What does an ice roller do?

An ice roller is a cryotherapy tool used to encourage circulation, reduce swelling, minimize redness, soothe irritation , tighten the skin, and restore radiance. Whether with a stainless steel or gel head, the chilled material can be rolled over your entire face, neck, décolletage, and the rest of your body. Some people also say it helps with headaches.

How long should you use an ice roller on your face?

When gliding an ice roller across your face, eye area, jawline, neck, and chest, five to 10-minute sessions are ideal. This is typically long enough to see visible improvement in puffiness, inflammation, redness, and overall skin texture. As long as your skin isn't irritated, you can go a little longer if needed.

How do you clean an ice roller?

Most gel and stainless steel ice rollers can be cleaned and sanitized with mild soap and warm water. As Murray explains, you can wipe down a stainless steel model with rubbing alcohol without worrying about it rusting. Though freezing will kill most germs, we recommend cleaning your ice roller after every use.

The 13 Best Ice Rollers of 2023

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably caught wind of the popularity of face rollers. There are a few different kinds, one being the ice roller, which draws on the practice of icing your skin (a form of cryotherapy). Whether with actual ice cubes, refrigerated spoons, or chilled cucumber slices, icing is an age-old skincare approach most people agree that works.

It's a relatively simple concept—just like we reach for ice packs or frozen peas to reduce swelling from an injury, we can apply cold things to our skin to depuff and minimize redness. Since ice causes your blood vessels to contract, it might also make your pores appear smaller and temporarily tighten your skin.

Thanks to some much-welcome advancements in the beauty industry, icing your skin is much more sophisticated than it used to be. The handy little gadgets we like to call ice rollers are stored in the freezer and can be used on your face, eye area, neck, décolletage, and anywhere else that needs to take a chill pill—no drips, no mess, just a soothed, glowing complexion.

"I love ice rollers for personal use and in-service with my clients," licensed esthetician and skincare expert Lauren LaPaglia tells Byrdie. "They are great at reducing redness, inflammation, and reducing fluid buildup in the face."

OK, we're sold! Here, the best ice rollers you can buy today.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Vanity Planet Revive Professional Facial Ice Roller at Vanityplanet.com

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Best Budget:

Esarora Ice Roller Skin Care Tool at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

BeautyBio Cryo Skin Icing Roller at Nordstrom

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Best Stainless Steel:

Skin Gym IceCoolie Ice Roller

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Best for Sensitive Skin:

StackedSkincare Cryo Sculpting Roller at Stackedskincare.com

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Best for Acne-Prone Skin:

Urban Skin Rx Hydracool Calm & Correct Ice Roller at Walmart

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Best Complexion-Enhancing:

PUR Botanicals Ice Roller at Amazon

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Best Soothing:

Kitsch Ice Roller at Amazon

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Best for Inflammation:

Finishing Touch Flawless Ice Roller

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Best for Under Eyes:

Project E Beauty Ice Roller Cold Therapy at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
FAQ
How We Researched
Why Trust Byrdie?

4.7

Vanity Planet Revive Professional Ice Roller Face and Body Massager Vanity Planet Revive Professional Ice Roller Face and Body Massager Vanity Planet Revive Professional Ice Roller Face and Body Massager Vanity Planet Revive Professional Ice Roller Face and Body Massager Vanity Planet Revive Professional Ice Roller Face and Body Massager Vanity Planet Revive Professional Ice Roller Face and Body Massager Tell us if something is incorrect Vanity Planet Revive Professional Ice Roller Face and Body Massager

Courtesy of Walmart

View On Vanityplanet.com

What We Like

Detachable head
Lightweight
Affordable

What We Don't Like

Reviewers note it squeaks when in use

Whether you're a face-icing novice or are looking to step up your at-home cryotherapy game, you can't go wrong with this roller. The detachable stainless steel head stays cold for two hours out of the freezer. Plus, it's compact, lightweight, and easy to use—simply glide it across your skin to depuff, calm, and tighten.

"The ice roller from Vanity Planet doesn't break the bank and is great quality," says LaPaglia. This roller can reach large areas of the face and does a great job at reducing buildup fluid and toning the skin."

Price at time of publish: $19

Material: Stainless steel | Size: 3.5 x 7.88 x 2.25 inches

Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

Affordable
Comes in various colors
Freezes quickly

What We Don't Like

Reviewers note it can stick to hair

"To be completely honest, a $12 ice roller from Amazon works really well," says licensed esthetician Dana Murray. You don't have to tell us twice! This no-nonsense option by Esarora offers all the benefits of skin icing without the hefty price tag.

Price at time of publish: $18.99

Material: Plastic | Size: 7.76 x 3.58 x 2.44 inches

BeautyBio Cryo Skin Icing Dual-Ended Roller

View On Nordstrom View On Sephora View On Ulta

What We Like

Durable
Freezes quickly

What We Don't Like

Pricey

If you can swing it, you won't regret splurging on BeautyBio's Cryo Roller. Made from stainless steel, this dual-ended device chills your skin to the optimal temp (45 F) to tighten, tone, sculpt, and soothe.

Price at time of publish: $85

Material: Stainless steel | Size: 7 x 7 x 3 inches

View on Ulta View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore

What We Like

Travel-friendly
Freezes quickly

What We Don't Like

Reviewers note it squeaks when in use

"I recommend the ice roller models that have a stainless steel roller," Murray notes. With this in mind, you should definitely consider the Skin Gym IceCoolie, a travel-friendly roller you can use anytime, anywhere to achieve a healthy-looking glow.

Price at time of publish: $30

Material: Stainless steel | Size: 3.25 x 1.3 x 7.5 inches

Courtesy of StackedSkincare

View On Stackedskincare.com

What We Like

Reduces itch
Developed by an aesthetician

What We Don't Like

Pricey

Developed by aesthetician Kerry Benjamin, a lifelong eczema patient, this cryo roller was designed to soothe sensitive skin, reduce itch, and fight inflammation. But it doesn't stop there—you'll also notice a visibly tighter complexion and a smoother under-eye area.

Price at time of publish: $75

Material: Stainless steel

Urban Skin Rx Hydracool Calm & Correct Ice Roller

View On Walmart

What We Like

Won't irritate pimples
Minimizes pores

What We Don't Like

Reviewers note it squeaks when in use

Trying to keep breakouts at bay? Reach for Urban Skin Rx's Hydracool Roller. The steel head won't irritate existing pimples and can actually improve their appearance, all while minimizing the size of your pores and reducing puffiness.

Material: Stainless steel

Courtesy of Amazon

View On Amazon

What We Like

Boosts radiance
Comes in various colors
Affordable

What We Don't Like

Reviewers note the roller falls off easily

If your main goal with icing your skin is to look better, go with this little guy from Pur Botanicals. By contracting your blood vessels, it helps boost the absorption of serums, eye creams, moisturizers, and masks while delivering a smoother, glowier complexion.

Price at time of publish: $30.99 for blue ice roller

Material: Plastic | Size: 7.87 x 3.5 x 2.52 inches

View On Amazon View On Anthropologie View On Shopbop.com

What We Like

Ergonomic handle
Woman-owned brand

What We Don't Like

Doesn't stay cold for long

Itchy, irritated, or inflamed skin? The Kitsch Ice Roller is your new best friend. Featuring a stainless steel head and an ergonomic handle, it makes soothing your skin a nearly effortless task—extra points for being a woman-owned brand.

Price at time of publish: $23

Material: Stainless steel | Size: 6.1 x 1.22 x 0.89 inches

Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Massage Ice Roller

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Freezes quickly
Affordable

What We Don't Like

Lacks durable construction

Ugh, inflammation. For many, it's always there or right around the corner. When you arm yourself with the Flawless Ice Roller, you'll be on your way to winning the battle against inflammation. It's got a soft gel head that freezes within 15 minutes to help reduce puffiness, redness, and irritation in a pinch.

Price at time of publish: $9.99

Material: Stone, gel | Size: 9.41 x 4.84 x 2.6 inches

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Great for the eye area
Boosts radiance

What We Don't Like

Reviewers note it feels stiff against skin

If you have under-eye bags—let's be honest, who doesn't?—you'll be glad to have Project E's ice roller on hand. This thoughtfully designed gadget glides over the entire eye area, applying a cooling treatment at just the right temperature. The result? Minimized puffiness, improved texture, and brighter skin.

Price at time of publish: $16.99

Material: Plastic | Size: 7.56 x 3.39 x 2.24 inches

View On Amazon

What We Like

Travel-friendly
Freezes quickly
Affordable

What We Don't Like

Doesn't stay cold for long

Measuring just 6.5 x 2.6 inches, the Maange Ice Roller is a travel-friendly tool made for folks on the fly. The steel roller head freezes quickly—in a cooler, hotel mini-fridge, or outside in the snow—and delivers a half-hour of cryotherapy skincare.

Price at time of publish: $14.99

Material: Stainless steel | Size: 6.57 x 2.68 x 1.42 inches

Fightart 4-in-1 Jade Roller Gua Sha Ice Roller

View On Amazon

What We Like

Great value
Reduces redness

What We Don't Like

Lacks durable construction

If you're already on the face-rolling bandwagon and are looking to expand your horizons, we recommend this four-in-one set. You'll get an ice roller with a gel head, a jade roller, a textured massage roller, and a gua sha tool.

Price at time of publish: $19.99 for green set

Material: Gel, jade stone, gold zinc alloy | Size: 7.76 x 3.54 x 2.48 inches

Spa Sciences Isla Sonic Face & Body Roller

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Works on whole body
Boosts radiance

What We Don't Like

Lacks durable construction

Skin icing isn't just for your face. While you can use most rollers all over your body, the Isla was designed to offer benefits from head to toe. From tightened skin and reduced swelling to smoothed lines and a healthy-looking glow, there's not much this multitasker doesn't do.

Price at time of publish: $27.99

Material: Stainless steel | Size: 7.44 x 4.06 x 1.97 inches

Final Verdict

The best option overall is the Vanity Planet Revive Professional Facial Ice Roller (view at Vanity Planet), an esthetician-approved gadget with a stainless steel head that stays cold for two whole hours. However, if you want something a bit more wallet-friendly, you can't go wrong with the Esarora Ice Roller Skin Care Tool (view at Amazon). And if you're open to splurging on a fancier device, we recommend the BeautyBio Cryo Roller (view at Sephora).

What to Look for in an Ice Roller

Gel vs. Stainless Steel Head

When browsing ice rollers, you'll notice most options have either stainless steel or gel heads. Both materials freeze quickly, typically within 15 minutes.

"Stainless steel tends to stay colder for an extended period," offers Murray. Also, the metal harbors less bacteria. "Stainless steel is non-porous, can be washed with soap and water, and even wiped down with rubbing alcohol without worrying about it rusting," she adds. That said, a gel tends to be a little softer and may be more comfortable against the skin.

Removable Head

"I like models that allow the roller [head] to be removed for easy cleaning and storing in a Ziplock in your freezer," says Murray. "Being an esthetician, I am always concerned about tools used on the face being sanitary. The last thing we want is smearing bacteria all over our face!"

Ergonomic Handle

When buying an ice roller, you'll also want to consider the handle. Some options have narrower handles, about the width of a pen, which are fine but less comfortable after a few minutes of use. If you use an ice roller every day or do longer at-home cryo sessions, we suggest getting one with a wider, contoured ergonomic handle.

FAQ

What does an ice roller do?

An ice roller is a cryotherapy tool used to encourage circulation, reduce swelling, minimize redness, soothe irritation, tighten the skin, and restore radiance. Whether with a stainless steel or gel head, the chilled material can be rolled over your entire face, neck, décolletage, and the rest of your body. Some people also say it helps with headaches.
How long should you use an ice roller on your face?

When gliding an ice roller across your face, eye area, jawline, neck, and chest, five to 10-minute sessions are ideal. This is typically long enough to see visible improvement in puffiness, inflammation, redness, and overall skin texture. As long as your skin isn't irritated, you can go a little longer if needed.
How do you clean an ice roller?

Most gel and stainless steel ice rollers can be cleaned and sanitized with mild soap and warm water. As Murray explains, you can wipe down a stainless steel model with rubbing alcohol without worrying about it rusting. Though freezing will kill most germs, we recommend cleaning your ice roller after every use.

How We Researched

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust Byrdie?

Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer with substantial experience covering wellness and beauty. As a cryo-curious skincare aficionado, she's tried a handful of cooling treatments and devices, including the Skin Gym IceCoolie. You can read more stories by Theresa on MyDomaine, The Spruce, and Verywell Fit.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any ice rollers from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.