If you don’t feel like reading, don’t worry! You can watch this as a video!
A few years ago, the use of facial care devices was uncommon. People used to limit their beauty routine to using cosmetic products applied to the skin. However, in the last decade, we have seen a significant change in this trend. As we saw in our blog about technology and beauty, today, the use of devices to support facial care is on the rise.
An example of this change is the galvanic facial treatment, which consists of an electrical current that is used to improve the appearance of the skin. Although its use has been focused on anti-aging, the truth is that many other benefits can be obtained with its regular use.
In our article today we will see how galvanic facial treatments work, what their benefits are, who can take advantage of them and how to choose the right products for effective use.
How do galvanic treatments work?
The galvanic facial treatment is based on the use of positive and negative polarity to improve the penetration of cosmetic products into the skin. It uses the basic concept of physics, in which opposite poles attract while similar poles repel each other.
For an effective galvanic treatment, the following are needed:
- The galvanic facial device (Example: Nu Skin Ageloc Galvanic Spa).
- A facial gel that contains the active ingredient(s) you want to transport to deeper layers of the skin.
- Depending on the charge of the device (positive or negative) and if we use a positively charged gel or a negatively charged one, a chemical reaction will occur that will bring amazing benefits to the skin.
The chemical reaction
Galvanic currents react with electrically charged water-soluble substances (electrolytes) increasing their conductivity. When electrolytes dissolve in water they form ions that can be positive (cations) or negative (anionic).
Since equal charges repel each other and opposite charges attract, the following chemical reactions can happen:
- When the galvanic negative electrode is in contact with a negatively charged conductive gel (similar poles), these two repel each other, «pushing» the product into the innermost layers of the face.
- The same happens when using the galvanic facial in its positive electrode and a positively charged gel together. They repel each other, causing the product to enter the skin.
- When the galvanic facial is in a positive current and the conductive gel is negatively charged (opposite poles) they are attracted and therefore instead of inducing the absorption of products, the exfoliation of them is stimulated.
Keep reading, because in a while I tell you how these chemical reactions translate into benefits for the skin!
What is Nu Skin Galvanic facial?
Galvanic treatments were long applied exclusively in the spa. However, when Nu skin released «Ageloc Galvanic Spa» as a way to use a galvanic skin treatment from home to improve skin texture and reduce fine lines, it made this treatment very popular in recent years.
What are the facial treatments that I could apply with the Nu skin galvanic facial?
As we saw, the galvanic device and the conductive gel can have similar or opposite charges, and based on this a chemical reaction is created. How does this translate into skin treatments?
The main treatments to use with a galvanic facial are:
- Desincrustation or Deep Cleansing
- Anaphoresis
Desincrustation or Deep Cleansing
This procedure is known in the package of Nu skin products that accompany galvanic facial as «Pre-Treatment» and «Post-Treatment». In this you place the first one on the skin while the «Ageloc Galvanic Spa» is placed at number 1 (negative charges); to later apply the second with the «Galvanic Spa» in the number 2 (positive charges).
When both the galvanic facial and the conductive gel are negatively charged (Pre-treatment), an alkaline reaction called Cataphoresis occurs. During this what happens is the following:
- The conductive gel formed by an alkaline solution penetrates the surface of the skin thanks to the fact that the two loads are similar and repelled. This relaxes the pores and softens the keratin in the external layer of the skin.
- In a deeper layer of the skin, this cleansing substance melts or emulsifies the sebum
When both the «Nu Skin Ageloc Galvanic Spa» and the conductive gel are positively charged (Treatment) an acid reaction called galvanic iontophoresis occurs. During this what happens is the following:
- The positively charged conductive gel and the positive pole of the galvanic current, attract to the surface of the skin the sebum that had been liquified in the pre-treatment (since it is negatively charged and the opposite poles attract), thus causing an exfoliating effect
- On the other hand, the two positive currents (gel and galvanic current) are repelled, injecting into the face the anti-aging ingredients included in the «treatment» product.
Results and Benefits of Galvanic Desincrustation
- Removal of excess sebum, harmful toxins, clogged pores, and dead skin cells.
- Deep cleansing and exfoliation without affecting skin health and promoting cell regeneration
- Stimulates blood circulation and increases oxygen levels into skin cells
- Introduce water-soluble substances into the skin
If you want to read more about the scientific basis of desincrustation, you can read here.
Nu skin suggests that to perceive effective results in terms of anti-aging, the use of this treatment is required at least three times a week.
Who can benefit from treatment?
Nu skin has associated the products to be used with the «Galvanic Spa» with anti-aging. This is because the skin treatment that comes with the device, has been embellished with anti-aging-oriented ingredients such as vitamins, algae extracts or Gotu kola extract for example.
However, mature skin is not the only one that can benefit from the galvanic spa. Adolescent skin, especially those that may have acne-prone skin or with a tendency to produce excess sebum, can also take advantage of this non-invasive technology. The skin treatment can include actives to fight acne, and therefore, minimize comedones and improve moisture retention and health of the skin.
Anaphoresis or Induction of Actives into the skin
The second type of skin treatment that can be used in conjunction with a galvanic treatment is «anaphoresis» which basically consists of the application of active ingredients targeting the specific needs of that skin.
As you know, the skin is composed of multiple layers that seek to defend and prevent the passage of any type of element that comes from the outside. For those of us who are dedicated to formulating cosmetic products, any extra help that allows us to deliver to the skin the benefits of the ingredients we use is wonderful for the results we seek to obtain.
How does Anaphoresis work?
Anaphoresis is the acid reaction that occurs when using a positive current in conjunction with a positively charged conductive gel.
Regardless of the ingredients included in the conductive gel, there are benefits of galvanic treatment that can be perceived by the chemical reaction itself:
- Skin gains firmness
- Blood vessels are reduced by reducing redness
- Softens nerve endings
- Makes a germicidal and astringent action
- Reduces pore size
Additionally, by combining a galvanic facial device with a positively charged conductive gel containing ingredients with a specific purpose, it causes both to repel each other (similar charges) and for these ingredients to be induced into the deeper layers of the skin, multiplying their beautifying effect.
Can I use Nu Skin Galvanic Spa with any conductive gel?
The answer is yes and no. The effects on the skin will depend on the load of the galvanic current and the solution to be used. Ionized (or positively or negatively charged) products can come in various presentations: ampoules, gels, and creams.
Ampoules and Gels
They are the most commonly used for the desincrustation treatment since the negative charge is achieved through the use of surfactant ingredients (soap or cleaners) that possess these charges. However, since surfactants are designed to be used in cleansing and wash-off products, they do not necessarily apply to those we want to leave on the skin.
So, other gels other than Nu Skin can be used to perform desincrustation, as long as these are negatively charged for pre-treatment (Cataphoresis) with negatively charged surfactants or positively charged for post-treatment (Iontophoresis) with neutral or positively charged surfactants.
Creams
Creams are usually the result of emulsifying water with oil. However, when it comes to using creams with the galvanic current, it must be taken into account that the oil limits the conductive capacity of the product. That is why we must take into account the following:
- The creams to be used should be «oil-free». This means that the oils are replaced by ingredients that provide emollience but do not limit the ability to conduct. In the case of Nu Skin, these are replaced by silicones (not my favorite ingredient so I chose to prepare my own products).
- Emollients are mixed with water-soluble active ingredients through emulsifying ingredients and it is the latter that provides the neutral or slightly positive charge to the product.
In summary, if you are going to use products other than Nu Skin in combination with the galvanic current of your Nu Skin Ageloc Galvanic Spa, it is important that:
- The product is positively or negatively charged according to its purpose
- A product with a negative charge, it is usually a cleansing gel and serves for the treatment of desincrustation and is used with the Nu Skin galvanic spa in negative current (number 1)
- A positively charged product is usually an oil-free cream, loaded with purpose-specific active ingredients and used with the Nu Skin Galvanic Spa in positive charges (2 to 5).
- Active ingredients are chosen according to the required result. If it is required to treat fine lines, then you should have anti-aging products, but if the purpose is to treat acne, you should have ingredients oriented to it.
- Anaphoresis, or induction of active ingredients, must be one of the last parts of the skincare process for products to remain on the skin.
Current and Head vs Type of Treatment
Once the type of product to be used has been selected, it is important to be clear that the intensity of the current in nu Skin’s galvanic facials varies as well as the head to be used:
- Nu Skin comes with a small head for fine lines, a large head for the surface of the face, a head with teeth for the scalp, and a head for body treatments (we will talk about it in another post)
- If we focus on skin care, only the first two are needed
- The desincrustation process is carried out with the large head for the skin and in currents 1 and 2 of the galvanic which correspond to a negative and positive charge respectively and with different durations
- The current to be applied in the expression lines, being a more sensitive area has different levels and duration
This in my opinion is the interesting thing about using the Nu skin galvanic device, since the numbers bring loads and duration configured for each specific skin treatment or face zone, making it a safe treatment that facilitates results without leaving home.
Can I use Nu Skin Galvanic Spa with any conductive gel?
- Take care of the skin without leaving home
- Improve the freshness and natural appearance of the skin
- Decrease fine lines and prevent wrinkles on the skin
- Avoid skin problems such as acne
- Remove impurities and stimulate the production of new cells
- Increases blood circulation, making it easier to bring more oxygen and nutrients to skin cells
- Deep cleansing
- Accelerate the process of cell renewal which reduces the aging process
- Moisturizing effect since rich ingredients penetrate the skin
- Improvement in the efficiency of the skin to remove waste, especially by increasing lymphatic circulation in the desincrustation process
- Increase in the metabolism of the skin improving its appearance
Although Nu Skin has directed its market offering towards anti-aging products, it is clear that many skin types at different ages can benefit from using galvanic currents to improve the appearance of the skin. So if you know other women or moms who want to look for alternatives to take care of their skin and that of their children, be sure to share this article with them.
Thanks for reading and see you in the next post!
If you don’t feel like reading, don’t worry! You can watch this as a video!
A few years ago, the use of facial care devices was uncommon. People used to limit their beauty routine to using cosmetic products applied to the skin. However, in the last decade, we have seen a significant change in this trend. As we saw in our blog about technology and beauty, today, the use of devices to support facial care is on the rise.
An example of this change is the galvanic facial treatment, which consists of an electrical current that is used to improve the appearance of the skin. Although its use has been focused on anti-aging, the truth is that many other benefits can be obtained with its regular use.
In our article today we will see how galvanic facial treatments work, what their benefits are, who can take advantage of them and how to choose the right products for effective use.
How do galvanic treatments work?
The galvanic facial treatment is based on the use of positive and negative polarity to improve the penetration of cosmetic products into the skin. It uses the basic concept of physics, in which opposite poles attract while similar poles repel each other.
For an effective galvanic treatment, the following are needed:
- The galvanic facial device (Example: Nu Skin Ageloc Galvanic Spa).
- A facial gel that contains the active ingredient(s) you want to transport to deeper layers of the skin.
- Depending on the charge of the device (positive or negative) and if we use a positively charged gel or a negatively charged one, a chemical reaction will occur that will bring amazing benefits to the skin.
The chemical reaction
Galvanic currents react with electrically charged water-soluble substances (electrolytes) increasing their conductivity. When electrolytes dissolve in water they form ions that can be positive (cations) or negative (anionic).
Since equal charges repel each other and opposite charges attract, the following chemical reactions can happen:
- When the galvanic negative electrode is in contact with a negatively charged conductive gel (similar poles), these two repel each other, «pushing» the product into the innermost layers of the face.
- The same happens when using the galvanic facial in its positive electrode and a positively charged gel together. They repel each other, causing the product to enter the skin.
- When the galvanic facial is in a positive current and the conductive gel is negatively charged (opposite poles) they are attracted and therefore instead of inducing the absorption of products, the exfoliation of them is stimulated.
Keep reading, because in a while I tell you how these chemical reactions translate into benefits for the skin!
What is Nu Skin Galvanic facial?
Galvanic treatments were long applied exclusively in the spa. However, when Nu skin released «Ageloc Galvanic Spa» as a way to use a galvanic skin treatment from home to improve skin texture and reduce fine lines, it made this treatment very popular in recent years.
What are the facial treatments that I could apply with the Nu skin galvanic facial?
As we saw, the galvanic device and the conductive gel can have similar or opposite charges, and based on this a chemical reaction is created. How does this translate into skin treatments?
The main treatments to use with a galvanic facial are:
- Desincrustation or Deep Cleansing
- Anaphoresis
Desincrustation or Deep Cleansing
This procedure is known in the package of Nu skin products that accompany galvanic facial as «Pre-Treatment» and «Post-Treatment». In this you place the first one on the skin while the «Ageloc Galvanic Spa» is placed at number 1 (negative charges); to later apply the second with the «Galvanic Spa» in the number 2 (positive charges).
When both the galvanic facial and the conductive gel are negatively charged (Pre-treatment), an alkaline reaction called Cataphoresis occurs. During this what happens is the following:
- The conductive gel formed by an alkaline solution penetrates the surface of the skin thanks to the fact that the two loads are similar and repelled. This relaxes the pores and softens the keratin in the external layer of the skin.
- In a deeper layer of the skin, this cleansing substance melts or emulsifies the sebum
When both the «Nu Skin Ageloc Galvanic Spa» and the conductive gel are positively charged (Treatment) an acid reaction called galvanic iontophoresis occurs. During this what happens is the following:
- The positively charged conductive gel and the positive pole of the galvanic current, attract to the surface of the skin the sebum that had been liquified in the pre-treatment (since it is negatively charged and the opposite poles attract), thus causing an exfoliating effect
- On the other hand, the two positive currents (gel and galvanic current) are repelled, injecting into the face the anti-aging ingredients included in the «treatment» product.
Results and Benefits of Galvanic Desincrustation
- Removal of excess sebum, harmful toxins, clogged pores, and dead skin cells.
- Deep cleansing and exfoliation without affecting skin health and promoting cell regeneration
- Stimulates blood circulation and increases oxygen levels into skin cells
- Introduce water-soluble substances into the skin
If you want to read more about the scientific basis of desincrustation, you can read here.
Nu skin suggests that to perceive effective results in terms of anti-aging, the use of this treatment is required at least three times a week.
Who can benefit from treatment?
Nu skin has associated the products to be used with the «Galvanic Spa» with anti-aging. This is because the skin treatment that comes with the device, has been embellished with anti-aging-oriented ingredients such as vitamins, algae extracts or Gotu kola extract for example.
However, mature skin is not the only one that can benefit from the galvanic spa. Adolescent skin, especially those that may have acne-prone skin or with a tendency to produce excess sebum, can also take advantage of this non-invasive technology. The skin treatment can include actives to fight acne, and therefore, minimize comedones and improve moisture retention and health of the skin.
Anaphoresis or Induction of Actives into the skin
The second type of skin treatment that can be used in conjunction with a galvanic treatment is «anaphoresis» which basically consists of the application of active ingredients targeting the specific needs of that skin.
As you know, the skin is composed of multiple layers that seek to defend and prevent the passage of any type of element that comes from the outside. For those of us who are dedicated to formulating cosmetic products, any extra help that allows us to deliver to the skin the benefits of the ingredients we use is wonderful for the results we seek to obtain.
How does Anaphoresis work?
Anaphoresis is the acid reaction that occurs when using a positive current in conjunction with a positively charged conductive gel.
Regardless of the ingredients included in the conductive gel, there are benefits of galvanic treatment that can be perceived by the chemical reaction itself:
- Skin gains firmness
- Blood vessels are reduced by reducing redness
- Softens nerve endings
- Makes a germicidal and astringent action
- Reduces pore size
Additionally, by combining a galvanic facial device with a positively charged conductive gel containing ingredients with a specific purpose, it causes both to repel each other (similar charges) and for these ingredients to be induced into the deeper layers of the skin, multiplying their beautifying effect.
Can I use Nu Skin Galvanic Spa with any conductive gel?
The answer is yes and no. The effects on the skin will depend on the load of the galvanic current and the solution to be used. Ionized (or positively or negatively charged) products can come in various presentations: ampoules, gels, and creams.
Ampoules and Gels
They are the most commonly used for the desincrustation treatment since the negative charge is achieved through the use of surfactant ingredients (soap or cleaners) that possess these charges. However, since surfactants are designed to be used in cleansing and wash-off products, they do not necessarily apply to those we want to leave on the skin.
So, other gels other than Nu Skin can be used to perform desincrustation, as long as these are negatively charged for pre-treatment (Cataphoresis) with negatively charged surfactants or positively charged for post-treatment (Iontophoresis) with neutral or positively charged surfactants.
Creams
Creams are usually the result of emulsifying water with oil. However, when it comes to using creams with the galvanic current, it must be taken into account that the oil limits the conductive capacity of the product. That is why we must take into account the following:
- The creams to be used should be «oil-free». This means that the oils are replaced by ingredients that provide emollience but do not limit the ability to conduct. In the case of Nu Skin, these are replaced by silicones (not my favorite ingredient so I chose to prepare my own products).
- Emollients are mixed with water-soluble active ingredients through emulsifying ingredients and it is the latter that provides the neutral or slightly positive charge to the product.
In summary, if you are going to use products other than Nu Skin in combination with the galvanic current of your Nu Skin Ageloc Galvanic Spa, it is important that:
- The product is positively or negatively charged according to its purpose
- A product with a negative charge, it is usually a cleansing gel and serves for the treatment of desincrustation and is used with the Nu Skin galvanic spa in negative current (number 1)
- A positively charged product is usually an oil-free cream, loaded with purpose-specific active ingredients and used with the Nu Skin Galvanic Spa in positive charges (2 to 5).
- Active ingredients are chosen according to the required result. If it is required to treat fine lines, then you should have anti-aging products, but if the purpose is to treat acne, you should have ingredients oriented to it.
- Anaphoresis, or induction of active ingredients, must be one of the last parts of the skincare process for products to remain on the skin.
Current and Head vs Type of Treatment
Once the type of product to be used has been selected, it is important to be clear that the intensity of the current in nu Skin’s galvanic facials varies as well as the head to be used:
- Nu Skin comes with a small head for fine lines, a large head for the surface of the face, a head with teeth for the scalp, and a head for body treatments (we will talk about it in another post)
- If we focus on skin care, only the first two are needed
- The desincrustation process is carried out with the large head for the skin and in currents 1 and 2 of the galvanic which correspond to a negative and positive charge respectively and with different durations
- The current to be applied in the expression lines, being a more sensitive area has different levels and duration
This in my opinion is the interesting thing about using the Nu skin galvanic device, since the numbers bring loads and duration configured for each specific skin treatment or face zone, making it a safe treatment that facilitates results without leaving home.
Can I use Nu Skin Galvanic Spa with any conductive gel?
- Take care of the skin without leaving home
- Improve the freshness and natural appearance of the skin
- Decrease fine lines and prevent wrinkles on the skin
- Avoid skin problems such as acne
- Remove impurities and stimulate the production of new cells
- Increases blood circulation, making it easier to bring more oxygen and nutrients to skin cells
- Deep cleansing
- Accelerate the process of cell renewal which reduces the aging process
- Moisturizing effect since rich ingredients penetrate the skin
- Improvement in the efficiency of the skin to remove waste, especially by increasing lymphatic circulation in the desincrustation process
- Increase in the metabolism of the skin improving its appearance
Although Nu Skin has directed its market offering towards anti-aging products, it is clear that many skin types at different ages can benefit from using galvanic currents to improve the appearance of the skin. So if you know other women or moms who want to look for alternatives to take care of their skin and that of their children, be sure to share this article with them.
Thanks for reading and see you in the next post!
