Beauty Skin-Care Tips

The Completely Free Facial That Reduces Puffiness With Nothing but an Ice Cube

Tehrene Firman

June 4, 2019

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Photo: Getty Images/youngoldman

Whether your face is looking a little puffy due to a lack of sleep, eating too much salt, or seasonal allergies that refuse to away (guilty on all charges!), it can be tricky to calm the swelling down. While booking an appointment with an esthetician is one way to deal with a swollen under-eye area that concealer can't hide, but you don't have to spend big bucks to get relief. All you need to do is reach into the freezer and give yourself an ice cube facial.

It's hard to believe something as simple as an ice cube could melt away all your puffiness, but it works in seconds. "Using an ice cube will dilate the underlying blood vessels of the skin. It's an instant de-puffing effect," says Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist based in New York. "The rubbing or massaging motion will gently distribute lymphatic build-up, which can also alleviate puffiness."

You don't have to be a beauty pro to master the technique. Just take the ice cube in your hand and gently rub or massage it over your skin. There's really no wrong way to go about it. If it's too cold for your fingers or face, Dr. Engelman recommends covering the ice cube with gauze or a cloth—something celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge swears by. She puts an ice cube in a tea towel and holds it against her skin to alleviate puffiness and sculpt her features at the same time.

Eldridge recommends freezing infused water if you want some extra skin-boosting effects during your at-home ice cube facial. Green tea is especially good for puffy eyes, lemon helps diminish dark spots and brightens the skin, rose water calms and tones, and cucumber heals and hydrates, she says. No matter what you decide to use, beating facial puffiness has never been easier.

Another way to the the all-over glow? The DermalInfusion facial, which sucks all of the gunk out of pores while infusing it with good-for-skin ingredients. Check it out below.

Here's exactly what happens to your skin during a cryofacial. And if you prefer doing your beauty treatments at home, this Clarisonic was made to banish under-eye puffiness.