Gel for NuFACE, What Works and What It Costs
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
Read bio
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
Read bio
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
Read bio
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
Read bio
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.
Share
NuFACE designs its devices around its own gels and activators, which start at $35 for 1.69 oz, and whatever gel you use must be water-based and stay wet throughout the session for the current to reach the muscle.
This guide covers what to put on your face with a NuFACE device, such as:
- NuFACE's own gels and what each one is for
- prices and sizes
- what makes a gel conductive
- how much to apply and how to make it last
- what to check before using another gel
and many more!
We make PureLift, a device that works with any water-based conductive serum, so we have stuck to what NuFACE itself publishes about its gels.
Key Points:
NuFACE sells its Aqua Gel and Silk Creme activators from $35, in 1.69 oz, 3.3 oz and 10 oz sizes.
NuFACE says its Aqua Gel is designed for use with all NuFACE microcurrent devices.
A conductive gel needs water and dissolved ions to carry current, which is why oils and silicone-heavy creams do not work.
A thick, even layer that stays wet is what matters most, since a dry patch weakens the current and can sting.
Check NuFACE's warranty and return terms before switching to another brand's gel.
Why NuFACE needs a gel
Microcurrent has to pass through the skin to reach the muscle. Dry skin resists current, so a conductive layer bridges the gap between the device and your face.
Without enough gel, the current drops, the device feels weaker and you may feel a sting. See our article on whether microcurrent devices need gel.
NuFACE's own gels
Hydrating Aqua Gel Activator
A clear, water-based gel. NuFACE lists it from $35, in 1.69 oz, 3.3 oz and 10 oz sizes, and says it is designed for use with all NuFACE microcurrent devices.
Firming and Brightening Silk Creme Activator
A creamier activator, also listed from $35 in 1.69 oz, 3.3 oz and 10 oz sizes.
Leave-on gel primer
NuFACE also sells a leave-on gel primer designed to stay on the skin after the session.
What it costs over a year
Used five times a week, a 1.69 oz tube runs out within weeks, so the larger sizes work out cheaper per session. The full math is in our cost per session article.
Prices and specifications were checked on brand and retailer listings in October 2026 and change often, so confirm them before you buy.
What makes a gel conductive
Water carries current when it contains dissolved ions, such as salts. Most water-based gels and many water-based serums conduct well.
Oils, balms and silicone-heavy creams resist current. How to test a product is in our article on testing a serum.
Using another gel with NuFACE
Check NuFACE's warranty and return terms first, since NuFACE builds its routine around its own activators.
If you do use another gel, choose a plain water-based conductive gel without oils or silicones. Options are compared in our best gel guide and our gel vs serum vs aloe article.
How to apply it and make it last
Apply a thick, even layer to one zone at a time rather than the whole face at once, so it does not dry before you reach it.
Reapply a little when the device starts to drag or the sensation changes.
Close the tube between uses and keep it out of the heat.
If you want to avoid branded gels
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10, plus an Infuse pass, on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and they work with any water-based conductive serum.
Our comparison with NuFACE is in PureLift vs NuFACE, and how NuFACE compares with other brands is in our NuFACE vs other brands article.
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
What gel do you use with NuFACE
NuFACE designs its devices around its own Aqua Gel and Silk Creme activators, which start at $35.
How much is NuFACE gel
NuFACE lists its Aqua Gel and Silk Creme activators from $35, in 1.69 oz, 3.3 oz and 10 oz sizes.
Can you use NuFACE without gel
No. Without a conductive layer the current drops and the device can sting.
Can I use aloe vera with NuFACE
Check NuFACE's warranty terms first. A plain aloe gel may conduct, but many contain oils or alcohol that change how well it works.
How do I make NuFACE gel last longer
Apply it one zone at a time, buy the larger sizes and close the tube between uses.
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.