Fresh Air & Oxygen Facials: Good for the Skin?

If fresh air is good for your health, does that mean the one of the newest trends – oxygen facials – is good for your skin?

Fans of the latest spa craze certainly think so. If you’re thinking about an oxygen facial here’s what to expect. During treatment, pure oxygen is applied to the skin using high pressure airbrush.  Along with the oxygen, atomized moisturizers, antioxidants and/or serums are delivered to the skin to hydrate, fight free radicals and diminish fine lines.  Skin is expected to appear firmer, smoother and more radiant.

The catch, as it were, is all in the science. Skin is not designed to absorb oxygen in any useful way from the outside in.  Instead, oxygen is carried to the skin cells by the bloodstream.  With no scientific research or clinical testing behind them, oxygen facials can do nothing but provide a temporary plumping of the skin. Skeptics attribute this effect to mild inflammation as a result of the blasting of oxygen directly onto the skin’s surface. Think of it as a modern-day version of pinching your cheeks to give them a bit of color.  The active ingredients that are part and parcel of an oxygen facial can be absorbed equally well by using a good hydrating mask with hyaluronic acid.

As for good old-fashioned fresh air, your mother may know what she’s talking about.  Although just being outside may not guarantee you beautiful skin, the incidental benefits of exercising outdoors or simply taking a long walk may help reduce stress, a major factor in skin health.   Studies have documented how stress can trigger eczema, hair loss, acne, and rosacea as well as giving us “that tired look”.  Over time, stress can also cause skin to age prematurely.

It’s no coincidence that your skin glows and looks more vibrant after being outdoors and subjected to a good dose of oxygen. But delivered in a facial? Don’t waste your money or time.