Face Ice Baths
People are dunking their faces into bowls of ice water to tighten skin and reduce signs of inflammation.
The verdict: Temporary fix. Sorry, but any results you see are purely aesthetic—and fleeting. According to Alster, changes are likely to last only a few minutes.
Red-Light Therapy
Gadgets emitting low-level red light, intended to stimulate collagen production, have become a fixture in morning-routine videos.
The verdict: Legit—with the right device. Alster recommends a mask over handheld options, as well as splurging on key features for effectiveness: “It’s directly related to how many lights are in there,” and the closer the lights are to each other, the better.
Wrinkle Tape
Often used overnight, these adhesives are meant to hold skin in a specific position to smooth and prevent wrinkles.
The verdict: Temporary fix. “They’re only as good as you stop moving your muscles,” says Alster. While tape could provide a brief smoothing effect, it’s not changing the skin, and any impact will be disrupted by natural movement.
This article appears in the June 2026 issue of Washingtonian.
