‘Skin Icing’ – the new facial cryotherapy trend for when you’ve reached peak jade roller
Self-care is the current buzzword but what happens when you reach peak jade roller? Enter facial cryotherapy – also known as ‘skin icing’ – the cool new trend flooding TikTok and Reels.
A cursory glance at flat lays on Instagram reveals a love affair with the jade roller – both for massage and as an easy way of incorporating the best crystals for beginners into a daily routine.
But in the background the equivalent of a facial roller 2.0 has been gaining traction: ice globes. The idea of using ice, or even splashing your face with cold water, in the morning isn’t exactly new. But the latest generation of ice-based tools means it’s an easier – and more relaxing – process to master at home.
But can we really freeze our faces into a brighter, tighter version of themselves?
Quite apart from taking your cheekbones to a whole new level, muscle stimulation, lymphatic drainage, immediate skin tightening and boosted circulation for a rosy glow are just a few of the benefits of skin icing.
Teresa Tarmey who relies on her own Cryo-Ball to smooth away 7am puff-face says: “The sub-zero temperatures and rolling sensation stimulates circulation, de-puffs and sculpts.”
Better still, the effects are almost immediate, according to Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, cosmetic surgeon and founder of 111 Skin:
“Cryotherapy used either on the body or face incites vasoconstriction – a reduction of the blood vessel size.” This constriction and icy shock to the skin sends fresh blood to the area – and we all know that fresh blood also carries fresh oxygen and nutrients so that fresh-from-the-cold glow is more than just superficial. It also means that the best vitamin C serums you apply afterwards will sink in better and make more of a difference.
Georgia Louise frequently uses these tools over a sheet mask as part of her in-clinic procedures. She recommends first rolling from the inner areas of the face, outwards and then holding them over the eyes to drain away excess fluid.