AO2 SKIN

What AO2 SKIN does

AO2 SKIN is a privately held, US-based skincare company headquartered in Austin, Texas that sells oxygen nanobubble topical products directly to consumers, skincare professionals, and wholesale partners. Its core technology is a patented gas nanobubble delivery system (US Patent US 10,624,841), licensed from Periphex Corporation, that suspends oxygen in nanobubbles approximately 100 nanometers in size (roughly 1/1000th the size of a pore) at concentrations of about one billion nanobubbles per milliliter, enabling topical oxygen delivery into the epidermis and dermis without disrupting the skin barrier. The portfolio centers on two SKUs: AO2 CLEAR, an acne treatment using distilled water and oxygen nanobubbles, and AO2 HYDRATE, which adds natural vegetable glycerin for hydration and barrier support; supplements include travel packs, bundle kits, and compostable application sponges.

The company monetizes through direct-to-consumer e-commerce at ao2clear.com with both one-time purchases and subscription plans (20-26% discounts, 2-8 week cadence), supplemented by a wholesale program, a Pro Partner Hub for clinicians, and an affiliate program. Pricing ranges from $23.99 for replacement sponges to $76.99 for bundle kits, with most 30-day kits priced in the mid-$50s retail. Customer segments span acne-prone adults, pregnant and nursing women, menopausal women, teenagers, post-procedure patients, and sensitive-skin users, with dermatologists acting as both endorsers and recommendation channels. The company is bootstrapped (one ~$425,000 event recorded in late 2024), operates with 1-10 employees, ships to the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Australia, and had reached 75,000+ cumulative customer orders by 2025.

Name

AO2 SKIN

Legal name

AO2 Clear

Website

https://ao2clear.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AO2 SKIN is a US-based skincare company that sells patented oxygen nanobubble products for acne and hydration directly to consumers via e-commerce, subscription, wholesale, and professional channels, serving acne-prone adults, pregnant and menopausal women, teenagers, and post-procedure patients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Skincare Products

akta.pro primary industry

Treatment Skincare (Serums, Actives, Acne & Anti-aging) (CRABAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dermatology OTC & Skin Health (Acne Treatments, Eczema/Psoriasis OTC, Antifungals, Wart Removal) (CRADAMAF)

Keywords

• Oxygen nanobubble skincare
• Acne treatment products
• Facial hydration products
• Skincare subscriptions
• Clean skincare formulations

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of AO2 CLEAR and AO2 HYDRATE skincare products through the company's website. Products include 30-day and 60-day supply kits, travel packs, and bundle options. One-time purchase or subscription models available.
2. Subscription Revenue: Subscription model offering 20-26% discount on regular purchases. Customers can subscribe for deliveries every 2-8 weeks. Subscription options available for both AO2 CLEAR and AO2 HYDRATE products.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale program available for retailers and skincare professionals looking to carry AO2 SKIN products.
4. Affiliate Program: Affiliate marketing program allowing partners to earn commissions for referring customers to the online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AO2 SKIN develops and sells skincare products built on patented oxygen nanobubble delivery technology. The two core product lines are AO2 CLEAR, formulated with distilled water and concentrated oxygen nanobubbles to address acne and inflammation, and AO2 HYDRATE, formulated with distilled water, oxygen nanobubbles, and natural vegetable glycerin to deliver hydration and barrier support. Products are sold primarily through the company's own e-commerce website with one-time and subscription purchase options, supported by a wholesale program for retailers and skincare professionals.

Product overview

AO2 SKIN is a skincare company offering a portfolio of products centered on patented oxygen nanobubble delivery technology. The core product line consists of AO2 CLEAR (for acne treatment and clarity) and AO2 HYDRATE (for hydration and moisture balance), both using oxygen nanobubbles 1,000x smaller than skin pores to deliver oxygen deep into the skin. Both products are supplemented by travel packs and bundle kits for convenience, along with replacement sponges as accessories. The technology is based on delivering concentrated oxygen to hypoxic skin environments to combat anaerobic acne-causing bacteria without harsh chemicals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AO2 CLEAR: Oxygen nanobubble skincare product for clearer skin. Contains only distilled water and oxygen nanobubbles. Targets acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammation.
• AO2 HYDRATE

Products and services

• AO2 CLEAR Oxygen nanobubble skincare product combining billions of oxygen nanobubbles (approximately 1,000x smaller than pores) with distilled water to calm inflammation, reduce congestion, and help keep pores clear without irritation. Available in 30-day and 60-day supply kits, formulated for acne-prone, sensitive, pregnant, and post-procedure skin.
• AO2 HYDRATE Oxygen nanobubble skincare product combining distilled water, billions of oxygen nanobubbles, and natural vegetable glycerin to deliver deep, lasting moisture and skin barrier support. Available in 30-day and 60-day supply kits, designed for dry, stressed, or post-treatment skin.
• AO2 Clear Travel Pack Single-use travel-sized AO2 CLEAR product containing 10 pouches of 8ml each, with biodegradable application sponges and an application tray, intended for portable skincare routines while traveling.
• AO2 HYDRATE Travel Pack Single-use travel-sized AO2 HYDRATE product containing 10 pouches of 14ml each, with biodegradable application sponges and an application tray, designed to provide hydration support while traveling.
• AO2 CLEAR Bundle Combination package that includes a 30-day supply of AO2 CLEAR (four 150ml pouches with sponges and tray) plus 10 travel packs, offered with subscription savings versus buying the components separately.
• AO2 HYDRATE Bundle Combination package that includes a 30-day supply of AO2 HYDRATE (four 150ml pouches with sponges and tray) plus 10 travel packs, providing ongoing hydration support with travel convenience.
• AO2 Sponges Organic compostable cellulose application sponges designed to evenly distribute AO2 CLEAR and AO2 HYDRATE products to pores. Sold in packs of 132 sponges (2 packages of 66) with 2 application trays, intended as single-use consumables to prevent bacterial contamination.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of patients reported improvement in 30 days with twice-daily use
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• North Carolina State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Independent academic research collaboration with NC State University and Dr. Giuseppe Valacchi (David H. Murdock Distinguished Professor of Regenerative Medicine). Conducted clinical study using human skin biopsies examining HIF-1α biomarker changes and oxygen delivery effectiveness. Published research validating oxygen nanobubble technology.
• Periphex CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensor of patented ceramic nanobubble technology (US Patent US 10,624,841). Periphex Corp developed the proprietary nanobubbler technology that AO2 SKIN uses in its products for peripheral neuropathy and skincare applications. Dr. Zvi Yaniv has equity ownership in Periphex Corporation.
• O2 PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and development partner for AO2 SKIN products. Valerie Hanft, MD serves as advisor and has equity ownership in O2 Partners. Dr. Zvi Yaniv developed the technology through this partnership.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Ordinary (DECIEM): Minimalist, science-forward skincare brand built around short ingredient lists and active-led formulations. AO2 SKIN's "only 2-3 ingredients" differentiator directly mirrors The Ordinary's positioning in the treatment-serum/acne/anti-aging space.
• Curology: Direct-to-consumer acne treatment brand selling personalized prescriptions online with subscription. Same target customer (acne-prone), same DTC subscription motion, with science-backed positioning that overlaps AO2 SKIN's clinical-led approach.
• Murad: Skincare brand founded by a dermatologist, focused on science-backed acne and anti-aging treatment products sold DTC and through professionals. Comparable clinical-credentials GTM and acne-treatment SKU overlap with AO2 SKIN.
• Paula's Choice: Science-led skincare brand with strong dermatologist endorsement and acne/treatment-serum core SKU overlap. Comparable in clinical credibility and ingredient-transparency positioning to AO2 SKIN's HIF-1α-validated story.

Emerging players

• Tula Skincare: DTC skincare brand built around a science-backed (probiotic-led) ingredient story, with subscription and bundling model. Comparable emerging-player DTC + science narrative, though focused on microbiome rather than oxygen delivery.
• SkinFix: Barrier-repair and sensitive-skin skincare brand with clinically validated formulations and dermatologist endorsements. Overlaps with AO2 SKIN's claims around barrier integrity (filaggrin unchanged) and sensitive-skin safety positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Drunk Elephant: Premium clean-beauty skincare brand built around biocompatible, short ingredient lists. Comparable "clean/simple" positioning though at a much larger scale and broader assortment than AO2 SKIN's two-product line.
• La Roche-Posay: Mass-market dermatological skincare brand with strong acne and sensitive-skin franchises, widely recommended by dermatologists. Operates as a broad incumbent across many of the same indications AO2 SKIN targets (acne, post-procedure, sensitive skin).
• Vichy Laboratoires: Dermatologist-recommended skincare brand with mineral-thermal spring water and acne/sensitive-skin lines. Comparable medically positioned legacy brand competing for the same dermatology-shelf and retail-dermatologist recommendations.
• Hims & Hers (Hims): Direct-to-consumer telehealth and personal-care brand with acne treatment as a core vertical (Hers). Comparable DTC + subscription motion targeting consumers seeking non-traditional clinical acne solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ao2clear
• Instagraminstagram.com/ao2_clear
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ao2-clear

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AO2 SKIN