Hydrodermabrasion Protocol: Which Water Facial Tip for Each Step

Each tip color on a water facial machine runs a different step, so the tip you load defines what the session does. This guide sorts our water facial machine tips and solutions by step.

It follows the step order our product listings give, exfoliation, then extraction, then hydration. It names the tip color for each step and shows where the ACTIVITA concentrates fit.

What Is Hydrodermabrasion?

Hydrodermabrasion, also called a water facial, resurfaces skin by combining suction with a serum stream through a disposable tip.

The listings describe it as a non-invasive treatment of about 30 minutes that cycles through exfoliation, hydration and extraction as the patient's skin needs. One device cleanses, exfoliates and hydrates.

A water facial machine tip is the disposable, color-coded head that pairs a treatment function with the matching handle on the device. Each function on the machine calls for its own tip, and each tip color maps to a distinct function.

Below you will find the steps by tip color, a side-by-side comparison, how to choose between extraction and exfoliation tips, where the ACTIVITA concentrates fit, and what to check on handpiece fit.

Hydrodermabrasion Protocol Steps by Tip Color

The listings give one step order for a session: exfoliation, then extraction, then hydration. The clear tip listing describes the full color set as a cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate sequence.

Step 1: Exfoliation (blue, orange and purple tips)

Three tip colors cover exfoliation, each listed for a different skin type or function.

• Blue: standard exfoliation. Listed for normal-to-combination skin and routine resurfacing. See the blue exfoliation tips.
• Orange: aggressive exfoliation. Listed for thick, rough, sun-damaged or congested skin. See the orange tips for aggressive exfoliation.
• Purple: enhanced exfoliation and serum infusion. Listed as suitable for all skin types, including thicker skin. See the purple enhanced exfoliation tips.

Step 2: Extraction (teal tip)

The teal tip runs the extraction phase. It is listed for pulling blackheads, sebum and debris out of pores with suction instead of manual pressure, and for congested, blackhead-prone, oily skin. See the teal water facial tips for extractions.

Step 3: Hydration (clear tip)

The clear tip runs hydration and serum infusion. The listing says to use it after the exfoliating tips have cleared the surface, and it is listed for sealing serum into freshly resurfaced skin. See the clear hydration tips.

The purple tip's FAQ also describes an enhanced exfoliation and serum infusion pass, used to push hydrating serums like hyaluronic acid into the skin after resurfacing.

Water Facial Tip Colors Compared

Five tip colors cover the protocol: blue, orange and purple for exfoliation, teal for extraction and clear for hydration.

Which Tip for Extractions vs Exfoliation?

Load the teal tip for extractions and the blue, orange or purple tips for exfoliation.

Teal is the extraction tip. It pulls blackheads, sebum and debris from pores with suction. Blue, orange and purple are the exfoliation tips, and they differ by function and by the skin they are listed for.

Between blue and orange, the blue listing gives a simple rule: blue handles everyday exfoliation, while orange is reserved for aggressive resurfacing on thick or congested skin. Match the tip to the patient's skin condition.

Where the ACTIVITA Solutions Fit

ACTIVITA Active Solution Concentrates are professional-grade skincare concentrates for water facial machines, formulated for dermabrasion, extraction and infusion treatments.

They are for in-office use with a compatible water facial or hydrodermabrasion device. The line has four concentrates, A to D, each in a 30 ml bottle:

• AOX Bright (bottle A): the brightening formulation for pigmentation and uneven tone. It contains glycolic acid, lactic acid, L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C), alpha arbutin and vitamin E.
• Beta Clear (bottle B): exfoliating acids and soothing botanicals, listed for oily, acne-prone skin.
• Barrier Forte (bottle C) and Peptide Glow (bottle D): the listing gives no formula details for these two.

The listing's guidance is to match the concentrate to the client rather than running one solution for every face. The water facial machine solutions page lists the full line.

Handpiece Fit and Single-Use Tips

The tips fit standard water facial handpieces, but confirm the fitting against your specific machine before ordering.

Water facial machines are sold separately. Every tip color is sold as a bag of 15 disposable tips. The blue, orange, teal and clear tips are listed as single-use and single-patient. The purple tip is listed as sterilized, sealed and single-use.

Key Takeaways

• The listings give this step order: exfoliation, then extraction, then hydration.
• Blue, orange and purple tips run exfoliation. Teal runs extraction. Clear runs hydration.
• Blue is for everyday exfoliation. Orange is reserved for aggressive resurfacing on thick or congested skin.
• ACTIVITA has four concentrates: AOX Bright, Beta Clear, Barrier Forte and Peptide Glow. Match the concentrate to the client.
• Confirm handpiece fit against your machine. Tips are single-use and sold in bags of 15.

Related Resources

• Water facial machine tips and solutions: the full category with every tip color.
• Water facial machine solutions: the ACTIVITA Active Solution Concentrates.

Have a question about which tips fit your machine or which concentrate suits a client? Contact us, or go straight to the water facial machine tips and solutions.