How to Recycle Plastic Bags

Plastic Bag Recycling

When it comes to recycling, what do you think of first? Is it big blue or green recycling bins, labeled for different types of plastics or glass or aluminum or cardboard or paper? Do you think of plastic bags?

Plastic bag recycling is booming, yet many consumers aren’t even yet aware that plastic bags can be recycled. Let’s look at some of the reasons that might be, as well as how plastic bags are recycled and where you can take your plastic bags for plastic bag recycling.

How Hard Is It To Recycle Plastic?

Truthfully, likely much harder than you might realize. In large part, that is because of the range of types of plastics and how difficult many of those plastics are to breakdown into a form that can then be reworked into something new.

Consider this: only 9 percent of all plastic is recovered in the United States—almost all of which is PET (#1 plastic) and HDPE (#2 plastic) plastic, though even their recovery rates are only 31 and 28 percent, respectively. So what’s the hold-up?

Let’s look at some of the biggest limiting factors when it comes to plastic recycling:

1. The resin codes. Many consumers mistake the numbers on their plastics for a recycling key, courtesy those arrows around the numbers. All the numbers denote, however, is the resin composition of the plastics; not all of those plastics are actually recyclable. In many places and in many recycling programs, for instance, only #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) plastics are recyclable.
2. Even more variations than codes. Even if there are only seven resin codes, there are, in fact, thousands of different kinds of plastics—and they need to be carefully sorted in order to be recycled. (And if they aren’t sorted correctly, and different types of plastics are processed together, it can ruin the whole batch.)
3. Pigmentation. Assuming they are recyclable, clear plastics can be recycled into any color; white plastics can be recycled into any color but clear. When different colors are introduced into the mix, however, it can be much harder to work with dyes to make them anything other than a darker hue of the color they already are.
4. Downcycling. Unlike some other recyclables—like glass, for instance—which can be recycled in a closed loop, glass bottles begetting more glass bottles, plastic recycling might more accurately be called downcycling, as it is most often recycled into something else lower down the production line, such as jacket filling, which can then not be recycled. As a result, most plastic recycling can still only be recycled once.
5. Consumer education. The biggest problem, of course, with plastic recycling is that most consumers don’t know what is and what isn’t recyclable, nor the best way to recycle their plastics.

Plastic Recycling Numbers

As we noted above, plastics are often labeled with one of seven numbers, connected to their resin. Those seven numbers are as follows:

1. Polyethylene Terephthalate, or PETE. Common applications include food packaging, water bottles, and soda bottles.
2. High-Density Polyethylene, or HDPE. Common applications include milk bottles, motor oil containers, detergent, and bleach containers.
3. Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC. Common applications include toys, plastic piping, even furniture.
4. Low-Density Polyethylene, or LDPE. Common applications include sandwich bags, grocery bags—what we think of as plastic bags—and plastic wrap.
5. Polypropylene, or PP. Common applications include rope, plastic tubs, even clothing.
6. Polystyrene, or PS. What we commonly call styrofoam, common applications include packing peanuts, carry-out food trays, and cups.
7. Other types of plastic all fall into this category.

In many places, only a few of those types of plastic are recyclable; PETE (#1) and HDPE (#2) are the most commonly recycled plastics, for instance. Fortunately, plastic bags are more and more frequently eligible for plastic bag recycling, so let’s look more closely at that process.

What Happens To Plastic Bags That Are Recycled?

We’ve already seen that most plastic bags are made of #4 plastic, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), though some are also made with high-density polyethylene (#2, HDPE). While many curbside recycling programs will accept #2 HDPE plastics, many fewer will accept #4 LDPE plastics, and as a general rule, you shouldn’t expect your local curbside recycling program to accept plastic bags. That doesn’t mean they can’t be recycled, though!

Instead, many grocery stores and other retail locations offer plastic bag recycling—and in some places may even be required to offer it by law. As a result, you can generally find places for your plastic bag recycling near you—we’ll even help you find plastic bag recycling near you in the very next section!

That doesn’t explain, however, what happens to those plastic bags after you drop them off at a plastic bag recycling location—so let’s look a little more closely at that process. Here’s how you should handle your plastic bag recycling:

• Make sure there is nothing left in any of the bags, such as crumbs or receipts, which can contaminate your load.
• Have dedicated storage space for plastic bag recycling. That way you can drop off batches of 50 or 100 bags at a time, especially as they don’t take up much space.
• Make sure your bags are separated out. Some facilities only take #2 plastic bags, for instance, or only #4 plastic bags. (Other locations, however, may not require your bags be sorted in advance; check your local plastic bag recycling locations for more details on what you need to do in your area.)
• Once you drop your bags off, one of several things might happen. Your bags might be melted down, or they might be chipped into pellets, depending on what their next use is.

And those plastic bags end up as quite a few different things. Let’s look at some of the most common applications for plastic bag recycling:

• Composite Lumber. With a mix of plastic bag recycling and lumber scraps (such as sawdust or old pallet scraps, for instance), composite lumber is both hardy and relatively cheap, which makes it a frequent option for decking and outdoor construction. It holds up well to the elements, which makes it a great option for various construction projects. Plastic bags are often chipped into pellets as part of the recycling process if they are slated for use in composite lumber.
• New Plastic Bags. Of course, plastic bag recycling can also result in new bags after the old bags are melted down as part of the plastic bag recycling process. This type of recycling is far more environmentally responsible than making new bags from scratch, too.
• Nanotechnology. Carbon nanotube membranes, which are used in nanotech (such as biomedical applications and energy storage), can be made from recycled plastic bags.

Finally, check out these 15 facts about recycling plastic bags.

15 Plastic Bag Recycling Facts

1. More than one billion plastic bags are used every day.
2. That works out to an average of 4 bags per person per day in the United States.
3. And only approximately 3% of those bags are ever recycled.
4. That means 97% of all plastic bags end up in landfills.
5. Of the plastic bags that are recycled, nearly half end up in composite lumber.
6. Almost all of that composite lumber is sold by one of two companies: Trex Company and AERT Inc.
7. Composite lumber made with plastic bag recycling is more durable than traditional lumber when it comes to outdoor projects, doesn’t need treatment with harmful chemicals, and is pest-resistant and splinter-free, which are all reasons it is often a more environmentally responsible choice than more traditional options.
8. Composite lumber made from plastic bags is available at many hardware and home improvement stores, such as Home Depot or Lowe’s.
9. Plastic bags are one of the biggest ocean contaminants, and sea life such as birds and fish often mistake them for food—which can, in turn, lead to their death, either by choking, digestive issues (courtesy the plastic their bodies aren’t equipped to handle), or even getting stuck in the plastic itself.
10. In fact, up to 80% of all marine trash is plastic bags.
11. Each year, 100,000 marine mammals die as a result of all of those plastic bags.
12. How widespread is the problem? Nearly a third of all leatherback sea turtles, for instance, have been found to have plastic in their stomachs.
13. Nor do plastic bags biodegrade, meaning it can take hundreds of years for them to decompose—even if handled properly in a landfill, for instance.
14. Because plastic bags are made from petroleum, every ton of plastic bag recycling (between 400,000-500,000 bags) saves between 10 and 12 barrels of oil.
15. Plastic bags use a lot of oil to produce: 12 million barrels each year. Or another way of looking at it: Roughly a mile’s worth of gasoline is used for every 14 bags produced.

Considering all of that, don’t you want to use fewer plastic bags? And when you are forced to use plastic bags, don’t you want to take advantage of plastic bag recycling?

Where Can I Recycle Plastic Grocery Bags?

Fortunately, plastic bag recycling is widespread, and many grocery and retail stores offer collection points.

For instance, if you click here you can enter your zip code and find collection points near you. Many major retail chains make a point of having plastic bag recycling collection points, as well, including Target, Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, and more.

Does Walmart Recycle Plastic Bags?

They do! Nationwide, Walmart offers plastic bag recycling collection receptacles. These are usually located near the entrance to the store, but you may need to check with your local Walmart if you have trouble locating the collection point.

You should also feel good about recently announced initiatives in which Walmart is asking its suppliers to be better about plastic packaging. The new guidelines, announced in February 2019, include the following:

• 100 percent of private brand packaging should be recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025;
• At least 20 percent of private brand packaging should be post-consumer recycled content by 2025;
• 100 percent of consumable (food) packaging should include How2Recycle labeling by 2022;
• Non-recyclable PVC packaging material should be eliminated from general merchandise packaging by 2020;
• Private brand plastic packaging should be reduced wherever possible.

Those are some big goals toward a more sustainable future!

Does Home Depot Recycle Plastic Bags?

Home Depot similarly has plastic bag recycling collection points, often in the front of their stores. In addition, they also offer other types of recycling, including electronic recycling and battery recycling, meaning that you can regularly use Home Depot locations to recycle items you might not be able to recycle elsewhere.

You can learn more about their electronic recycling program on their site, and it’s worth learning more about Call2Recycle—their nonprofit battery recycling arm—too, especially as they’ve successfully recycled more than 10 million pounds of rechargeable batteries, for instance.

Does Target Recycle Plastic Bags?

Target was one of the first major retailers to jump on the plastic bag recycling train, first offering it at all stores nationwide in 2010. The move came as part of a major recycling program overhaul in Target stores to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day; the initiative was originally part of a month-long focus on recycling and sustainability.

Recycling stations at the front of each Target store accept a wide range of recyclable products, not just plastic bags. In addition to plastic bag recycling, you can find receptacles for:

• Aluminum recycling
• Glass recycling
• Plastic beverage container recycling
• Plastic bag recycling
• Cell phone recycling
• Ink cartridge recycling

Target has also offered discounts at various points in time for customers who brought their own bags, helping reduce the number of plastic bags their customers need to use, as well.

Can You Recycle Ziploc Bags?

You can! In fact, you can drop off your clean and dry Ziploc bags at any plastic bag recycling collection point. It is, however, incredibly important that your Ziploc bags are clean and dry.

Much like other plastic bag recycling, any crumbs or other contamination can ruin an entire load. And, given that Ziploc bags are frequently used for food storage, it’s especially important that you make sure to clean and dry your bags before dropping them off for recycling.

If you have done that, however, you should be able to drop your Ziploc bags off at any plastic bag recycling collection point to ensure they are recycled appropriately.

Can You Recycle Plastic Straws?

Unfortunately, the answer is usually no. The problem with plastic straws has less to do with the type of plastic used, as polypropylene (plastic #5) can be recycled in some programs, and more to do with the size and flexibility of most plastic straws.

Because plastic drinking straws are so small and so bendy, they have a tendency to get stuck in sorting machinery. They’re also incredibly light, which gives them a tendency to drop through sorting screens, often resulting in either contaminating other loads or other issues.

And plastic straws, small as they are, add up—the average American uses 1.6 straws per day. That’s 500 million straws nationwide per day! That ends up being a lot of trash.

There may be other options available to you, however. First, some recycling programs will accept plastic straws if they are packaged in such a way that they’ll go through the sorting facility without causing problems, such as if you put all of your plastic straws in a #5 plastic container (like a butter tub, for instance, which are usually polypropylene). If this is something you’re considering, please call your recycling facility first; if you try this approach in a facility that will not allow straws even if packaged in other plastic recycling you may inadvertently cause contamination issues or worse.

The other option, of course, is to simply stop using plastic straws. Reusable steel straws, for instance, or easy to take with you for use in places where you would otherwise use a plastic straw—and is an easy way to readily cut down on your plastic straw consumption.

Resources:

• https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/tes/solidwaste/info/RecyclingPlasticComplications.pdf
• https://sustainablebrands.com/read/waste-not/the-many-challenges-of-plastic-recycling
• https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2018/04/04/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-plastic-and-recycling/
• http://theconversation.com/why-cant-all-plastic-waste-be-recycled-100857
• https://www.bustle.com/p/why-is-recycling-so-hard-you-may-think-its-complicated-but-nothing-could-be-easier-8768454
• https://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/recycling-by-the-numbers.html
• https://www.greenlivingtips.com/info/plastic-recycling.pdf
• https://education.seattlepi.com/happens-plastic-grocery-bags-recycled-4791.html
• https://georgiarecycles.org/tools-resources/citizen-resource-guides/plastic-bag-guide/
• https://www.plasticbaglaws.org/get-involved/plastic-bag-recycling
• https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-plastic-bags/
• https://solutions.recyclecoach.com/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-plastic-bag-recycling/
• https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html
• https://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/recycling-bags-and-wraps/find-drop-off-location/
• https://www.how2recycle.info/sdo
• https://www.quora.com/What-does-Walmart-do-with-the-plastic-bags-they-receive-to-recycle-that-can-be-from-any-other-store
• https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2019/02/26/walmart-announces-new-plastic-packaging-waste-reduction-commitments
• https://corporate.homedepot.com/newsroom/call2recycle-home-depot-recycles-ten-million-pounds-rechargeable-batteries
• https://www.homedepot.com/c/electronics_recycling_programs
• https://corporate.target.com/press/releases/2010/04/target-launches-recycling-stations
• https://ziploc.com/en/Sustainability-and-Safety
• https://livegreen.recyclebank.com/column/because-you-asked/are-plastic-sandwich-bags-recyclable
• https://get-green-now.com/recycle-plastic-straws/
• https://earth911.com/home/food-beverage/recycling-mystery-plastic-straws/
• https://www.mydisposal.com/plastic-straws

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Best Solar Lanterns

Solar Landscape Lighting

When it comes to limiting your footprint, solar lanterns are a great place to improve your lighting needs and limit your electrical use, whether you’re looking at camping lanterns or decorative solar lanterns for at home. Let’s answer some of your questions.

Can you charge solar lights without the sun?

Yes, definitely! In fact, there are multiple ways to charge solar lights such as solar lanterns without direct sunlight:

1. Indirect sunlight. Though your solar lanterns won’t charge as quickly as in direct sunlight, solar lights can still harvest energy from the sun on cloudy or overcast days.
2. Incandescent lights. Surprisingly enough, many incandescent lights will also work to charge solar lights; the brighter the better, of course.
3. LED lights. Because LED lights tend to be brighter than incandescent lights, they tend to work better for charging solar lights. Additionally, LED lights tend to be more energy-efficient, and if your LED lights are battery-powered, then you can charge your solar lantern even at camp if need be. (Though, admittedly, using batteries to charge solar lights seems a bit like defeating the purpose.)
4. Mirrors. This can require you think quickly on your feet, but if your solar lantern isn’t charging because it is in deep shadows, for instance, placing mirrors in direct sunlight to reflect that light toward the charging panel can be a great workaround. Just keep in mind that the sun tends to move, meaning mirrors will need to be repositioned.

Can you charge a solar panel with an LED light?

Yup! As noted above, it can even be the preferred charging method when you don’t have good sunlight (at least indirect sunlight, such as on a cloudy day) at your disposal, simply because LED lights tend to be more energy-efficient, meaning you are using less electricity to charge your solar lanterns, for instance.

Can solar lights work in the shade?

Definitely! While direct sunlight is the best method for charging solar lanterns, any sunlight (such as with decorative solar lanterns that might sit in the shade part of the day, for instance) is better than no sunlight, and indirect sunlight is still a great way to charge your solar lanterns, including decorative solar lanterns.

What is the brightest solar landscape lights?

If brightness is all you are looking for, you want a good solar landscape spotlight, which generally shine at a brightness of far more lumens than other decorative solar lanterns. For instance, the DrawGreen Bright LED Solar Motion Sensor Spotlights offer 1400 lumens, which is bright enough to shine 45-60 feet on a dark night.

Of course, brightness shouldn’t be the only factor you consider in a solar light, especially when it comes to decorative solar lanterns.

How long do solar landscape lights last?

That depends on each solar landscape light of course, but many of them can last up to a few weeks on a good charge if they are shining intermittently (such as motion-activated solar lights, for instance) and in general, a full day’s charge will cover a full night. You should, of course, do your own research on each solar landscape light you might consider purchasing, however.

Toward that end, though, check out our list of the 5 best solar landscape lights.

5 Best Solar Landscape Lights

1. Manor House oversized solar lantern. Nearly three feet tall, this decorative solar lantern differentiates itself from any other large decorative solar lantern in how it simulates three warm candles’ glow.
2. LITOM outdoor solar lights 4-pack. One of our favorite outdoor security solar lights, LITOM’s 4-pack offers easy installation, wireless capability, motion sensor activation and more.
3. SolarGlow LED solar path lights 6-pack. One of our favorite solar lanterns for pathways, SolarGlow offers a lifetime warranty and holds up to the weather better than many comparable options and they turn on automatically at dusk.
4. Ohuhu stainless steel solar garden lights 6-pack. Like SolarGlow’s path lights, Ohuhu’s decorative solar lanterns hold up in all weather. They also automatically turn on and off.
5. URPOWER 2-in-1 waterproof 4 LED adjustable solar spotlight. The highlight of URPOWER’s solar spotlight is the ease with which it can be customized, including angles, power, and whether or not it turns on and off automatically with dawn and dusk.

What is the best solar lantern?

Truthfully, the best solar lantern is the one that works for you and meets your illumination and charge needs. For some people who are using their solar lanterns as mood lighting, for instance, such as with decorative solar lanterns, a lumen range of up to a few hundred is probably perfect; for others, who want to be able to use their solar lantern to really see what they’re doing even on pitch-black nights, more lumens may be needed. Similarly, the duration for which each lantern will hold a charge, as well as how quickly they may charge, are important considerations. And if you’re backpacking, for instance, size and weight may also be considerations. (Even better, plenty of the best newer solar lanterns for camping come with cool extras, like USB capabilities so you can charge other devices, too!)

That said, check out our 5 best solar lanterns for camping.

5 Best Solar Lanterns For Camping

1. MPOWERD Luci Pro Outdoor 2.0. Not only was the Luci one of the first collapsible solar lanterns, it’s still one of the very best. Not only does it offer two-way USB charging, but it’s light (5.5 oz), bright (150 lumens), incredibly efficient, and the warm white light is great for in-tent ambiance. Additionally, the snappable handle makes it incredibly easy to hang inside your tent as well. The charging option isn’t enough to fully charge up an iPhone, for instance, but it’s enough to top off—and far more charging power than any other comparable solar lantern.
2. Goal Zero Crush Light Solar Powered Lantern. The Crush Light is one of the lightest backpacking solar lanterns (3.2 oz), but doesn’t skimp on quality as a result—offering a warm orange-yellow color that helps make camp feel homey as well as better reserve power than most other solar lanterns. After the lantern dies, it often still has much as an hour of power on the low setting. It doesn’t have a battery power indicator, unfortunately, but it charges quickly and feels like home.
3. BioLite SunLight. The drawback first: BioLite’s SunLight solar lantern does not charge particularly quickly unless charging by USB. That said, once fully charged it lasts far longer than most comparable lanterns, and its slim profile makes it easy to pack. It also offers a party mode, in which it cycles through different colors.
4. LuminAID PackLite Hero 2-in-1 Supercharger. Though definitely not one of the cheaper options, the PackLite Hero Supercharger packs down to less than an inch thick while offering the option of expanding into a six-inch cube in camp. While some users report occasional quality control issues, LuminAID is great about replacements and customer service, in addition to regularly donating solar lanterns to humanitarian efforts and disaster relief. As far as the waterproof and dustproof solar lantern itself goes, it offers two-way USB recharging and an incredible 300 lumens. Additionally, carabiner loops on the straps mean you can readily strap it to your pack, meaning it can charge while you hike. One potential drawback: Some users say the light is too white and too bright for an enjoyable campsite experience.
5. AGPTEK Hand Crank Solar Lantern. The best part of AGPTEK’s solar lantern is the hand crank capacity, meaning that you can create light on demand even if there isn’t any solar power from which to draw. That, combined with its small, handheld size makes it a great solar lantern for nighttime trips to the bathroom, for instance. That said, it isn’t the best choice for an all-around campsite lantern, as charges don’t necessarily last that long (the light begins dimming rather quickly) if you are not using the hand crank. Kids love the hand crank, though, and for the price point, this is a great introduction to solar lanterns for families car camping.

What is solar lighting system?

When it comes to solar lighting systems, you might think of individual lights, such as solar lanterns, but there are also bigger systems. Let’s spend a moment looking at the different types of solar lighting systems:

1. Solar Sky Lights. Solar skylight systems work with solar panels and an intrinsic sense of outdoor light to provide fluctuating lighting as needed (such as when there is cloud cover during a time of day when you would normally expect natural light).
2. Photovoltaic Lights. Photovoltaic modules store solar energy to be used as needed later, such as for nighttime lighting or as a backup emergency system. (These systems are also sometimes referred to as grid-free or stand-alone systems.)
3. Hybrid Solar Lights. Hybrid systems are sometimes also referred to as peak reduction systems, where they work in concert with utility systems already in place. These systems vary widely, but also have some of the most common applications as they work with the electrical grid already in place.

Resources:

• https://www.sepco-solarlighting.com/blog/bid/121274/what-is-solar-lighting
• https://www.ledwatcher.com/what-is-solar-lighting-and-what-are-its-advantages/
• https://www.bestsolartech.com/how-to-charge-solar-lights-without-sun/
• https://www.thesolaradvantage.net/how-to-charge-solar-lights-without-the-sun/
• https://www.greenwindsolar.com/how-to-charge-solar-lights-without-sun/
• http://bestreviews.com/best-outdoor-solar-lights
• https://mozaw.com/best-solar-lights-for-outdoor-garden-security-landsape/
• https://www.thesolaradvantage.net/solar-path-lights/
• https://morningchores.com/best-solar-lights/
• https://bestsurvival.org/best-solar-lantern/
• http://momgoescamping.com/best-solar-lanterns/
• https://www.globosurfer.com/best-solar-lanterns-for-camping-and-backpacking/
• https://solartechnologyhub.com/best-solar-powered-camping-lanterns-for-outdoors-top-10-reviews/
• https://www.99boulders.com/best-solar-camping-lanterns

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Best NuFace Device

What is NuFACE?

NuFACE products work by utilizing microcurrents. Microcurrents are low-level currents that work by mimicking the body’s natural currents to provide both instant and cumulative anti-aging effects. Even better, because the treatment works on a sub-sensory level, most people feel nothing or feel a soothing sensation.

Microcurrent facial toning device treatments are often even referred to as a “5-minute facial lift,” courtesy how quickly it works to offer a healthier, more youthful appearance. As a general idea, microcurrent works by boosting ATP production, which in turn stimulates both collagen and elastin. And, as you may well know, that increased collagen and elastin, as well as re-energized facial muscles, results in a lifted appearance.

Best conductive gel for NuFACE

Of course, for microcurrents to work well on your facial skin, you need a conductive gel to take that current from the facial toning device and to your skin’s tissues. NuFACE offers a primer gel, and most practitioners use that. However, as the priming gel contains propylene glycol, some individuals prefer to use aloe vera as a more natural conductive gel option. NuFACE’s preferred treatment actually suggests using the NuFACE Serum to help prep your skin for the NuFACE Primer for best results, as the serum purports to help prep your skin for the primer, and consequently offers maximum microcurrent conductivity.

Can I use aloe vera gel as conductive gel?

Yes! In fact, some people recommend using aloe vera gel (which is naturally good for your skin anyway, as it helps remoisturize tissue) as a conductive gel rather than the primer gel that is often recommended with microcurrent treatments or a facial toning device.

Can I use ultrasound gel with my NuFACE?

Technically, you probably could—but you might not want to. Ultrasound gel is a decent conductive gel—though its use in ultrasound applications is to help transmit radio waves rather than electrical currents—but it can cause irritation with some people’s skin and isn’t necessarily cheaper than other priming gels, nor is it necessarily any better for your skin. And if the whole point of using a facial toning device is to make your skin look better, that kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?

Can you use oil with NuFACE?

In order for microcurrents to effectively work in your skin’s tissues, you need a conductive gel to help transfer that current from the device to your skin’s tissues. Oil, however, is not a very good electrical conductor, and can actually inhibit the microcurrent and act as a barrier between the facial toning device and your skin’s tissues. As a result, you definitely do not want to use oil. (Not to mention that you probably don’t want to put oil on your face as part of your skincare regiment to begin with, but that’s a separate topic.)

Similarly, any sort of oil-based product, whether an actual skincare product or an alternative like petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or even KY jelly will not work very well with your facial toning device and may, given that oil-based products are not very good conductors and can effectively create a barrier instead, limit the effectiveness of the skincare treatments.

Can I use water with NuFACE?

The better question might be, why would you want to? In order for any microcurrent-based facial toning device to work, you need a good conductive gel to help that electrical current gently stimulate your skin tissue. While water is technically considered a conductor, it isn’t a particularly effective one compared to the many other options out there—some of which might also offer other skincare benefits. For instance, if you’re considering water because you don’t want to put chemicals on your skin or because you have sensitive skin that easily reacts to other substances, aloe vera gel might be a good option. Not only is it a better conductor than water, but it also helps remoisturize your skin’s tissues far better than water (which can actually dry your skin out or result in increased facial oil secretion in response to that drying process, neither of which you likely want). You may, however, want to use a spray bottle to mist your skin in combination with the aloe vera gel to help keep your skin moist (as the aloe vera gel can dry out on your skin) during your facial toning device treatment.

What can I use instead of conductive gel?

Technically, you wouldn’t have to use a conductive gel of any sort—but why wouldn’t you want to help ensure the microcurrents are most effectively stimulating your skin tissue when using your facial toning device? If the expense is a consideration (some priming gels can be quite pricy) or if you’re worried about sensitive skin or looking for a more natural alternative, aloe vera gels (provided they are pure, of course) can be a great alternative, for instance, and aloe vera gels can offer additional benefits in the way they help moisturize your skin tissue.

Our Happy Planet used the following resources for this article:

https://www.mynuface.com/pages/faq
https://www.mynuface.com/pages/microcurrent
https://community.qvc.com/t5/Beauty/Conductive-Gel-for-Microcurrent-Machines/td-p/872772
https://sonosupplies.com/blogs/learn/what-can-you-use-instead-of-ultrasound-gel-alternatives
https://www.quora.com/Is-petroleum-jelly-safe-to-use-on-electronics-Is-it-an-electrical-conductor
https://intothegloss.com/2016/04/microcurrent-treatment/
https://www.organicauthority.com/energetic-health/i-tried-the-nuface-and-nubody-microcurrent-toning-devices-and-they-worked

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