincare. The short answer is that the only way to guarantee something is pregnancy safe is to test it on pregnant bodies, which understandably isn’t ethical and doesn’t get many volunteers. There are other ways we come to the conclusion that something is safe, but brands obviously err on the side of caution. For this reason, if you look on the CurrentBody website, it says not to use the mask if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because it hasn’t been tested. However, I have yet to meet an esthetician or medical professional that says it’s not safe. In fact, it is often a highly recommended pregnancy safe option and included in many professional treatment protocols. (The brand has confirmed I can say this, while maintaining their stance from a business perspective due to lack of testing.) See website FAQ for full list of contraindications.
What Makes the ZIIP Halo Stand Out?
The ZIIP Halo is powered by their exclusive Dual Waveform Technology™ and is the only at-home device to feature both microcurrent and nanocurrent.
Microcurrent uses low-level electric currents to stimulate muscle contraction to tighten, lift and tone, like a workout for your facial muscles. You can see immediate results that last up to 72 hours and are cumulative with consistent use.
Nanocurrent is an even smaller and lower current that works at a deeper cellular level to improve communication between cells, stimulate ATP and boost repair and regeneration. Used with microcurrent, it helps to lock-in the lifting and sculpting by boosting firmness and elasticity with increased collagen and elastin production. Consistent use results in healthier, firmer, sculpted and rejuvenated skin. Nanocurrent can also help reduce blemishes and even skin tone.
The ZIIP Halo is particularly great at addressing sagging skin concerns (especially in the lower face) and for adding definition to bone structure.
To use the ZIIP Halo, you need to apply conductive gel, which is what allows the currents to pass through your skin. The Halo comes with their Electric Complex Gel (what I usually use) but they also sell speciality gels with additional skin benefits. The ZIIP Halo comes preloaded with their 4-minute “Lift” program, but the device's real wow-factor comes from using the app. The apps treatments include full-facials, targeted treatments for specific areas and treatment plans you can follow along with for 7-30 days.
Do not use if you have cardiac implants, are undergoing chemotherapy or have active cancer, have epilepsy or are pregnant or breastfeeding. See website FAQ for full list of contraindications.
Using Both Devices
Both devices work to address signs of aging and skin rejuvenation by amping up cellular repair, renewal and communication. The key difference is the technology used to do so. You can expect significant improvement with either, but when used together, there is a greater impact on skin health and appearance and enhanced results.
Using LED before the ZIIP is like a warmup for your skin. LED gets things going, boosting circulation and waking up your cells, so that your muscles and skin cells are ready for their microcurrent workout and nanocurrent stimulation. This order also streamlines things a bit, as you use LED on clean, bare skin before applying the conductive gels for ZIIP.
That being said, realistically not everyone has the time for back-to-back treatments, so you can absolutely use them on alternate days or alternate morning/night (doesn’t make a difference for either). You need to take rest days from ZIIP anyway. The most important thing is consistency, which is the only way to see long-term results. Aim for 3-5x week with the LED and up to 5x week for the ZIIP.
My Experience
I started exploring LED devices in 2017 and used the CurrentBody Series 1 Mask religiously starting in 2022, upgrading to the Series 2 when it was released this past fall. I started using LED as part of acne management, to lessen inflammation, speed up healing and minimize scarring. It performs greatly in those departments and while I have no definitive way to prove this to you (unless you count my forehead and undereyes), I’m confident it’s also played a significant role in the prevention of fine lines and wrinkles. With consistent use, my skin has become more resilient, youthful, healthy and even. The few times I’ve skipped more than a few days, I can definitely notice the difference, particularly in complexion.
While I’m not new to microcurrent, my love affair with the ZIIP Halo only flourished in the last year or so, as I doubled down on my commitment in preparation to get married. Primarily looking for the lifting and sculpting benefits from microcurrent, I was absolutely mind blown by how much better my skin looked overall, which I now understand to be the effects of nanocurrent, made even more pronounced by LED. My skin just looked more alive! More vibrant, taut, and for lack of a better description, snatched to hell. Not to brag (ok, just a little) but 3 separate people texted me about my jawline after my wedding. Please, look at my jawline.
As mentioned, CurrentBody LED is a key player in my acne management by strengthening my skin barrier and reducing inflammation. ZIIP also has a really unique 4-minute program for acne called Problem Solver, which pulls out acne-causing bacteria and suppresses inflammation. It’s a little tingly, but I’ve found it to be a really effective spot treatment. (As a bonus, sometimes if I’m using a different program and feel an unexpected zap, it clues me in that there may be a breakout forming.)
Leading up to my wedding I was on a stricter schedule with using both, but now I do what makes most sense depending on the time I have and my needs.
The CurrentBody LED is hands-free and doesn’t require any gel, so you can just continue on with your skincare routine after the 10 minutes is up. Since it’s a lower-lift to use and you can’t overdo it, I do wind up using it most frequently, about 5x a week.
That being said, I use the ZIIP as often as I can, especially pre-event for lifting and sculpting. The gel does add an extra step, but you can customize your treatment for whatever time you have. Personally, I love to start with the 10-minute Founders’ Favorite, which is all nanocurrent, and then do a few targeted treatments as needed.
Thank you for reading and thank you to CurrentBody and ZIIP for sponsoring today’s issue of Hotline Skin!
Whether you’re new to the device world or are used to hearing me yap about my favorites, I hope this was a helpful and clarifying read. Consider sharing it with a friend! And if you’re shopping, don’t forget to use my discount codes—JOLIECB and ZIIPJOLIE—for 10% off.
Have a great week!
xx,
Jolie
I loved this breakdown so much! These are the only two devices that I own and use.
This was the best resource on LED I've been looking for forever. Just ordered the CurrentBody based on your recommendation! Thank you so much!