Ice, Ice, Baby: Why Washing Your Face With Ice Isn’t Just a TikTok Gimmick

Let’s be real: some of the stuff we see online is questionable at best. (Cinnamon challenge, anyone? Still recovering.) But washing your face with ice or dunking your mug in a bowl of ice water? Surprisingly… this one’s worth the hype. And no, you don’t need to be a beauty influencer with a neon-lit bathroom to try it. Just grab some cubes, and let’s go.

❄️ Benefit #1: Bye-Bye Puffiness

Ice is like the ultimate wake-up call for your skin. It shrinks blood vessels and calms swelling, which means those “I binged Netflix until 2AM” under-eye bags don’t have to betray you the next morning.

❄️ Benefit #2: Instant Tightness

Cold temps temporarily contract your skin and pores, making everything look firmer and smoother. Think of it as Spanx… but for your face. (And yes, just as temporary.)

❄️ Benefit #3: Redness, Be Gone

Got irritation, rosacea, or that one stubborn zit that announced itself before your night out? Ice can calm inflammation and take the edge off redness. Basically, it’s skincare’s version of telling your skin to chill. Literally.

❄️ Benefit #4: Glow Getter

Here’s the fun bit: after your skin has a frosty little freak-out, circulation increases as you warm back up. Translation? That healthy, radiant glow without needing to invest in a £50 highlighter.

❄️ Benefit #5: Skincare Booster

Apply ice before your serums and moisturisers, and your skin becomes more receptive. It’s like priming a wall before you paint, except the canvas is your face, and the paint is your £30 serum you don’t want to waste.

❄️ Benefit #6: Free Spa Treatment

Best part? You don’t need fancy rollers or gadgets. Just open your freezer. Voilà—DIY cryotherapy. (And yes, you’re absolutely allowed to feel smug about saving money here.)

How to Actually Do It (Without Frostbite)

1. Cleanse your face first. (We’re cooling, not trapping yesterday’s dirt under ice.)

2. Wrap a cube in a soft cloth OR dunk your face into a bowl of ice water for 10–15 seconds.

3. Pat dry.

4. Follow with your favourite serum/moisturiser.

5. Admire your reflection and say, “Who needs Botox when I’ve got cubes?

   
   

⚠️ Quick disclaimer: If your skin is super sensitive or broken, skip the ice. Nobody wants freezer burn as a fashion statement.

Washing your face with ice isn’t going to erase wrinkles or make you look 21 again (tragic, I know). But it will perk up tired skin, calm redness, and give you that healthy, glowy look on a budget. So the next time someone asks why you’re dunking your face in an ice bath just tell them it’s cheaper than therapy.