y now, we all know that oxygen is vital to, you know, breathing and living. But did you know it’s also vital to how your skin looks? Lack of oxygen causes dullness, sagging, dryness, and crepe-iness.1 That’s why when the concept of oxygen facials emerged—where pressurized oxygen is administered to your skin to plump and hydrate—people everywhere jumped on the bandwagon. After all, it seemed like the perfect alternative to those afraid of going under the knife or needle.
I love a good oxygen facial myself—the suction-like motion is weirdly pleasant and soothing—but I experienced something recently that blew every past facial out of the water. Allow me to introduce you to the OxyGeneo facial: a next-level treatment that makes your skin glow like there’s a choir of angels singing their hearts out behind you, like your face is swathed in a luminescent halo, like you were sent from heaven above to grace the Earth with your radiant complexion.
What Is the OxyGeneo Facial?
OxyGeneo is like an oxygen treatment but on a whole other level. “The OxyGeneo three-in-one super facial works upon the natural process of our body to oxygenate the skin from within,” explains Moshe Ben-Shlomo, MSc, a physicist and the cofounder of beauty supply company DermaSpark. “It capitalizes on a well-known effect called ‘Bohr effect,’ to trigger the body to oxygenate the skin naturally from within. The Bohr effect is a natural process that takes place in our body from the moment we come to the world and until the moment we leave it.
The OxyGeneo works with the body, never against it.”
As Ben-Shlomo mentions, there are three parts to the treatment: a gentle exfoliation, then the infusion of antioxidants and nutrients, and finally, the oxygenation. According to OxyGeneo’s website, the treatment allows you to “get the exfoliation benefits of microdermabrasion plus deep facial rejuvenation with the infusion of essential revitalizing nutrients and healing skin oxygenation from within.” What’s more, the treatments are beneficial for all skin types and can be tailored to specific skin concerns and sensitivities.
Treatments range from office to office but usually fall between $125 to $200. You can learn more about the treatment at Pollogen.com.
Benefits of the OxyGeneo Facial
- Plumps, hydrates, and brightens skin
- Shrinks the appearance of pores
- Improves skin texture
- Reduces hyperpigmentation
“Not only does the OxyGeneo three-in-one super facial have an immediate beautifying effect, but it also improves the skin for the long term with improved micro-circulation,” says Ben-Shlomo. “This slows down the aging process and significantly contributes to the skin functionality that consequently improves its appearance.”
Best of all, the results aren’t surface level. Rather, since it works from the inside out, (more on that below).
Traditional Oxygen Facial vs. OxyGeneo Facial
Unlike standard oxygen facials, the OxyGeneo treatment doesn’t push oxygen into your skin (which can sometimes lead to redness and sensitivity). Rather, it makes the oxygenation occur from the inside (crazy concept, but it makes sense). Here’s how it works: Both of the treatment gels you can choose from (NeoRevive for anti-aging or NeoBright for brightening) interact with the tip of the hand-piece used, which creates carbon dioxide bubbles and causes oxygen-rich blood to come to the surface of your skin. So basically, this magical wand is actually drawing oxygen to the surface from the inside instead of pushing it into your face. It makes a world of difference.
How to Prepare for an OxyGeneo Facial
There aren’t any major prep steps that need to be obliged by leading up to an OxyGeneo facial. However, if you’d like to speed up the process, consider arriving at your appointment without any makeup on. Other than that, go about your day as usual.
What to Expect During an OxyGeneo Facial
I got invited to try the treatment by Pollogen, the company behind OxyGeneo, at the office of Ronald Moy, MD, in Beverly Hills. The esthetician first cleansed my face with Moy’s cleanser ($34) and then asked which treatment gel I wanted. I chose NeoBright since I have persistent freckles and dark spots. She painted the thick gel all over my face, then started buffing the Capsugen (the name of the tip of the device) all over my face. At first, I was alarmed; the sound was loud to put it lightly and similar to what I’ve been hearing at 8 a.m. every morning from the construction going on downstairs in my apartment. Then came the burning. My face felt a mild tingle, which escalated to a fiery burn; I feebly asked if this was normal, which my esthetician assured me it was, and that it would subside shortly. Thankfully, she was telling the truth.
After the exfoliation, she cleansed the gel off, then applied it again for the antioxidant infusion step. I asked her what the main ingredients in the NeoBright gel were, and she mentioned hyaluronic acid, retinol, and kojic acid. This step was much more relaxing since the device wasn’t buzzing alarmingly loud next to my ear. In fact, I think I may have fallen asleep (it was 8 a.m. after all). After this step, she massaged the rest of the treatment into my skin, toweled off any extra, and told me I was good to go.
Side Effects
While there was noticeable stinging and, yes, burning, during the first step of the treatment, there weren’t any adverse side effects to follow. Unless, of course, you consider the most gorgeous skin of your life to be a side effect.
Aftercare
Following an OxyGeneo facial, you can go about your life and daily routine as usual. Ben-Shlomo recommends continuing your regular skincare regimen after the treatment, using standard moisturizer or cream, as necessary. Unlike some skincare treatments that prevent you from being able to drink or workout following the treatment, OxyGeneo doesn’t require any extra steps after treatment. That said, it’s still a good idea to layer on sunscreen before exposing yourself to direct sunlight, as the exfoliation step may make your skin slightly more sensitive and, just in general, sunscreen is always a good idea.
The Final Takeaway
After my OxyGeneo facial, I got up to look in the mirror and literally did a double-take—yes, I did a double-take to myself. My skin looked that good. Now, you may think my visceral reaction to seeing my own face might be vain, but I swear, it’s simply because I had never, ever seen such a big difference in my skin. Not only was I glowing, but my pores seemed to have disappeared entirely—even the pesky ones around my nose that are the bane of my existence. My skin looked clean, clear, and bright, and felt pillowy soft—like an angel’s bottom. The best part is that the treatment requires absolutely no downtime; I was able to drive to my office right afterward without fearing my skin would start peeling halfway through the day.
I wholeheartedly recommend getting this treatment when your skin needs a boost or before any event where you want to warrant a double-take (and not just from yourself).
