So, the idea of a review in reverse is quite interesting. What changes will I see when I stop using a device? Will effects be more noticeable as they fade? How will I feel, and will this change my overall opinion of the device?
Luckily, I’ve been microcurrenting for several months now, so I decided to quit and share with you what happens. This is what we’ll cover:
- A microcurrent addict for 14 months
- What results I got, & didn’t get
- Why I was happy to stop microcurrent
- What difference did I see?
- Have I changed my mind about microcurrent?
Let’s do this.
A microcurrent addict for 14 months
The Nuface Trinity microcurrent is the second home beauty device I’ve trialled. I started in April 2019 and stopped December 2019. I used it religiously for 9 whole months. Phew.
I then switched to trial the ZIIP Nano device. I used it as frequently from January 2020 until the start of June 2020. So, that’s another 5 months.
And although I didn’t see everything I hoped for, I loved my results with both devices. For me, there’s no significant difference between the two.
What results I got, & didn’t get
This is what the Nuface and ZIIP did for my face:
Both gave me incredibly healthy skin. Before microcurrent, I considered that a very vague benefit. That’s because I didn’t realise how much of a difference a healthy complexion makes. It means hydrated, firm, bouncy, and dewy skin. My large pores became tight and my skin was beautifully silky to touch.
They also cleared away surface ‘bits’ and bumps, and left fewer and smaller blackheads. Only hormonal spots appeared.
I had fuller cheeks, a natural pout, and a tightened jawline. They lifted my small pre-jowls so I didn’t notice them anymore.
There were also some temporary effects to de-puff my eyes and soften my under-eye fine lines.
The changes were subtle, and easier to see with the help of comparison photos. But I could really feel the difference. This meant a boost to my confidence. My skin was the healthiest it has ever been. I was happy to skip CC cream and foundation most days.
However, results vary by person, and you may not get ALL the results you hope for. As I also found.
Microcurrent didn’t tighten my under-chin wobble. I became fixated on this during the first few months because I’d expected a noticeable change. So, I did more frequent sessions in a bid to tighten it up. It didn’t work. But as soon as I accepted this, I could concentrate on what good the microcurrent was doing to my skin.
OK, so if I saw such good results, why was I happy to stop?
Why I was happy to stop microcurrent
Despite my positive results, I was relieved to stop. That’s because both devices eventually felt like a chore.
I find both devices demand commitment and are time consuming. I did four sessions per week taking 25 to 30 minutes each. I could do shorter sessions, but anything less seemed a waste of the expensive conductivity gels and my time! That’s because I know more is definitely more with microcurrent. I wanted the best possible results so I told myself to knuckle-down and do it properly.
And the sessions are rather different with each.
Ziip needs motivation
I find the ZIIP requires most motivation. There are several App routines and you must concentrate to stay in sync because they’re timed. The Ziip buzzes half way through so you kow to move to the other half of your face. Some routines e.g. the longer Energise, use the same microcurrent through out, so you can free-form and do your own routine without the App. But, Ziip say you get best results if you follow their routines because they help your lymphatic drainage.
Other shorter routines vary the micro/nano current output by facial areas so you really must follow the routine. You can follow along with the App videos, but it’s easy to get ahead, and is annoyingly repetitive after a while. Or do your routines from memory, counting the reps to stay in sync. However, I couldn’t successfully do this whilst relaxing and watching TV at the same time! But you may not have this problem 🤦♀️.
You can Nuface on auto-pilot
The Nuface Trinity felt much easier. You can follow or learn the simple routine from videos on Youtube or in the App. And there are handy diagrams in the user guide too. They’re easy to remember.
The microcurrent output doesn’t change, so you can do your routine in any order. Do the basic short one, the longer advanced one, or your own combination with more reps on trouble spots. Whatever suits you best. And working in sections (so the gel doesn’t dry) makes it easier to keep track too. It’s easy to do in front of the TV and it doesn’t matter if you lose your place. It’s an auto-pilot device.
In addition, for my last month of using Nuface Trinity, I tried the CurrentBody Skin LED mask. You do red light before microcurrent and oh my! What a power-combo! The red light amplifies the effects of the microcurrent, and gives a new beautiful glow on top. I love that. I continued with the mask during my ZIIP trial too, and saw equal results.
But, after a few months of the ZIIP, I was simply very bored of the microcurrent monotony. Especially compared to the easy, simple, and hands-free LED mask. I didn’t want to go back to the Trinity either.
Also, I was curious to see how my skin would change.
If I stopped, I reasoned I would write this reverse-review article and maybe it would help someone else who’s thinking of ditching their microcurrent routine. So, after a short deliberation with myself, I decided to quit.
That was at the beginning of June 2020. And to start, I did not miss it one bit.
What differences do I see now I’ve stopped?
I kept a diary over the next 4 months to record what happened as the microcurrent effects faded. I kept using the CurrentBody Skin LED mask 2 or 3 time a week.
For the first few weeks there was no change. Then, I felt tiny bumps from a few blocked pores on my chin. My pout softened too. Was my mouth slightly down-turned too? And, oh hello. My small pre-jowls were back again 😞.
However, my skin was still smooth, beautifully hydrated, and looked healthy overall. I felt no more significant changes over the next few weeks until a few non-hormonal spots appeared. One on my left cheek and one on my right jawline. And by the following week (at the 2-month mark), a few more blemishes joined the party. Those under-the-surface bumps were bigger, with blackheads, and small spots around my nose, on my chin, and a few on my hairline too. I’d totally forgotten about these! However, they healed quickly with the help of the LED mask.
Aside from the blemishes and bumps, my skin also felt less hydrated. Therefore, it wasn’t as dewy and smooth. My cheeks felt less full, flat even. Overall, my lower face felt less supple and tight. I noticed my under-chin sag and pre-jowls a lot more now too. And my pout, gone 😭.
I seriously considered picking up the Nuface again. But I didn’t.
And a few weeks after that, my cheeks had less bounce for sure. I also felt less ‘meat’ around my eye sockets and – although my eyebrows weren’t level to start – they now looked more obviously lopsided. And my eyes looked heavier. I began worrying the bumps on my chin and even tried squeezing a few – something I’d not thought about for months.
For the next month, I saw and felt no more change in my skin. So, this was my new normal skin.
Here are my comparison photos taken 4 months after I quit microcurrent (but continued with the red light mask):
Now, you can see the changes are subtle, but they’re noticeable to me. I still think my skin feels and looks good with the continued use of the red light mask. It’s just not as good as when combined with the microcurrent.
So, in summary:
- I noticed small changes after a few weeks
- They became more obvious after 2 months
- It took about 3 months total for the microcurrent effects to completely fade away
- The red light mask maintains healthy, smooth skin & tight pores, but to a lesser extent than with the microcurrent
- I feel the changes more vs seeing them
- I miss my hydrated, dewy skin from microcurrent
- I now get regular bumps & blemishes
- There’s noticeably less volume & bounce in my skin,
- I miss the tightened lift around my lower face & mouth
- And I really want my pout back!
So, what do I think about home microcurrent now?
I can see my results from microcurrent are more pronounced than I had first thought. I now appreciate the tightening effect, lift and volume, but also the extra hydration and how it clears blemishes, bumps, and blackheads. And keeps them away. But my results are subtle.
Combined with red light however, results are much more noticeable.
So, it’s not only about collagen and elastin. But all my skin’s health. And this means perky, energetic cells, busy building, repairing, and removing harmful cell waste and oxidants. And because these bad things age my skin, home microcurrent may help to help fight them.
However, it’s still rather a lot of effort. But now I know home microcurrent won’t lift my saggy under-chin, I’d simply focus on clear, hydrated, and healthy skin. So, I’d happily spend less time on it. Nuface’s 5-minute basic routine after my red light mask should do the trick.
Once I’m done testing a few other devices, maybe I’ll go back to it.
Learn more about these devices & technologies:
- Nuface Trinity review
- Ziip Nano review
- CurrentBody Skin LED mask review
- Quasar Pure Rayz red light device review
- All about microcurrent
- All about red light
