From skin slugging [1] to soap brows [2], TikTok has become a gold mine for all kinds of out-there beauty trends and hacks that we're not ashamed to admit we've tried once or twice. Now, another buzzword hitting the platform in the last few months is "skin icing," which, jarring as it might sound, is believed to improve your skin's health and appearance.
For anyone unfamiliar with the term, skin icing is the act of putting literal ice on your face. It's a form of cold therapy that's been around for ages and involves treating the skin with ice, ice rollers, ice water, or any cryotherapy tool that can lower the temperature of the skin. The point, as noted to us by celebrity facialist Candace Marino [3], is to "reduce inflammation, redness, and puffiness, while also stimulating circulation and helping to sculpt the face."
These, of course, aren't the only reasons we've been seeing the trend everywhere lately. Read ahead to learn more about the benefits of skin icing and how you can safely do it at home.
What Are the Benefits to Skin Icing?
Many people who practice cold therapy do so as a way to reduce redness and puffiness or to improve your overall complexion — and it actually works.
"Reduction of inflammation is 100 percent accurate," Marino said, noting that icing your skin to improve your complexion is much like putting an ice pack to a bruised or injured area of the body. "It's the same concept, but now we're using it for aesthetic purposes. 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 on the skin, which is a key trigger to both conditions."
According to Marino, skin icing can also be used as an antiageing treatment: "Stimulating the skin with your hands or tools will help improve circulation, which delivers oxygen-rich blood cells to the face, bringing life to the skin and warranting a glow."
She also noted that, while it's not an official "substitute for a facelift," skin icing can still improve the quality of the skin. "It feels amazing, and you instantly look more alive and awake, so I'm for it," she said.
How Can I "Ice" My Skin at Home?
Though many a YouTube or TikTok video will show you people putting actual ice cubes on their bare faces, that direct contact can sometimes be too harsh for people with sensitive skin (and cause more harm than damage). Luckily, it's not the only way to give yourself an ice facial, as you can also do so using tools and products made specifically for the treatment.
"I like ice rollers because they're the most comfortable of the tools to use on yourself, in my opinion," Marino said. "The ice globes and cryosticks are great, too, but I prefer those in the treatment room on a client." Some good options include the BeautyBio Cryo Skin Icing Dual-Ended Roller [4] ($85) that can be stored in the freezer ahead of use or the four-step Jalue Ice Therapy Kit [5] ($45).
Whichever method you choose, just make sure you cleanse and apply your regular serums to your skin beforehand to ensure the easiest glide.