Ice Facials for Stress

Submerging your face in a bucket of ice might help to reduce your body’s response to stressors. Read on to learn more about this technique.

It’s totally backed by science!!!! 

There’s no talking yourself down when your body is pumping stress hormones through and through! Do an ice facial instead! 

It’s called the Diver’s reflex and it is an incredible body hack! This mammalian response helps to distribute oxygen to the heart and brain to help you get through the stressful situation by soothing your body’s stress response. 

Next time you’re feeling…

• super stressed out, antsy, not sure what to do next 

• anticipating having to go into something super stressful

• extremely sad, hopeless, and worthless 

• like you can’t get out of bed and start your work 

• like you do not want to leave your house 

• like you do not want to be around anyone or do anything 

Follow these steps: 

1. Take a large bowl from your kitchen. 

2. Grab a face towel. 

3. Get some ice from your freezer 

4. Fill the bowl with 3-5 cups of ice. (you get to decide how much works for you!)

5. Set your timer on your phone for 20 seconds. Press start. 

6. Take a big breath in and submerge your face under the ice-cooled water bowl. 

7. Wait for the timer to go off. 

8. Now wipe your face with the face towel, breathe! 

9. Give yourself a BIG pat on the back for hacking your body’s physiological system! 

Bonus: Do it one more time before you put away your ice bowl !!! 

Extra Bonus: Next time, grab a friend or family member and dare them to do it with you! (tell them it’s for science!)

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Did it work? 

We love helping people learn how to activate your body’s parasympathetic nervous system and steer yourself out of difficult emotions. 

Email me at alani@heartstogether.ca and let me know if you gave this a try and how it went! 

Written with love,

Alani Van

HTT Therapist