6 Ice Cube ‘Recipes’ To Clean, Soothe And Brighten The Skin
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Face washes, toners and face masks – the aim of each of these is to cleanse and brighten your skin. Each of them is quite easily available commercially too. But why do you need to waste your hard-earned money on them when you can get gorgeous skin at home?
Ice cubes have been one of the best-kept beauty secrets for a long time! Wonder how your dadi or nani looked so great in the pictures of their youthful days? It’s because they used ice cubes!
Ice cubes not only refresh your skin, they help you maintain its elasticity too. They improve your complexion, enhance the blood circulation in your face, and remove fine lines and wrinkles. Now, that’s too many benefits for too little money!
So, if that’s got you tempted to enhance your beauty the old-fashioned way, check out these 6 ice cube recipes that’ll instantly brighten, cleanse, and soothe your skin:
1. Antibacterial Rose Ice Cubes
Petals of the eternal flower of love, roses brim with antibacterial properties (1). So, if you have irritated skin, this rose ice cube will provide a soothing effect!
Directions: Take 2 tablespoons of dried rose petals and add them to 4 cups of boiling water. Pour the rose water once cool into an ice tray and freeze it. Once frozen, take the cubes out of the freezer and allow them to sit for half a minute. Next, take the ice cube out of the tray and glide it all over your face in a gentle motion. When you’re done, let the liquid from the ice seep into your skin for at least 5 minutes. Pat your dry face with a soft towel.
2. Relaxing Chamomile Ice Cubes
At the end of a tiring day for both you and your skin, all you need is a little something to relax you. Well, chamomile ice cubes can do that! As soon as you apply them to your face, you’ll find the tension and the stress leaving your body immediately.
Directions: As before, the ingredients are quite simple. Just add 2 tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers to 4 cups of hot water and pour the mixture into your ice tray once cool. Place the tray in your freezer and wait for it to solidify. Once frozen, take the ice cubes out, gently apply them on your face and soak in the cooling, relaxing feeling! You can pat your dry face with a towel when you’re done.
3. Green Tea Ice Cubes For Puffy Eyes
Sure, cucumbers are there to provide you with the ultimate eye-cooling, puffiness-reducing experience. But your fridge is not always stocked with them, is it? And besides, on some days your eyes need a little bit more than cucumber. On such days, the green tea ice cubes can come to your rescue!
Directions: Mix 2 tablespoons of green tea leaves in 4 cups of boiling water and pour the mixture on your ice tray as above. Freeze the concoction overnight. The next morning when you wake up, take an ice cube from the tray and rub it on your eyes as well as under and over them while your eyes are closed. Not only will the soothing sensation heal your tired eyes, your eyes will also look much brighter! This, in turn, will give a subtle, fresh glow to your face.
4. Cinnamon Ice Cubes For Acne
Just like rose petals, cinnamon too has antibacterial properties that can be quite useful in fighting stubborn acne (2). Besides treating existing acne, these ice cubes can also help in preventing pimples, reducing marks and improving the overall quality of your facial skin!
Directions: For cinnamon ice cubes, you need 1 stick of cinnamon cut up into tiny pieces, 2 tablespoons of rose hip and the usual 4 cups of hot water. Mix all the ingredients together and bring to a boil. Freeze them when cool and once ready, apply on affected areas. Wash off with water when done.
5. Cooling Cucumber Ice Cubes
Want to enhance cucumber’s cooling effects? Try these cucumber ice cubes! These ice cubes will brighten your skin almost instantly!
Directions: Take 1½ cups of water and mix one finely chopped cucumber along with 1/4th cup of lemon juice. Freeze as usual. After letting it sit for 30 seconds, apply the ice cube directly onto your skin. Let the ice cube’s liquid sit on your face for 5 minutes and then wash off.
6. Cleansing Star Anise Ice Cubes
Antifungal in nature, star anise can both deeply cleanse your skin and keep infections at bay. Moreover, the orange in these ice cubes will cleanse your pores.
Directions: You need to add the juice of 1 orange and 2 tablespoons of star anise into 1½ cups of water and freeze the mixture in ice trays. Rub the ice cubes formed over your face and allow the liquid to be absorbed by your skin before you wash it off.
You don’t always need to resort to expensive products to give your skin a boost. These DIY ice cubes are all you need to have healthy skin!
