Ice therapies such as ice baths and ice facials are becoming extremely popular – and not just with athletes! It may be cold outside, but it’s even colder in! Do you dare to take the plunge?
Athletes and those who undertake regular, intense bouts of exercise have long sworn the benefits of an ice bath. From aiding faster muscle recovery, reducing swelling and flushing out toxins such as lactic acid, it’s long been acknowledged that immersing yourself into an ice bath (as opposed to a nice bath!) can have amazing results.
But what about the rest of us? If we’re not training for marathons, or aiming for the 2020 Olympics, is an ice bath really worth all the pain and goosebumps?
Well perhaps not. But there are ways in which ice therapy can be introduced into your life for the better.
Cold showers, for instance, help increase alertness, encouraging you to stay sharp and retain your focus. They’re also great for sealing cuticles to prevent dirt from getting trapped underneath the nail bed and also offer great results for hair too. The cold water helps to flatten the follicles, making hair look shinier, smoother and healthier.
And if it’s supermodel skin you’re after, look no further than the ice facial – revered by none other than Kate Moss. In an interview with Stylist magazine, she revealed:
“If I wake up looking tired and puffy, I fill a sink with ice and cucumber and submerge my face. It tightens everything making you look and feel instantly awake.”
By gently submerging your face into a bowl of ice, water and freshly sliced cucumber, you’ll benefit from tighter pores (which mean a reduction in the amount of dirt that can enter them, helping to prevent blemishes and pimples), and an immediate reduction in puffiness and swelling to give you an instant wide-awake look.
Ice therapy is no stranger to health and wellness spas, with many offering an ice fountain for guests to cool off with – especially satisfying if you have been in a sauna. Here at the Devonshire Spa, our luxurious Monsoon Showers have cold and warm settings, so you can gently immerse yourself in a downpour of cold water which will help to increase blood flow, flush out toxins and brighten the skin.