Cold therapy has skyrocketed in popularity, but the magic of cold temperatures isn’t a fad. In fact, cold therapy has been shown to provide a range of benefits for health and beauty over the years that deserve attention. Learn how and when to incorporate cold therapy into your routine for an affordable, natural boost to your product lineup.
1. Tighten and Tone Your Complexion
Think back to your earliest science classes where you learned about the shapeshifting magic of water. When water becomes ice, it shrinks, and when it’s applied to your skin, the result is similar. Use a chilled jade rollers, ice rollers, or good old-fashioned ice cube to tighten and tone your complexion.
When applied to the skin, the cold temperature temporarily tightens it, causing blood vessels to constrict. This skin-tightening effect can also reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and even pores. You’ll experience smoother skin texture that’s safe for anyone to try. Do this before applying cosmetics for the ultimate, smooth base for your beauty look.
2. Tone Down Redness and Inflammation
One of the most distracting and aging factors in beauty is an uneven complexion. Luckily, ice therapy can help tone down redness and inflammation caused by acne, broken capillaries, and sun damage. If your skin is regularly red or irritated, you may need to skip certain products or cosmetics. Thankfully, cold therapy can reduce redness while you give your skin a much-needed break.
By constricting your blood vessels through cold therapy, you’ll reduce the appearance of redness. Meanwhile, the cold temperature can calm irritation caused internally or externally. Plus, as a non-chemical therapy, it’s safe to use with your prescription acne medication, skincare, and even sensitive skin. Cold therapy can also reduce redness caused by rosacea and calm sunburned skin.
3. Improve Circulation
After your blood vessels have recovered from the initial shock of cold temperatures, their return to normalcy offers circulation benefits. In sports recovery, ice baths are often used to help reduce inflammation in sore muscles and joints. Afterward, many experience an invigorating rush of energy, caused in part by improved circulation.
Some people also experience renewed mental clarity, reduced stress and anxiety, and even boosts in creativity. The increase in blood flow can help improve healing and cell turnover, a benefit for acne healing and anti-aging treatment alike. Plus, the boost in oxygen delivery can improve your overall complexion, resulting in bright, radiant skin.
4. Boost Product Absorption
One of the most luxurious ways to incorporate cold therapy is to apply skincare simultaneously. Use your clean, cold jade roller to apply serums for a spa-like experience at home. Double up the benefits by using cold tools with your eye cream, which can also reduce puffiness.
The cold temperature of the tools tighten pores on contact, which helps the skin latch onto treatments. This means that your products can absorb faster and better, giving you better results while conserving the product. Some skincare devotees swear by keeping certain skincare products cold, too. Whether you use a beauty fridge or keep products alongside your condiments, chilling certain serums can be effective and luxurious.
5. Reduce Swelling and Puffiness
If the previous mention of reducing under-eye puffiness caught your eye, lean in. One of the best ways to recover from a late night, too much screen time, or both is cold therapy. Stash an ice roller or metal spoons in your ice drawer and come morning, a welcome relief from puffiness. Gel masks or those filled with glass beads can provide relief for longer de-puffing sessions when you can lay down.
Place the spoons under your eyes for a quick hit of energy while deflating puffiness. This can also be helpful for those suffering from allergies and can be repeated throughout the day. Be gentle when working around the eyes, as the thin skin can easily be pulled. Always use clean tools to reduce the risk of bacteria, and you’ll be on your way to bright, beautiful eyes.
6. Release Tension and Pain
How you feel, inside and out, impacts your appearance, especially on your face. If you suffer from headaches or migraines, it’s easy to strain, hunch, or even grimace in discomfort. For many people this type of pain is chronic, and some medications are so powerful they knock you out completely. Give your body much-needed relief without the downtime through cold therapy.
Immerse your body in an ice bath full of cold water from the tap and a small bag of ice. Sit in it for a minute, allowing your breathing to normalize through long, deep breaths. Afterward, you’ll feel invigorated and will experience significant relief for hours, as your body’s been forced into fight-or-flight mode. You’ll have less pain as your pain receptors are slowed thanks to the shocking — and refreshing — magic of ice therapy.
Make Cold Therapy Part of Your Beauty Routine
Once you get the hang of it, cold therapy may become your favorite part of your routine. As a non-invasive, chemical-free, and accessible beauty step, cold therapy is for almost everyone. However, you should start slow and ease into using tools like ice rollers, chilled jade rollers, and even ice itself. When used consistently, cold therapy can improve your skin with minimal effort and yield maximum results.
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