Carbonated water has been a trending beverage in the last several months—it’s fun, flavorful, and zero calories! While carbonated water is already known to be a much healthier alternative to sugary drinks like lemonade or soda, beauty experts in Japan and Korea have discovered in recent years that it can also be beneficial for your skin. The “sparkling water facial,” a cleansing hack that originated in Japan and Korea, is now making its way to the U.S.
Also known as the “fizzy face cleanse,” this method involves replacing tap water with plain carbonated water when washing your face. This simple switch will deliver loads of benefits, such as increased circulation and unclogged pores. According to Cosmopolitan, carbonated water shares the same pH balance as your skin (5.5), while tap water has a pH of 7. So, carbonated water is less likely to irritate your skin. The carbonation also minimizes irritation by breaking up oil, dirt, and impurities, offering a deeper cleanse and less breakouts. The CO2 also draws oxygen and blood to the tissue, which makes your skin look much healthier!
Spas in Korea, Europe, and Japan often use carbonated mineral water to treat the skin. Sometimes, the routine involves soaking the face in sparkling water. In other cases, estheticians recommend soaking cottons pads with the mineral water and dabbing them onto the skin after a regular cleansing, according to Coveteur. Some women also make their own facial mists using carbonated water or mix it in with bath water.
Pure sparkling water can be a bit too harsh on skin, especially when you’re first starting out with the routine, so it is best to mix a 1:1 ratio of sparking water to regular water. A recommended routine is to begin by splashing carbonated water on to your face or submerging your face in a bowl of carbonated water for ten seconds. Then, massage face wash into your skin and rinse with the solution of carbonated-regular water. Dab your face with a towel and moisturize. Your skin will be clean, firm, and fresh!
Buying cans or bottles of carbonated water can get pricey, especially if you plan on sticking to this routine for a while. Instead, it may be better to invest in a soda maker, such as the SodaStream. You can manually add CO2 to the water, which will instantly lower its pH levels and make the water suitable for skin.
Are you going to add carbonated water to your skincare routine? Let us know in the comments!
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