Cold therapy isn’t exactly new, but in recent years, it has boomed in the beauty industry. There has been an influx of products that are designed to reduce puffiness, eliminate swelling and encourage healing as it helps promote soft tissue repair. A recent addition to the world of cold therapy is the Charlotte Tilbury Cryo Recovery Mask.
This reusable mask is designed to refresh your complexion while also working to lift your appearance, thanks to the use of cooling gel beads that are placed around the jawline, forehead, cheekbones and chin. It also includes five metal beads along the forehead to stimulate pressure points. I’m a big fan of masks and I also love a cold therapy device — my favourite is the Finishing Touch Flawless Ice Roller ($29.99) — so I was excited to see how the Charlotte Tilbury Mask stacked up.
To begin, the Cryo Recovery Mask simply needs to be popped into the freezer for at least 30 minutes before use. Once the adequate amount of time has passed, it’s time to secure it to the face. The mask looks scarily similar to something Hannibal Lecter might wear, but the results are worth looking a little frightening.
When attaching it to the face, one strap goes at the back of the head and the other at the top — make sure the chin is being targeted with the bottom gel bead pockets. Let it sit for 10 minutes and intermittently massage the pressure points along the forehead to help relieve tension in the face.
The whole process was extremely enjoyable and the cold feeling was pretty relaxing — it wasn’t at all uncomfortable despite the chilly temperature. I didn’t experience any dripping either, which can be common with cold therapy masks. After 10 minutes, I removed the mask and my skin was slightly flushed from the cold but looked super healthy.
My pores were less noticeable, my chin and jaw looked more sculpted and my complexion looked dewy. I also noticed that my eyes looked a little less puffy, which was a very welcome result considering I can’t really reach my eyes properly when using an ice roller due to the size and shape of the device. I’ve only used the mask on bare skin so far, but you can also pair it with a serum to make it a more hydrating exercise for your skin.
Brand founder Charlotte Tilbury was inspired to create the mask after her experience working with models at Fashion Week, where she often used ice to depuff their faces before a show. This does exactly that without the need to deal with drippy ice.
The Cryo Recovery Mask retails for $69, making it an investment item for sure. While this is definitely on the more expensive side, the fact that the device is reusable makes it much more appealing. Single-use face masks are effective but do create incredible amounts of waste, so this is a great option for creating less waste. After use, you simply wipe the mask down, allow it to dry and pop it back into its storage bag.
While I probably wouldn’t use the mask every day, simply due to time restraints, I’ll definitely continue to pop it on before doing my makeup for a special occasion or if I wake up feeling particularly puffy and need a little extra help.
