Perhaps you’ve heard here and there about ice rollers but weren’t sure about the benefits they could bring to your skin. Well, now it’s time to learn what these frosty tools are for and how they could improve your skin.
What Is an Ice Roller?
“Ice” roller is a slightly misleading name, as these are simply facial massagers that have been chilled, not frozen, to achieve the benefits of combining facial massage with cool temperatures.
Ice Rollers Main Benefits
Cold temperatures cause constriction in the skin, resulting in a shrinking effect on the appearance of pores and blood vessels, creating a smoother, more even-toned surface over time. Cold treatments can also soothe inflammation and irritation, which is perfect for those who experience sensitivity or redness in their skin.
When To Use It
The constricting effect of ice rollers also offers an efficient way to seal the blood vessels in the skin after applying a treatment such as serum or essence. Used at the end of your skin care routine, an ice roller massage soothes and smooths skin, aiding in lymphatic drainage as much as a fingertip massage, with the added benefits of the cold temperature. While the chilly temperature may take some getting used to, once you acclimate yourself to the cold surface of an ice roller, you’ll be hooked!
How To Use an Ice Roller
・For an overall treatment that helps reduce puffiness, redness and uneven skin tone, start by rolling across the forehead and temples, working around the eyes, down the cheeks, around the mouth, along the jaw and then downwards on the neck to boost lymphatic drainage and give an overall calm and cool glow to the skin. This also works if you’ve experienced stinging or redness from an exfoliation treatment like microdermabrasion and want to quickly soothe your skin.
・If your eyes are tired and puffy, gently roll an ice roller around the under-eye area to bring relief and help shrink inflammation.
・After waxing or threading treatments, try rolling the ice roller around the eyebrows and upper lip to soothe stinging and reduce redness.
・If you have a particularly irritated breakout, ice-rolling the area helps to soothe any itching and pain and smoothes the overall surface of the skin.
・Before bed and at the end of your skin care routine, ice roll your face, neck and chest for a soothing treatment to end the day and ease tension. You’ll be having sweet dreams before you know it.
How To Choose Yours
Ice rollers come in many shapes and materials, all with their own unique benefits.
The Vanity Planet Revive Professional Ice Roller has a stainless steel roller that guarantees to keep the cool temperature for a long time. It can go in the fridge or freezer (for no more than 4 hours in this case) and helps to immediately calm and soothe your skin. Can also be used to relief swollen and painful areas of your face and body.
Personally, I use a jade roller for cool-massaging my skin. I love the Double Jade Facial Roller from Yu Ling Rollers, that bring not one, but two rollers. I store mine in the fridge and use the smaller end around my eyes to depuff, in the folds of my nose to decrease redness and along my upper lip to soothe fine lines. The larger end is perfect for rolling along the forehead and jawline for an overall smooth, bright and toned effect. The jade stone has been revered in Chinese culture for years and is thought to expel toxins from the skin.
Not just for the face, Dr. Jart+’s Liftra Contour Shaper features tiny lines etched into the curves that stimulate the muscles of the face, neck, and body, boosting circulation and providing an overall lifted look. Try chilling for a few minutes only—the metal construction of the roller means it’s already quite cool to the touch.
Specifically for the eyes is 001 Skincare’s Eyecicle. It comes in a set of two artisan glass rollers that fit perfectly around the eye’s contours and can be used in tandem to soothe and depuff this tell-tale area of the face.
Safety Precautions
Remember to always clean and dry your ice roller after any treatments to ensure it doesn’t harbor any bacteria. A quick wipe-down of the surface with a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol after each use will keep your ice rolling tool in sanitary conditions.
And as for the ideal temperature to get the best results, I recommend keeping your ice roller in the fridge as opposed to the freezer, especially if you’re applying it to skin that may be moist from products you’ve applied—a too-cold roller can pull at delicate skin. If you’re unsure about the cold temperature, roll it on your wrist first to make sure it’s comfortable for you.
+ Have you used an ice roller before? Share your experience and your thoughts with us in the comment section below!
Images: Vanity Planet.
