By Julia Hart, The Electric Facialist

The Science Behind the Prysm iO – A New Way to Understand Your Antioxidant Health

As someone who has spent many years working with skin, energy, and cellular health, I’m always fascinated by technologies that allow us to see what is happening inside the body in a measurable way.

One device that has genuinely impressed me is the Nu Skin PRYSM iO.

At first glance it looks like a small, simple scanner. But behind this elegant device is over two decades of scientific research into antioxidants, skin health and lifestyle biomarkers.

What makes Prysm iO so interesting is that it allows us to measure something that was previously very difficult to track in everyday life — your antioxidant status.

Why Antioxidants Matter for Health and Skin

Our bodies are constantly exposed to something called oxidative stress.

This is caused by things such as:

• Poor diet

• Environmental pollution

• UV exposure

• Lack of sleep

• Stress

• Smoking

• Processed foods

Oxidative stress accelerates cellular ageing, affects the skin, and can impact overall health.

This is where antioxidants come in.

Antioxidants help neutralise oxidative stress and protect our cells from damage. One of the most important antioxidant groups in the body are Carotenoids, which come mainly from colourful plant foods such as vegetables and fruits. 

Higher levels of Carotenoids in the body are associated with better nutrition, healthier lifestyle habits and improved antioxidant protection.

What Exactly Does Prysm iO Measure?

PRYSM iO measures skin Carotenoids.

Carotenoids accumulate in the skin when we consume foods rich in antioxidants. Because of this, the skin becomes a very reliable place to measure long-term antioxidant status.

The device uses specific wavelengths of light and advanced algorithms to analyse the carotenoid levels in your skin and generate what is known as your PRYSM Score. 

Your score is displayed using a simple colour scale that makes it very easy to understand:

• Red – low antioxidant protection

• Orange – below average

• Yellow – moderate

• Green – good

• Blue and Purple – very high antioxidant levels

The higher the score, the stronger your antioxidant defence.

The Technology Behind Prysm iO

This is where it becomes truly unique.

PRYSM iO uses something called Spectral Rai Technology, which is an advanced form of light measurement.

Each scan captures over 700,000 Hyperspectral data points from your skin to assess how light is absorbed.

This data is then processed using:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine learning algorithms
• Calibration referencing Raman technology

The result is a highly accurate, non-invasive way to measure antioxidant status — something that historically required far more complex testing.

Built on 20+ Years of Scientific Research

What gives PRYSM iO real credibility is that it’s not new science.

It is built on over 20 years of research into carotenoid measurement, originally developed through the BioPhotonic Scanner.

This technology has contributed to one of the largest antioxidant databases in the world, helping researchers understand how antioxidant levels relate to:

• Diet
• Lifestyle
• Supplementation
• Skin health

Prysm iO takes all of this knowledge and places it into a small, beautifully simple device you can use at home.

What Research Has Shown

Clinical research exploring PRYSM iO has shown clear correlations between antioxidant levels and everyday lifestyle choices.

Higher scores were associated with:

• Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish

• Regular exercise

• Better sleep patterns

• Lower body fat levels

Interestingly, higher antioxidant scores were also associated with better skin attributes, including:

• Smoother skin

• Better hydration

• More even skin tone

• Fewer visible wrinkles

This highlights something I often talk about with clients:

True skin health always reflects what is happening inside the body.

Why I Find This Technology So Powerful

One of the biggest challenges in health and wellness is that people often cannot see the impact of their lifestyle choices.

With Prysm iO, you can.

It creates a real, measurable feedback loop.

You can improve your diet, increase your vegetable intake, optimise your sleep, support your body with targeted nutrition — and then actually see your antioxidant levels change over time.

This is incredibly motivating.

A New Era of Personalised Wellness

For me, the Prysm iO represents something very exciting.

It bridges the gap between nutrition, skin health, and lifestyle science.

Instead of guessing whether our habits are supporting our health, we can now measure, track and improve them in a very tangible way.

And sometimes, a small device can reveal some very powerful insights about how we live.

Explore the PRYSM iO Skin From Within Series

What Are Carotenoids?
Learn why these colourful plant pigments matter for skin glow, antioxidant protection and cellular health.

What Is a PRYSM Score?
Understand what your score means and how PRYSM iO helps you track your antioxidant status over time.

Eat the Rainbow for Skin Health
Explore carotenoid-rich foods including leafy greens, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin, berries, guava and marigold-derived lutein.

Lutein, Marigolds and Beauty Focus Collagen+
Discover why lutein is one of my favourite glow-focused antioxidants and how it connects to Beauty Focus Collagen+.

Final Thoughts

Technology like the Prysm iO reminds us that health is not just about what we put on the skin — it’s also about how we nourish the body and care for our cells.

When we support our antioxidant defences, we support everything from cellular protection to healthy, vibrant skin.

And that’s something I think is truly worth measuring.

Shop the limited edition Nu Skin Prysm io with the limited edition metal stand 

PRYSM iO FAQ's

What does the Prysm iO measure?

The Nu Skin Prysm iO measures carotenoids in the skin. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants that help protect the body from oxidative stress caused by diet, lifestyle habits, UV exposure, and environmental factors.

How does the Prysm iO scanner work?

Prysm iO uses specific wavelengths of light to scan the skin and detect carotenoid levels. The device then generates a Prysm Score that reflects your antioxidant status and helps track improvements in diet and lifestyle.

What does a high Prysm Score mean?

A higher Prysm Score indicates stronger antioxidant protection in the body. This is often associated with healthier lifestyle habits such as eating more fruits and vegetables, regular exercise, and better sleep patterns.