I discovered the amazing benefits of facial icing when I was dealing with acne and the facial swelling (“moon face”) that came as a side effect of my lupus medication. Even though those issues are thankfully in the past, I’ve continued to make facial icing a regular part of my routine because it offers so many other fantastic benefits for my skin. If you’re curious about a simple yet effective way to refresh your skin, reduce puffiness, or even just enjoy a little self-care, keep reading! You can learn more about my previous acne struggles here, and see the natural methods I used to heal my steroid acne in this video. Let me share why facial icing has become a long-term favorite of mine and how it might become one of yours too.
What are the benefits of icing your face?
Beyond just feeling incredibly refreshing, incorporating facial icing into your skincare routine can offer a surprising array of benefits. Here’s a rundown of the amazing things icing can do for your skin:
- Tightens skin
- Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduces Puffiness (including around the eyes)
- Improves Circulation (leading to a healthy glow)
- Soothes acne
- Minimizes the appearance of pores
- Increases product absorption
- Reduces redness and inflammation
- Calms your nervous system
- Easy, affordable, and relatively safe
- May help provide temporary relief from mild sunburn
- Some find it can help alleviate redness associated with certain skin conditions (like rosacea)
- Offers a refreshing and morning pick-me-up
How to ice your face?
You might be wondering how to actually incorporate this seemingly simple step into your routine. While some folks do go straight for an ice cube, rubbing it directly on their skin, I’ve found a slightly gentler (and definitely less drippy!) method works best for me:
- Grab an ice pack and wrap it in a thin, clean towel or a disposable face towels. This is to protect your skin from the direct intensity of the ice. I personally use the disposable ones so that it reduces the exposure to bacteria, especially if you have acne, it’s better to use that. Yes you could wash a towel, but the bacteria can still get trapped in there, and I didn’t take that chance when I had acne.
- Gently place the wrapped ice pack on one area of your face. Once you feel that coldness, move to another area. Don’t leave it in one spot for more than about 30-60 seconds. You don’t want to make your skin feel numb or anything like that.
- This is optional but you can also use the wrapped ice to gently massage your face in small, circular motions. This can feel really nice and help with circulation.
Other Icing Face Tools to Consider:
- Chilled Jade Roller: Another fantastic and less messy alternative is a jade roller that’s been kept in the fridge. The cool stone feels wonderful directly on the skin. Just be sure to clean it with rubbing alcohol after each use to keep it bacteria-free.
- Stainless steel Ice Rollers: Another option to consider would be stainless steel ice rollers. These are gentle enough for your skin, and you can refrigerate or freeze them. Then it can be rolled directly on to the skin.
- Stainless steel cryo sticks: Lastly you could even try stainless steel cryo sticks, offer a gentle, soothing way to ice the face. They can be rolled and pressed onto the skin after freezing. This specific shape, is easier to press on your eyes, and angles of your face.
- Keep it Clean: Make sure if you use any of these tools that you clean them afterwards. If you have acne, it’s so important to keep skin care tools like these clean, and bacteria free. Because I had severely inflamed acne before, I tried to avoid using tools until my face got better, and I stuck with the ice packs and disposable clothes for a while.
A Note on Direct Ice: While some people tolerate rubbing ice directly on their face, it can be too intense, especially for sensitive skin, and may cause redness. Using a barrier like a cloth is generally a safer bet. Some people also dunk their face in a bowl of ice water, but I’m not really a fan of that. So I just use my method of an ice pack and occasional will use a jade roller.
What is the best time to ice?
Figuring out the ideal time to incorporate facial icing into your routine really comes down to personal preference and your specific skincare goals. However, here are a few suggestions based on my experience and common practices:
- Frequency: As for how often, that’s really up to you and your skin’s needs. Some people enjoy icing once or twice a day, while others find a few times a week is sufficient. Personally, I tend to do it either every day or every other day because I love the way it makes my skin feel. Experiment a little to see what works best for you!
- Morning Refresh: I often find that icing in the morning is a fantastic way to de-puff my face and especially those under-eye bags. It’s like a little wake-up call for your skin! Plus, applying cold before your serums and moisturizers can actually help your skin absorb those products more effectively, which is a great bonus.
- Evening Soothing: If you’re dealing with acne or blemishes, icing before your nighttime skincare routine (after cleansing and before serums and moisturizers) can be really soothing and may help calm inflammation. When I had severely inflamed acne, I would ice my face twice a day every day.
Conclusion
Facial icing has truly become a simple yet powerful addition to my skincare routine, offering a multitude of benefits from de-puffing and soothing to potentially enhancing product absorption. The fact that it’s such an affordable and natural way to care for your skin is a huge plus in my book! And honestly, who wouldn’t love those potential anti-aging perks? It might seem like a basic step, the results I’ve experienced have made me a firm believer. I wholeheartedly recommend giving facial icing a try and seeing how it works for you.
Have you ever tried icing your face? What are your thoughts or experiences? Share your comments and questions below – I’d love to hear from you!
