Of course, we don’t need to convince you how refreshing a spritz of face mist or slick of aloe vera can feel in a heatwave. Whether it’s the mercury climbing or the morning-after-the-night-before, there is little more delicious than a layer of something featherweight and cooling on parched skin that’s burning up. But the benefits of the cold in skincare go beyond just the sensorial – in fact, a little chill can unlock a world of good for your skin, no matter what the season is.
Firstly, a puffy face is no match for the cold. Low temperatures constrict blood vessels, which takes down inflammation and drains fluid build-up. The uptick in circulation combined with the de-puffing effect immediately makes for a sculpted, brightened effect – one that Kate Moss has said she achieves with a full-face dunk in a sink full of ice water when in dire straits. Perhaps you have a particularly bothersome pimple that’s sprung up unannounced, and is now sore, red and positively throbbing with inflammation. An ice cube to the affected area, while not antibacterial, can help reduce the swelling and make the blight far easier to conceal.
Facialist Georgia Louise, whose clientele includes Anne Hathaway, Martha Hunt and Hailey Bieber has long been switched on to the power of cold, and bespoke facials. She and her team usually include a wave of a magic wand: the Cryo Freeze Tool. Shaped like (chic) slightly short drumsticks, the ergonomic handle and spherical head glide over the contours of the skin to help boost circulation and tighten the skin – and best of all, they stay cold for hours even once they’re taken out of the freezer. Likewise, Dr Yannis Alexandrides, the renowned Harley Street plastic surgeon made cryotherapy a core tenet of his brand, 111Skin. Offering full-body and facial “freezing” treatments alongside a range of products that replicate the effects in a jar, the brand’s ethos is informed by the healing powers of cold. Read more…
