I Did an Ice Water Facial Every Day for a Week

Health Line

06-05-2025

Ice water facials are a popular social media trend in which you submerge your face in ice water. While no formal research exists, proponents claim it can reduce facial inflammation and puffiness.
You may have seen videos of people dunking their faces in bowls of ice water on social media. Maybe you watched a 'get ready with me' video and did a double-take—perhaps you thought, 'Did I see that right?'
This is called an 'ice water facial,' not to be confused with facial icing, which uses ice only. While there is no formal research on ice water facials, people claim that it enhances the look of your skin and reduces:
I tried this for one week. Below, I will go over my experience.
My setup
I wanted to share the items and routine I used before I dive into my review.
I used a large glass mixing bowl to hold the water and ice. It is around 12 inches in diameter and 6 inches deep. This ensured I had enough space to comfortably submerge my face into the water.
I used whole ice cubes and tap water. I felt that crushed ice may feel sharp and unpleasant on my skin, and that using filtered bottled water would be too expensive. However, this came down to my personal preference.
I also did my facial first thing in the morning. This ended up being around 8 a.m.
How to do an ice water facial
Select a large, clean bowl. Ensure it is wide and deep enough to fully submerge your face.
Fill the bowl with water and ice to about 3/4 full. Not filling the bowl to the top can prevent spillage when you submerge your face.
Submerge your face in the water for a short amount of time. You do not have to hold your face in the water for very long—5 seconds is fine.
Gently pat your face dry with a clean towel.
Discard the water and ice. Do not drink it or use it for any other purpose.
How I felt
The action of submerging my head in the water was not entirely pleasant.
When you put your face in the water, a little bit will enter your nose. This sensation was particularly uncomfortable for me. I tried blowing air out through my nose, but the bubbling broke the surface of the water covering my face. You may be able to avoid this by using nose plugs.
I did not notice reduced inflammation or puffiness around my face or decreased oiliness. However, I only did this for one week, so there is a chance you may notice this if you engage in this process over a longer period of time.
However, submerging my face in the ice water did help me feel more awake and refreshed afterwards. The cold sensation snapped me out of my morning grogginess right away.
It also helped me feel more awake because it became a part of my morning routine, which helps me mentally transition from sleep to starting work. My routine became: ice water facial, making my coffee, changing, and going to my office.
Would I do this again?
No.
The ice water facial did not help me achieve any noticeable changes to my face. I felt I looked the same before and after the week.
I also felt this was a waste of water to feel more awake. I usually wash my face in the morning with water on a washcloth, which achieves the same effect.
However, this was just my personal experience. If you decide to try this, you may notice changes or enjoy the process more than I did. It just was not for me.