Ice rollers have become a popular beauty tool recently, and for a good reason. Multiple reasons, actually! They offer a quick, simple, and effective way to soothe and refresh the skin on your face.
Whether you want to get rid of puffiness around your eyes, redness, or just need a quick pick-me-up, an ice roller for face can help.
Let’s take a closer look at what ice rollers are, their benefits, and how to use them to get the most out of the handy tool.
What Is an Ice Roller for Face?
Well, as the name suggests, an ice roller (or an ice face massager) is a tool with a cylindrical element filled with gel or water that gets frozen, which is then rolled onto the skin to help de-puff, soothe, and tighten it.
An ice roller for the face is a simple and easy-to-use tool that allows you to do an ice facial massage with no mess, no hassle, and in just a few minutes.
Do Ice Rollers Work?
Yes, they do, but their effects are limited and temporary. That said, they are truly great while they last.
An ice face massager helps stimulate the lymphatic system and, by helping flush out excess fluid, get rid of puffiness and toxins, and reduce muscle tension.
This has to do with the shape of the roller and the motion of rolling more than the iciness of it. Rolling over your face stimulates the flow of lymph in the tissue, doing lymphatic drainage.
The roller helps distribute lymphatic buildup evenly, causing your skin to appear smooth, and de-puffing your face along the way. As a result of that, ice rollers also help make your face more contoured.
The cooling effect constricts blood vessels, which helps calm redness.
All these effects combined leave the skin looking tighter, fresher, and brighter – albeit temporarily.
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Ice Roller Benefits
There are many benefits of ice rolling:
It Minimizes Puffiness
Reducing puffiness is the most common benefit of using an ice roller for face. It helps wake you up and makes you look more rejuvenated. It’s especially great to use any time your skin is inflamed or swollen.
It Calms Redness
Ice rollers can also be used to reduce inflammation and irritation of the skin. If you have sensitive skin, rosacea, acne, or any other skin condition, this tool can help provide relief.
Applying light pressure with an ice roller can help to soothe the region and minimize redness and swelling.
It Tightens the Skin & Sculpts the Face
The cooling effect of the ice roller for face tightens the skin and lessens the visibility of pores as well as any fine lines and shallow wrinkles. Although its effects aren’t long-term, it can help you appear younger and more radiant.
It Stimulates Circulation
The massage ice rolling your face provides help stimulate circulation and bring more oxygen and nutrients to the skin which not only helps improve your complexion but improves overall skin health!
Helps Product Absorption
If you use an ice roller along with a serum or a similar product, the massaging motion will push the product further into the skin, so ultimately it can slightly boost its effects.
It Can Reduce Headaches
A bonus benefit of ice rolling is its ability to relieve pain caused by migraines and headaches. Roll the ice roller over your temples, forehead, and neck to relieve the tension in the muscles and stimulate blood flow.
Plus, It Feels Great!
Who doesn’t love a good massage? The rolling motion can be very relaxing, and along with the cooling effects, it can really take your beauty routine to a new level.
How to Use an Ice Roller for the Face
Using an ice roller for the face is very simple and straightforward.
First, you must ice your tool. Put your ice roller in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before rolling to allow it to get cold enough. But once you take it out, don’t put it on your face straight away! If the ice roller’s surface is too cold, it can cause an ice burn!
So, to avoid damaging the skin tissue, let it sit for a minute (or a few), till the ice crystals melt.
Before you use an ice roller, you need to cleanse your face thoroughly to remove any impurities and makeup. Then you can start rolling your face.
As with most face tools, when using an ice face massager, make sure to roll it in an upward motion, starting from the center of your face and moving outward.
The massage should last 10-15 minutes tops.
Go in a zigzag pattern while applying light pressure. But don’t roll too hard – you don’t want to bruise or irritate the skin.
You can also concentrate on particular regions, such as the area around your lips or the area under your eyes, which are prone to aging or puffiness. Although it’s recommended for the area around the eyes, you shouldn’t be rolling on the tops of your eyelids.
Also, steer clear of rolling over any sensitive, like over acne or sunburn. Additionally, it’s advised not to use an ice roller just after a strenuous workout or right after taking a hot bath or shower because the skin can be overly sensitive.
Once you’re done with rolling, don’t forget to wash your ice roller after every use to prevent bacteria build-up.
How Often Should You Ice Roll Your Face?
While there are many benefits of ice rolling, it’s important to note that the overuse of an ice roller can actually have the opposite effect and cause skin irritation and redness.
Some claim the ice roller should be used both mornings and evenings, but the frequency actually depends on your skin type and needs.
Here are the general guidelines for choosing the appropriate frequency for your skin:
- Sensitive skin: If you have delicate skin that is prone to irritation, you may find that using an ice roller just once a day is sufficient to calm and revitalize it.
- Normal skin: Use an ice roller every other day if your skin is healthy and your goals are just de-puffing and tightening. For people with normal skin looking to improve their skincare regime, 3 times a week can be a good place to start.
- Combination to oily skin: For those with oily or combination skin, you may only need to use an ice roller as needed, when you’re experiencing puffiness or redness.
If you notice any discomfort or skin irritation after using the ice roller, it’s best to reduce the frequency or discontinue use altogether. It’s best to start with a lower frequency and increase as needed.
Should I Use an Ice Roller Before or After Skincare?
You can use an ice roller either before or after skincare, depending on skin type, preference and goals.
Use an ice roller beforehand if your skin is oily to shrink your pores and help manage sebum overproduction.
Using an ice roller after skincare can help to soothe and reduce redness, calm irritated skin, and provide an overall refreshing and hydrating effect. It can also help to lock in the moisture from your skincare and boost their benefits.
But these are just suggestions. There’s no right or wrong order – try both and see what works better for you.
When Not to Use Ice Roller
There are a few exceptions of when you should skip the rolling.
- If you’ve gotten fillers or botox, refrain from using an ice roller for face for 2-4 weeks. This helps lower the chance of pushing the filler into undesired areas.
- If you have open wounds, don’t roll over them until they’re completely healed. If healing tissue is shifted around, the borders of the wound are less likely to line up correctly, and scarring may even get worse.
What’s the Best Ice Roller for Face?
When buying an ice roller, consider your individual skin type and needs, along with your budget.
Generally speaking, this is a simple tool and the most budget-friendly option can work just fine. Some of the more premium options may offer additional benefits, but are also more expensive.
Ultimately, the best ice roller for you will depend on your personal preferences and skin care goals.
Here’s a couple of our suggestions:
StackedSkincare Ice Roller
This brand makes a cryo roller for face in 2 different shapes. There’s the roller-type one with a drum that’s great for rolling over larger areas of the face.
But there’s also a more advanced bulb-shaped version.
This design is so unique it won the 2022 Oprah Beauty O-Wards and made it to the 2022 Vogue Best of Beauty. It’s larger, somewhat bulkier than the cylinder, but it’s able to adapt to bone structure much better than a cylinder.
It can get into all the smaller spaces and provide you with a fully adjustable massage.
A tried-and-true US-made brand, StackedSkincare may be a bit more premium, but it’s worth it.
Kitsch Ice Roller
A much more budget friendly option, the Kitsch ice roller is made from a special durable material that allows it to remain cold for an extended period of time.
It’s also designed for easy cleaning and maintenance, ensuring that it provides you with a hygienic experience and lasts for a long time.
BeautyBio Cryo Roller for Face
BeautyBio’s Cryo roller for face is a dual-sided tool made to be used both on the face and body. This ice roller is made of professional-grade stainless steel which doesn’t rust over time, so you can ice it up in your fridge or freezer without worries.
It looks just like your regular jade roller, so its use is quite intuitive.
It’s a bit on the luxury side as far as ice rollers go, but tons of reviewers agree it’s very much worth it.
Esarora Ice Roller
Esarora ice roller is an affordable option of ice roller for face (or body). With nearly 20,000 reviews and a nearly five-star rating, Amazon reviewers are really hyping this product up!
It’s ideal for those who may be curious to try face rolling, but aren’t sure whether they should invest in a fancy ice face massager just yet.
Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Massage Ice Roller
This one’s a looker! The pink and rose gold color combo means it’ll look great on your vanity.
The Finishing Touch Ice Roller is the bulkiest one on the list. It has a jumbo-sized cylinder, so it allows you to do your cryo massage super quickly.
This can be both an advantage and a downside, as it’s perfect for large areas, like the body, but it may be hard to get around the face with it.
Ice Roller Alternatives
Jade-roller-styled massagers are just one form of ice face massager. There are also alternative tools that provide the same ice roller benefits, but they’re used in slightly different ways.
Fraîcheur Paris Ice Globes
Just like ice rollers, Fraîcheur Paris Ice Globes are designed to provide a cooling and soothing effect to the skin. But unlike traditional ice rollers, the Ice Globes are rounded spheres that are filled with a cooling gel or liquid.
Another difference between these ice globes and traditional face rollers is that you don’t have to freeze them, just store them in your fridge.
Reusable Ice Face Roller Mold
While it’s more of rolling ice than an ice roller, these molds are one of the most popular items on TikTok at the moment!
They’re super easy to use – you just fill them with water and put them in your freezer. Once they’re frozen, you use them just like you would a regular roller.
The only downside, though, is the fact that you’ll have water running down your skin as the ice melts. But nothing a cotton pad won’t fix!
In Conclusion
Ice rollers are simple, usually really affordable, and work within minutes. Their effects may be temporary, but for the minimal effort they require, they’re definitely worth it.
Whether you’re dealing with puffiness, redness, or just want to maintain a youthful complexion, an ice roller can provide the benefits you need. It’s a really affordable form of facial massage you can do at home, whenever you want!
