Ice Ice Baby
Image Courtesy: Red Thread Boutique
As the rapidly rising, recently introduced ‘clean girl’ aesthetic dominates our social media, we often wonder how to obtain ‘clean girl’ status. We observe women rehearse prolonged makeup routines, whipping out their gua shas and ice rollers, and burying their faces into bowls of ice cubes. These aesthetically pleasing products make us feel clean and put together as they saturate our skin and add a crisp look to our bathroom countertops. Though these products make us feel fresh and revitalized, the pandemic of ‘clean girl’ products leaves us asking if these products are truly beneficial to us.
The age-old question has become controversial, as some believe that the benefits of these ‘feel good’ products are solely placebo effects surrounded by health-benefitting myths. Products containing ice or chilled effects work differently for everyone, but they have demonstrated substantial health benefits for most users.
Other than being a mood booster that allows you to start your day feeling refreshed, Cleveland Clinic's “Facial Icing: Is Ice Good for Your Face?” states “Icing constricts the blood vessels in your face, which can lessen the appearance of pores and wrinkles and make you look lighter, brighter and more radiant overall.” The products we use for this look include but are not limited to chilled ice rollers, gua shas, ice cubes, and cooling serum sticks. Aside from the vibrant benefits of ice products, some believe they can chisel your face in areas such as your cheekbone and jawline. As products containing ice help us achieve a clean and refreshing look, we can additionally decipher how advantageous they are internally advantageous they are. In general, we know that ice aids our health. For example, when we suffer from a bruise or other body pain, we are urged to apply ice to the area. The cold can numb pain and also reduce internal bleeding. Focusing on the physical effects of ice and chilled products, these changes in physical appearance stem from internal effects, such as blood vessel constriction and cell strengthening.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
Beyond physical products that involve ice, I want to bring light to another frosty-focused exercise: Cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is a practice that involves stepping into an enclosed machine that can generate a liquid nitrogen temperature of as low as -160 degrees Fahrenheit. This piercing temperature can be of service to more serious health conditions ranging from decreased blood flow to some cancers. According to an article in Medical News Today, exposure to cold products causes blood vessels to constrict and expand, increasing blood flow circulation and replenishing the body with oxygen-rich blood. The blood vessels strengthen with constant constriction and expansion, becoming more resilient and allowing for increased blood flow when removing chilled products. Cryotherapy is also used to relieve pain inflicted on the bone and other symptoms caused by cancer. Many users have advocated for its effectiveness, as their health has seen improvement from the consistent use of Cryotherapy.
Image Courtesy: Model Citizen Magazine
With the increasing popularity of ice, it is crucial to understand the influence of ice on our health and well-being. Though the ice approach may seem meant to promote a beauty aesthetic, it is valuable to our physical condition. Striving for the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic goes hand in hand with feeling good and looking good. When our health flourishes, so does our visual appearance, which is why products containing ice are so sought-after today. If you've hesitated to believe the rumors surrounding coolants, I encourage you to look into them! You may realize that you can thrive when embracing the chill of change.
Strike Out,
Writer: Jade Chancis
Editor: Grace Groover
Graphic Designer: Emma Muersch
Tallahassee