Skin icing is a popular morning and evening ritual to get better looking skin. Cold therapy has been used in spas and in skin care treatments for several years and for numerous reasons, including cryotherapy (treatments using cold temperatures), to destroy fat cells (CoolSculpting), and get rid of spider veins (through Cryo 6, a new method of sclerotherapy).
Proponents of skin icing believe it can be used to:
- Refresh the face
- Fight the formation of wrinkles
- Heal blemishes and fight acne
- Gives skin a healthier appearance by promoting blood circulation
1. Skin Smoother
Skin icing tones the face, making it look smoother. It also helps tighten and shrink enlarged pores by helping to unclog pores that can appear larger due to debris and excess sebum.
2. Pore Primer
Before applying makeup you first ice the face and then apply primer because it acts as an inexpensive skin toner. It minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores underneath the makeup, helping foundation look smoother and flawless.
3. Improves Circulation
Ice is known to improve circulation in the skin. This is how it works cold constricts the blood vessels so that less blood goes to the surface of the skin (which reduces any inflammation or swelling). The body responds by gradually by sending an increased flow of warm blood to the area.
4. Relief for Puffy Eyes
The swelling under the eyes are reduce due to the ice.
5. Wrinkle Buster
Skin icing can ease the signs of wrinkles and slow the appearance of new wrinkles.
6. Blemish Control
The redness of pimples are reduced due to the ice. It also soothes irritated skin.
At the first sign of a pimple use ice cubes on blemishes to slow inflammation. This can help reduce the size and number of blemishes. Hold the ice on acne for a few seconds or until the area feels a little numb. Ice the blemishes every other night.
Another bonus of icing acne prone skin is that it actually helps antibacterial agents and topical antibiotics get into the pores. The topical medications are more able to penetrate the skin because icing makes the skin surface more permeable. How? The cold helps reduce inflammation that has clogged the pores with swelling. Swollen skin makes it difficult for topical creams to reach the bacteria inside the pores. By reducing the inflammation the pores will open (i.e. they will be unclogged). This also helps keep the other pores from getting clogged, thereby reducing the appearance of new blemishes.
How to “Freeze” the Appearance of Pimples
1. Gently rub the ice cube over the affected area were the acne treatment will be applied to cool the skin.
2. Rub the ice over the area for about two to three minutes or until the skin is wet and feels cold to the touch.
3. Be careful to not hold the ice cube on the skin too long which can freeze the skin.
Ice Facial
You can do a simple ice facial in the morning and/or evening. Here’s how:
1. Thoroughly cleanse the face before you start your ice facial.
2. Next use a soft washcloth, gauze or other soft cloth to wrap one or two ice cubes.
3. Apply to the face when the ice begins to melt and the cloth is damp.
4. For about one to two minutes hold the washcloth on the different areas of the face.
5. Move the ice cube(s) gently with circular movements up along the chin and jaw line, up the cheeks and along the forehead and along the nose and take special care underneath the eyes.
6. Complete the facial with toner, acne treatment or moisturizer.
A Final Note About Skin Icing
- Icing is often done without covering the ice. If you chose to do this, you’ll probably need to wear gloves (the ice will become too cold to hold for long with a bare hand).
- Don’t be concerned if using ice directly on the skin doesn’t appeal to you. You’ll get the same effects when holding the ice with a washcloth.
- Don’t apply the ice straight from the freezer if you use a bare ice cube. Extreme cold can break the capillaries under the skin.
- You also don’t want to use bare ice on the skin that already has broken capillaries or use the ice too long.
- If the cold becomes too uncomfortable, stop . Avoid icing one area for more than 15 minutes.
- You can infuse the water for the ice cubes with lemon, rosewater, green tea, cucumber, chamomile tea, and other skin-loving ingredients depending on your skin care need for additional skin benefits.