Ice-Water Facial: The Chilly Skincare Trend Promising Glowing, Sculpted Skin

You've heard of cold plunges, but what about their younger cousin: ice-water facials? If you haven't tried this new skincare trend, but are tempted to, here's what the experts have to say about it.

Facial ice baths popped up in the skincare corner of the internet and have dominated the sphere over the last few years — and for good reason. The practice is said to date back thousands of years and offers a slew of benefits for your skin.

Even celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Bella Hadid, Sydney Sweeney, and Kate Hudson swear by ice facials. If you're curious about trying them, but want to understand what you're in for first, look no further than below.

What Is an Ice-Water Facial?

As the name suggests, an ice-water facial involves filling a large bowl with water and ice cubes and submerging your face repeatedly for 15–20 seconds at a time. The practice can be traced back to ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations, who engaged in full-body cold plunges.

They used what is now known as cold therapy or cryotherapy to ease muscle fatigue and skin irritation. Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology, says "facial plunges in ice water are a natural progression," from full-body plunges.

However, dunking your face in an ice-water bowl isn't the only way to go about this particular method. "If you're not into the idea of plunging your face into an icy bowl of water, using tools like ice rollers and chilled face globes will accomplish the same effects," Dr. Yadav shares.

"You can also refrigerate sheet masks to achieve similar results, albeit on a smaller scale," she adds. Additionally, you can try in-office treatments.

What Are the Benefits of an Ice-Water Facial?

According to Dr. Yadav, ice-water facials help reduce inflammation while energizing the skin. "Relieving that inflammation can help temporarily reduce redness or tenderness in blemishes and rosacea-prone skin," she notes.

When your skin interacts with cold temperatures, your blood vessels constrict, reducing blood flow to the targeted area and decreasing redness, swelling, and puffiness. Once the skin returns to its normal temperature, your vessels open back up, leaving you with a healthy glow.

Ice facials can also help prime your skin for makeup and enhance your skin's ability to absorb skincare products, says Austin-based aesthetician Renée Rouleau. "If you apply a serum to the skin and put ice on it afterwards, the capillaries restrict and it creates a pulling effect that helps ingredients penetrate deeper," Rouleau explains.

Additionally, these face plunges can help minimize the appearance of fine lines, reduce the appearance of under-eye bags, and soothe sunburn.

What to Know Before Trying Ice-Water Facials

This is because having ice touch your skin can damage your skin barrier, and lead to the very skin issues you're trying to alleviate, i.e., irritation, ice burns, redness, and dryness. The freezing temperature can also strip your skin of its natural oils, which may be especially harmful if you already have dry or sensitive skin.

That's why it's imperative to have a protective barrier between you and the ice. If you're not using tools like an ice roller, Dr. Engelman recommends wrapping the ice cubes in a paper towel, cloth, or ziploc bag to block the ice from direct contact with your skin.

It's also important to note that you should limit these ice-water plunges to one session a day. Afterward, massage your face in circular motions over different areas of your face. Then, you can continue with your skincare routine.