Face in a bowl of ice water, like Vicky Martín Berrocal: an aesthetic doctor says the effect lasts only a few hours - and who should avoid it

Vicky Martín Berrocal, the 53-year-old Spanish designer and TV personality, showed on social media a part of her morning routine that looks like a punishment: she dunks her face in a bowl of water and ice for a few seconds, then gently pats it dry with a towel. The trend is called "ice dunking" or "skin-icing", and Irina Shayk, Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid also use similar steps to calm the skin and reduce puffiness before their skincare.

Aesthetic doctor Priscila Enríquez says she has been doing it herself since the age of 16, after discovering Korean cosmetics, where cold is a common morning step to "wake up" the skin. The mechanism is simple: cold constricts the small blood vessels and reduces fluid in the tissue. It shows most on the eyelids and under-eye bags.

What you get. Less puffiness and smaller under-eye bags after waking up, calmer redness and less of a hot feeling, a fresher and more even complexion once circulation returns, temporarily less visible pores. And a practical bonus: on a less puffy face, cream and make-up go on better. Fluid retention, according to the doctor, usually comes from poor sleep, an overly fatty or salty dinner, or hormonal changes.

What you don't get. Here the doctor is more honest than any influencer: "The effect is immediate, but fleeting - it improves the look of the skin for a few hours." Ice doesn't replace treatment. "Ice boosts the result, but the foundation is always a consistent, well-built routine" - cleansing morning and evening and moisturising afterwards. And if the under-eye bags and puffiness don't go away, the cause usually isn't fluid but a loss of supporting structure and skin quality - and that calls for a check-up with a doctor.

How to do it safely. On clean skin, dunk your face for 10 to 15 seconds and repeat 2 to 3 times. Direct and prolonged contact between ice and skin should be avoided, as it can cause cold injuries. Afterwards - a serum or moisturiser and sun protection. "Done properly, it's a safe ritual for most skin types," says Enríquez.

Who should be careful. People with rosacea, couperose or reactive skin, because sudden changes in temperature can worsen redness - a gentle cold roller is better for them. Also people with dermatitis, a damaged skin barrier, cold allergy or Raynaud's phenomenon. A special warning applies to people with heart conditions: dunking the face in very cold water triggers a natural reflex that slows the heart rate, so a doctor should be consulted first. After laser treatment or a peel - only with a doctor's approval.

For a face without under-eye bags, the doctor also recommends habits that don't require ice: 7 to 8 hours of sleep with the head slightly raised, less salt and alcohol in the evening, enough water, gentle lymphatic drainage by hand or with a cold roller from the centre of the face towards the neck, eye-area products with caffeine and - the hardest part - stopping rubbing your eyes.

The cosmetics industry is already selling rollers, ice sticks and masks. Yet the most effective part of this trend is free: a bowl, water and ice from the freezer. Just don't expect a miracle that lasts longer than your morning coffee.