15 Best Ice Rollers to De

Jul 01, 2023

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After years of dealing with stress acne, dandruff, and rosacea—fun!—I now have a morning de-stress regimen (much to the delight of both my therapist and my dermatologist). I slather on my skincare routine, sip my coffee, do some journaling, and massage my face with an ice roller. I, personally, swear by the feel-good effects of ice-rolling, but recently, I started to wonder: Do ice rollers actually do anything beneficial for your skin, or is it all just in the name of ~self-care~? And even more importantly—are all ice rollers the same?

After doing a little Googling, I realized two things: (1) There is, actually, some serious merit to certain ice rollers and cryotherapy facial tools, and (2) There’s also a ton of misinformation—and even some really subpar ice rollers—on the internet. So I found out the correct details about the best ice rollers and how they work, thanks to board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, and esthetician Joanna Vargas. But first, let me break down a few of my favorite ice rollers of all time, k?

I wasn’t kidding when I said I swear by ice rollers, so keep reading for my 15 (!) favorites. Then, I’m giving you all the need-to-know information about ice-rolling from the pros, like how ice-rolling works and how to choose the best ice roller for your skin.

Dare I say that this is the ice roller that started it all? If you want a no-nonsense ice roller, grab this one from Amazon, which has a whopping 17,000+ positive reviews. It has two roller-head options: (1) a classic metal head, which gets super cold in the fridge or freezer and stays cold to de-puff; and (2) a silicone head, which feels softer, smoother, and less chilly on sensitive skin. And, if you like to match your tools to your ~vibes~, you’ll be happy to know it also comes in nine different colors.

THE REVIEWS: “This was the perfect size for ice-rolling my face,” writes one tester. “It stays cold enough for me to feel like I’ve covered my face and neck sufficiently, but it’s not too cold that it feels uncomfortable.”

Wondering which ice roller I use every single day (wow, thank you)? It’s this one from Skin Gym, which I love because the stainless-steel roller is on the larger side, so I’m able to roll wider sections of my face in each pass. And if you’ve ever had to massage your face with a tiny ice roller again and again while it quickly turns warm, you know how clutch a wide roller is.

THE REVIEWS: “I don't know where this product has been all my life,” one reviewer writes. “I keep it in the freezer, and in the morning—especially after too much salt or boozy drinks—I roll for five minutes while I drink my coffee. The difference in my face is night and day. It instantly de-puffs my whole face.”

Last year, my BFF ordered this mini ice roller on Amazon and was less-than-pleased when a roller the size of her finger showed up. I, however, immediately ordered one for myself, knowing it would be genius for de-puffing the inner corners of my eyes that get swollen with allergies. So if you want something tiny to get in the little crevices of your face the way a normal-sized ice roller can’t, grab this one from Amazon and watch your puffy under-eyes slowly deflate from the cold.

THE REVIEWS: “At first, I was disappointed by the size, but I gave it a try, and it actually was much more comfortable on my eyes than previous models,” writes one tester. “I'm very happy with my purchase!”

Let’s be real: I would much rather stack my freezer with frozen pizza and Trader Joe’s mandarin orange chicken than take up space with a hefty skincare tool. Which is why I love this affordable ice roller with a detachable, stainless-steel head. Instead of storing the entire roller, you can pop just the head in the freezer for 10-15 minutes, or, if you need it to stay cold for 30-45 minutes while you get your massage on, leave it in overnight.

THE REVIEWS: “I have long used an ice cube to calm inflammation of a pimple or to take away under-eye puffiness, but this is way better because it doesn’t melt and get everything all wet,” writes one tester in a review. “Plus, it stays cold for a long time.”

If you’re committed af to your ice-rolling practice, you should upgrade to this two-in-one tool from Joana Vargas’s skincare line (ahem, she’s the esthetician behind the skin of some of your fave celebs, like Meghan Markle and Mindy Kaling). At the push of a button, the vibrating wand turns either cool (to de-puff) or hot (to soothe) to give you the most luxe DIY facial at home, without any effort on your part. If you’re more into the ice-rolling life, Vargas recommends using the wand over a sheet mask to boost the absorption powers of the mask’s serum while also massaging your skin.

THE REVIEWS: “I really love this wand,” writes one reviewer. “The cool setting is a great way to wake up and start my day. I suffer from allergies year-round, so this helps de-puff my under-eye area. The heat setting is great with a sheet mask too.”

When I first saw this ice roller, I legit lol’d, because it is comically large (think: 3.5 inches). Then, I came to my beauty editor senses and realized it was actually a very clever design for ice-rolling your entire body, whether you’re dealing with sore muscles, irritated skin, or stress in general. Just smooth on a bit of body oil and start rolling and massaging the aches away.

THE REVIEWS: “This thing feels f**king amazing,” one review reads. “I use it religiously morning and night on my face/neck/chest, but I also love using it on my whole body for sore muscles. I take this literally everywhere I go.”

If you don’t want to spend a week’s worth of groceries on an ice roller, you’ve got this one from Finishing Touch that’s less than $10—but most definitely doesn’t look like it. Its gel-like head feels super soft and smooth (and won’t leave your skin feeling freezer burned), while the roller itself has a sleek, rose-gold design that’ll look good on any vanity. Just make sure not to store it in the freezer forever, since it can crack. Just pop it in 15 minutes before you want to massage, and you’ll be good to go.

THE REVIEWS: “I've been wanting to get one of these for a while, and for how much it was, I was surprised how well it works,” writes one reviewer. “I love it and definitely recommend it.”

I never know what the mini-fridge sitch will look like when I’m traveling, so instead of risking a warm (pointless) ice roller, I stick this double-ended ice roller in my bag instead. It’s stainless-steel, which helps it stay a bit chilled even without the fridge—though, obvs, it’s most effective when fully frozen. Plus, I like that I can use the larger end to roll bigger sections of my face and body and save the smaller end for around my eyes. Truly a skin-saver after drinking a few margs on the beach jetlagged.

THE REVIEWS: “This is a great tool to use because it's stainless-steel,” writes one tester. “It's very low maintenance because it cools down on its own without having to put it in the fridge.”

Sick of your ice rollers squeaking and breaking after a few uses? Then this stainless-steel tool will be a major upgrade, with an ergonomic handle and sphere-shaped roller that feel ultra-luxe. It easily glides under your eyes, across your forehead, and under your jawline for some relaxing self-care. And if you’re prone to just throwing your tool in your bag, you can rest assured that the stainless-steel head won't get damaged, thanks to an included silicone cover.

THE REVIEWS: “This ice roller feels incredible on your skin and face,” one review reads. “My wife ordered this as an upgrade to her existing jade roller, and it works very well. It holds the cold and feels wonderful and relaxing. Plus, the design is very clean and modern, and there is a silicone cover for when you store it in the freezer.”

When your face feels extra tight from a day of staring at the screen, grab this vibrating, globe-tipped ice roller to soothe the muscles around your jaw, temples, cheeks—wherever. The vibration gives you a deeper massage (and requires a little less effort from your hands), while the shape of the globe can press and massage into your muscles better than a traditional flat roller. And for the days you’re not feeling the vibration mode, don’t worry; it can also be used on its own as a traditional ice roller.

THE REVIEWS: One tester in a review writes, “I can’t say enough how amazing this roller is! The roller is filled with water which keeps it colder longer than other rollers I’ve used. It comes with two detachable rollers so you can rotate them out. It feels so good on my face and skin when applied, especially after a long day.”

If just the thought of rubbing the same metal roller across your skin every day makes your face break out, try this cryo tool that uses fresh, pure ice to de-puff—which means there’s no real need to clean the tool each time. Just add water (or green tea, rose water, etc.), pop the massager in the freezer overnight, and roll it across your skin. Then let it melt in the sink, rinse it out, and start over. Pro tip: When you’ve got an especially angry zit, wrap the roller in a paper towel and hold it over the pimple to help bring down swelling and inflammation.

THE REVIEWS: According to one reviewer, “I just love this massager because of its simplicity. When I want to be extra fancy, I switch the water to rose water or rice water. I get my money’s worth on those extra hot days to cool me off.”

Did you know you can turn your jade roller into a chilled, icy roller just by leaving it in the fridge overnight? I love this tool from Mount Lai specifically for ice-rolling for a few reasons: (1) It’s made of jade, which stays cool longer than other stones (and looks chic on your vanity), (2) It’s double-ended, so you can massage your face and under-eyes with ease, and (3) It doesn’t have an annoying squeaky noise that takes me out of my ~zen~.

THE REVIEWS: “I bought this because my face tends to get really puffy and inflamed after a good stress-cry,” writes one tester. “I like to wash my face and then apply serums/creams with this roller. The jade holds coldness for a long time, and the cool, rolling effect feels amazing on my skin and really helps to de-puff as the product advertises.”

Adding an ice roller to your holiday wishlist? Then your luxurious self deserves this $$$ serum-roller hybrid that comes with a built-in steel tip that feels cool to the touch, especially when you store it in the fridge. The formula itself is filled with smoothing bakuchiol, firming peptides, and brightening vitamin C, so it’s legitimately good for your skin, and it also won’t leak out of the roller, thanks to its locking mechanism. Sure, it’s v expensive, but it’s a treat for anyone who wants to level up their skincare routine.

THE REVIEWS: According to one tester, “What a find! I love this stuff! It’s super cooling and refreshing going on, and the rollers are so soothing! It wakes you up in the a.m. and relaxes you before crawling into bed at night. I have two now: one in my bathroom and one that stays bedside.”

Sorry, but ice-rolling on its own can’t magically “tone” your face. But if you want to reduce some puffiness and get temporary chiseled cheekbones, try this ice roller with stainless-steel globes that automatically cools and heats. The globes, along with vibrations from the tool that can be toggled on and off, help massage your skin to “sculpt” the face, while the chilliness helps de-puff.

THE REVIEWS: “This is very easy to use,” according to one reviewer. “It really helps to reduce my puffy face in the morning. My face is more relaxed and my skin feels smoother after every use.”

Reviewers swear by this medium-sized ice roller for migraines and headaches because it’s not so small that you can’t roll it across your neck and shoulders, but also not so big that you can’t get between and under your eyes. If you do deal with headaches or sore muscles, keep this in the freezer at all times to grab whenever you need it.

THE REVIEWS: According to one reviewer, “This feels so good! I use it a lot of times for my migraines. I will roll it on my forehead, down the side of my face, and back up on my nose. I even roll it on the back of my neck. It is so cold, but it helps relax me.”

It depends what you mean by “work.” Yes, ice-rolling can be a great way to de-stress and relax, and they can even help reduce some puffiness and inflammation. How? Because cryotherapy tools, like ice rollers, temporarily shrink the blood vessels in your skin, which can help bring down swelling, dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, has previously told Cosmo. But as far as the other claims go, no, ice-rolling can’t “tone” your face, mattify or brighten your skin, or chisel your cheekbones. Sry.

The benefits of an ice-roller include de-puffing skin, soothing inflammation and soreness, and giving your face a more even massage than you could get with your fingers. And, because you can easily grab one from the fridge or freezer and massage it over your skin, you can quickly turn your skincare routine (or stressful meltdown) into a self-care moment.

The difference between an ice roller and a jade roller is that an ice roller is meant to constrict swelling and soothe inflammation, while a jade roller is thought to help increase lymphatic drainage to potentially de-puff. But whichever one you choose will come down to preference. An ice roller tends to be larger and can get freezing cold, so it’ll cover more surface area on your face and body while also effectively constricting blood vessels.

A jade roller, however, can come in different sizes with dual ends, making it great for massaging all areas of your face, especially when applying serums. If you do want to use a jade roller for ice-rolling, choose one made of jade instead of rose quartz because it conducts less heat, meaning the roller will stay colder longer.

If you have acne-prone skin, opt for a metal ice-roller instead of a silicone roller. Why? Because metal tends to be easier to clean (especially if it has a removable head) and won’t potentially harbor bacteria that could contribute to future breakouts. But if you have sensitive, reactive skin (see: rosacea or keratosis pilaris) that gets blotchy or irritated with ice-cold temps, go for the silicone roller, which will only get chilly, not frozen, so it’ll be gentler on your skin.

Obviously, if your goal is to ice-roll your body, you shouldn’t choose a teeny-tiny roller that’s meant to fit around your eyes. But you should also decide if you plan to use your roller mostly at home, or if you tend to only use a roller on the go (in which case, you should look for a tool that’s double-ended, lightweight for travel, and doesn’t require a fridge).

Serious about your ice-rolling practice? Consider choosing a tool with more luxe features that’ll make your experience a bit more ~lavish~, like vibrating massage, hot and cold features, or a globe-shaped roller to customize your facial experience. The more features it has, the more you'll be likely to use it in the future, rather than letting it collect dust in your drawer after week one.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.

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