According to Ayurveda, cold showers are ideal for boosting our immunity. While cold water showers may be a tad bit tough to get used to, it is believed that they help increase blood circulation and keep the skin’s natural oils intact without drying it out. Celebrities like Bella Hadid and Alia Bhatt are known to be big believers of icy cold water for skin. In fact, social media trends also have people dunking their faces, full of makeup, into ice cold water- supposedly to help keep your makeup intact. However, it is essential to know your facial skin is more sensitive than other areas. So how safe can it be for the skin? Here’s what experts have to say.
Cold Water For Skin
Cold water increases blood circulation. Our body naturally is warm, and when splashed with cold water, the blood cells rush back to regulate the body temperature while increasing the heart rate. It also increases the oxygen intake of the body.
“It’s also a good idea to splash some cold water in your eyes to help them feel better. Cold water is also beneficial because it increases blood flow to the skin, making it appear more luminous,” says Dr Noopur Jain, founder and consultant dermatologist at Skinzest in Delhi. She further explains that simply splashing the face with cold water can significantly minimise fine lines and wrinkles. “Washing the face with cold water can also help brighten the dull skin and give it a boost of energy,” says Dr Noopur.
Hot water opens up the pores on our skin while cold water tightens them. Extremely hot water can cause a high level of skin sensitivity. It can dry out your skin, stripping it of natural oils. This can cause irritation if you have dry skin or produce access oil if you have oily skin. It can also cause your acne to get worse or give you a skin condition called rosacea which makes the skin sensitive leading to the formation of red patches.
Benefits Of Cold Water For Skin
Most people wake up with a puffy face in the morning. Cold water is the quick fix to this problem. It soothes the skin and refreshes you. It is also a great way to protect the skin from harmful UV rays from the sun. But that does not give you a free pass to skip your SPF.
Splashing cold water on the skin soothes sunburns and rashes. While we cannot prevent ageing, we sure can prevent the signs from showing up on our skin. Cold water is perfect for preventing the skin from sagging and aids with skin tightening benefits. Taking cold showers is believed to reduce stress and elevate your mood. It also cleanses the skin by getting rid of the dirt, oil and sweat.
How Can You Include Cold Water In Your Skincare Routine?
While cold water has a lot of benefits, it should also be used correctly. Cold water should not be used daily on the skin as it can cause the skin to dry out. Using a hydrating moisturiser containing ceramides, lipids and dimethicone as per your skin type on damp skin is recommended,” says Dr Madhuri Agarwal, Founder & Medical Director- Yavana Aesthetics Clinic.
You’ve probably heart about the infamous ice facials loved by celebs. There are many ways to get an ice facial, but the most common one would be to wrap a few cubes of ice in a cotton cloth and massage it onto your face in circular motions for one to two minutes. “Ice facials are good options to rejuvenate skin. They help to improve the tone and health of the skin. Ice water facials at home can be done for special occasions in moderation,” says Dr Madhuri.
Our Beauty Editor has a product she strongly recommends for summers. Read about it here.
