Electrical esthetician Melanie Simon practices what she preaches. The founder of Ziip Beauty and co-creator of their signature tool — a palm-sized nano-current skincare device we love — is a champion of holistic skincare and a firm believer that good skin comes to those who work for it daily.
Declared “the holy grail of treatments” by Vogue, Ziip sets the standard for DIY microcurrent, one of our favorite anti-aging treatments. The tiny tool’s ability to smooth, tone and lift skin makes it a top pick among beauty editors and beauty bosses like Glossier’s Emily Weiss. The chic tool comes with an app for custom programs.
We asked Melanie to join our Green Goddess Guide series with a few natural beauty tips we’re loving, including an indulgent weekend recovery routine and beautifying smoothie we’re whirling up ASAP…
If I only have 5 minutes to get ready, I…
Tie a kabuki bun on top of my head, press on Biologique Recherche P50 1970 all over my face with bare hands, put Biologique Recherche Elastine pure serum around my eyes, and next put my Melanie Simon Skincare Serum C all over my face and neck. I grab my Lola wide-brimmed straw hat, kiss my pug Mortimer and run. I always apply my sunscreen in the car (once Serum C has glazed over, and then Jane Iredale pressed powder).
Beauty obsession of the moment:
Patchs Defatigants by Biologique Recherche. I apply to both eye and jowl area, until dry. To really go the distance, I apply my ZIIP Golden Gel and do the ZIIP Instant Gratification treatment on all the uncovered skin around the patches while they’re setting.
Beautifying snack/meal:
Acai bowl made with rice milk, shaved almonds, strawberries, coconut shavings, mulberries and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Beautifying drink:
I have three favorites:
+ Lemon water (filtered water, warmed, with at least half of a lemon squeezed into it),
+ Almond Milk. When I’m in a pinch, this is like a meal. It makes my skin look really luminous.
+ Calm water. Consumed at night. Magnesium in warm water. It helps you to sleep, helps you to be regular, it helps your muscles to relax.
Can’t travel without…
My ZIIP device. It’s the only thing that can instantaneously make my face look younger, keep hormonal breakouts at bay and prevent my melasma from getting out of hand. It also keeps my pores taught and my skin looking rested and healthy.
Best beauty tip I ever learned backstage or on a shoot:
You can apply my Serum C on after your makeup, if you want your skin to look really dewey. This is extremely costly and is purely for show since it’s not soaking into the skin. It’s just creating a finishing shield. Typically, when I’m with someone backstage or on a shoot, nothing is out of reach.
For ultra-glamorous effect:
My Melanie Simon Skincare Serum C and Biologique Recherche products layered. Dyed and permanently curled lashes with a few extensions added in + Kith lipgloss by Smith & Cult + RMS Living Luminizer.
Products I rely on for lips:
The ZIIP Beauty device has a great treatment called VitalEyes. I often use this on my lips too, to bring blood to my pout and make my lips look fuller. Also, EOS vanilla coconut balm.
Beauty tool I can’t live without:
My ZIIP. I sound like a broken record. I didn’t make this tool because I wanted to have a company. I made it because I believe in how powerful electricity is on the skin when done regularly.
Weirdest beauty habit:
I put Egyptian Magic balm on my eyelids at night. Not too heavy. Just a thin layer on the lid and especially in the corner.
Always in my evening clutch:
Jane Iredale pressed powder and spray D2O.
In the shower I keep…
David Mallet moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Tatcha Indigo body scrub and body cream.
Once a month I…
Get my brows tinted and shaped at STRIIIKE in LA.
After a long-night or rough weekend…
I wash my face with a gentle cleanser and, as a double cleanse, I use a Biologique Recherche mask right after and leave on for 10 minutes. Then I go through my normal skincare routine. Instead of a moisturizer, I’ll do a second Biologique Recherche mask and leave it on for 20 minutes. After the I remove the second mask, I start my routine again with Serum C as step one. I never tone my skin twice. So, the steps are:
+ Mask 2 (remove)
+ Serum C
+ Biologique Recherche Serum Matriciel
+ Biologique Recherche Eye Cream or Susanne Kauffman Eye Cream
+ Biologique Recherche Dermopurifiante
+ Biologique Finishing Fluid VIP O2
The product that changed my skin…
I plead the Fifth. Please don’t make me say it again… Outside of that, P50 1970 by Biologique Recherche is definitely a skin game changer.
My go-to DIY recipe or smoothie recipe:
Frozen peaches, frozen mango, frozen Greek yogurt, orange juice and unflavored rice milk. It comes out tasting like a creamsicle.