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    Do Facial Ice Rollers Actually Work? We Put 21 Models to the Test to Find Out

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    Do Facial Ice Rollers Actually Work? We Put 21 Models to the Test to Find Out

    Everything old is new again, so naturally, ice facials have risen in popularity — this time with a more luxurious routine and the tools to match.

    Whereas we once depuffed our skin with ice cubes, newly popularized ice rollers for the face have made the ice facial more convenient than ever. Simply store the handheld tool in the fridge or freezer (we love skincare fridges for hygienic storage), and gently roll the tool across your face to instantly calm inflammation, soothe headaches, and give your skin a natural glow.

    Benefits of Facial Ice Rollers

    “Using an ice roller on your face can help reduce puffiness, especially around the eyes and cheeks. The cold temperature constricts blood vessels, reducing swelling and inflammation. They can also be great for improving blood circulation and giving your skin a healthy, rosy glow.” —Renée Rouleau, celebrity esthetician and skincare founder

    You don’t need to go to the spa for a fancy cryofacial. We tested 21 facial ice rollers, and these nine earned themselves a permanent spot in our beauty routines.

    PHOTO: Quiet Hours
    Star Qualities

    • Stainless steel barrel stays very cold

    • Comes with a silicone cover for hygienic storage

    • Instantly calms puffy and inflamed skin

    • Less expensive than others we tried

    Say hello to your new favorite face tool. The Quiet Hours roller features a stainless steel barrel that will stay colder longer, plus a silicone cover to keep it protected in the freezer. The ergonomic handle makes maneuvering the roller easier, so you can depuff and reduce inflammation with ease. It was easy to use in tandem with our favorite face oil or high-quality moisturizer, though we often used it alone for instant depuffing and makeup prep.

    Roller Material: Stainless steel | Key Benefits: Reduces puffiness, calms redness, tightens skin

    SkinGym CryoRoll Ice Facial

    PHOTO: SkinGym
    Star Qualities

    • No-frills approach to depuffing

    • Reduces breakouts, fine lines, and swelling

    • Easy to hold and apply

    The Skin Gym CryoRoll Ice Facial takes the old-school ice-cube facial to the next level. Just fill the silicone packaging with water, pop it in the freezer, and be ready to depuff in the morning. When it freezes, you’ll be left with a round block of ice that you can apply straight to the face, which we found to be a gentle alternative to more high-tech rollers. The silicone base is easy to hold, even as the ice begins to melt. We immediately noticed tighter and smoother skin, and over time, we saw a reduction in breakouts and fine lines.

    Roller Material: Ice | Key Benefits: Refreshes, depuffs, shrinks pores

    Aceology The Original Blue Ice Globe Facial Massager

    PHOTO: Aceology

    The Aceology Ice Globe Facial Massager leveled up our morning routine, thanks to the soothing massage that left our skin and sinuses feeling great. While the tools were a bit awkward to use, we got the hang of them after a few uses. We saw decreased puffiness after each use, though we were most impressed by the long-term results — over four weeks, we noticed increased definition along our jaw and cheekbones. If you’re a skincare expert looking to incorporate some tools into your routine, the Aceology Ice Globe is one to watch.

    Roller Material: Glass | Key Benefits: Firms complexion, shrinks pores, reduces the appearance of fine lines

    Plum Beauty Cooling Facial Tool Set

    PHOTO: Target
    Star Qualities

    • Cool sensation is a soothing addition to our morning routine

    • Soothes irritated skin and provides pain relief

    • Comes with two tools

    • Cheaper than others we tried

    For a quick skin refresh, it doesn’t get much simpler than the Plum Beauty rollers. Store the glass tools in the fridge for when you need to soothe irritated skin, calm inflammation, or wake yourself up in the morning. We love the ergonomic shape of the tools, which allow you to massage the contours of the face with ease. While we didn’t notice major de-puffing benefits, we loved using these tools to wake ourselves up and for migraine relief. And at less than $20, this is one of the cheapest tools we’ve tried.

    Roller Material: Glass | Key Benefits: Reduces under-eye circles, calms inflammation, refreshes skin, helps lymphatic drainage

    People / Kathleen Tenefrancia


    Latme Ice Roller for Face

    PHOTO: Amazon
    Star Qualities

    • Calms inflamed skin

    • Soothes headaches, fevers, and even sore muscles

    • Cheaper than others on our list

    This roller relieves fatigue, soothes pain, and revitalizes the complexion at a fraction of the cost of our other favorites. We use it first thing in the morning or for instant relief when we have a fever or headache. We appreciate that the tool doesn’t get too cold or irritating and that it never pulls or tugs on the skin. The plastic barrel also pops out for easy freezing and cleaning.

    Roller Material: Plastic | Key Benefits: Calms skin, relieves fatigue, soothes migraines and muscle pain

    Maange Ice Roller

    PHOTO: Amazon

    The Maange Ice Roller is perfect for beginners looking for basic depuffing benefits. The roller features a simple design, with a plastic handle and plastic barrel wrapped in stainless steel. We found that the roller didn’t stay as cold as some of our other stainless steel picks, so it’s best suited for shorter self-care sessions. The roller depuffs well for its price; however, if you’re looking to shrink pores and reduce the appearance of fine lines, this might not be your perfect match.

    Roller Material: Plastic and stainless steel | Key Benefits: Reduces puffiness, soothes redness

    The Skinny Confidential HOT Mess Ice Roller

    PHOTO: Amazon
    Star Qualities

    • Hefty, high-quality materials

    • Depuffs and shrinks pores

    • Aluminum roller gets super cold

    Red Flags

    • Large roller means less precise movement

    • Warms up quickly, and takes a while to cool again

    Some prefer a larger roller to make depuffing in the morning even quicker. The Skinny Confidential roller has a wide barrel that covers a broader surface area on the face and a thick silicone handle that makes it easy to grip. The aluminum barrel gets super cold in the freezer, so we like to warm it on our hands before applying it to the face. The wide barrel isn’t great for precise maneuvering, so if your priority is depuffing the undereyes, this might not be the roller for you. 

    Roller Material: Aluminum | Key Benefits: Calms puffiness and redness, boosts circulation, reduces pores, helps with lymphatic drainag

    People / Sophia DeVito


    Kitsch Ice Roller for Face

    PHOTO: Amazon
    Star Qualities

    • Ergonomic shape makes it easy to hold and roll

    • Large roller makes for a quick application

    • Slightly depuffs without causing any irritation

    The Kitsch ice roller features a larger shape, along with a stainless steel barrel like the Stacked Skincare and Quiet Hours rollers. While the stainless steel gets very cold in the freezer, we didn’t find the temperature at all shocking or irritating when applied to the skin. We noticed slight depuffing, though the results were not dramatic — if you experience intense inflammation, this might not be the roller for you. We appreciated the large shape that makes for quick application, along with the ergonomic handle that makes it easy to hold and use.

    Roller Material: Stainless steel | Key Benefits: Calms inflammation, relieves sore muscles and headaches

    Stacked Skincare Ice Roller

    PHOTO: Amazon
    Star Qualities

    • Reduces inflammation, shrinks pores, and stops breakouts

    • Stainless steel ensures the roller stays cold

    • Wide handle makes it easy to grip

    • Silicone cover keeps roller clean in the freezer

    The Stacked Skincare ice roller is the luxurious sister to the Quiet Hours roller. The designs are nearly identical, with stainless steel barrels, plastic handles, and silicone covers to protect the tool from damage and germs. One key difference sets this roller apart: the egg-shaped barrel allows for effortless maneuvering around the eyes and contours of the face. It’s the priciest on our list, but one of the best facial tools we’ve used. If you’re looking to treat yourself to an at-home spa experience, we recommend you indulge in the Stacked Skincare roller.

    Roller Material: Stainless steel | Key Benefits: Calms inflammation, acne, and puffiness, soothes sensitive skin, helps with lymphatic drainage

    Add to Cart

    Are you in the market for skincare tools to perfect your routine? We test thousands of products and have made these tools regulars in our skincare lineup.

    Kitsch Stainless Steel Gua Sha

    Amazon


    Pair your ice roller with this stainless steel gua sha, available at Amazon, to maximize sculpting and smoothing benefits. We tested 18 gua sha tools, and this was one of our favorites thanks to its instant results, adding definition to the jawline and cheekbones and reducing the appearance of dark circles. 

    Solawave Red Light Skincare Wand

    Amazon


    We’ve given our skincare routines a high-tech upgrade with this red light wand that’s beloved by celebrities and PEOPLE editors alike. After just two weeks of daily use, we saw brighter skin and faded dark spots thanks to this tiny tool.

    People / Joy Kim


    What to Know About Facial Ice Rollers

    Benefits

    As the cold surface of an ice roller touches the skin, blood vessels constrict and inflammation is soothed, according to Jan Marini, founder of skincare brand Jan Marini Skin Care Research. She tells PEOPLE that icing may also help with lymphatic drainage, which reduces swelling. 

    But ice rollers may not be for everyone. We recommend you start with short icing sessions to ensure the ice roller won’t irritate your skin. Different experts recommend a routine of anywhere from 10 seconds to 10 minutes; it comes down to what works best for you.

    Experts Say

    “It is important to remember that not everyone is a good candidate for icing,” Marini says. “Some individuals, such as those with rosacea, may experience increased redness because of their skin’s reactive nature. Others may find that their skin is more dry or irritated.”

    When to Use

    Our experts agree that using an ice roller after applying your skincare will help your skin soak up all of those high-quality ingredients. Massage the face with an ice roller after applying your favorite skincare products (read: the best niacinamide serums we tested). You can also apply the ice roller to a fresh, clean face for anti-inflammatory benefits. We tried both methods and loved them equally. 

    Types of Cold Therapy

    Facial rollers and ice globes are the newest iterations of a decades-old trend. (“Celebrities such as Joan Crawford are said to have iced their faces every day in the 1930s, ’40s, and ‘50s,” Marini tells PEOPLE.) While we love incorporating cold therapy with the help of ice roller tools, there are many ways to adopt the technique.

    “Cold therapy for skin has been around for decades, previously done with ice cubes, chilled spoons, or cold compresses,” Rouleau says.

    “Similarly, I like to make toner ice cubes. Instead of a basic ice roller, I prefer to freeze a hydrating essence (generally in a small plastic cup or ice cube tray) and massage this into my skin whenever I need a boost,” Rouleau says. “These not only provide the benefits of reduced puffiness and increased circulation but also help with serum absorption. When you apply the serum and then glide the toner ice cube over your face, the cold temperature causes the capillaries to constrict. This creates a vacuum effect that may help pull the serum deeper into the skin’s layers, increasing its effectiveness.”

    How to Use an Ice Roller

    Renée Rouleau shares how to incorporate ice rollers and globes into your skincare routine.

    1. “Start by thoroughly cleansing your face, making sure it’s free of makeup, dirt, and impurities.
    2. Apply your favorite hydrating and nourishing serum.
    3. Take your ice roller (or toner ice cube) and gently glide it over your skin for 10-20 seconds, using light, upward motions. Be sure to cover your entire face.
    4. Finish your skincare routine by applying moisturizer to lock in hydration and keep your skin soft and supple.” 

    Behind the Scenes 

    The PEOPLE Tested team tried 21 ice rollers over a testing period of four weeks. Testers used the respective product daily over this testing period to depuff their skin. After four weeks, the testers evaluated their tools based on ease of use, effectiveness, quality, and overall results. 

    • Ease of Use: Our favorite tools effortlessly fit into our morning routines. We docked points for tools that were awkward to hold or confusing to use and noted any tools that weren’t suited for beginners.
    • Effectiveness: Directly after using the tool, we evaluated the skin’s appearance to judge each tool against its claims. The best tools left our skin glowy, depuffed, and sculpted. 
    • Quality: Premium materials and sturdy construction earned top marks in this category. The Stacked Skincare Roller and Quiet Hours Roller were the most impressive according to this criterion.
    • Overall Results: After four weeks, we compared before and after photos to identify any changes in our skin’s appearance. The best tools delivered long-term results: tighter, more sculpted skin after just a few weeks. 

    Each tester awarded their respective tool an overall rating based on whether they would personally recommend and repurchase the tool. After four weeks of daily use, the Quiet Hours Facial Roller proved to be the most effective tool, impressing us with its long-term results and high-quality construction.

    People / Dera Burreson


    Why Trust PEOPLE? 

    Genevieve Cepeda is a staff shopping writer at PEOPLE, covering beauty, style, home, and lifestyle topics. She pored over results from our real-world testers (we tried 21 ice rollers!) in order to identify the best facial ice rollers on the market. For added insight, Genevieve interviewed celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau and skincare founder Jan Marini. 

    Genevieve has a medicine cabinet full of skincare products and gadgets, so it takes a lot to convince her of something new. After seeing testers’ long-term results and talking to experts in the field, she decided to give icing a try and became a cold facial convert. 

    Our Expert Panel

    • Renée Rouleau is a celebrity esthetician and skincare founder with 35 years of experience. She has worked with stars such as Demi Lovato, Lili Reinhart, and Keke Palmer. 
    • Jan Marini is the founder of skincare brand Jan Marini Skin Research.

    What Is PEOPLE Tested? 

    We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

    But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

    In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

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