Kylie Jenner’s Face Tub Dunk Revives Facial cold plunge Trend

Kylie Jenner posted a TikTok showing her reluctantly lowering her face into a bowl of ice water, a clip that pushed the long-running DIY of cold facial treatments back into the spotlight. The video, captioned "The things Ariel makes me do," implies makeup artist Ariel Tejada encouraged the move ahead of a high-profile outing; Jenner’s boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet, had just taken home an acting award at the Golden Globes weekend.

This was not a backyard splash. The vessel appears to be a FaceTub, a consumer device that pairs a bowl of very cold water with an integrated breathing tube so users can keep their face submerged longer. Jenner struggles with the setup, briefly submerging her face and returning with hair plastered to her skin, then attempting another cut-away dunk. The clip leaves timing and technique to viewers’ imagination, but it makes clear the face plunge is as much about spectacle as it is about immediate cosmetic effect.

Dermatologists caution that the payoff is cosmetic and short lived. "An ice-water face dunk isn’t magic, but it’s not nonsense either," says Mona Gohara, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Yale. The cold causes brief vasoconstriction, reducing puffiness and redness and giving skin a temporarily firmer look. That can make foundation and other makeup lay down smoother in the moments right after a plunge. But it will not produce lasting changes to pore size or skin biology. "It won’t actually shrink pores or change skin biology in any lasting way."

Cold fans take note: the fast visual lift has utility for a glam moment, but the practice carries real tradeoffs. Dr. Gohara warns that extreme cold, especially frequent or prolonged submersion, can disrupt the skin barrier and provoke irritation. It is probably not a great idea for people with very sensitive skin, rosacea, or eczema. "If you love it, fine, just remember that ice water is a prelude, not a primer," she says, adding that moisturizing and barrier support remain the essentials for long-term skin health. "Fun for the feed, optional for the face."

For local cold therapy enthusiasts and anyone tempted to replicate the trend, treat this as a quick fix rather than a regimen. Brief exposure will deliver the immediate tightening effect celebrities chase, but follow with a gentle moisturizer and avoid repeated harsh temperature swings that stress your barrier. If you have reactive skin, skip the full face plunge and try a cool compress, ice roller, or short-contact cold mask first.

Celebrity endorsement will likely push interest and sales in face-cooling gadgets, but the practical takeaway is simple: the face dunk gives a visible pop for a moment on camera, not a lasting skin overhaul. Use it sparingly, protect the barrier, and prioritize what keeps skin healthy beyond the next selfie.