Beauty and skincare trends are often bizarre and surprising. One such latest trend is that of skin icing benefits . Yes, you read it right. Ice on skin. It is becoming quite popular too. So, without further ado, let’s find out what all the hype is about!
What Are The Skin Icing Benefits ?
As the name conspicuously suggests, skin icing is the process of applying ice to your face. It is also commonly known as ‘cold therapy’ or ‘cryotherapy’ which refers to applying ice on your skin in general. Cryotherapy is usually used for treating contusion injuries, however, skin icing is mainly considered to be an ice facial.
How does it Work?
There’s no rocket science when it comes to skin icing and there are multiple ways involved.
This is the most common way of performing skin icing. What you have to do is, take 3-4 ice cubes and cover those with a soft cotton cloth. Now, gently massage your face with those covered ice cubes in a circular motion for about a couple of minutes. All you have to do is softly massage areas like your jawline, nose, chin, cheeks, and forehead. But always remember that direct application never means directly applying ice to your face. Regardless of your skin type, it is still sensitive which is why you should always cover the ice for application.
Direct ApplicationAnother technique to perform skin icing is dipping your face in a large bowl filled with water and ice. Take a clean bowl and add some cold water and ice cubes to it. But make sure that the water is more than the ice cubes. Add a few drops of rose water (if you want). Now, dip your face into it but not more than 10-30 seconds. Hold your breath while you do that and repeat the process a couple of times. You could even add more ice if the water gets warmer.
You don’t necessarily have to use frozen water. You could even add a little twist of yours to the whole process. Here’s how:
- Fill the ice tray with regular water. Now, put some flowers in the water-filled tray. You could go with flowers that are beneficial for your skin like chamomile, rose, passionflower, etc. Or you could simply use some of your favorite flowers for a special effect!
- Use aloe ice. Frozen aloe is the best alternative to frozen water for an ice facial. This is primarily because of the number of skincare benefits aloe Vera tends to offer. In case you don’t have frozen aloe, you could store aloe juice in your ice tray and freeze it overnight. Then simply use it just like you would the normal ice cubes
- You could also go with green tea ice. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and other nutrients beneficial for healthy skin. Pour out green tea in the ice tray and freeze it overnight. Apply these the same way as normal ice cubes!
Benefits of Ice on Skin
Is ice on skin good though? Well, as mentioned earlier, applying ice on bare skin directly can be harmful to your skin. However, when used correctly, like covered in any muslin or cotton cloth, it can be beneficial for your skin.
Benefits of Ice on SkinTake a look at some of these amazing benefits of skin icing:
1. Helps to Soothe Blemishes
Ice on the skin helps to soothe redness and skin irritation along with reducing swelling. It is really helpful when it comes to reducing redness caused especially by pimples. It also helps to soothe sunburn, rashes, and those pesky insect bites.
2. Reduces Inflammation
A little too obvious, isn’t it? Ice helps to reduce inflammation to a great extent. This is why people with inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea and acne are often recommended for cold therapy.
3. Helpful for Treating Acne
Skin icing promotes a significant reduction of excessive oil production which ultimately leads to a minimization of skin pores. It also might be helpful for unclogging enlarged pores. This is why it is a great way to treat acne and problems related to it.
4. Boosts your Skin’s Glow
Icing tends to promote a healthy and radiant look as it is said to reduce signs of aging and wrinkles. It also helps to tone your face, thereby making your skin look smoother.
5. Exfoliates your Skin
The icing on the face can also help to remove the outer layer that consists of dead skin cells. At the same time, it tends to stimulate new ones to grow underneath in a smooth manner. This renders skin icing quite a great way of exfoliating.
6. Reduces Puffiness
Say goodbye to puffy and swollen eyes because ice facials are here to rescue you! Using a cold compress for the area by applying firm pressure for a few minutes can significantly reduce eye bags. You don’t necessarily have to use a cold compress though. You could simply go with the classic way of skin icing, i.e., using ice cubes in a cloth. The only thing to make sure of is that you massage the area under your eyes extremely gently and carefully. And make sure to not overdo it either
Things to Remember for Skin Icing
Here are some important tips you should always remember when it comes to a cryo facial:
Things to Remember for Skin Icing- Avoid applying ice directly to your skin at any point if you wish to avoid infections and ice burns.
- Even when you’re using a cloth as a barrier between your skin and ice, don’t rub the ice too harshly. This might end up irritating your skin.
- Keep a separate clean cloth/tissue with you while you’re doing skin icing as it will come in handy. You can use it in case you want to wipe off excess water from your face because of the ice.
- Wash and clean your face before you start with your ice facial.
- Use a separate ice tray for ice cubes you’d be applying to your face for obvious hygiene purposes. And also always wash it before and after you use it.
Also read- Plant-Based Skincare
