10 of the best ice globes and cryotherapy tools to help de-puff and reduce redness
The best ice globes and cryotherapy tools are some of the most effective at-home facial massage tools the skincare industry has on offer. And their popularity all started on (yep, you guessed it) TikTok.
Sometimes TikTok is great for beauty hacks – from must-try eyeliner hacks to filters that help you contour like a pro – but sometimes it's fair to say the advice is a little bit… questionable. The latest case in point? People who’re using actual blocks of ice on their faces first thing in the morning or before a big night out to help calm redness and reduce swelling and de-puff. You might have seen the videos, but actually, using literal ice fresh from the freezer can actually cause more harm than good.
“If you’re using ice, stop. It can cause ice burns and broken capillaries,” says cosmetic scientist Carly Musleh. “Instead, try ice globes, which are very cold but not frozen. These facials are based on cryotherapy,” she says.
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But what exactly is cryotherapy and how does it work? Here, we’ve broken it down and found the best ice globes for face to use at home without the risk of causing ice burns…
What is cryotherapy?
Using ice globes is a form of cryotherapy, which is the use of extreme cold to help blood vessels constrict to reduce the appearance of redness, inflammation or swelling. It also helps decrease puffiness, cools the skin, soothes tired eyes and is even good for releasing built-up tension at the nape of the neck.
What are ice globes?
Ice globes are freezer-friendly tools, most often they are made of glass and have a handle and one spherical-shaped end that’s filled with anti-freeze liquid. However, some are made from stainless steel. They can be kept in the freezer or just pop them in 20 minutes or so before you want to use them, and then you can roll or massage your face with them.
What are the benefits of using ice globes and other cryotherapy tools?
Whether you use globes made of glass or stainless steel, the benefits are pretty similar. “They’re good for calming inflammation, waking up your skin in the morning, cooling menopausal hot flushes, soothing broken capillaries and reducing the appearance of enlarged pores,” explains skin therapist Joyce Conner. “Any skin type can use and benefit from using an ice globe or having a cryotherapy treatment,” she says. They can even have a tightening effect on skin which can also create a more lifted appearance to skin, too.
What is the best way to use ice globes and other cryotherapy tools?
“Ice globes can be used at a few different points of your skincare routine,” says Conner. You can use them as the first step as soon as you wake up, or you can use them after cleansing and before applying your usual skincare, or they can even be used during serum application of your skincare routine – that’ll help the product you’re using to penetrate better.
The best ice globes and cryotherapy tools in 2022 at a glance:
- Best ice globes to de-puff and soothe skin = Fraîcheur Ice Globes, £59.99 cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best ice globes to soothe irritation = Biologique Recherche Cryo Sticks Facial Tool, £156 liberty.co.uk
- Best affordable ice globes = Lumity Life Pro Ice Roller, £35 lookfantastic.com
- Best ice roller = Beautybio Cryo Roller, £85 cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best cryotherapy ice cubes = Anne Semonin Precious Pearl Ice Cubes, £76 net-a-porter.com
- Best cryotherapy ice sticks = Olivierewilson Cryo Ice Sticks, £90 currentbody.com
- Best stainless steel ice globes = BeauSkin CryoOrbs, £89.99 beaubronz.co.uk
- Best cryotherapy massage tool = Nurse Jamie Super-Cryo Massaging Orb, £36 cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best at-home cryotherapy kit = 111skin Cryo De-Puffing Edit, £125 111skin.co.uk
- Best at-home cryotherapy mask = Charlotte Tilbury Cryo Recovery Mask, £49 charlottetilbury.co.uk
Scroll for our full edit of the best ice globes for your face in 2022.
Best ice globes to de-puff and soothe skin
Fraîcheur Ice Globes, £59.99, cultbeauty.co.uk
Fraicheur (which translates to ‘freshness’ – we see what they did there) can take the crown for being the OG ice globe brand – they’re the ones you’ve probably seen all over Instagram. Available in a few different colours (our faves are pink, natch), they’re made of glass and are filled with anti-freeze liquid. Best used straight from the freezer – pop them in there for around 20 minutes before you want to use them – simply use them to massage your face for around 10-15 minutes each morning to help de-puff your face.
Save when you shop for ice globes with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best cryotherapy ice sticks
Olivierewilson Cryo Ice Sticks, £90, currentbody.com
Best kept in the fridge (remove around 5 minutes before you want to use them), these ice sticks are made from stainless steel and are filled with cooling liquid. They’re ergonomically designed, making it easy to glide them across your face, body and neck. They can also be used after cosmetic treatments like microneedling, peels or laser treatments to help reduce redness and inflammation you might get as a result.
Best affordable ice globes
Lumity Life Pro Ice Roller, £35, lookfantastic.com
Cleverly, Lumity Life’s ice globe doesn’t come in a pair, making it much more affordable than other options. You can use this one single tool across your whole face, placing it in the freezer before you need to use it for maximum efficacy. Plus, continued use will lead to brighter, smoother-looking skin.
Save when you shop for ice globes for your face with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best ice globes to soothe irritation
Biologique Recherche Cryo Sticks Facial Tool, £156, liberty.co.uk
Expensive, yes, but Biologique Recherche’s Cryo Sticks have been expertly designed to de-puff skin and settle irritation. The brand is over 40 years old and it has an incredible reputation, both for the results its products provide but also for its clinical approach to skincare. This tool moulds the contours of your face to cool skin while helping to firm and tone the complexion, stimulate blood flow and reduce inflammation.
Best cryotherapy massage tool
Nurse Jamie Super-Cryo Massaging Orb, £36, cultbeauty.co.uk
Known for being the Kardashians’ go-to skin expert, Nurse Jamie’s range of clever tools is worth checking out. The Super-Cryo Massaging Orb is like nothing we’ve seen before – the hand-held device is made from stainless steel and is available in two sizes. It works to increase localised blood circulation to improve overall appearance, quality and tone of skin.
Save when you shop for ice globes for your face with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best at-home cryotherapy kit
111skin Cryo De-Puffing Edit, £125, Selfridges
Consider this everything you need for the ultimate DIY cryo facial that’ll focus on reducing water retention in the fce for a smoother, more sculpted and awake appearance. Inside you’ll find a de-puffing facial mask, a de-puffing eye mask, a de-puffing serum and finally, a pair of Cryo Sculpting Tools. Made from surgical stainless steel, they’re cooling on skin and will work to alleviate redness, encourage circulation and temporarily tighten the skin. Sounds like the ideal Sunday morning treat if you ask us.
Save when you shop for ice globes for your face with these Selfridges discount codes.
Best at-home cryotherapy mask
Charlotte Tilbury Cryo Recovery Mask, £49, charlottetilbury.co.uk
A truly revolutionary product, Charlotte Tilbury’s Cryo Recovery Mask works to help skin appear firmer, smoother, more lifted and more refreshed. The reusable mask is inspired by cryotherapy and facial acupressure and is most effective when it’s put in the freezer around 30 minutes before use.
Best ice roller
Beautybio Cryo Roller, £85, cultbeauty.co.uk
Made from professional-grade stainless steel, this double-ended roller is super easy to use. The smaller side is ideal for rolling around your eyes and for more targeted application, while the bigger side can be used across the face and body, including helping to sculpt cheekbones or relieving shoulder and joint tension. Best used fresh from the fridge or freezer for the most effective ice-cold results.
Save when you shop for ice globes for your face with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best cryotherapy ice cubes
Anne Semonin Precious Pearl Ice Cubes, £76, net-a-porter.com
We’ve never seen another brand do anything like this before, but it’s actually a really clever concept: created by French facialist Anne Semonin, the low temperatures boost the efficacy of the ingredients, which include alpine snow flowers, hyaluronic acid and hydrolyzed silk protein to enhance hydration while simultaneously calming both inflammation and puffiness. They should be kept in the freezer and removed as and when you want to incorporate them into your routine.
Save when you shop for ice globes for your face with these Net-A-Porter discount codes.
Best stainless steel ice globes
BeauSkin CryoOrbs, £89.99, beaubronz.co.uk
The chicest stainless steel tool that we’ve seen, this pair of navy blue and copper globes will work to help reduce inflammation and puffiness, aid lymphatic drainage and sinus pressure while also kick-starting circulation and giving skin a radiant glow. Pop them in the freezer about half an hour before you want to use them for the best results.
