March 23, 2021 

“Skin icing – or facial cryotherapy – is one of the latest skincare trends flooding Instagram Reels and TikTok – and for good reason. Quite apart from the mesmerizing effect of watching celebrities and facialists massage ice globes onto their faces, the action of skin icing tightens and contracts the skin, leaving it sculpted and plump with an outdoorsy glow,” explains Lauren Murdoch-Smith in British Vogue.

While there is only anecdotal evidence to back up the benefits of skin icing, the freezing facial trend is having a moment in the spotlight for three key reasons. Skin icing delivers fast, visible results, could help minimize the appearance of breakouts, and taps into the consumer desire for unique new beauty tools.

Skin icing is a form of cryotherapy. During a skin icing treatment, the skin on the face is exposed to very cold temperatures for several minutes.

Skin icing in its most simple format is the massaging of ice cubes onto the face. There are also new cryotherapy tools, often stashed in the fridge or freezer, that are designed to mimic the effects of an ice cube massage, without any of the slips and drips.

To start, consumers love skin icing because it offers fast, visible results.

Among the variety of anecdotal benefits, skin icing fans believe a freezing facial can help:

• tame inflammation
• reduce the size of blemishes
• decrease the visibility of pores
• de-puff bags under the eyes
• sculpt the skin
• create a coveted rosy glow

How could such a simple technique deliver such big results? When applied to the face, ice (or other frosty objects, like a cold stainless steel roller) causes blood vessels to constrict. This constriction leads to an improved skin appearance, including less redness, swelling, and puffiness.

“Blood vessel constriction also means a reduction in the amount of fluid, which is particularly useful in under-eye puffiness,” Mariam Adegoke, aesthetics doctor, told Brydie. “The gentle massaging action helps to increase lymphatic drainage, further removing excess fluid that causes puffiness. Skin icing is also thought to reduce excess oil production and increase absorption of other skin-care products.”

Another reason ice facials are having a moment? Many devotees believe skin icing at home helps to minimize the appearance of blemishes.

The idea is linked to the time-honored tradition of applying ice to an injury to help reduce swelling and redness.

“When used on inflammatory acne, ice also has the potential to decrease redness, thereby making your pimples less noticeable. It can also treat pain that occurs with cystic and nodular acne. This is due to the short-term numbing effect ice creates,” explains Healthline.

However, it’s important to note there is no proven evidence skin icing can actually reduce acne. But for the curious, the social media shoutouts about the short-term benefits of skin icing might be enough to give the trend a try. 

Finally, the skin icing trend is seeing a current boost of popularity thanks to a proliferation of new icy-cold cryotherapy tools.

While ice cubes are the most cost-effective option to do an at-home facial freeze, many dislike the slips and drips of a melting ice cube. Enter: cooling cryotherapy tools.

There are a multitude of new cryotherapy skincare tools available, but the most popular tools include:

• Cryo rollers – similar to jade rollers, these tools are typically made from stainless steel, to deliver extra-chilly facial sculpting
• Ice globe facial massagers – these mini wands are stuck in the fridge or freezer, then used for cold facial massage 
• Cryospheres – a stainless steel or ice ball that is rolled over the face
• Cryo face masks – one-time or reusable facial masks that are chilled in the freezer or fridge

For many skincare consumers, trying skin icing or cryotherapy at home is a fun, simple way to de-stress and de-puff the skin.

While there may only be anecdotal evidence about the benefits of skin icing, the chilly skincare trend is likely here to stay. After all, there’s nothing consumers love more than “instant gratification” from their skincare products and routines.

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