If you struggle with redness or rosacea, experts caution against applying anything that's too hot or cold to the face. However, you can still reduce the flushing of the skin by applying an ice cube to the roof of your mouth. It's a receptor site that constricts blood vessels in the face when cooled, says Fusco.
But a word of caution: applying ice directly to your face can cause redness and irritation, which is likely the opposite of the effect you're going for. To avoid aggravating your skin, use a buffer by applying a thin cloth between your face and the ice.
Dermatologists say you can use an ice roller every day, morning and/or night. “In the morning, ice rollers can help reduce puffiness that develops overnight while sleeping,” Dr. Camp says. “It can also help limit redness that can occur after a hot shower when blood vessels are more dilated.
According to doctors and dermatologists, icing your skin has been found to reduce redness and inflammation, tighten the skin, eliminate puffiness, ease acne and give a healthy glow. While the results aren't permanent, icing your face does deliver instant results and it's easy (and cheap!) to do.
You can apply ice cubes, ice rollers, or cryo globes to your face daily, just be sure to not leave them on your skin for prolonged periods. Prolonged use can lead to inflammation of fat (panniculitis) or dyspigmentation in the skin — especially in people of color, warns Dr. Lal.
Skin Irritation
Ice cubes have many benefits, but they can irritate the skin if not used properly. Extended exposure to extremely cold temperatures can result in redness, itching, and even frostbite. Remember to wrap the ice cubes in a cloth before applying them to the skin to avoid direct contact.
Cold water can also be soothing for certain skin conditions, such as rosacea or acne. That being said, there is one disadvantage when washing your face with cold water. Cleansing with water that's too cold will not effectively clean the skin, as oils and makeup won't dissolve in cold water.
People with conditions like rosacea or extreme sensitivity should avoid face icing as it can exacerbate these conditions.
Gently, in a circular motion, move the ice cube-filled washcloth around your face. This can include your cheeks, jawline, around your mouth, nose, and forehead. Do this for a few minutes without staying too long in any area. Apply moisturizer after doing facial icing to avoid drying out your face.
For a quick-fix to your anti-aging concerns, Engelman says that cold therapy can temporarily minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is especially helpful for the area around the eyes.
Core Tip: Traditional cold therapy (e.g., topically icing the injured area) may not be helpful but rather act as a barrier to recovery process. A prolonged period of cold on the skin was reported to lead to a reduction of the blood flow, resulting in tissue death or even permanent nerve damage.
Adding it to your morning skincare routine can get you maximum ice facial benefits, but you can also use ice cubes on your face at night to treat facial inflammation and redness. Word of Caution: Avoid submerging your face in the ice-cold water for a longer duration.
However, washing your face with water alone simply isn't sufficient to remove the build-up of dead skin cells, oil, make-up, or other bacteria, which can lead to skin becoming dehydrated, greasy, or blocking pores.
Micellar Water is essentially just water containing lots of these micelle clusters. They're pretty happy to hang around in the water, but when they meet other oils, just as they do when they're on a Reusable Pad being wiped over your face, they draw them up like a magnet.
Be sure to ice your face, your under eyes, and down your neck. I like my face to air dry once I'm done but you can simply dry it off by patting your face with a towel. Ice does drip so I suggest holding a towel underneath you or standing over the sink at an angle.
You could use reusable ice packs in lieu of ice if you're concerned about waste when doing this regularly. Once the water is cold enough, plunge your face into the bowl and hold your breath. Most experts advise no longer than 30 seconds in total. Keep a clean towel to the side to pat your face dry after.
Before or After Skincare: Ice rolling before skincare can help avoid irritation during makeup application. Alternatively, using it after your skincare routine can give your makeup a subtle look. Serum Application: Using an ice roller before applying serum, moisturizer, or toner is preferable.
Practice Oil Cleansing
Rather than using a traditional cleanser, the Chinese method is to begin with an oil cleanse. The logic behind this is that like attracts like. So, using an oil to cleanse your face will help to break up and remove any other oils that are present on your skin, such as sebum, makeup, and dirt.
“Double cleansing means cleansing your face twice, first with an oil-based product and then followed by a water-based cleanser,” explains Dr. Wu. The first step of using an oil-based cleanser is helpful when it comes to removing waterproof makeup and sunscreen.