Face Icing 101: What It Can Do For You & How To Reap The Benefits

Face icing can have a variety of benefits for your skin including soothing any redness and even serving as blemish control. The basic science of the process is that as your skin is exposed to ultra-cold temperatures (whether that be an ice cube, roller, mask, or even liquid nitrogen) blood rises to the surface. This extra blood flow can both soothe any surface issues and tighten your skin overall. Candace Marino, a celebrity facialist known as “The LA Facialist”, told Byrdie, “Think about when you have an injury or swelling in the body and your doctor instructs you to ice it —it’s the same concept, but now we’re using it for aesthetic purposes.”

Ice exposure reduces inflammation which can be especially helpful if you’re dealing with pimples/blemishes, acne, or even rosacea. Ice can also make your pores appear smaller and, in some cases, can even help to unclog pores that might have dirt and debris clogging them. Using ice in this way essentially tones your face and this, combined with smaller pores and less inflammation, can lead to a smoother skin surface.