Zeno Hot Spot

• Description: A hand-held acne-fighting device that uses heat to destroy bacteria that causes pimples and noticeably reduces the size and redness with 1-2 uses.
• Price: $39.99 for 80 uses
• Availability: Drugstore.com and various retail drugstores.

Acne and I have not had a great history.  It’s actually been a pretty brutal battle (one that i’m finally feeling like I’m winning) but it’s still not over.  I’m always on the search for a great zit zapper, yet I want one that is gentle enough that it won’t irritate my sensitive skin (irritation = more breakouts).  I saw an advertisement for the new Zeno Hot Spot ($39.99) and I got quite interested- I had heard of the brand name before, and I knew the idea of the tool, but this new compact version caught my eye a little more.  After tweeting about it, Zeno generously offered for me to try it out and I can’t wait to share the results.

I’ve tested my Zeno Hot Spot for about 3 weeks now (probably the only time I ever wished I would get a pimple) and I’ve definitely got some results to share.  The Zeno Hot Spot is very tiny and compact, its about the size of two lipsticks side by side and it’s very easy to use.  This acne therapy uses heat that kills acne-causing bacteria in 1-2 (sometimes 3) uses that each last 90 seconds. I can definitely FEEL the heat, but it’s not painful at all.  I do have some issues with the design of the product, but I’ll get to those later.  Obviously because the therapy is simply heat, there are no chemicals or harsh ingredients to irritate the skin- this therapy is 100% safe and natural (a huge bonus for those seeking out natural and effective skincare).

The cap comes off to reveal the treatment area, the on button and a light-up display of its lifespan remaining.  To turn the device on, you simply press the area in the middle, and it will make a sound, light up and begin treatment- this is kind of a problem because I’ve “accidentally” turned the device on a few times and theres no way to turn it off.. and since theres a limited number of uses (I’m still not exactly sure WHY that is…) I felt like I kind of wasted some of them.  You just have to be careful when handling it without the lid on.  The number of treatments left is displayed by the illuminated lights on the left hand side. (EDIT: Zeno let me know that if you tap the power button twice it will turn off- good to know!) The nice thing is that the device does come with two AA-batteries so you can use it right out of the box, no charging necessary.

Now on to the most important part- the results.  I found the best results occurred with pimples that were JUST starting to appear- it really didn’t help eliminate any fully-developed blemishes (especially whiteheads), however I did find it to be extremely effective at stopping the formation of new ones in their tracks, as long as you catch them in their baby stage.  I’ll describe the photos above:

• BEFORE - This image was taken when I first noticed a pimple was forming. You can see some swelling and redness of the area.
• POST TREATMENT- This photo was taken immediately after a 90 second treatment with the Zeno Hot Spot- I wanted to show you that some redness and swelling can occur right after, but it goes away within 20-30 minutes completely… You just don’t want to use this thing right before you have to run out of the house.
• AFTER 2 TREATMENTS - This photo was taken about 4 hours after the “before” photo, and as it mentions, I used two 90-second Zeno Hot Spot treatments within a few hours.  The redness and size is significantly reduced, and with a little concealer this thing became almost completely invisible.

I must say I’m pretty impressed with the Zeno Hot Spot’s effectiveness… However like I mentioned earlier, the 80-use lifespan is a bit frustrating.  At 2 uses per blemish, it works out to about $1 per blemish which can be quite hefty depending on the condition of your skin.  I’ll definitely be repurchasing this device when I’m finished with this one, however I’ll probably save it for when I know a special event or evening out is coming up and I need a little miracle worker.

Summary

• Product [23/25] – I’m really pleased with the effectiveness of stopping new pimples in their tracks, but it’s not as effective on other, more developed pimples
• Value [8/10] – I think for a device that really works, the price point is pretty decent.  I am not a fan of the fact it only lasts 80 treatments though.
• Use [5/5] – It’s super easy…press on, hold on pimple, wait 90 seconds. Done.
• Accessibility [5/5] – Can be purchased from a wide variety of retailers, both in store and online.
• Packaging [4/5] – I think the cute and compact design is awesome, but I wish there was a switch or something instead of just a touch-sensor….I don’t want to waste any treatments!