When I Wake Up Puffy, This $14 Skincare Tool Is My Saving Grace
If there’s one thing I can count on, it’s that every Monday morning, I will, unfortunately, wake up puffy. I’ll also wake up puffy if I eat too much salt, if I have a drink or two, or if I don’t get enough sleep. So basically, I can expect to wake up with a puffy face most days of the week.
While skincare products are able to do many things, most of them won’t solve puffiness. After trying many caffeine-infused products to no avail, I was ready to give up. Last year, however, I discovered a simple solution: ice. While you could just use plain old ice cubes if you want to, I recommend reaching for an ice roller or ice globe, which stays cold and help evenly distribute the chill across your face. Before I dive into some of my favorites, I talked to celebrity esthetician Candace Marino for the lowdown on all things ice globes and rollers.
What exactly do ice globes do for the skin?
"Cold rollers, cryo sticks, and ice globes all have a cryotherapeutic effect on the skin, meaning it lowers the temperature of the skin,” says Marino. "Cold therapy tools are also noted for reducing inflammation, redness, and puffiness, stimulating circulation, and helping to sculpt the face.”
How do ice globes benefit skin?
Ice globes are good at reducing inflammation. "Think about when you have an injury or swelling in the body and your doctor instructs you to ice it,” says Marino. "It’s the same concept, but now we’re using it for aesthetic purposes,” Marino explains. Anti-inflammation can help conditions like acne and rosacea, as it calms the skin.
For anti-aging, Marino explains that any kind of stimulation is helpful. "Stimulating the skin with your hands or tools will help improve circulation, which delivers oxygen-rich blood cells to the face, bringing life to the skin.” The results are almost instantaneous—just make sure to keep the tool moving so that you don’t give yourself an ice burn.
Does it work?
Yes! While using an ice globe or roller isn’t going to give you the same effects as say, getting Botox, it’s still a quick fix to make your face feel tighter, more sculpted, and lifted. To give you an idea of how these rollers work in real-time, I used an ice globe and ice roller on one side of my face, leaving the other untouched. Hint: I always go in an upward motion to encourage lifting.
Immediately after rolling, my face was a bit red, but you could still tell how much more lifted and sculpted my skin looked. After letting my face adjust (and finding a more forgiving light source), you can tell how much more lifted and toned the left side of my face looks after using ice-rolling techniques.
The best ice globes and rollers to buy:
Sundree Cooling Facial Globe
Filled with biodegradable gel to distribute coolness evenly, these face globes are compact, making them the perfect tool to use under your eyes.
Esarora Ice Roller
This face roller is perfect for covering a large area. You can even use it on your body.��
Dermstore Collections Set of Two Ice Globes
Pop this set into the refrigerator or cold water to freshen your face.
Angela Caglia Gold Cryo Facial Set
If you want the most luxe experience, these golden cryotherapy tools fit to the contours of your face and stay extra cold.
Skin Gym Pink Cryocicles
Skin Gym is known for its tools to help exercise your face, and these Cryocicles fit the bill.
Georgia Louise Cryo Freeze Tools
Made by celebrity facialist Georgia Louise, these stainless steel wands help tighten and de-puff.
BeautyBio Cryo Skin Icing Dual-Ended Roller
The best part about this stainless steel roller is that you can use it to cover large or small areas.
Nurse Jame Super-Cryo Massaging Orb
To use this tool, simply unscrew the orb from the base and pop it into the refrigerator. Once it’s cool, reattach and roll wherever you need it.
Kiramoon Moon Globes Freezable Facial Massagers
These glittery ice globes are as fun to use as they are useful.
Aceology Pink Ice Globe Facial Massager
You’ve likely seen these ice globes crop up on Instagram before. Not only are they cute, but they’re also filled with a signature liquid blend that helps them stay colder for longer.
Skinphony Beauty Globes
The foam handle on these ice globes ensures your hands won’t get too cold while you de-puff.
Monét Beauty Ice Globes
Hot pink and glittery—what more could you want? These globes are freezer-safe and made of borosilicate glass, so they’re super durable.
Fraîcheur Paris Ice Globes
These ice globes have garnered a bit of a cult following and for good reason. Not only do they stay cold, but they’re also gorgeous.
Next: My Skin Is Dry AF—Here's What My Dermatologist Tells Me to Do
Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.
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