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I ALWAYS RECOMMEND taking any skincare advice you see on social media with a colossal, boulder-sized grain of salt. TikTok might be great for the occasional pasta recipe, but grooming tips—not so much. The latest bit of eyebrow-raising counsel comes courtesy of fitness influencer and shirtless journaler, Ashton Hall.
Over the weekend, a TikTok of Hall’s extensive morning routine went viral thanks to his, er, notable habits. It featured inspirational tidbits like putting on a gold watch, bracelet, and chain before hitting the gym, a few minutes of shirtless contemplation, and waking up before 4 am to walk out onto his balcony and stare pensively into the night like a crypto-backed Batman.
Now, to be clear, there are some useful habits here. You’d never catch me waking up at 4 am, but early gym sessions are always beneficial, both with or without gold jewelry. Looking inwards or journaling every morning? Also great—regardless of whether you’re fully dressed. But what really caught the internet’s eye were the skincare hacks (?) Hall rolled out in the video, namely dunking his face in a bowl of ice water (Saratoga Springs, to be exact) and rubbing a banana peel on his face.
So I reached out to a few dermatologists to determine A) if there are any genuine benefits to this quirky pair of habits and B) proven alternatives.
In the video at around 8:45 am, Hall eats a banana (healthy, smart!) before rubbing the peel across his face (dubious, possibly sticky). This is an old wise tale-type tactic believed to brighten skin tones, reduce acne, and even combat the signs of aging. According to the pros, there is no real danger in this action, but there’s not much to gain from it either. “So here’s the deal, rubbing a banana peel on your face has become kind of a viral skincare hack, and while it’s not harmful for most people, the benefits are pretty minimal and not well-supported by solid clinical evidence,” says Dr. Hannah Kopelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Kopelman Aesthetic Surgery in New York City.
She adds that banana peels do pack some helpful antioxidants, like lutein, vitamin C, and of course, potassium, three ingredients that are known to support the skin barrier and facilitate hydration. However, there’s not enough of any of these on the surface to provide noticeable benefits. “The concentrations are so low that you’re unlikely to see any meaningful impact on your skin—especially compared to well-formulated skincare products that are designed to actually penetrate the skin barrier,” says Dr. Kopelman.
Many people seem to be using this tactic to combat common skin conditions like acne, hyperpigmentation, or wrinkles, but Dr. Kopelman confirms that when it comes to these issues, banana peels will do little to properly address them. “I’d much rather see someone use a gentle exfoliant, a good antioxidant serum, and sunscreen consistently. That’s where the real results come from,” she says.
For a similar, yet more effective antioxidant-driven soothing effect, Dr. Kopelman first recommends a vitamin C serum, like SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic or La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C. She also rides for niacinamide serums, as “these deliver real antioxidant benefits that actually penetrate the skin,” before pointing to The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% as one of her go-to options.
Twice in the video, Hall can be seen dunking his face into a large bucket of ice water. But not just any ice water, specifically Saratoga Spring Water. Presumably, this is due to the minerals that are found in this water like calcium, which can support the skin’s moisture barrier, and magnesium, which helps hydrate skin and improve its elasticity. This actually does have some basis in a more proven treatment, however, you’re not going to get much out of it in this form. “I’ve definitely seen the ice water face dunking trend on TikTok—it’s essentially a form of cold therapy, or ‘cryotherapy,’ which has long been used in dermatology and skincare,” says Dr. Kopelman.
This treatment generally involves exposure to extremely cold temperatures (much like an ice bath), which numb the body, reducing swelling, and constricts blood vessels to help alleviate inflammation. As a result, this type of treatment is thought to firm skin, soothe inflammation, and minimize puffiness. But the dermatologist warns that while this can be mildly effective, the benefits do not last. “The effects are short-term and cosmetic,” she says.
Dr. Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD, a Miami-based board-certified dermatologist, does note that there might be some mental benefits to this habit, saying, “It can help relieve anxiety and stress by slowing down your heart rate and focusing on your breathing.” But in terms of any potential skin benefits of tightening, decreasing inflammation, or reducing puffiness, they will be short-lived or non-existent. That being said, Dr. Chacon offers a useful alternative with the water that is scientifically proven to enhance skin health. “Maybe drink the Saratoga Spring Water. Staying hydrated helps with puffiness and inflammation.”
Hall, not so subtly, implies that iced Saratoga Spring Water is the key to truly achieving these benefits. So, is his brand loyalty valid? In a word, no. “In terms of skincare benefits, there’s no real advantage to using Saratoga Spring Water over regular filtered water for ice dunking,” says Dr. Kopelman, before confirming that the minerals within this water are driving much of this commitment, however, there’s no evidence that using Saratoga Spring Water would make dunking your face into ice water more effective than any other brand or from the tap for that matter.
As New York-based dermatologist Dr Hadley King, MD, explains, these minerals do have benefits, but again, exposure to them in this way is not enough to produce these dermal boons. “Saratoga Spring Water contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and carbonates, but I don’t think that short-term topical exposure will have a significant effect,” she says.
Just like the banana peel, there are products and habits out there with much more scientific and proven track records for being beneficial to skin. In terms of vasoconstriction, aka narrowing blood vessels with cold temperatures, Dr. King recommends instead cold jade rollers, cold eye patches, cold compresses, cold tea bags (caffeine can also cause vasoconstriction), or even taking a cold shower.
Dr. Kopleman adds that, in addition to jade rollers, stainless steel cryo sticks can also help with puffiness and improve circulation while being far more pleasant than dunking your face in ice water. Easy daily lifestyle changes can also be a huge factor here, not to mention none of them require waking up before the sun.
“Simple lifestyle factors, like getting enough sleep, reducing salt intake, and staying well-hydrated, can make a big difference over time,” she says. Beyond that, look for skincare products with ingredients like caffeine, green tea extract, and niacinamide that also help with inflammation and puffiness, according to Dr. Kopelman.
If you’re still on the fence, Dr. King does note one major group of people who stand to absolutely benefit from these ice water dunks. As she puts it, “I’ve read that Primo Brands (Saratoga) stock shares are benefitting from this trend—so that’s great if you’re a shareholder.”
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Grooming and Commerce Editor
Sean Zucker is the Grooming and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health. He brings over half a decade of experience covering health, wellness, and lifestyle. When Sean’s not writing about hair products, you can find him running for exercise, or toward the nearest food truck.
