What Is An Oxygen Facial?
This treatment is designed to nourish your skin and promote collagen growth. It involves a machine that is used for spraying highly concentrated molecules of oxygen right into your epidermis (the outer layer of your skin). The oxygen that’s applied to your face and neck is infused with vitamins, minerals, essential nutrients, and botanical extracts (1). Celebrities, including Madonna, swear by this technique for smoother and plumper skin. It is obvious that the oxygen facial has a lot of benefits. Let’s take a look at them.
Benefits Of Oxygen Facial
Your cells need oxygen to stay healthy and nourished. The oxygen facial delivers oxygen to the deepest layers of your skin and makes it glow. Here are some of its benefits:
1. Boosts Collagen Production
Collagen is the protein that makes the cells stick together, providing strength and elasticity to your skin. When the collagen weakens (with age), wrinkles appear (2), (3). One of the biggest benefits of an oxygen facial is the collagen boost it give to your skin, making it firm and reducing fine lines and wrinkles (4).
2. Detoxifies The Skin
The oxygen facial helps the skin utilize the oxygen and the nutrients and vitamins infused in it. Also, the hyaluronic acid serum used in it boosts the detoxification process of your skin, negates the effects of pollution, sun exposure, and diet fluctuation, and helps in the repair and regeneration of the skin cells (5), (6).
3. Speeds Up Cell Turnover
Our skin cells have a limited lifetime. They die, and new cells replace them. Oxygen is crucial for cell regeneration. It increases the rate at which new cells grow, which, in turn, helps in scar (from acne) healing. The oxygen facial gives an extra dose of oxygen to your skin cells, thus aiding faster cell turnover (7).
4. No Painful Side Effects
This process is exceptionally gentle on your skin and doesn’t cause any side effects, such as irritation, redness, swelling, stinging, and a burning sensation. It is suitable for people who have sensitive skin and those who want to avoid chemical beauty treatments.
5. Moisturizes Your Skin
Constant exposure to the sun, dust, and pollution rob your skin of its natural moisture content. This makes it extremely dry and lifeless. And if you have dry skin, these issues can make your skin worse. The hyaluronic acid in an oxygen facial deeply moisturizes your skin, restoring its pH balance and shielding it from sun damage (8). [ Read: 10 Amazing Beauty Benefits Of Galvanic Facial ]
6. Makes Your Skin Super Radiant
This facial removes all impurities from the epidermis (top layer of the skin), boosting the oxygen content. The hyaluronic serum used in it also removes the dead cells from the top layer, opens up clogged pores, and brings out that natural blush on your cheeks (9).
7. Heals Acne
Acne is formed when the skin cells are clogged, trapping dirt and oils in them, causing the pores to get enlarged. The hyaluronic acid used in oxygen facial helps in shrinking the pores and doesn’t let your skin accumulate dust and dirt. As a result, it remains glowing for longer, and you won’t get annoying pimples, zits, and acne (10).
8. Fast Recovery Time
Usually, in the case of other procedures and skin treatments, you have to wait for a specific period before you can go back to your regular skin care regimen. But in the case of the oxygen facial, there isn’t any particular recovery time. You can start applying creams, lotions, or makeup to your skin almost immediately.
9. Results Are Instant
You may notice immediate results after the oxygen facial. The benefits of an oxygen facial may include healing issues such as acne, wrinkles, and blemishes and it makes your skin younger-looking and glowing (11).
10. Treats Uneven Skin Tone
The serum used for oxygen facial is rich in hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamins, and botanical extracts that treat uneven skin tone and make your face look bright (12). Let us now look at the procedure in detail.
How Does The Oxygen Facial Work? (Oxygen Facial Procedure)
This excellent skin treatment involves three steps:
1. The Light Treatment
A light (emanating from a stick-like machine) is used to infuse oxygen into your skin. This stick-like machine is rotated all over your face. This smoothens and calms your facial skin.
2. The Serum Treatment
This is the most crucial step in the entire process. The serum has hyaluronic acid, minerals, vitamins, and loads of antioxidants. These tighten the skin, make it radiant, and eliminate wrinkles and fine lines (9), (11), (12).
3. Massage
This is the final step where your skin is massaged with lotions and creams that nourish your skin and seal it so that the effects of the treatment last longer. Special oxygen-infused creams are used to massage, cleanse, scrub, and exfoliate your skin. It is now evident why everyone in the glamour world swears by the oxygen facial. However, it might hurt your pocket (ouch!). But, hey, don’t worry. We have got some DIY solutions. These are super-easy and can be done at home. Take a look.
DIY Oxygen Facials At Home
Of course, you won’t have a machine to infuse oxygen into your skin, but these masks offer the same results (almost). Check them out!
1. Oatmeal, Almond, And Bentonite Powder Face Pack
5 tablespoons of almond powder 1 ½ tablespoons of bentonite powder 1/8 cup of oatmeal 3-4 drops of rose essential oil 2 drops of hydrogen peroxide 4 tablespoons of water
30 minutes Do not add more than two drops of hydrogen peroxide or it might damage your skin.
2. Oatmeal, Almond, And Clay Face Pack
1 tablespoon of almond paste 1/8 cup of oatmeal powder 1 tablespoon of white clay (or Fuller’s earth) 1 teaspoon of dried rose petals 3 tablespoons of water 2 drops of hydrogen peroxide
15-20 minutes
- Combine all the ingredients, except hydrogen peroxide, in a blender. Make a thick paste. 2. Once the paste is ready, add hydrogen peroxide to it. 3. Gently apply it to your face in a circular motion. 4. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash with water. Do not use more than the prescribed amount of hydrogen peroxide. Consider the factors listed in the next section to buy the best oxygen facial kit for your needs.
Things To Consider Before Buying An Oxygen Facial Kit
Skin Type
Skin type should be the number one concern before you buy an oxygen facial kit. Not every facial kit is meant for all skin types. If you have dry or sensitive skin, a hydrating or moisturizing facial kit is your best bet. There are facial kits specially curated for oily or combination skin as well. Just check the product label to find out which skin type it is made for.
Skin Concern
If you have any pre-existing skin condition – like acne or blackheads – we suggest you consult an expert before investing in any product.
Side Effects
Although the main ingredient of oxygen facial kits is pure oxygen, some of the auxiliary elements may not suit your skin. Test the product as suggested before you apply it to your face. There might be mild side effects like temporary redness or swelling, but these effects are known to diminish soon after the completion of the application. If any side effects persist long after the application, consult a physician immediately.
Brand And Budget
There are many brands, local and international, available in the market that offer oxygen facial kits. Consider the different brands and their claims before you decide on what to buy. Also, select the one that suits your budget, but don’t overly fixate on price if you want the best for your skin. How long do oxygen facial results last? While this depends on your skin type and concerns, the results of an average oxygen facial can last for 5-7 days. Is oxygen facial better than HydraFacial? Both treatments provide similar results. However, you may prefer HydraFacial if you want to reduce skin oiliness and tighten it. How do you prepare for an oxygen facial? Ensure you cleanse your face to get rid of dirt and makeup and that your skin is squeaky clean. Is oxygen facial good for oily skin? Yes. Oxygen facial works great for oily skin, providing deep cleansing, exfoliation, and hydration. Is oxygen facial good for dry skin? Yes. Oxygen facial is suitable for dry skin as it hydrates the skin deeply and improves skin glow.