This may sound a little strange, and maybe a little unnecessary too, but ice could be the missing element from your skincare routine. Stay with me now. Also known as cryotherapy (from the Greek words “cryo,” meaning cold; and “therapy,” which means to cure), ice has been utilised in the medical field since the 17th century to expedite the healing process of tissue damage. More recently though, it’s made a name for itself within the beauty community in the form of ice facials.

While there aren’t any bodily aches and pains that require the attention of cryotherapy, my puffy pink face is in dire need of help. Calmer skin, tightened pores, and a slimmer face are just a few of the things an ice facial promises, which is why the sceptic in me has decided to test it out and uncover the truth. But honestly, if the secret to Kate Moss’ glow is to dunk an entire face in a tub of ice, then I’m already 80% sold.

By Jade Yeo

Thanks to the winning synergy of sensitive, acne-prone, combination skin, my face is often flushed, riddled with red splotches and scars that take aeons to lighten up. Merge that with late night Skype video calls and a diet that needs serious fixing, and you’ve got yourself a face that’ll make your mirror wanna smash itself into pieces soon as you walk in front of it in the mornings. Okay, that’s enough self-deprecation for 12 hours. Here’s how my at-home ice facial went.

Filling an entire sink with water and ice seems a bit wasteful and excessive, so instead, I grabbed a handful of ice and placed them in a clean washcloth. That just seems like an easier way to go about an ice facial – there won’t be too much of a mess to clean up around the sink area, and I can give myself a slow massage with the bundle of ice as I go along.

Some people might find the sudden cool temperature annoying, but not me – I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this DIY facial. I worked around my eyes first, because that’s where most of the puffiness likes to hang out. The ice took away the extra baggage almost instantly, which was what I expected, really. When a cold temperature is applied onto the skin, it constricts blood vessels to bring down the inflammation and boost circulation, which is why I also noticed less redness on my face. It even seemed to shrink my gaping pores and give me an overall glow – something I genuinely wasn’t expecting.

I followed this up with a swipe of toner and some moisturiser before applying my foundation. Because the ice reduced the amount of redness of my face, I only needed a tiny pump of foundation instead of my usual two. Pretty miraculous, I’d say.

VERDICT:

It works. If you’re looking for a quick fix to hide your fatigue from late nights and early mornings, this is probably your best bet. It’s safe for all skin types, it’s easy to do, and everything you need for this facial can be found at home. So give an ice facial a shot – 10 t0 15 minutes of this will help revive your skin (and wake you up) for sure.