Water is widely praised for its skin benefits, from keeping skin hydrated and plump to providing a natural, healthy glow.

So it’s no surprise that icing your face also offers numerous skincare advantages.

While storing your favorite skincare products in the fridge can enhance their cooling effects, icing has become a popular beauty practice, especially in the mornings and evenings. It’s a go-to treatment in spas and salons and has long been a staple of Korean beauty routines, known for their meticulous skincare rituals.

But does icing actually work? Ready to find out why you should ice before makeup and the positive effects of this simple practice? Keep reading!

What Are the Benefits of Icing Your Face?

Whether you wake up with puffy skin or notice a dull complexion from lack of sleep, poor diet, or stress, facial icing can help bring your skin back to life.

Reduces Inflammation: Similar to how we ice injuries to reduce swelling, facial icing helps calm inflammation in the skin. It's particularly effective for those with inflammatory skin conditions, soothing and cooling the affected areas.

Minimizes Pore Size: Icing your face can help tighten enlarged pores and clear out excess sebum, leaving your skin smoother and more even in texture.

Boosts Skin Glow: Environmental stressors like sun exposure, wind, and pollution can make your skin look tired. Icing revitalizes your face by improving blood circulation, reducing signs of fatigue, and instantly adding a healthy, glowing appearance.

Diminishes Signs of Aging: While you can't stop time, you can reduce the appearance of wrinkles by regularly rubbing ice on your skin. Icing helps improve skin elasticity and prevents premature signs of aging.

Reduces Puffy Eyes: Lack of sleep or eye strain often leads to puffiness around the eyes. Ice helps shrink swelling, bringing your eyes back to their refreshed state. Adding black coffee to the ice will give faster results.

Heals and Prevents Acne: Ice’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce acne and minimize pores. It also helps soothe inflamed skin and control excess sebum production, a leading cause of acne breakouts.

Creates a Smooth Makeup Base: Applying ice before makeup tightens pores and smooths the skin, ensuring a flawless foundation application and a long-lasting makeup finish.

Fights Dark Circles: Dark circles can be reduced by gently applying ice under your eyes. For an extra boost, mix cucumber juice with rose water and freeze it into ice cubes for a more targeted treatment. Be patient—the results will appear in a few days.

Enhances Product Absorption: Ice can help your skin better absorb skincare products.

How to Safely Ice Your Face

For facial icing, you’ll need ice—but never apply it directly to your skin. Wrap an ice cube in a thin cloth to protect your skin from irritation. Gently massage the ice in circular motions over your face, covering areas like your cheeks, chin, forehead, jaw, and nose. Be careful not to leave the ice on your skin for too long, as it can cause irritation or frostbite. Afterward, moisturize your skin to prevent it from drying out.

Alternatives to Plain Water Ice Cubes

You don’t have to use just water for your ice cubes! You can freeze other ingredients for added skin benefits:

Rose Ice Cubes: Freeze pure rose water into ice cubes. The cooling effect of the ice, combined with rose water’s soothing properties, is a treat for your skin.

Aloe Ice Cubes: Freeze aloe vera gel into cubes. Aloe is known for its skin-healing and moisturizing qualities, making it perfect for post-icing hydration.

Green Tea Ice Cubes: Freeze green tea to create ice cubes. With its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, green tea helps refresh and protect the skin.

Cucumber Ice Cubes: Cucumber juice ice cubes provide a hydrating boost for glowing, refreshed skin, perfect for calming irritated or dry skin.

Try these frozen alternatives for a skin-refreshing experience that goes beyond just basic icing!