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Ice rolling is one of the newer beauty trends to blow up in recent years, but if you're not quite familiar with this simple form of cryotherapy, at least let us give you a rundown of the benefits.
“Ice rollers are great for reducing puffiness, swelling, and redness, [as well as] increasing circulation, and shrinking pores temporarily,” says Brittany Levy, medical aesthetician at Plump in New York City. These are specifically helpful after a long night of drinking, she adds.
Meet Our Experts: Brittany Levy, a medical aesthetician at Plump in New York City, Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, Revay Plunkett, a nurse injector at Revay Aesthetics in California, Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, FAAD, chief medical officer at Ideal Image and co-founder of Modern Dermatology PC
According to Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist in New York City, ice rolling can also help reduce inflammation because it constricts one’s blood vessels and facilitates lymphatic draining or de-puffing your face. The tools can also help calm inflamed acne or irritated skin.
Ahead, check out the very best ice rollers for your face.
Pros
It's affordable- It comes in many colors
Cons
- A reviewer noted that it's an "awkward" size for one's face
Coming at the recommendation of Levy, Dr. Garshick, and Plunkett, this ice roller from Esarora is an absolute gem. "This affordable option is easy to use and available in many different colors," Dr. Garshick says. "It can be used in the undereye and on the face." BTW: Heather Rae El Moussa loves this too!
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Best Splurge
BeautyBio Skin Icing Cryo Roller
Now 25% Off
Pros
- It'll leave your skin feeling revitalized
- Reviewers say it is pretty high quality
Cons
- Expensive
"This stainless steel dual-ended cryo roller works to depuff and tighten the skin," Dr. Garshick says. Reviewers also love this product, saying it leaves their skin feeling super revitalized after use.
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Pros
- It boosts circulation
- It relaxes your muscles
Cons
- It's more expensive
Dr. Garshick fully endorses this one. "This works to boost circulation and depuff while also soothing the skin," she notes. "It helps to relax muscle tension as well and is great for the cheekbones."
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Best Ice Globes
Fraîcheur Paris Ice Globes
Now 58% Off
Pros
- They help get oxygen circulating
- They can calm down any acne
Cons
- They're made of glass, so you should be extra careful
Plunkett highly recommends these ice globes from Fraîcheur Paris. A bit different from the other traditional rollers, there's anti-freeze liquid inside the globes. But just like the others, it'll help shrink your pores, get oxygen flowing in your face, and calm your face from any acne, among other things.
But reviewers say you don't have to freeze these rollers, you can just store it in your fridge.
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Pros
- Affordable
- Smooth application
Cons
- Reviewers say it's squeaky
Both Levy and Plunkett recommend this ice roller, and it makes sense why—reviewers on Amazon rave about how great it feels on the face and its smooth application.
Pros
- It's perfect for de-puffing
- Consistent use can help reduce inflammation
Cons
- It's a bit pricey
Levy recommends this ice roller and the reviewers do too. People rave about how it's amazing for de-puffing and really makes a difference in your skin's appearance before and after.
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Best For Relieving Migraines
Vanity Planet Revive Professional Facial Ice Roller
Pros
- Affordable
- Reviewers say it's a solid width
Cons
- Squeaks when it rolls
Reviewers rave about this ice roller, saying it helps reduce pain from migraines and puffiness under the eyes, plus, it's super easy to use. (I love to hear it!) "Having a detachable head, it is lightweight and affordable, making it easy to use," Dr. Garshick says.
Pros
- Reviewers say it's easy to use
- It helps with lymphatic drainage
Cons
- Some reviewers reported that it falls apart
This jade roller can help with lymphatic drainage to help clear your body of toxins, boost your circulation, and reduces jaw and facial tension. It was made to specifically have a cooling effect on the skin, but feel free to store it in the fridge to give it extra chilliness.
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Pros
- They stay cold for a long time
- They help with pain and soreness on other body parts
Cons
- They're heavy
These ice globes are way better than traditional ice rollers, reviewers say. They help with pain and soreness in addition to helping redness with your skin, and they stay cold a pretty long time. Bonus: they can also be used warm, if that's something you want to try.
Pros
- Comes in multiple colors
- It really does help reduce puffiness
Cons
- Reviewers say this roller doesn't get as cold as others
Lots of reviewers say this roller is great for migraines and glides onto the skin super well. They also say it's well-made and really does help reduce puffiness when you wake up in the morning.
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Pros
- Benefits may come within days
- High quality
Cons
- Squeaks
Reviewers say they love the feel of this ice roller on the face, and encourage using a moisturizer or oil with it. They say they can really see the benefits of the roller within days.
Pros
- Very affordable
- It comes in a few different colors
Cons
- May squeak
This roller can help shrink pores, increase lymphatic drainage, smooth out your skin, reduce fatigue, and more. It's also great for releasing tension, helping relieve migraines, and rubbing over bruises, reviewers say.
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Pros
- Helps absorb products
- It helps with migraines, according to some reviewers
Cons
- Some reviewers report that the product breaks during use
Similar to the traditional jade roller, this one is textured, so it helps products absorb deeper into the skin. It can also help dullness or unevenly-textured skin, and helping loss of any firmness in one's skin.
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How do ice rollers work?
Ice rollers essentially work under the same concept as using an ice pack to reduce swelling from injuries, says Revay Plunkett, nurse injector at Revay Aesthetics in California. The intense cold helps your pores “appear smaller and temporarily tightens your skin,” she says.
The cold also helps with “delivering highly oxygenated blood flow to the skin and reducing inflammation from poor sleep, poor diet, or a cry session,” says Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, FAAD, chief medical officer at Ideal Image and co-founder of Modern Dermatology PC.
What are the benefits of cold therapy?
They're unknown, Levy says, but cold therapy does help in the short-term. Anyone can and should try using an ice roller, but be careful if you have open sores on your skin, whether it’s acne or another infection or rosacea, all of which can be triggered by the cold, Dr. Robinson says.
How do you use an ice roller?
If you want to start ice rolling, you can incorporate an ice roller into your morning or nighttime routine, but you can also just pick one up whenever your face looks puffier than normal.
Be sure to roll on a clean, dry face before applying any serums or moisturizers, and use the tool in an upward or zig-zag motion, beginning in the center of your face and moving outward. You should also make sure to clean it after every use, using a face wash or mild soap and water, and let it dry completely before tucking it onto a ziplock bag to store in your freezer, Dr. Robinson says.
Addison Aloian
Assistant Love & Life Editor
Addison Aloian is the assistant love & life editor at Women’s Health and a NASM-certified personal trainer (CPT). She covers all things lifestyle, astrology, relationships, and fitness. In her free time, you can find her lifting weights at the gym, running on the West Side Highway in New York City, and watching (and critiquing!) the latest movies that have garnered Oscars buzz. In addition to Women's Health, her work has also appeared in Allure, StyleCaster, L'Officiel USA, V Magazine, VMAN, and more.
