If you have been following beauty and skincare trends on social media over the past couple of years, you must be no stranger to the purported benefits of applying ice on your face. The claims are endless, portraying ice as some sort of magical cure for all your skin concerns.
It is easy, cheap, and seems to work based on anecdotal evidence—but is there more to it? What are the actual benefits of icing your face, and what are the myths? Who can benefit and who should avoid it? Keep reading to get all the information you need to know about the benefits of applying ice to your face.
Here are 6 Benefits of Ice on Face:
1. Reduces puffiness under the eyes
2. Leaves the skin with a natural and healthy sheen
3. Calms down mild redness from blotches and acne breakouts
4. Soothes sunburn
5. Aids lymphatic drainage
6. Feels relaxing
Let’s explore the benefits of rubbing ice on face in detail:
1. Reduces puffiness under the eyes:
Ice has the ability to narrow blood vessels beneath the skin, which helps reduce puffiness under the eyes. Depending on the cause, there may also be other effective methods to get rid of bags under eyes.
2. Leaves the skin with a natural and healthy sheen:
Icing your face can leave your skin glowing with a healthy sheen.
3. Calms down mild redness from blotches and acne breakouts:
Icing your skin can also reduce redness owing to its anti-inflammatory action.
4. Soothes sunburn:
Ice can relieve sunburn brought on by excessive exposure to the sun.
5. Aids lymphatic drainage:
The massaging action using ice, whether it be rollers, globes, or gua sha, can promote lymphatic drainage and depuff the face.
6. Feels relaxing:
The sensation of ice on your skin feels cooling and relaxing, especially in warm seasons.
Common Myths About the Benefits of Icing Your Face
Keep in mind that, as with any fad, several myths are also being propagated via social media.
Some of these myths about the benefits of icing your face are:
Myth 1: Icing can help with any redness on face
Truth: Ice can be beneficial to calm down mild redness. However, if you have severe redness or skin conditions like rosacea, your skin barrier is likely to be already weak. Applying ice on severely damaged skin can have adverse affects. You should speak to your doctor before icing your face if you have severely damaged skin and/or have been prescribed any topical medications.
Myth 2: Icing your face can get rid of wrinkles
Truth: Wrinkles are caused by loose skin, most often arising as a result of ageing. Ageing leads to the loss of collagen and elastin, which are naturally occurring substances in the skin responsible for keeping it youthful. Ice cannot solve these problems or give you wrinkle-free skin. Adding a good eye serum to your skincare routine can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
What Are the Dos and Don’ts of Icing Your Face?
As with any skin care method, using ice for your face also comes with dos and don’ts that ensure optimal results and prevent negative reactions.
Dos of Icing Your Face
1. Use gua sha, ice globes, or facial ice rollers:
These can help prevent the temperature from dropping too low and avoid quick melting. These are easily available online.
2. Use a cloth to wrap ice cubes:If you are going to use ice cubes to ice your face, make sure you cover them with a soft cloth first.
3. Prep your skin for best results:
Prior to applying ice on your face, cleanse your skin to remove dirt and sweat. Follow this with a face oil, serum, or moisturizer to minimise friction.
Don’ts of Icing Your Face
1. Do not rub ice cubes directly on your face:
Avoiding direct contact between the skin and ice cubes help prevent the mess created by quick melting.
2. Watch the clock:
More time spent does not translate to better benefits of ice for face. On the contrary, it can lead to damage. As a rule of thumb, it is best to stop when the area of your skin you are icing feels very cold.
3. Be mindful of skin conditions:
If you have existing skin conditions or very damaged skin, speak to your healthcare professional before icing your face. Instead of reaping the benefits of icing your face, you may end up with further skin damage.
How Does Using Ice for Face Work?
The anti-inflammatory (ability to reduce swelling) and pain relieving effects of ice are common knowledge. Most of us know to reach for an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas to reduce pain and swelling from a minor injury. It only makes sense that the same principle extends to your facial skin as well. The same mechanism of action is used to alleviate some skincare concerns.
What is the Final Verdict Regarding the Benefits of Ice for Face?
The benefits of icing your face are not all fluff - done right, you can achieve the results you are looking for. The best part is that it is easily accessible, cost-effective, and quick. Staying mindful of the potential negative effects of icing your skin, ensuring that your skin is suitable for icing, and following best practices can make this a great addition to your skincare routine.
Keep in mind that icing by itself cannot solve all skin problems.
