Celebrity Facialist Sofie Pavitt Says You Should Freeze Your Toner
When superstar facialist Sofie Pavitt launched her skincare brand in early 2023, it didn’t take long for her die-hard fans and those who’d never heard her name to become obsessed with her. But that’s no surprise to us — Pavitt has earned a reputation as NYC’s acne whisperer for her signature deep-cleansing facials, which often come with month-long waiting lists. No longer just a secret for NYC cool girls, Pavitt is also a facialist to the stars, frequently prepping celebrities like Lorde and Zendaya for their red carpet appearances.
Her brand, Sofie Pavitt Face, was a natural evolution of her in-office treatments, allowing her to offer services previously reserved for NYC It girls, editors, and celebrities to the world. Their first product, the Mandelic Clearing Serum, was an immediate success and introduced many to the healing powers of mandelic acid. Their second product, the Clean Clear Cleanser, is the perfect no-flaking, no-fuss gel cleanser that feels like a cream.
On September 5, she added a third step to her Sofie Pavitt Face routine with the new Nice Ice Toner Pads, single-use toner capsules that can be frozen before use. Below we dive into the inspiration and recipe behind the product, as well as my honest review.
Inspiration
If you’ve ever scrolled through Pavitt’s Instagram, you know she’s a big fan of anti-inflammatory sugaring—both at home and in the studio. However, she wanted to create an easy way to perform cryotherapy treatments at home.
Sophie Pavitt Nice Ice
Sophie Pavitt Face
“I’m a huge fan of skin sugaring,” Pavitt told Byrdie. “In my own practice, we’re a firm supporter of the technique to help clients reduce inflammation, calm irritation, and increase circulation.”
She added that she’d “always wanted to create a cryotherapy treatment for clients to use at home. Ice rollers and tools are great, but they’re a hassle to clean and store—I wanted to create something super sanitary and easy to use—a product that I would use only for my own clients.” That’s how Nice Ice was born.
Sofie Pavitt Face Nice Ice Toner Pads $68.00 SHOP FORMULAS For Pavitt, “Nice Ice is the panacea for dull skin.” The product contains four key ingredients—glycerin, niacinamide, green tea extract, and ashwagandha—all of which are gentle, non-comedogenic, and soothing. Contains glycerin to improve the skin barrier with every use. Niacinamide is great for brightening, soothing redness, and fighting acne. Green tea extract acts as an antioxidant to reduce inflammation and skin irritation. Finally, ashwagandha protects the skin from environmental stressors and pollution and helps nourish the skin. Models using Sofie Pavitt Face Nice Ice Toner Sofie Pavitt Face Since all of these ingredients are gentle and work well with most active ingredients, there’s really no limit to how often you can use Nice Ice. It can be used daily or occasionally (Pavitt recommends one to two times a week) on clean, dry skin and applied evenly to the face and neck.
Pavitt says she “tested the product over and over again with freeze-thaw/stability tests to ensure the formula remained active and could withstand the low temperatures of the freezer, which means not only can all the ingredients be kept on ice, you can also do your job thanks to the added benefit of freezing.”
Sofie Pavitt Face Nice Ice Toner
Sofie Pavitt Face
The product took more than two years to develop, and the biggest challenge was finding the right manufacturer for the unique packaging—Pavitt and her team “even interviewed food and beverage factories at times,” she says. However, they eventually found “a manufacturer with the right tools to bottle and assemble this innovative product.”
If you freeze this innovative product, Pavitt says, “make sure to lay the Nice Ice Box flat in the freezer: this will ensure you get an even and perfect slice of your frozen toning treatment.” She said she prefers to press mine “onto a cotton pad; that way you can catch the melted treatment on the cotton pad once it melts into your skin.”
She recommends using “circular motions all over your face and neck or anywhere you have inflamed or irritated skin” and can even use it “on waxed legs, after laser treatments, injectables [and] microneedling.”
Reviews
Zizi Strater Tried the Nice Ice Toner
@Generationzizi
It feels really good to use ice. I’ve only just been re-introduced to toners thanks to TikTok, but this one really stood out for its genius idea. The icy touch immediately made my skin feel amazing and incredibly refreshing, and I noticed that my irritated zits loved it. After cleansing with my usual cleanser and toning with Nice Ice on a cotton pad, my acne redness has decreased and is less noticeable. I also can’t get over how fun it is to use. I can see myself using Nice Ice regularly and would even say it might be my new favorite toner.
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
