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It's called cryotherapy, and it has skin benefits untold.

With a heatwave incoming, there’s no better time to familiarise yourself with the benefits of facial cold therapy or, to give the practice its proper name, cryotherapy. As well as taking the edge off during soaring temperatures, this centuries-old skincare custom of literally using coldness on the skin works all sorts of complexion wonders, from toning and tightening to de-puffing and even helping with skincare absorption.

“Facial cryotherapy tools work by applying very cold temperatures to the surface of the skin,” explains aesthetic doctor Sophie Shotter. “This immediately causes constriction of the blood vessels but actually, subsequently, boosts the blood supply to the face giving you a healthy glow.” As a result of the constricted blood vessels, the complexion also appears more even-toned, and under-eye circles less dark. “In addition, cryotherapy can give the face a more sculpted appearance through muscle contraction, as well as tightening pores,” adds Dr Shotter.

If that’s not enough to convince you, it’s also worth noting cryotherapy’s other, more holistic benefits. According to former GP and advanced aesthetic doctor Preema Vig, “cryotherapy reduces skin inflammation, and it also reduces facial water retention by encouraging and supporting lymphatic drainage, which in turn flushes away toxins. This results in the skin appearing plumper and rejuvenated.”

But the best part is that you no longer have to book a professional facial to achieve these results thanks to an influx of innovations in at-home cryotherapy.

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“At-home cryo rollers and massagers are great products with which to perform a facial massage during your skincare routine,” says Dr Vig. “I advise using them in the morning for five to 10 minutes because the cooling sensation, as previously mentioned, helps to reduce water retention but it also minimises general puffiness -- especially around the eye area, which you should leave until last.”

Using cryo tools after applying skincare can stimulate the skin and its capillaries to ‘pull’ on and absorb the products more effectively, too. The same logic applies when using treatments; for instance Dr Shotter recommends using cryo devices after a product-soaked sheet mask to maximise the ingredients’ efficacy, resulting in very swift, very visible results.

Scroll down for our edit of the best at-home cryo tools, as well as some clever skincare solutions that also offer cold therapy benefits. Familiarise yourself with these key tips before diving in:

This smart moisturiser can either be used at room temperature as a gel or from the freezer, where its sorbet-like consistency is instantly de-puffing.

These antifreeze-filled glass rollers are a cryo favourite among experts; they de-puff and cool to the next level.

These masks work in conjunction with ampules of serum that hydrate and cool. Once the serum has been applied, the cooling mask locks the serum in place and helps the skin absorb its ingredients.

These eye masks are packed with a combination of active ingredients that, when applied after being kept in the fridge, result in an eye area that is considerably smoother.

A cheat dose of cold therapy for when you don’t have a fridge to hand. This clever balm mimics the effects of cryotherapy by giving the skin an instantly refreshed appearance.

A five to 15 minute massage once a week with this little wonder wand gives an instant glow. It lives in the freezer and can be used in an upwards motion to ‘lift’ the face.

This silicone mask ticks pretty much every box. The flexible design combines the benefits of acupressure on specific facial pressure points (thanks to small metal beads) with those of cryotherapy.