Due to the destructive effect of low temperature on cells, medicine uses liquid nitrogen at a very low temperature to remove diseased tissue and treat diseases such as skin diseases and cancer, but cryotherapy is better known as Whole Body Cryotherapy, which has become popular from professional athletes.
In this therapy, the user needs to expose the body below the neck to liquid nitrogen at a temperature of about minus 100 degrees for about 3 minutes, which is said to relieve muscle soreness, treat muscle damage, restore physical function, lose weight, and even treat various diseases. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a paper in 2016 saying that there is no evidence that whole-body cryotherapy can effectively treat Alzheimer's, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, stress, anxiety or chronic pain, and there are risks of suffocation, frostbite and so on. A 2019 popular science article at the University of Utah also mentioned that the efficacy claimed by many cryotherapy has not been scientifically proven, but in terms of improvement in physical and mental health and recovery after exercise, cryotherapy has shown great potential effects.
Whole-body cryotherapy
But in any case, the boom also spread to the beauty field, and frozen beauty programs for the face became popular among beauty seekers, because their tightening and wrinkle removal effects were also compared with botulinum toxin injections, earning the name "Frotox" (Freeze+Botox).
In the beauty instrument and skin care industry, which often borrows the concept of medical beauty, cryotherapy has naturally become a hot keyword, although the temperature of related products is generally above zero, and will not reach the level in medical institutions, but the principle of action is similar.
Cold therapy beauty
Dermatologist Dr Mona Gohara explained in an interview with Allure that hypothermia stimulation can cause blood vessels to constrict and, when restored, "expand with nutrient-rich fresh blood, temporarily increasing blood flow and helping the active ingredients in skin care products to be better absorbed", and cold therapy tools such as ice hockeys can also temporarily improve facial circulation, firmness and radiance. In addition, dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner also mentioned that low temperatures can reduce inflammation, swelling and skin redness, but he also mentioned that whether this method can achieve anti-aging effects is not yet known.
In addition to radio frequency, LED, some multi-functional beauty instruments have also begun to add cold therapy mode, such as Foreo's UFO 2 beauty instrument has applied condensation technology, claiming that it can instantly shrink pores, calm firmness, anti-inflammatory, etc., and with eight colors of light to carry out targeted care of the skin, as well as through heating to accelerate the absorption of the skin.
Foreo UFO 2 Beauty Instrument
Designed by renowned beauty expert Joanna Vargas, the brand's beauty instrument of the same name also adds cold and hot modes, in which the massage function is intended to simulate the natural flow of the lymphatic system, Joanna Vargas believes that the blockage of the lymphatic system can cause skin problems such as acne, puffiness and dryness, and this instrument claims to take away toxins and speed up the transmission of key vitamins and nutrients to make the skin younger and healthier.
Joanna Vargas Magic Glow Wand beauty instrument
In addition to these thousands of beauty instruments, consumers have a simpler and more affordable choice, as long as some beauty massage tools are used after ice, they can experience the "cold therapy" effect, such products are generally designed into rollers, balls, spoons and other different shapes to meet different massage needs. Among them, the "ice glass ball" has been noticed by more Chinese consumers because it often appears in "immersive skin care", and its shape is similar to a sand ball, except that the contents are liquid, which is convenient for ice. Of course, because there is no technical content, this product has also been complained about by some bloggers, who believe that it can be completely replaced by iced drinks and spoons.
Aceology "Ice Glass Ball"
In the field of skin care, cryotherapy is more like a source of inspiration, and the skincare brand 111Skin, founded by plastic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides, launched a cold therapy product line in 2016, hoping to simulate similar effects to cryotherapy through skin care, the initial products included facial and body essences, using hydrolyzed sesame protein to tighten the skin, Neruobiox to reduce pores, D-ribose to promote skin renewal, etc.
At present, the product line includes masks, eye masks, moisturizing gels, eye gels, eye gels and other products, and has added caffeine that eliminates puffiness, firming and brightening, glucose hesperidin that promotes circulation and fights melanin concentration, antioxidant polypeptides, detoxification and swelling marine complexes.
111Skin Cold Therapy Set
Charlotte Tilbury, known for its makeup products, also launched a cold therapy line last year, including an eye cream and a silicone mask. The main effect of this eye cream is to reduce swelling, firmness, brighten and smooth skin, with the addition of biotech extracts from the Swiss glacial soils, extracting the firming effect of frozen grapes from the growing process, as well as caffeine, peptides and more. The silicone mask in the series combines the concepts of cold therapy and acupuncture to achieve lifting and tightening by cryogenically and pressing on the metal head of the acupuncture points along the chin, forehead, cheekbones and nasolabial fold.
Charlotte Tilbury Cold Therapy Mask
At present, some sharing of whole-body cryotherapy or cold therapy beauty tools can already be seen on domestic social platforms, but overall consumer awareness is not high. While consumers may not care about cryotherapy or getting cryotherapy effects on skincare products, sensory experiences in skincare are receiving increasing attention, including "ice feeling".
Polaria Ice Gyro Eye Cream
CBNData data show that in 2020, including the concept of direct somatosensory goods showed explosive growth, multiple concepts of growth of more than 100%, of which "ice sense" has the highest growth rate, in the Little Red Book, there are more than 10,000 "ice feeling" related notes, in the sharing of cold therapy beauty instruments, beauty tools, you can also see that users will mention the comfort of ice and cold. Whether it's pairing a product with a metal massage head or adding cooling ingredients, in addition to efficacy, it becomes even more important for consumers to have a better experience, which will be another effective strategy for skincare brands seeking to differentiate and stand out in their rolls. BINC
Author: Lee
Image source: Network