Have an ice time boosting your skin with the coolest of trends
Don’t we all wish we could freeze time to stay looking young? Well, we can’t quite manage that but ice facials may be the way to go. Emma Wedgwood, registered nurse and founder of Emma Wedgwood Aesthetic, gives us the lowdown on this cool new treatment...
What exactly is an ice facial?
Also known as skin icing, an ice facial is a cryotherapy treatment that takes advantage of the benefits ice has on our skin. It involves spraying and cooling your complexion with vapourised liquid nitrogen, promising to leave your skin tighter, brighter, defined and glowy.
What are the different types?
Several advanced medical facials utilise cryo technology, other skin-focused facials include rolling ice across the skin to relax and revive your complexion and other medical treatments use ice in a different way – such as CryoPen, which freezes skin blemishes away, and CoolSculpting, which freezes stubborn deposits of fat under the chin to slim the face.
What are the benefits?
Ice facials banish puffiness, soothe redness, refine pores, reduce signs of ageing (such as the visibility of fine lines), boost circulation/lymphatic drainage in the skin and supercharge the effectiveness of skincare products on your complexion..
Are there any downsides?
If you have sensitive skin or a complexion that reacts negatively to temperature changes (such as Rosacea, hyperpigmentation, chilblains etc) you should be extremely careful. In the case of darker skin types, exposing your skin to prolonged contact with ice can increase the risk of patches of discolouration.
If doing an ice facial yourself from home, be sure to use a professionally designed skincare tool. These devices have been designed to control the temperature you’re exposing your skin to.
Use a professionally designed skincare tool to ice your face, and be sure to keep your ice globe/roller moving during your facial, to avoid damage. You’ll need to give your skin a little extra TLC after. You shouldn’t use retinol or exfoliants (chemical or physical – especially not scrubs or brushes) for a couple of days post-ice. Opt for a regime that includes gentle cleansers, warm water and lots of SPF.
Can you do a DIY ice facial?
Ice globes/rollers are the easiest and safest way to devise your own ice facial regime. Prep your skin by cleansing and applying moisturiser, glide your ice globes gently over your skin for 5-15 minutes.
Keep them moving in an upwards motion to lift and refine skin. Finish with a gentle moisturiser.