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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

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

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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. 

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.