A big beauty hack is making the rounds online: a simple yet effective method using a rubber band by putting it on your ears to depuff your face every morning
Waking up with a swollen face isn’t the most pleasant feeling, especially when you’ve got a busy day ahead with things to do and places to be. Fortunately, a new beauty trend claims to depuff your face, and it does so using something as simple as common household item – a rubber band.
This ‘beauty hack’ is said to have originated in South Korea, a country well-known for its innovative beauty treatments. While it might seem like a rather silly idea, the technique has gained a lot of attention on the internet, with many claiming to see visible results after just 10 minutes of use.
Dr. David Kim, a dermatologist based in New York, was the first to share the hack, which quickly went viral among beauty enthusiasts. In his TikTok post, he wrote: “Biggest beauty hack in Korea right now, rubber bands on ears x 10 mins to de-puff your face.”
While the video was published last year, it has recently resurfaced, thanks to beauty influencers and celebrities, including Ashley Choi, who recently shared the hack with her followers.
Ashley Choi offered her take on the method, explaining: “Wash your face with cold water, not too cold, but just enough. While doing your normal skincare routine, apply your products with a cooling stick like this one.” Alternatively, she suggested using a stainless steel spoon to achieve the same effect.
She also recommended incorporating re-lifting devices or the famous gua sha tool to massage the face, further enhancing the depuffing process. By showing the before and after results, Ashley demonstrated that the trend does seem to have some effectiveness.
Korean skincare has been widely known for its innovative products and multi-step routines, prioritising hydration, brightening and especially anti-aging. Their method of skincare is a combination of advanced technology with traditional elements, such as green tea, snail mucin and hyaluronic acid. Now becoming a global trend, South Korea has implemented the importance of the skin and how to achieve the ‘effortlessly glowy look.’
There are a variety of factors that can contribute to facial puffiness. The most common causes are high salt intake and alcohol consumption, both of which are linked to water retention.
Other factors include allergies, lack of sleep, and even stress. When the body retains excess water, the face can appear swollen, which is where the rubber band hack comes in. By applying pressure to the ears, some believe it helps to reduce puffiness by encouraging fluid drainage and improving circulation.
While there’s no scientific research to back up the claim that this method works, many people swear by it. As with any beauty trend, it’s important to remember that individual results may vary. However, for those looking for a quick and simple solution to morning puffiness, the rubber band hack might just be worth trying.