‘I’ve Actually Found A Face Tool That Gets Rid Of Spots Overnight’

Acne and I go way back. Like most of us, I got my first breakout in my teens, it was sparse and I didn't think much of it until I turned 18 and the stress brought on by A-levels left my skin riddled with spots. Over the years, I've tried countless over-the-counter and prescribed products, as well as high-tech acne treatments, and even developed an acne-safe beauty routine, all in an attempt to bring things under control.

While my skin is nowhere near as bad as it used to be, now aged 31 I still get the odd breakout (thanks, hormonal acne). I'm intent on finding a long-term solution to skin health, which undeniably starts by looking inward, but in the interim I'm penchant to a quick fix and my new go-to has helped to get rid of spots overnight. Yes, really.

What is the Ziip Dot?

Electrical esthetics brand Ziip comes highly-rated by a flurry of celebrities including Margot Robbie, Jennifer Aniston and Gillian Anderson, who are all big fans of the brand's Ziip Halo. Robbie was so impressed by it, in an interview she said, 'I’ve been using this micro-current device called Ziip which has given me noticeable results. I’m not paid by the brand or anything, it’s really, really good'. If that's not enough proof of the brand's impressive skin benefits, our very own beauty director Rachael Martin claims it's results are so good it stopped her getting filler.

Armed with that knowledge, I was keen to know how the brand's stellar technology would fair when used to combat acne. The aptly named Ziip Dot, £169.99, uses microcurrent alongside Nanocurrent™ to tackle breakouts. Like all its devices, the Dot is powered by Ziip's Dual Waveform Technology, which uses low-voltage electricity (both microcurrent and ZIIP nanocurrent™ waveforms) to achieve various skincare results.

The microcurrent specifically reduces inflammation, swelling, and bacteria that cause blemishes, while the brand's Nanocurrent™ replicates your body’s natural electrical currents to help encourage skin cell renewal and repair, which promotes skin healing. The latter waveform triggers the production of the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in our skin, AKA the primary energy currency of cells, which speeds up cellular repair and improves blood flow so blemishes can heal faster.

When using the device, the treatment area first receives a wave of Microcurrent that make your skin tingle, before a beeping sound ushers in the second phase of the treatment with Nanocurrent, which calms and repairs the skin barrier.

How to use the Ziip Dot

Following the user guide is key to getting incredible results from your Ziip Dot. First, it's worth noting that the single tool can be used in three different ways: on a single pimple; on a full face of breakouts and on stubborn acne. Each treatment type has a separate set of requirements.

A single pimple treatment can be performed for two to four days back to back and if you need to repeat the treatment you'll need to wait two days. For a a full face of breakouts, use it three times a week with a rest day in between each session. And, for stubborn acne it's recommended you treat the skin two to four days straight, then have two days of rest before you repeat.

Regardless of which treatment you opt for, using the accompanying Clear Gel that comes with the Dot is a must. Loaded with anti-bacterial mint, calming cucumber and redness reducing aloe vera, it not only makes the experience of using low-voltage electricity more comfortable but the nature of the Dot improves skincare aspiration by 120% so the actives within the gel combat spots alongside the currents, meaning the treatment works in two folds.

Once you've applied the gel, you'll need to place the electrodes on the base of the device directly onto the skin, before twisting it clockwise and counterclockwise while ensuring full skin contact. The treatment lasts for 90 seconds and after 60 the device automatically switches to the Calm mode to soothe the skin with Nanocurrent. Then, you can repeat the treatment as advised.

My honest thoughts on the Ziip Dot

Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'I first decided to try the Ziip Dot in a desperate attempt to calm an acne flair up the night before a bridal shower. Getting breakouts is a very unpredictable experience but for me they've been known to rear their heads right before a big event, so treating my skin within such a short window felt like asking for a miracle. But to my (very big) surprise, the Ziip Dot delivered.

'When I patch tested the product initially, I felt the sting of using it without the Clear Gel, so the second time around I did as instructed and layered two to three pumps of the gel on to my skin before rotating the device around both areas of my cheeks where I had broken out. The next morning, I woke up to skin that was calmer, less red and angry, and the two pustules on my cheeks has shedded their white tinge and deflated. That was all after a single 90 second treatment on each cheek. Will I use the Dot again? I absolutely cannot wait.'

Shop: The Ziip Dot

Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).