A Little Aloe, a Little Science: Meet Glow Activating Gel

As a Master Herbalist, I love finding ways to bring natural ingredients into our everyday routines. But I want those ingredients to have a purpose. What are they doing for the skin? Why do they belong together? And how can we use them thoughtfully?

That is what led me to Glow Activating Gel—a blend of aloe vera, vegetable glycerin, alcohol-free witch hazel, and a little xanthan gum, all in a water-based formula.

The idea is simple: bring botanical skincare and facial technology into the same ritual.

Let’s talk about why that pairing makes sense.

First, what is EMS?

EMS stands for electrical muscle stimulation.

Your muscles already respond to electrical signals from your nerves. EMS uses pulses delivered through electrodes on the skin to stimulate motor nerves and encourage muscle contractions.

Think of that little rhythmic movement you may notice during a treatment. There is a reason behind it! Depending on the settings and placement, the electrical pulses can prompt the muscle to contract and relax.

Our faces have muscles beneath the skin, and those muscles are part of the bigger picture of facial aging. Skin, connective tissue, fat, muscle, and bone all contribute to our facial contours.

That is why I find this technology interesting. It gives us another way to think about caring for the face beyond what we apply to its surface.

What does the research say about facial firmness?

In a 12-week randomized controlled study of 108 women, researchers studied a facial neuromuscular stimulation device. They measured an average 18.6% increase from baseline in the thickness of a cheek muscle called the zygomatic major. Participants also reported improvements in facial firmness, tone, and lift.

That research helps explain the interest in EMS for facial conditioning. The focus is on stimulating muscles that contribute to facial appearance.

Hydration plays a different role. Well-hydrated skin can look smoother and feel softer, while muscle stimulation works through the nerves and muscles. They are different parts of the same skincare conversation.

And that brings us to the gel.

Why does an EMS device need conductive gel?

The skin’s outer layer is a wonderful protective barrier. It helps hold moisture in and keeps much of the outside world out.

That barrier also creates resistance to electrical contact.

A suitable conductive gel creates a moist connection between the electrodes and skin. It fills tiny gaps at the surface and helps electrical signals pass across that contact area more consistently. Research on electrode-interface hydrogels shows that the gel’s electrical properties affect how stimulation is delivered and distributed.

I think of it as building a bridge between the tool and your skin.

The gel also provides slip, allowing the head to move smoothly according to the device’s directions.

You will sometimes hear this described as helping the current “go deeper.” More precisely, the gel improves the connection at the surface. The device’s settings, electrode design, and the tissues themselves determine how the current travels.

The goal is good contact and controlled stimulation.

Every ingredient has a job

One of my favorite things about formulating is learning how a few ingredients can complement one another. A shorter ingredient list can still involve plenty of science.

Here is the thinking behind this blend.

Aloe vera: the botanical heart of the formula

If you have spent much time around natural skincare, you have probably reached for aloe.

I love its light, refreshing feel. For this formula, concentrated aloe powder is mixed with water to create the aloe component.

There is research behind aloe’s moisturizing potential, too. In a small human study, cosmetic formulations containing freeze-dried aloe extract increased hydration in the outer skin layer after repeated application compared with the base formula. The researchers suggested a humectant effect—helping hold water in that outer layer.

That is a lovely example of where herbal skincare and science meet. A familiar plant, studied for a practical skin benefit.

Aloe is included here for skin conditioning and hydration. Its role is separate from the muscle stimulation delivered by EMS.

Vegetable glycerin: a little moisture magnet

Glycerin is one of those ingredients that deserves more attention.

It is a humectant, which means it attracts and holds water. That makes it useful in formulas designed to help skin feel hydrated and comfortable.

Human research on glycerin-containing products supports its moisturizing role. One study of glycerol-containing skin patches found concentration-dependent improvements in skin hydration.

In this blend, vegetable glycerin also contributes to the feel and glide.

The “vegetable” part describes its source. The glycerin molecule is doing the moisture-binding work—another little reminder that understanding an ingredient means looking at both where it comes from and what it does.

Alcohol-free witch hazel: a botanical water

Witch hazel has a long history in skincare, and I chose an alcohol-free version for this blend.

It contributes to the water-based portion of the formula and keeps the ingredient selection connected to my botanical approach.

Here is an interesting herbal detail: witch hazel water and witch hazel extract are not necessarily the same thing. How a plant is processed changes what ends up in the bottle. Distillation can remove tannins, so a distilled witch hazel water should not automatically be credited with all the properties of a tannin-rich extract.

As an herbalist, those details matter to me. Knowing the plant is one part of the story; knowing the preparation is another.

Xanthan gum: the ingredient that gives it body

Aloe powder mixed with water does not automatically turn into a thick gel. That is where xanthan gum comes in.

Xanthan is a polysaccharide—a long-chain carbohydrate—made through microbial fermentation. It binds water, increases thickness, and contributes lubricating properties.

A small amount helps turn the watery blend into a texture that is easier to spread and keep in place.

This is the practical side of formulation: creating a product that feels good to use, with enough body to stay where you put it and enough slip to move comfortably.

Distilled water: the foundation

Water gives the other ingredients a place to dissolve and disperse.

But here is a science surprise: pure distilled water is a poor electrical conductor.

Electrical current in a water-based gel is carried by dissolved charged particles called ions. That means conductivity depends on the whole formula, including its dissolved ingredients. A slippery texture alone does not tell us how well a gel conducts.

Water, humectants, botanicals, and thickeners each have a role. The finished blend brings those roles together.

Natural ingredients, thoughtfully chosen

My love of natural skincare comes from wanting to understand and care for the skin.

I am drawn to aloe, plant-derived glycerin, botanical waters, and fermentation-derived ingredients because they fit that approach. Each brings something useful to the formulation.

For me, “natural” is the beginning of the conversation. The next questions are about quality, concentration, preparation, and how the ingredients behave together.

That includes protecting a water-based product from contamination. Good preservation is part of caring for the person who will use it. Botanical ingredients still need that protection.

Thoughtful skincare considers the whole formula.

Two different jobs, one intentional ritual

The EMS head supplies the electrical stimulation. A compatible conductive gel provides the moist contact medium and glide.

The botanical ingredients bring skin conditioning and hydration into that experience.

That is what I enjoy about combining natural skincare with technology: understanding what each part contributes.

Follow your device’s instructions for compatible gels, placement, settings, and treatment time. Keep the contact area adequately covered as directed, and remember that a stronger sensation does not mean a better treatment.

My goal with Glow Activating Gel is to bring the same intention to this step that I bring to the rest of our skincare: purposeful ingredients, a comfortable experience, and a little time set aside to care for yourself.

Because learning the science can make a simple skincare ritual even more meaningful.