What is ice roller?
An ice roller is a skincare tool used for effective cold therapy on the face or body. It usually consists of a cylindrical roller filled with gel beads and a handle. Before use, it needs to be refrigerated or frozen for some time. By rolling on the face or body, the ice roller produces a cooling sensation to stimulate the skin and treat various skin conditions.
The gel beads in ice rollers are usually made from sodium polyacrylate, which although environmentally friendly and non-toxic, may cause irritation if swallowed. Usually transparent, but can be made in various colors.
Are Ice Rollers Worth It?
With the development of modern technology, people have a more scientific understanding of the principles and development of cryotherapy, and have further realized that it has targeted therapeutic effects in beauty, skin care and health. So what are the benefits of using ice rollers?
Reduce Puffiness and Swelling
Blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are mainly responsible for the regulation of body fluids in the human body, and they help maintain normal and balanced water in human tissues. If they do not circulate well, localized edema may occur. When we sleep all night, the whole body is in a flat state, and even a large part of the body (such as the back, limbs, neck, and head) is in a state of compression, and the entire circulatory system will slow down or be partially slightly blocked. This is in the morning when looking in the mirror, we find our face or eyes are a little swollen.
Using an ice roller is helpful to stimulate blood circulation and promote lymphatic drainage. The cold temperature of the roller helps reduce swelling, puffiness, and redness, and the gentle rolling of the ice roller helps stimulate lymphatic flow and reduce excess fluid.
Shrink Pores and Firm Skin
Ice rollers also help firm the skin. The cold temperature causes the blood vessels and pores in the skin to temporarily shrink. This shrinkage can make the pores appear smaller and the skin firmer, which can improve fine lines on the face, especially in areas such as the eyes, chin, cheekbones, etc.
As the ice roller rolls over the skin, it stimulates blood circulation in the area. At the moment when the roller touches the skin, the cold temperature and pressure cause blood vessels to constrict, and then dilate as soon as the roller is removed from the skin. This repeated rapid contraction and expansion can speed up facial blood circulation. Increased blood flow brings more oxygen and nutrients to skin cells, promoting a healthier complexion with a firmer appearance.
Enhance Skin Elasticity and Slow Down Aging
Collagen is a protein that provides structural support to the skin and helps maintain its firmness and elasticity. Collagen and elastin fibers in the skin play a vital role in maintaining its elasticity.
Similar to microcurrent using low-voltage electricity and RF using controlled heat to stimulate subcutaneous collagen production, extreme cold stimulation will have a similar effect, stimulating the generation of subcutaneous fibroblasts and the synthesis of collagen bands, they can significantly fill the subcutaneous gaps caused by aging (these voids lead to wrinkles) and giving the skin better structural support and thus slowing downs the signs of aging in appearance.
Reduce Pimples, Acne and Inflammation
Pimples and acne afflict most people, especially those with oily skin. Studies have shown that cold temperatures have a calming effect on the skin, reducing inflammation and irritation.
When a frozen ice roller is applied to an area of acne or inflamed pores, the low temperature can cause blood vessels to constrict, narrow, and reduce blood flow to the area. This contraction helps minimize redness, swelling and inflammation. At the same time, the low temperature helps to numb the area and relieve associated discomfort, such as acne breakouts or skin irritation.
Plus, for people with oily skin, cold temperatures temporarily reduce oil production, which is thought to be a major cause of clogged pores, inflammation and acne.
Popular Ice Roller Styles On The Market
There are a huge variety of ice rollers on the market today. We’re not going to discuss the styling and appearance differences here. From the material of the rollers that are in direct contact with the skin, they are mainly divided into three categories: cold therapy beads + PE plastic, cold therapy beads + stainless steel, and pure stainless steel. Each has its own unique characteristics, and is suitable for different needs.
Ice gel beads + Plastic Roller
This type of ice roller consists of two parts, plastic handle and roller. The roller is composed of an outer PE plastic shell wrapped with a large number of ice gel beads inside.
Ice gel beads are the main energy storage materials with a much higher specific heat capacity than ordinary water. This means that compared to water, cold therapy beads need to absorb more heat from the skin than water does when raising the same temperature (say from 0°C to 20°C). The cold therapy gel beads can slow down the change of its own temperature and keep cool and comfortable for a long time. So you can enjoy longer-lasting cold therapy.
At the same time, since the outside is a PE plastic shell, during the rolling, the PE plastic shell touches the skin, you will not feel too irritating and unacceptable, especially for sensitive skin. This PE plastic ice roller is cheap and suitable for most people to use.
Ice gel beads + Stainless Steel Roller
The only difference between this type and the above-mentioned type is that the roller shell is made of stainless steel instead of PE plastic. The interior fillings are the same ice gel beads. The above two products are ordinary rollers. Last year we launched an innovative ice roller, S40, which has a larger contact area with the skin and comes with two replacement heads. You can move it slowly over the skin and is more effective at treating skin problems in specific areas.
However, stainless steel is a kind of metal, which has faster thermal conductivity than PE plastic. When touching the skin, the heat is transferred from the skin to the roller very quickly, so it will feel more irritating or cooler than the PE plastic roller in use. But people with sensitive skin may find it uncomfortable and unacceptable.
Due to the fast heat conduction speed of the stainless steel shell, the durability will be slightly shorter than that of the PE plastic type. Such ice rollers are at a higher cost than the above type.
Pure Stainless Steel Ice Roller
Pure stainless steel type ice roller, as the name suggests, its roller is completely made of metal (free cutting iron), with no cold therapy beads inside. It relies solely on the solid metal rollers themselves to store energy and conduct heat. Due to the heavy weight of the metal itself, the roller heads of these products are usually made smaller and are mainly used around the eyes, also to reduce the weight on your hands.
Pure stainless steel has two characteristics, low specific heat capacity, and fast heat conduction speed. These make such roller cool down and heat up faster. It doesn’t take long to put it in the fridge before use and becomes less cold after using a short time. In addition, do not stay in one place for a long time during use to prevent frostbite to the skin.
A pure stainless steel ice roller would obviously be much heavier and more expensive. So, this type of roller on the market is generally sold as face rollers only, without much cold therapy effect.
How To Use The Ice Roller Correctly?
Using an ice roller is a deceptively simple process, but there are certain techniques that we need to follow. The following techniques are based on the distribution of facial blood vessels and lymphatics, which are relatively more scientific. Watch this video and you will know how to do it more effectively.
It only takes 5 minutes to complete the whole process of the above video tutorial, not too much time. You can freeze the ice roller the day before and use it in the morning to reduce puffiness, then put it in the refrigerator and use it again at night after removing makeup. Long-term consistent use can get a good facial shaping effect.
What You Need To Know When Using An Ice Roller?
In order to avoid some unnecessary injuries or troubles during the daily use of ice rollers, we hope you could know the following precautions:
- Firstly, please make sure to clean the skin deeply and remove the dirt, oil, or makeup, in this way, the ice roller can work better on the skin. Please also apply your favorite cream, face oil , or essences before using.
- Please roll gently and do not use excessive force to avoid damaging the skin.
- In order to prevent low-temperature frostbite, it is recommended to move the ice roller quickly on the skin. Don’t leave the roller on one area for too long, especially on delicate skin area.
- To avoid spreading germs and bacteria, do not share your ice roller with others. Make sure to use a clean roller every time and clean it after each use.
- Please use normal-temperature water to clean the rollers instead of hot water, which may affect the freezing performance of the rollers.
- After cleaning the rollers, please dry the moisture on the rollers with paper or towels, and then put them in the refrigerator. The excess moisture on the surface of the roller may condense into ice after freezing, which will affect the next use.
- When freezing, please remove the handle and put only the rollers in the refrigerator to freeze. Repeated temperature changes may cause damage to the plastic handle and increase the risk of aging and fracture of the handle.
- Some consumers may have a question that “can I use ice roller everyday”? Our reply is daily use may not be suitable for everyone, as some individuals may experience skin irritation or increased sensitivity. It’s recommended to adjust the frequency based on your skin’s reaction and personal preference. By practicing moderation and paying attention to your skin’s needs, you can safely enjoy the benefits of an ice roller.
Comparison With Other Beauty Tools
Many consumers may have other facial massage beauty tools already, such as ice rollers, jade rollers, gua sha, etc. So are they with the same skin care effect? And what’s the difference between them?
Ice roller VS Ice cubes:
Ice cubes are the most traditional cryotherapy tool, which played an important role for a long time. There are many molds on the market that can be used to get different shapes of ice cubes, you can wrap it in a cloth or towel and slide it over your skin. Generally, we do not recommend that ice cubes directly contact your skin, as this may cause frostbite. This method requires a long freezing time and is not very convenient. Moreover, the melting of ice cubes during use may wet the skin, a little troublesome.
Ice roller VS ice globes
Ice globes are also a recent popular cryotherapy tool, similar to ice rollers. The interior is basically antifreeze and other fillings, and the outer shell is made of glass or stainless steel. During use, you need to manually turn the ice globes, not so convenient.
So, compared to ice globes and ice cubes, ice rollers are much more convenient. It can be used refrigerated or frozen, the rolling function allows you to have a cool and easy massage. Moreover, it’s durable and will not break even if it is dropped, also avoids the trouble of getting the skin wet. So we can see that an ice roller is a good-to-use tool, and also highly cost-effective, absolutely worth it for your daily beauty skincare.
Ice Roller VS jade roller
Both are great tools. Ice rollers are primarily known for their cold therapy benefits, and can be used in the morning or after skincare treatments to help awaken and invigorate the skin. While jade rollers are used for facial massage, typically made from jade or other gemstones, offering a soothing and refreshing sensation, they enhance the absorption of skincare products and contribute to a more comprehensive skincare routine.
The choice between an ice roller and a jade roller often comes down to personal preference and individual skincare needs. Some people may find the cold therapy of ice rollers more beneficial for reducing swelling and inflammation, while others may enjoy the soothing and therapeutic nature of jade rollers for facial massage.
Ice Roller VS Gua sha
Both tools can be incorporated into a skincare routine. Ice rollers primarily focus on cold therapy and skin rejuvenation, are used to reduce puffiness, calm inflammation and tighten pores. Gua sha is a traditional Chinese Technique that amis to promote lymphatic drainage, increase blood circulation, release muscle tension and enhance face contours.
The choice between an ice roller and gua sha often depends on personal preference and individual skincare needs. Some people even use them in combination to achieve different benefits.
How To Choose The Right Ice Roller?
Through our above introduction, you must have a deep understanding of the ice roller, so how to choose the ice roller that suits you, we have listed the following factors for your reference:
Size and feel:
You can choose according to your preferences. What needs to be pointed out is that the pure stainless steel ice roller is solid and heavy. If you hold it for 5-10 minutes continuously, you may feel a little uncomfortable. In addition, the comfort of the handle is also a factor to be considered.
Roller Material:
You need to consider how well your skin feels cold to the touch and which type of roller is right for you. Stainless steel material is obviously harder than PE material, and the temperature is lower.
Functional Considerations:
If you’re focused on spotting acne, a smaller size ice roller might be right for you. If you need lymphatic drainage and facial contouring, a large size ice roller is a good choice. Of course, there are some other ice rollers on the market that have two heads, one big and one small, or one plastic and one stainless steel, you can also choose this kind of ice roller.
Easy to clean:
Try to look for ice rollers that are easy to clean and maintain. Check that the rollers can be removed for cleaning. Not all ice rollers have removable wheels.
Cost:
Consider your budget when choosing ice rollers. There are a variety of options at different price points to choose from. Relatively speaking, the price of PE plastic ice rollers is the cheapest, followed by stainless steel rollers, and the most expensive is pure stainless steel ice rollers. (Of course, the price of some small pure stainless steel ice rollers specially used for eyes is not high).
Reviews and Recommendations:
Before buying, you can read reviews and recommendations from other users about how individual products perform and perform. This can help you measure overall user satisfaction and make informed decisions.
By considering these factors, you can basically choose an ice roller that suits your preferences and provides the desired benefits to your skincare routine. Remember to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe and effective use of ice rollers.
Ending
Compared to the benefits it can bring you, the ice roller is a beauty tool that is inexpensive and only takes a few minutes to use each time. So, this is a very cost-effective and functional beauty tool. You deserve a try!
