Washing Your Face With Fizzy Water Is The Secret To Glowing Skin, Apparently

Just when you think we’re getting your head around skincare, another trend comes along to remind us that we know nothing, really.

Apparently, washing your face with normal water just won’t cut it any more – we should all be splashing our faces with San Pellegrino.

The practice of cleansing with carbonated water originated in Japan and South Korea (of course), making its way to Western shores over the past few years.

So what’s so great about fizzy water? Like many things, it’s all down to pH – sparkling water has a pH of 5.5, which is the same as your skin, meaning it’s less irritable to your face than your average tap water (which has a pH of 7). The carbon dioxide bubbles are also said to unclog pores, remove dead skin, reduce puffiness, and increase the circulation, giving you a healthy glow.

The method is the weirdest part, though – you’re encouraged to fill a bowl with your choice of fizzy water, hold your breath, then plunge your face into it for about 10-15 seconds.

According to the many, many YouTube videos documenting the practice, it’s not at all pleasant the first time you do it – this girl recommends diluting it with regular mineral water to make it less harsh on sensitive skin, while others suggest simply dabbing it on the face with cotton pads.

If the thought of wasting bottles of fizzy water like this makes your blood run cold, Korean brands now make sachets of ‘sparkling powder’ that you can add to a bowl of regular water. Whatever works, like.

Would you give this trend a go?

• Korean beauty
• skincare