This vs. That features a comparative analysis of two trending products, offering a technical review of both items and cutting through internet discourse with authority. For our latest installment, we compared the cult-favorite NuFace Mini Facial Toning Device against another celebrity-loved microcurrent tool, the Ziip Halo. Read the full review below.
Forget Botox in a bottle and LED light therapy masks, these days, the beauty essential most coveted by aestheticians and A-listers alike is none other than a high-quality microcurrent device – and for good reason. As Shamara Bondaroff, founder of SB Skin, previously told PS, microcurrent is defined as “a highly healing, restorative, and regenerative treatment that uses a mild electrical current to stimulate the skin and facial muscles.”
Small but mighty, these compact beauty tools pack a seriously stimulating punch, with the ability to reduce puffiness, tone skin, and create a more contoured look; the internet has cleverly credited these beauty devices as being the secret to a “five-minute facelift.” While dozens of top beauty brands are now touting their own microcurrent devices, there are two that truly stand out from the rest: the cult-favorite NuFace Mini Facial Toning Device ($220) and the celeb-approved Ziip Halo Microcurrent Device ($399), which is so good, even Jennifer Aniston called it one of her must have products.
The devices might promise similar results, but do they actually yield them? Is one more effective than the other? And how long do each product’s “lifted” effects last? Given their steeper price tags, I set out to answer these questions and honestly compare NuFace versus Ziip. Keep reading for my complete breakdown of how to use these tools, what their key differences are, and what type of beauty guru each device is best for.
What Each Product Promises
Both are marketed as tools that’ll help to deliver a “mini facelift,” just through slightly different techniques. According to NuFace’s site, the NuFace Mini works to reduce signs of aging, create an improved facial contour, and smooth skin, all with the help of five-minute microcurrent treatment. Per the brand, results from the treatment will last up to three days.
Alternatively, as detailed on Ziip Beauty’s site, the Ziip Halo relies on a Dual Waveform Technology, which combines the stimulating effects of microcurrent technology with nanocurrent – a trademarked process from Ziip – which is designed to promote skin cell regeneration and stimulate the production of collagen. This helps to turn over dead skin cells and repair a damaged skin barrier; that way, you’re not only toning skin but healing it also. According to the brand, results from the treatment will last up to three days, and most users reported an improvement in their skin’s elasticity and glow after six weeks.
Differences Between the NuFace Mini and Ziip Halo
The biggest difference between these two products is their treatment and intensity offerings. NuFace Mini offers three different intensity settings – meaning you can adjust the intensity of the tool’s microcurrents to better suit your comfort preferences. First-time users will likely be better off starting on the lowest setting and then progressively working their way up to the second and third highest once they develop a stronger tolerance for the technology.
Alternatively, the Ziip Halo has seven different treatments – all available through the Ziip Beauty app – and up to 26 different intensity combinations, so there’s much more variety and opportunity to address varying skin concerns.
How to Use the NuFace Mini and Ziip Halo
Both of these microcurrent devices are fairly simple to use. With the NuFace Mini, I start by cleaning my skin and then applying the NuFace primer immediately after – focusing the serum mostly on areas I plan to use the device (like my cheeks and jawline), rather than other areas like my forehead. I then turn the NuFace Mini on by clicking its centrally located power button, selecting the intensity level (medium is my preferred), and then gliding the tool across my skin.
The device has a built-in beep setting, which lets you know when it’s time to stop and move on to the next area. After five minutes, my NuFace facial is complete. While most of the priming formula is absorbed into my skin by this point, I’ll simply wipe off any remaining product with a towel, and then carry on with my usual beauty routine.
With the Ziip Halo, I follow a slightly similar process. I’ll begin my routine by cleaning my face, then, once padded dry, squirting about five pumps of the brand’s Electric Complex Gel into my palm. I’ll then apply the solution to my face, once again focusing the product on areas where I intend to use the device most. After turning on the Ziip Halo, I’ll place it up against my skin and begin the treatment, starting with my chin area and then moving the device up and out until it reaches the edge of my face. The microcurrent tool beeps halfway through the treatment and will turn off automatically after four minutes – so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of time yourself.
Unlike the NuFace Mini, the Ziip Halo also provides lifetime access to the Ziip app, which features a wide variety of microcurrent facial treatments, all of which are designed to cater to each user’s skin-care needs and have been created by the brand’s founder, aesthetician Melanie Simon.
Does the NuFace Mini or the Ziip Halo Deliver Better Results?
Both of these beauty tools are incredibly effective and deliver similar results – like reduced puffiness and a lifted look – but I’ve found that the Ziip Halo provides a more customized treatment experience that ultimately administers longer-lasting results. The below photos showcase my face before and after using each device; the first image is a reflection of the Ziip Halo’s effectiveness, and the second image highlights the results of the NuFace Mini.
In the first photo, my cheeks look less puffy and my eyebrow bone looks more pronounced – creating a much more lifted look that’s honestly comparable to how my skin looks after a facial massage. My facial structure looked more toned overall and the results of the Ziip Halo treatment lasted for several days.
In the second image, my jawline looks much sharper after using the NuFace tool, my cheeks look far less puffy, and my eyebrow has a stronger arch than normal; if I didn’t know any better, I might’ve assumed these were before and after photos from a Botox treatment (a testament to the Nuface Mini’s effectiveness). Unfortunately with the NuFace Mini, I did find that my faux-facelift had mostly dissipated by the end of the next day after use – much faster than my results with the Ziip Halo.
Who Are the NuFace Mini and Ziip Halo Devices Best For?
If you’re someone looking to achieve a more contoured and lifted look without the hassle of having to get a facial or injection treatment every week, these microcurrent devices are both worthwhile investments. The NuFace Mini reduces puffiness and delivers an elevated look that lasts all day; its results do eventually wear off within a day or two, which is why I recommend it for those who are committed to using it regularly and making it a staple within their daily beauty regimen. Alternatively, if you’re willing to splurge a bit more, the Ziip Halo is great for achieving a smoother and visibly tighter look, plus its results last much longer so you won’t be required to use it as often each week.
Ultimately, these are two of the best microcurrent devices that money can buy, especially considering you can achieve professional-like results at home.
Where Are These Microcurrent Devices Available?
Both the Ziip Halo and NuFace devices are available at retailers like Amazon and CurrentBody, as well as their brand’s respective websites. Plus, PS readers can shop and save big on the NuFace Mini Starter Kit at Sayn – just use the exclusive code PSXOSAYN20 to get 20 percent off.
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Kyley Warren is an award-winning writer, editor, and affiliate strategist with more than four years of experience in the publishing space. She currently works as an assistant editor on PS Shopping and is an expert on all things related to shopping and fashion. She previously worked with Entertainment Tonight as a style commerce writer, and her byline has appeared in publications globally.
