ZIIP Gels Compared, Firm vs Refresh vs Glow vs Clear
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers

Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.

Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.

Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.

Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
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Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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ZIIP's current gels are Firm with retinol and peptides, Refresh with tranexamic acid and hyaluronic acid, Glow with vitamin C and a gentle peeling complex, and Clear with salicylic acid, so choose by skin concern and check the actives against your routine.
This comparison covers every ZIIP gel, such as:
- what each gel contains
- which skin each one suits
- the older Golden, Silver and Crystal gels
- actives to be careful with
- cheaper alternatives
and many more!
We make PureLift, a competing device, so every detail about other brands comes from their own pages and published reviews.
Key Points:
ZIIP lists four gels: Firm, Refresh, Glow and Clear.
Firm contains retinol, biomimetic growth peptides and Cica-PDRN; Refresh contains tranexamic acid, encapsulated resveratrol and hyaluronic acid.
Glow contains vitamin C, glutathione and a gentle peeling complex; Clear contains salicylic acid, Dendriclear and algae extract.
The HALO 2.0 now ships with four 30 ml gels, while earlier HALO 2.0 kits were reported with Golden, Crystal and Silver gels.
Any water-based conductive layer carries the current, so the actives are the main difference between gels.
The four ZIIP gels at a glance
| Gel | Key ingredients, per ZIIP | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Firm | Retinol, biomimetic growth peptides, Cica-PDRN | Firmness and lines |
| Refresh | Tranexamic acid, encapsulated resveratrol, hyaluronic acid | Hydration and barrier support |
| Glow | Vitamin C, glutathione, gentle peeling complex | Dullness and uneven tone |
| Clear | Salicylic acid, Dendriclear, algae extract | Oily or blemish-prone skin |
Every figure comes from the brand's own website or listings, checked in October 2026. Prices change often, so confirm before you buy.
What a conductive gel actually does
ZIIP says its gels protect the skin while letting the current pass through. The water and ions carry the current; the actives are a skincare bonus. How conductivity works is in our conductive serum article.
Firm gel
Contains retinol. If you already use a retinoid at night, using Firm as well may be too much for sensitive skin. Avoid retinol products during pregnancy and ask your doctor.
Refresh gel
The gentlest choice for dry or sensitive skin, built around hydration and barrier support.
Glow gel
Contains vitamin C and a gentle peeling complex. Skip it on freshly exfoliated or irritated skin.
Clear gel
Contains salicylic acid, suited to oily or blemish-prone skin. Avoid layering it with other strong acids on the same day.
The older Golden, Silver and Crystal gels
Reviewers of early HALO 2.0 kits described Golden, Crystal and Silver gels, and one noted that Crystal contained niacinamide. ZIIP's current lineup is Firm, Refresh, Glow and Clear. Our HALO 2.0 review is in our ZIIP HALO 2 review.
Cheaper alternatives
Any water-based conductive gel or serum without oils or silicones will carry the current. Check ZIIP's warranty terms before switching. Options are in our gel and serum guide and our gel guide for Medicube, FOREO and ZIIP.
If you want to avoid branded gels
We make PureLift, so weigh this accordingly. Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10 on one dial, publish their output at a stated load, up to 7 mA at 500 ohms on PureLift Face, and work with any water-based conductive serum.
Our ZIIP comparison is in PureLift vs ZIIP HALO.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
Which ZIIP gel is best
Firm for lines and firmness, Refresh for dry or sensitive skin, Glow for dullness and Clear for oily or blemish-prone skin.
What is in ZIIP Firm gel
ZIIP lists retinol, biomimetic growth peptides and Cica-PDRN.
What happened to ZIIP Golden and Silver gel
Reviewers described Golden, Crystal and Silver gels in early HALO 2.0 kits. ZIIP's current lineup is Firm, Refresh, Glow and Clear.
Can I use another gel with ZIIP
A water-based conductive gel without oils or silicones will carry the current. Check ZIIP's warranty terms first.
Which ZIIP gel is best for sensitive skin
Refresh, which is built around hydration and barrier support.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.