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Everyone needs oxygen to live, but do we also need it to keep our skin's healthy glow and fight off the fine lines and wrinkles that come with aging? Or are the new oxygen skincare treatments on the market nothing more than a bunch of hot air?

Big Spenders
Supposedly, celebrities like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow swear by oxygen facials, and, curious as to whether or not oxygen facials might be the celebrity secret to great looks, I headed to Salon J in downtown Nashville to try this new treatment for myself. (The oxygen facial is also supposed to be a skincare-saver for those who tend to stay up too late, drink more wine than they should, or smoke.)

The treatment certainly isn't cheap ($85 tends to be on the low end of the spectrum) and takes every bit of an hour. While most of the facial is the same as basic treatments – deep cleansing, applying a mask based on your skin's needs – the marked difference is the fifteen minute application of oxygen directly onto the skin. And, while having air blown directly onto your face isn't painful, it is a tad uncomfortable, thanks to the pressure. My aesthetician even warned me that people with breathing problems tend to have issues during the oxygen application and ask to either stop the treatment or have the oxygen dispenser moved farther away from the face.

During the oxygen application, I could feel my skin tightening, but not in a way that was unpleasant. Actually, the tightening made me feel like the facial was doing some good, and I could imagine the "large pores" another spa worker made me feel self-conscious about years before shrinking back to "normal" size.

Afterward, my skin felt smoother, and, as someone who normally has problems with dry skin as the seasons change, I haven't had any rough patches on my face since. While oxygen facials boast less lingering redness than other treatments, I still wouldn't have felt comfortable going back to the office without an extra application of concealer and loose powder.

The aesthetician also recommended that I return every 1-2 weeks, and, while I certainly see the benefits of my facial, I didn't love it enough to shell out that kind of money on a regular basis. Once every 2-3 months seems more like it.

Middle of the Road
Next, I wanted to examine an at-home treatment, but something that was a little different from your normal over-the-counter skincare products.

Neaclear is a skincare line that is the brainchild of Chicago-based plastic surgeon, Dr. Sam Speron. Speron infused his products with liquid oxygen; the rationale here is that everything ages faster without oxygen, so why would skin be any different? The regular Neaclear line can be found at groceries and drugstores with prices ranging from $5.99-$19.99. This is the line designed for every day use, while Neaclear Plus products are sold only in doctor's offices or medical spas and are meant to be "results-oriented." Neaclear Plus carries price tags between $20 and $80, but this is the line meant to "trouble shoot" the skin when breakouts occur or pigmentation is off, and then be stored away unless another problem arises.

A little bit of Neaclear goes a long way, and I could feel the substance to their products the moment they went on my skin. I felt that I was getting a good deep clean, and I liked the texture of the moisturizer.

All Neaclear products are hypo-allergenic and fragrance free – and while offering washes without aromas is great for those with sensitive skin, some of our testers disliked the smell of Neaclear.

The anti-aging eye cream is my favorite product from the line. The effects of my recent late nights have been less obvious since using it. The skin under my eyes seems brighter, and my eyelids seem tighter and less prone to sagging toward the end of the day.

Bargain Hunters
Lastly, I gave a tried and true drugstore brand a go with Clean & Clear's Oxygenating Fizzing Cleanser.

Retailing for about $6.99, you can find Clean & Clear's oxygenating line at all the drugstores and groceries where you would normally find their products. This cleanser foams up quickly and also goes a long way. It certainly removed all the dirt and make-up from my face, but I didn't notice a major difference between this "oxygenated" product and any other Clean & Clear wash I've tried over the years.

Although I do notice a positive difference in my skin since giving it more oxygen, I'm still "up in the air" as to whether or not this beauty trend is the skincare salvation some people claim it to be.

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