An age-old beauty product, cold cream is less common among Millennials than their Baby Boomer parents and grandparents, but the timeless beauty staple is still as effective in daily beauty routines today as it was years ago. Here are three reasons (and ways) to use cold cream that you can learn from and share with your mom and matriarchs of your family.
Let’s start with the basics: what is a cold cream?
According to cosmetic chemist Joseph Cincotta, “cold creams are very simple emulsion of high concentrations of mineral oil and waxes, like beeswax or ceresin, in water.” The emulsion is held together by neutralized fatty acids which form a simple soap base, which is why your mother or grandmother uses it to remove makeup.
How To Incorporate Cold Cream Into Your Regimen
1. Makeup Remover: Old Hollywood starlets would use cold cream to remove stage makeup after spending hours on set (or the stage), and you can do the same! Before cleansing your face, massage the cold cream into your skin to remove makeup and wipe your face clean using a warm cloth. Follow with your favorite cleanser and moisturizer. You’ll notice that your skin will feel more hydrated, a lot cleaner and you’ll spend less time trying to wipe off stubborn waterproof mascara and liner.
2. Soothing Facemask: Apply a thin layer over your skin and let it set for a few minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow your regular skin regimen. The waxes in the cold cream heal skin and soothe irritation and inflammation.
3. Soften Dry/Rough Skin: Smooth a thin layer of cold cream over elbows, knees and heels to soften rough skin. Massage cold cream into the skin and rinse after 20 minutes. Repeat on a daily basis to reveal results and protect against moisture loss.