Facial Treatment With Devices: Products, Tools, Supplies, and Equipment

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering skincare products, multi-use tools, single-use supplies, electrical facial equipment, electrodes, and safety/infection control protocols.

Makeup Remover (Oily)

A product designed for removing waterproof or water-resistant makeup, dispensed onto a cotton round and placed on the eyes.

Makeup Remover (Non-Oily)

A product used for all makeup removal except waterproof, dispensed into a bowl and applied with a brush or fingers over the entire face to remove foundation and perform the first cleanse.

Facial Wash/Cleansing Gel

A cleanser used to deep cleanse and break down lipids within the skin; whipped in a bowl with a brush, applied to the face, worked with massage or a rotating brush, and removed with warm towels or warm wet gauze.

Toner

A product used to hydrate and re-establish pH during the cleanse and tone step, often applied using a vacuum/spray atomizer (note: astringents must never be placed in the atomizer).

Desincrustation Solution

A water-based alkaline solution, often possessing a gel consistency, used with a galvanic device during the exfoliate step to soften impactions in the skin in preparation for extractions.

Massage Cream

A massage medium applied with the hands that absorbs quickly into the skin, requiring either a limited massage length or re-application, and is removed with a cool towel or disposable sponge.

Massage Gel

A massage medium applied generously with hands for pressure point massage or light effleurage that leaves no residue, does not require removal, and is used for indirect high frequency.

Oxygenating Serum

A gel or water-based serum that promotes $\text{O}_2$ in the skin using ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide, commonly used during high frequency treatments.

Antibacterial Serum

A targeted treatment dispensed in small amounts to spot treat breakouts after extraction and before the mask and finish step, frequently utilized with direct high frequency.

Conducting Gel

A high-viscosity (thick) water-based gel, also known as coupling gel, applied during electrotherapy procedures such as microcurrent treatments.

Barrier Cream

A thick protective substance, such as Vaseline®, applied around sensitive facial areas and piercings during electrotherapy and chemical exfoliation treatments.

Cleaning

The removal of surface or visible debris and potential pathogens using soap, detergent, or chemical cleaner followed by a clean water rinse, serving to slow pathogen growth prior to disinfection.

Disinfection

The chemical process that kills certain pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and fungi), excluding bacterial spores, on nonporous surfaces, tools, and multi-use salon/spa supplies.

Fan Brush

A tool used to apply product across the face, neck, and upper chest; pre-cleaned using soap and water and disinfected by immersion in an approved EPA-registered disinfectant.

Comedone Extractor

A multi-use metal implement designed to ease the removal of comedones from the follicles.

Spatula

A single-use disposable or reusable tool used to remove product from containers without double-dipping, thereby preventing cross-contamination.

$$4 \times 4\,\text{Non-Woven Gauze Wipe}$$

A single-use disposable supply used to remove products and extraction debris that does not shed lint like a cotton round.

Gauze Face Mask

A single-use item placed over the face to create spark gapping with the mushroom electrode during high frequency treatments or dipped into a paraffin heater for mask application.

Cotton Round

A single-use cotton pad used damp to apply or remove product; available in $4\,\text{in}\,(10.16\,\text{cm})$ diameter for cleansing pads, $2\,\text{in}\,(5.08\,\text{cm})$ diameter for individual eye pads, and $2\,\text{in} \times 6\,\text{in}\,(5.08\,\text{cm} \times 15.24\,\text{cm})$ ovals.

Magnifying Lamp (Loupe)

A piece of diagnostic skin equipment that provides magnification and light to enable a thorough skin analysis.

Wood's Lamp

A filtered black-light lamp that allows the esthetician to identify skin conditions, skin type, and pigmentation variations.

Steamer

An electrical device that warms and softens the skin with moist heat, utilized during or following the cleansing process or throughout exfoliation.

Hot Towel Cabinet

A heated storage unit with controllable temperature settings used to keep moist towels warm and ready for facial treatments.

High Frequency Device

An esthetic electrotherapy machine utilizing alternating current at an oscillation rate of $100{,}000\text{--}250{,}000\,\text{Hz}$ (cycles per second), applied via direct or indirect methods.

Mushroom Electrode

A rounded glass high frequency electrode moved across the entire face in circular, gliding motions during direct treatment to generate a germicidal effect.

Spiral Electrode

A glass high frequency electrode held firmly by the client during indirect or Viennese massage to increase product penetration and overall relaxation.

Sparking Electrode

A specialized glass electrode held slightly away from the skin in direct application (sparking or fulguration) to produce mild heat and ozone for treating acne lesions.

Galvanic Device

An electrotherapy machine operating on a constant direct current measured in milliamperes ($\text{mA}$) featuring a positive pole (anode) and a negative pole (cathode).

Metal or Ionto Rollers

Active galvanic electrodes rolled across the face and neck to facilitate product penetration over large surface areas.

Metal Ball Electrode

A small, rounded active galvanic electrode designed to roll into narrow facial contours around the nose, mouth, and delicate eye area.

Grounding Bar Electrode (Indifferent)

A metal cylinder covered with wet padding/gauze that is held by the client during galvanic service to safely complete the electrical circuit.

Tweezer Electrode

An active galvanic attachment stroked across small, congested facial areas during desincrustation to loosen deep impactions.

Microcurrent Device

An electrotherapy device that delivers low-level micro amperage via modified direct current to tone skin, re-educate facial muscles, and improve blood and lymphatic flow.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED)

Non-thermal light therapy equipment using bulbs of varied colors and wavelengths to produce non-coherent light; does not contact the skin and requires spray/wipe disinfection only.

Vacuum Spray

A dual-action machine driven by an electric motor and pump providing misted toner application (spray atomizer) and suction massage (ventouse attachments).

Rotating Brush

A mechanical device using circular oscillation to spin varied brush attachments over the skin to perform mechanical exfoliation.

Scope of Practice

The legal boundaries, allowable procedures, and permissible device modalities defined by a state's regulatory licensing board under which an esthetician is authorized to operate.