Cells need oxygen to survive, and skin cells are no different. The unfortunate effects of smothering skin under layers of makeup– or, even worse, sleeping with makeup on– are well known, but it turns out that topically applying skin can help it stay fresh, youthful, and healthy.

Oxygen was first found to help heal people with severe burns. Oxygen gas, which is naturally present in a stable, bonded form, helps increase cell turnover and speeds up cellular metabolism. This makes it helpful for anyone that wants to maintain healthy skin.

Oxygen Therapy vs. Oxidative Damage

Oxygen isn’t always friendly to skin. Oxidative stress, an imbalance between reactive forms of oxygen and the body’s ability to neutralize them, leads to free radical damage. This damage is partially associated with signs of aging, including dull, sagging, and wrinkled skin. Oxygen therapy doesn’t contribute to this kind of skin damage, since is uses stable diatomic oxygen molecules rather than unstable, unpaired oxygen atoms.

How Oxygen Is Delivered to Skin

Hospitals have access to oxygen tents and gas tanks, but these aren’t remotely practical for home use. Fortunately there are skincare products containing oxygen on the market that offer it in a stabilized liquid form, which converts to oxygen gas once the product is applied. This lets users get the benefit of fresh, oxygenated skin without having to resort to gas tanks and expensive trips to specialty spas.

Antioxidants and Oxygen

Much has been made of antioxidants when it comes to fighting aging and preventing free radical damage. One of the benefits of using skincare products that contain oxygen is that they can be combined with antioxidants like vitamin E, botanical ingredients, or other compounds that have their own skin-saving virtues. In the end, it’s possible to get the best of both worlds– improved skin health with oxygen, and prevention of free radical damage.

Maintaining healthy skin means protecting it from damage and providing all of the nutrients it needs, including oxygen. By thoroughly cleansing skin every night to remove oxygen-blocking debris and clear out pores, and applying oxygen-containing skincare products afterward, you can have a brighter, clearer, more youthful complexion.