Have you heard about the benefits of cryotherapy on TikTok and wondered if it was worth trying? During the summer, we all tend to wear less makeup, and maybe even go makeup-free, so you want your skin to look as good as it can. Cryotherapy is said to give you brighter, smoother and glowing skin, just in time for summer.
Cryotherapy Skin Benefits
Cryotherapy skin treatment uses very cold temperatures for a short time to affect the body’s tissues.
It can be used locally on a specific, targeted area, or you can have whole-body cryotherapy, inside a cryotherapy chamber cooled to extremely low temperatures.
The short hit of cold can help calm any visible inflammation, reduce temporary puffiness, and leave the skin looking fresher, by encouraging healthy circulation.
It is a popular facial treatment, as people find that cryotherapy treatments can leave the face looking more even, and tightened post-treatment, with a noticeable glow.
Cold exposure may support collagen activity over time, which can help the skin appear smoother and soften the look of fine lines.
What A Cryotherapy Session Feels Like
Facial cryotherapy feels like a concentrated “rush” of cold across the skin. Depending on the method your facialist uses, you might feel a steady stream of chilled air, a cold wand gliding over the face, or a short, targeted burst of cold vapor.
When first applied, it feels sharp and cooling, especially on your cheeks, jawline and your under-eye area, and it then settles into a firm and tightening feeling.
As your skin adjusts, you might feel a slight tingle or gentle prickling of the skin, like the face is “waking up”. Areas that are more sensitive, like your nose or around your mouth, can feel the coldness more intensely for a few seconds.
During the treatment, and often right after, your skin will immediately feel smoother and more toned to the touch. Any puffiness can be instantly reduced, particularly around your eyes, and skin appears brighter as the circulation picks back up, once the cold air has been removed.
How Cryotherapy May Help With Puffiness And Inflammation
Cryotherapy can be beneficial for puffiness, as cold has a naturally “decongesting” effect on the skin. When your face is cooled, blood vessels tighten for a short time, which can make areas that tend to hold excess fluid, like under your eyes, along your cheeks, and around your jawlines, look a little less puffy.
It is described as having the same principle as a cold compress, except with cryotherapy, it is used in a controlled and targeted way to improve the skin.
After the treatment, your circulation increases as your skin warms back up, and the return of blood flow is what gives your skin a fresher look, and a healthy flush. Plus, it can support recovery when the skin is feeling irritated or inflamed.
Cryotherapy can be done with a wand or with a focused stream of cold, being directed at your most problematic areas, rather than being used generally all over the face.
Effects can be subtle with your first treatments, but with regular use, it’ll help keep your skin looking calmer, less puffy and more defined through the warmer months.
Prep Your Skin for Summer with Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy can make the skin look fresher, but you need to pair it with good skincare for the best results.
Never skin sun protection, within your skincare routine. Use a broad-spectrum SPF30 (or higher) each morning, to keep your sun protected at all times.
Keep your exfoliation gentle and consistent, with once or twice being enough for most people, to lift dullness and help your skincare sit better on the skin. Using heavy facial scrubs or overdoing acids can leave your skin more reactive, especially when having cryotherapy treatments.
Hydration is important all year round, but using a lightweight moisturizer that holds water in the skin, with ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid, will keep your skin hydrated but comfortable, without feeling too heavy in warm weather.
Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty – I have been a beauty writer since 2012.