From plunging your face into bowls of ice water to rolling frozen tools across your cheeks, social media is full of quick fixes promising to depuff your face in minutes.
While these techniques look convincing on screen, dermatologists say many of them are misunderstood, overhyped and at best, temporary.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Aiza Jamil says facial puffiness is usually caused by fluid retention and common triggers include high salt and alcohol intake, allergies and lack of sleep.
Dr Tina Tian, also a consultant dermatologist explains most viral hacks fall into three categories – cold exposure, massage and temporary tightening effects.
They can « genuinely reduce visible swelling and provide relief but the key word is temporary – they won’t permanently change facial structure ».
So what actually helps with facial puffiness, and what’s more myth than miracle? Here’s the truth about three common treatments.
If you’ve ever hovered over a sink debating whether to dunk your face into a bowl of ice water, you’re not alone. The « ice facial » has become a social media rite of passage and is half beauty hack, half endurance challenge.
Tina explains the appeal comes from the fact that the « cold exposure causes blood vessels to constrict, which can reduce swelling ».
This is the logic behind ice facials, cryo globes and refrigerated sheet masks but Tina says you don’t need a dramatic ice plunge to get the benefit as a chilled compress or even a splash of cold water can do the job.
Aiza adds that it can give you a « slightly tighter, fresher appearance, particularly in the morning » but results are temporary and the effect « lasts hours rather than days ».
Tina says there’s also a fine line between refreshing and overdoing it as « very aggressive ice exposure can irritate sensitive skin or trigger rosacea, so keep it gentle ».
Once niche spa tools, facial rollers and gua sha stones are now bathroom staples for many of us.
Promoted as sculpting devices, they’ve built a reputation for lifting and contouring but Aiza says they « do not permanently tighten skin, change skin structure, or remove fat ».
She adds that it’s best to see them as a « soothing tool ».
They can however help with reducing facial puffiness temporarily.
« A gentle massage encourages lymphatic drainage and reduces fluid pooling if used regularly, » Tina says.
When you roll or glide these products across the skin, you’re helping stagnant fluid move away from the face and towards the lymph nodes, where it can drain naturally.
Tina adds that cooling the tools can boost the results so some people choose to keep them in the fridge.
If done properly, it’s unlikely to cause you any harm, but Tina warns that « too much pressure can cause bruising or broken capillaries, so be gentle ».
You’ve probably seen caffeine eye cream everywhere – it’s recommended by influencers, stacked in skincare aisles and tucked into « morning routine » videos promising instant bright eyes.
The skin around the eyes is especially prone to swelling because fluid can collect there easily.
Unlike many beauty trends, Tina says this one does have some evidence behind it.
« Caffeine is a mild vasoconstrictor [narrows blood vessels], so caffeine-containing eye creams can genuinely reduce puffiness, » she says.
Caffeine temporarily shrinks blood vessels and less dilation means less visible swelling. Aiza adds that it can help « reduce fluid retention and some under-eye darkness ».
If you’re going to use an eye cream, Tina recommends looking for one with hydrating ingredients alongside the caffeine as that supports skin quality.
She adds that you can also keep the cream in the fridge or even « apply it with the back of a cold spoon ».
Aiza says DIY alternatives like using a cold spoon or chilled tea bags « works similarly by temporarily reducing swelling and soothing skin ».
Tina agrees and says these methods follow the same principle « but can provide a lesser effect ».
While caffeine eye cream can help reduce puffiness, Tina says it’s more important to focus on the cause.
« Reduce evening salt and alcohol, treat allergies properly, prioritise sleep and slightly elevate your head at night.
Most puffiness isn’t a medical issue and will settle on its own but Tina says that « if it’s persistent, worsening, painful or associated with other symptoms such as breathlessness or swelling elsewhere in the body, it should be assessed medically ».
