Skincare is a billion-dollar enterprise, as all of us wish to feel and look our greatest! Individuals all around the world search the assistance of magnificence merchandise to enhance their pores and skin and reverse the indicators of growing older, and that is removed from new. Even because the time of Cleopatra and eons earlier than, folks have sought miracle vegetation and tinctures to reverse the indicators of growing older and struggle pores and skin issues.
To fulfill this ever-growing demand, skincare corporations are getting artistic! Oxygen-infused pores and skin therapies and merchandise is one such class that has gained reputation over the previous couple of years, however do they work?
DOES THE SKIN BREATHE?
First, a fast science lesson on how oxygen works inside our our bodies:
- People supply oxygen from the atmosphere by way of the method of respiratory.
- Blood transports the oxygen by way of the physique.
- Oxygen is distributed to all the organs, together with the integumentary system — which incorporates the pores and skin, hair, and nails.
The pores and skin, hair, and nails obtain the mandatory oxygen in the identical means that each one of our inner organs do. Although the pores and skin has pores, it does not breathe. Our physique takes in oxygen by way of our lungs and distributes it to each single half of the physique, together with the pores and skin.
Due to this fact, supplied you’ve a correctly functioning respiratory system, your pores and skin is probably going receiving all the oxygen it wants. Supplementation from skincare therapies and merchandise containing oxygen isn’t wanted (and isn’t efficient).
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY
Hyperbaric oxygen remedy is a process used to deal with decompression illness, carbon monoxide poisoning, severe infections, and broken tissues. The remedy will increase the quantity of the oxygen carried by the blood. By way of oxygenating the physique, that is the simplest and confirmed technique.
Hyperbaric oxygen remedy, includes respiratory pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The air stress is elevated thrice greater than the standard air stress which introduces a better focus of oxygen to the lungs. As soon as inhaled, the blood carries the oxygen to the physique which stimulates the discharge of stem cells and progress components.
The success that sufferers have seen from this remedy may be the explanation that oxygen therapies and merchandise have discovered their means into the skincare market. Nevertheless, hyperbaric oxygen remedy isn’t an elective process accessible to anybody lusting after plump pores and skin.
OXYGEN FACIALS
The producers of oxygen facial machines have acknowledged that their oxygen facials are much like the hyperbaric oxygen therapies and supply “oxygen remedy” for the face — leading to a radiant, youthful glow.
This facial remedy makes use of a machine with a hose-like attachment, which discharges pressurized oxygen and hydrating hyaluronic acid serum.
And when you may go away the spa glowing, the outcomes seemingly have little to do with the oxygen (and extra to do with the hydrating skincare merchandise utilized throughout the process).
A examine performed in 2010 supported that dissolved oxygen may penetrate the pores and skin and may very well be an help for power wound therapeutic, but most medical specialists and scientific research say that facial oxygen remedy and the advantages it may supply are exaggerated.
It was additionally discovered that scientific analysis supporting oxygen facial therapies was not well-documented, however as an alternative, was anecdotal and scarce.
An oxygen facial in all probability will not have adverse outcomes, however you may contemplate skipping the expensive remedy and choosing a standard hydrating facial service as an alternative.
SKINCARE PRODUCTS WITH OXYGEN
So, if oxygen facials aren’t efficient, what about merchandise containing oxygen as an ingredient?
First, a cream or lotion cannot comprise oxygen, as a result of oxygen is a gasoline. Nevertheless, you can oxygenate particular person components when making a skincare formulation.
Very similar to the oxygen facial, nevertheless, claims that components infused with oxygen will reverse the indicators of growing older will not be backed by analysis. A rise of oxygen within the pores and skin would solely useful if an inadequate provide of oxygen is current.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Don’t be fooled by merchandise that declare to ship “the advantages of oxygen” or to whiten/brighten pores and skin by the inclusion of hydrogen peroxide within the formulation. Hydrogen peroxide in diluted concentrations can have advantages with wound disinfecting or spot treating blemishes, however its not a super ingredient to make use of throughout your face or on massive areas of pores and skin.
Why? Nicely hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent, which implies it causes oxidation and the discharge of free radicals. This course of causes oxidative stress to your pores and skin which may result in irritation, early indicators of growing older and different pores and skin issues.
Some labels may use “stabilized emulsions” product of hydrogen peroxide. When the product comes into contact with the pores and skin or air, it then oxidizes,
ANTI-AGING SOLUTION
As an alternative of on the lookout for merchandise containing oxygen, search for merchandise with antioxidants. Consider the phrase itself: anti-oxidant. Now consider what occurs whenever you reduce an apple open. It oxidizes (turns brown) and can begin to dry out, shrivel, and shrink – actually experiencing growing older by way of publicity to oxygen.
It’s antioxidants that maintain the true rejuvenating skills to assist heal the undesirable indicators of growing older, together with: wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, dullness, dryness, lack of tone, and uneven texture.
SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE
That is one other oxygen-related ingredient you may see in skincare. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that targets superoxide radicals, and is a strong antioxidant naturally produced by the physique. It’s important for pores and skin well being and defending towards oxidative stress.
Preliminary research have proven that SOD utilized topically gives potent antioxidant and anti inflammatory exercise, serving to soothe situations like atopic dermatitis. Its technique of motion is completely different than widespread antioxidants like vitamin C and CoQ10, which implies its a superb addition to your skincare routing for preventing oxidation.
Different antioxidants which can be helpful for combating indicators of growing older embody:
- inexperienced tea extract
- fruit extracts like mango and acai berry
- aloe vera
- jojoba oil
- almond oil
Ingredient Highlight: Our Revitage™ Antioxidant Remodeling Night time Cream combines a strong mixture of superoxide dismutase, inexperienced tea, squalane, and nutritional vitamins A, B3 and E together with cucumber and watermelon extracts.