Road Test: I tried a frozen face sculptor for my dehydrated skin
IMAGE VIA DEL SOL
words by kaya martin
A popsicle for your face.
It would be an understatement to say that I’m extremely picky when it comes to skincare. Nothing goes on my face unless I’ve analysed every single ingredient (shoutout Skincharisma) and gone down an hour-long Reddit rabbit hole about the product and its effects.
I wasn’t always this way. Growing up with problematic skin, there were many years when I tried every product under the sun. My vanity was a mess of serums, mists and moisturisers. But now that I’ve finally figured out a routine that works for me, I’m extremely hesitant to try out anything new that might throw off the delicate balance.
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I do feel a twinge of jealousy, though, especially when I hear people talk about buzzy new products or I get fancy little samples that I have to give away to friends. My skin’s alright now, but what if it could be even better? Unfortunately, it’s not usually worth the risk.
When I first heard about Melbourne beauty brand Del Sol’s Hyaluronic Sculpt Kit, I was intrigued, but highly doubtful it’d pass my rigorous screening process. It turns out I was wrong to have underestimated it. With only eight ingredients other than water, the treatment is simple and chockablock with the good stuff: four different types of hyaluronic acid, a substance known for increasing moisture levels in the skin, increasing elasticity and preventing wrinkles and fine lines.
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Where the real magic comes in is with the applicator. The kit comes with a large quantity of the hyaluronic serum, a rubbery mould (the brand calls it a “sculpt pop”) and a bamboo cotton cloth. To use it, you fill the mould with the serum, toss it in the freezer for five hours or overnight, then crack open the applicator and rub the frozen serum on your skin. A popsicle for your face! Alongside the benefits of the hyaluronic acid, skin icing is known to reduce puffiness, reduce the look of pores and help treatments penetrate deeper into the skin.
After a minor struggle to fill up the applicator (we got there in the end), I wedged it in among the frozen peas and Ben & Jerry’s and waited patiently for it to solidify. The next morning, I washed my face and got down to business. I was surprised by how cold it was at first, although I know I really shouldn’t have been. It’s literally made of ice, of course it’s going to be cold!
The shock of the temperature really woke me up, like an icy shower or a polar plunge, but a lot less intense. I’ll admit, I may have been slightly hungover, but oh my god, it felt so good. I used to put my jade roller in the freezer, but after the sensation of pure ice on my face, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back.
The shape of the sculpt-pop (similar to a gua sha) allowed it to get into small areas like under the eyes and around the lips and nose and the groove allowed it to glide effortlessly across the chin and cheekbones. What I didn’t expect was how quickly it would melt, cascading down my face in little rivets which I quickly soaked up with the cloth. It was a two-handed affair; not for the uncoordinated, but definitely worth the work.
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When I was finished, my skin was baby-soft and looked a lot more alive than it had before I’d begun. My pores were practically non-existent. I was flush, but in a fresh way (rather than a I drank half bottle of wine last night kind of way) and my skin was plump and juicy, yet also taut and defined.
I appeared much more hydrated than I actually was. My makeup also went on significantly better after the treatment. It felt like it was sitting on top of my skin rather than sinking into my pores. The glow could still be seen even beneath layers of moisturiser, sunscreen and foundation and lasted throughout the rest of the day.
There’s just something so luxurious about a frozen facial sculptor. It feels like something Gwyneth Paltrow would use. I imagine the ideal setting to use this device would be sprawled out on a beach towel in the yard, not caring about all the drippage, rather than hunched over the bathroom sink.
As a person who’s constantly late to everything, it’s not a treatment I’d add to my everyday routine, but it’s definitely something I’d wake up 10 minutes early for on special occasions and look forward to on the weekends. The results speak for themselves and the process is the epitome of self-care. And really, don’t we all deserve to feel a little like Gwyneth sometimes?
For more on frozen skincare, head here.
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