What is Skin Icing?
The most basic form of skin icing is when you use an ice cube or even better, an ice mold to reduce under-eye or facial puffiness . It has long been a staple of skincare wisdom (we’ve all used a refrigerated spoon or cucumber slices on our eyes in the past, right?). Far from being an old wives' tale, there’s science behind this age-old advice. When actual ice is applied to the skin, it causes blood to rise to the surface (think of that rosy glow you get after a brisk winter walk), which soothes and tightens the skin. Also known as an ice facial, skin icing is a cryotherapy treatment where vaporized nitrogen is used to cool the skin of the face, scalp, and neck area.
If the thought of icing your skin is—wait for it—too chilling for you, hear us out. Just like throwing your go-to products in a skincare fridge to reap its cooling benefits, skin icing has become a popular morning and evening ritual for better-looking skin. It's been used in spas and skincare treatments for several years and for a number of reasons, including cryotherapy (treatments using cold temperatures), to destroy fat cells (CoolSculpting), and to get rid of spider veins (through Cryo 6, a new method of sclerotherapy). And, it's also long been a regular practice in the skincare routine of Korean women—who are, of course, known for their detailed beauty rituals.
Benefits of Skin Icing
- Reduce inflammation: "Think about when you have an injury or swelling in the body and your doctor instructs you to ice it—it’s the same concept, but now we're using it for aesthetic purposes," explains Marino. "Many people who suffer from inflammatory skin conditions like acne and rosacea can benefit from cold therapy because of its ability to reduce the inflammation the skin, which is a key trigger to both conditions."
- Reduces pore size: Skin icing minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores and may help to unclog pores that appear larger due to debris and excess sebum. Icing tones the face, making your skin (and foundation) look smoother.
- Exfoliates the skin: "A cryofacial can help remove the outer layer of dead skin cells and stimulate new ones underneath to grow in a more even, smooth distribution," notes King.
- Soothes blemishes: Ice can help reduce swelling and the redness of pimples, and can also soothe irritated skin. And because swollen skin makes it difficult for topical creams to reach the bacteria inside the pores, icing may actually help antibacterial agents and topical antibiotics get into the pores since it exfoliates.
- Brightens the Skin
- Helps with anxiety
FACIAL ICING MADE EASY
Some people don’t believe in DIY skincare, but something as simple as face icing can make all the difference in your skin. Per one viral TikTok, the beauty hack is making millions a believer in glowing skin.
Lately, I’ve noticed that when I wash and rinse my face with cold water, my skin feels impeccably soft, as if there’s still a product on my skin. However, applying cold products to your pores is the trick U Beauty Skin Care founder and TikTok creator Tina Craig uses to give her skin a glistening glow.
Some skincare lovers use ice rollers, which can help sooth the skin. Other will even snag jade rollers and freeze them to get a similar effect. However, the “face icing” Craig does in her viral TikTok that has over 1.2 million plays calls for putting frozen coconut milk on your face.
And yes, don't forget that you can also get creative with infusions! Add rose, honey, lemon, milk, cucumber, aloe vera, green tea and more to your ice mold to create an infusion of even more great benefits on the skin.
"Icing my face in the AM has not only helped my skin, it has improved my mental health. Sometimes I wake up overwhelmed, tired or just not in the mood. Icing is an incredible grounding exercise. The sensation creates a jolt to the system to help break you out of stress and anxiety."
Press play or click on the image above for a fun tutorial ^
If you would love to try our Chasin' Unicorns ice mold, subscribe to our June Ritual Box! These retail for $22 but our monthly Ritual Box subscribers will be getting this exclusive product inside of their June Flower Bomb Ritual box for only $45 along with 5 other full sized products. Reserve your box today here.
Any left over facial molds will be sold individually on the website, but will not be coming back once out of stock. Here is the sneak peak:
Written by GERRIE SUMMERS
