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The best tools to handle a bloated face can eliminate some physical traces of allergies, sleepless nights, or a dirty martini (or two) with a side of truffle fries. A wide range of lifestyle factors can prompt lymphatic fluid to build up in the face, which causes puffy eyes and cheeks. Luckily, the best depuffing tools—which include microcurrent devices, icy globes, and gua sha tools—can be used to banish swelling and restore your contours.
By ushering stagnant fluid toward the lymph nodes, these devices help drain fluids from the face and leave you looking more snatched than ever before. “Improved circulation from these treatments enhances skin tone, firmness, and glow while supporting better absorption of skincare products,” says Nicole Lee, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Garden City, New York. “Over time, this can contribute to a more contoured, revitalized appearance.””
To narrow down the best tools for a bloated face, we asked top estheticians and board-certified dermatologists to share their go-to devices for at-home use—and put a few to the test ourselves. Whether you go the cryotherapy route or test out microcurrent, rest assured that any tool on this list will make your cheekbones pop and your skin look rested and glowy.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand, $149
- Best Microcurrent: NuFace Trinity+ Starter Kit, $395
- Best Cooling: Angela Caglia Gold Cryo Facial Set, $125
- Best Heated: Joanna Vargas Magic Glow Wand, $285
- Best Massager: Jillian Dempsey Gold Bar, $195
- Best LED: Medicube Age-R Booster Pro, $228
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you drain bloating from your face?
- Do lymphatic drainage tools work on the face?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand
Why it's worth it: One of the most recent launches from the Best of Beauty award-winning brand, the Therabody TheraFace Depuffing Wand has settings for cold and warm facial treatments, and you can toggle between them with the push of a button. While the heat setting increases product absorption and brightens the skin, the cool setting is geared toward decreasing puffiness around the eyes. “This popular wand has a variety of settings–cooling to combat swelling, heating to improve circulation, and a contoured applicator to get in areas that other wands cannot reach,” says Sara Hogan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington, D.C. “It is portable, lightweight, and easy to handle. It is no surprise that this is a wildly popular device.”
Tester feedback: “I don't know what magic is in this Depuffing Wand, but it cools in seconds so I can wake up and tighten my undereyes, so any evidence of poor sleep is minimized,” says commerce editor Sarah Han. “Plus, the tip itself is pointed and curved to perfectly fit the contours of my undereyes.”
Material: plastic, rubber, copper/aluminum alloy | Set includes: depuffing wand, travel cap, USB-C charging cable | Who it’s for: all skin types
Best Microcurrent: NuFace Trinity+ Starter Kit
Why it's worth it: Another way to sculpt the face? Give it a workout by stimulating the facial muscles with tiny electrical currents. “Microcurrent tools work by outputting a low level of electricity that stimulates the muscles in a way similar to a Pilates workout,” says Samantha Susca, master esthetician at The Spa at Cipriani in New York City. “This is a great microcurrent device that sculpts and trains the muscles of the face.” A longtime favorite of Allure editors, the NuFace Trinity+ toning device sends gentle waves of microcurrent to the muscles on the face and the neck, giving a miniature facelift in five minutes flat—and, like an on-demand workout class, it comes with instruction.
Tester feedback: “I love salty food, but salty food doesn't like me. OK, maybe a bit dramatic—but it literally makes me so puffy that sometimes I look like it's a bad allergic reaction,” says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis. “For a quick fix the microcurrents in my NuFace Trinity+ instantly improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage to reduce the appearance of puffiness, instantly.”
Material: thermoplastic resin, stainless steel, chrome-plated spheres | Set includes: toning device, Facial Trainer attachment, gel activator, creme activator, applicator brush, wireless cradle charger | Who it’s for all skin types
Best Cooling: Angela Caglia Gold Cryo Facial Set
Why it's worth it: “At-home facial cryotherapy is one of my favorite methods for treating my skin,” says Los Angeles-based esthetician Varuni Palacios. “Icing your face, neck, and chest daily will help to reduce inflammation, which can cause acne and pigmentation." She loves the Angela Caglia Gold Cryo Facial Set for its easy usage and elegant look. The gel-filled, gold-plated wands—also known as ice globes—can be whisked across both sides of a clean face morning and night. “The movement also supports blood circulation and lymphatic drainage and feels so, so, so good,” Palacios says. Susca is also a fan. “Angela Caglia’s cryo sticks are some of my favorites,” she says. “They are super luxurious and get the job done.”
Tester feedback: Allure contributor Jenny Berg stashed these in the fridge for an hour and then whisked them over both sides of her face for about five minutes. “The inside of the box lid has a facial map to guide the movement of the tool, which I found very handy,” she says. “The cooling globes have a hefty weight that gives the massage a nice pressure. For several hours after my mini cryo session, my skin just looked brighter, as if the gold had transferred some of its luminosity. I also felt more awake.”
Material: gold-plated, gel-filled wands | Set includes: two gold-plated cryotherapy wands | Who it’s for: normal skin types
Best Heated: Joanna Vargas Magic Glow Wand
Why it's worth it: Joanna Vargas, esthetician for the likes of Keri Russell and Riley Keough, put her sculpting touch into a (nearly) magic wand with the 2020 launch of her at-home device. The portable, USB-powered Magic Glow Wand has settings for hot and cold treatments, plus another setting for a de-puffing massage. The massage setting mimics the waves of the natural lymphatic system, working efficiently to whisk away excess fluid—for maximum de-puffing results, use the cool and massage settings together. The device is also easy to use: After cleansing, apply a serum or a mask, then whisk the wand’s titanium applicator over the face for two to three minutes, and poof! The puffiness is gone.
Tester feedback: “I love a good face massager, so the fact that this glow wand offers a cool + massage mode (in addition to just cool) is a gamechanger—especially when paired with a sheet mask," Han says. “I glide it across my entire face to encourage lymphatic drainage after a night of one too many glasses of wine.”
Material: titanium | Set includes: wand device, charging dock, USB charger, travel pouch | Who it’s for: all skin types
Best Face Massager: Jillian Dempsey Gold Bar
Why it's worth it: “The Jillian Dempsey Gold Bar is one of the OG skin tools,” Susca says. Made in Japan, the cult-classic tool is a vibrating bar massager cloaked in 24-karat gold. It vibrates up to 6,000 times per minute, stimulating blood circulation as it glides across the skin. (Just be sure to put on a pea-sized amount of moisturizer to help with said glide.) “The vibration therapy is very effective for draining fluid and stimulating collagen production,” Susca says, who notes that it's great for beginners. The brand recommends using the tool for about ten minutes, spending five minutes on either side of the face.
Tester feedback: “I'm not into astrology but if it's one thing I know about being a Taurus is that I love little (or big) luxuries. (My bank account has no comment.) Jillian Dempsey's Gold Bar is made out of 24-karat gold (!!!) so obviously I had to get my hands on it,” says Han. “I add a teensy bit of moisturizer before I glide it across my face—namely, from my jawline upwards towards my temples to debloat and help sculpt my nonexistent cheekbones, and from my jawline to underneath my chin. I also place it on my temples to melt away tension, too. So many uses!”
Material: 24K gold, aluminum, copper | Set includes: vibrating bar massager, storage bag | Who it’s for: all skin types
Best for Puffy Eyes: Dr. Idriss The Depuffer Roll-On Serum
Why it's worth it: Unlike your average serum, Dr. Idriss The Depuffer Roll-On Serum has a built-in roller, which has the added bonus of cooling skin as you apply the formula. The serum itself is infused with niacinamide and Centella asiatica—which quell inflammation and dial down redness—as well as arnica and ash bark extract, which work together to bring down swelling. It's easy to maneuver around the face, and even gets into the nooks and crannies around the eyes.
Tester feedback: “I wasn't familiar with arnica until I tried Dr. Idriss's The Depuffer—and fell in love with it. For those unfamiliar, arnica helps reduce swelling (among treating other conditions, like bruising and burns), which is a godsend for my perpetually puffy undereyes," Han says. “I typically kick off my mornings with this roll-on serum—as you squeeze the tube, the product oozes out onto the metal applicator and you can go to town. It's seamless, soothing, and obvious as to why it won a 2023 Best of Beauty Award for best soothing serum.”
Ingredients: niacinamide, arnica, Centella Asiatica | Set includes: N/A | Who it’s for: people with under-eye bags
Best LED Device: Medicube Age-R Booster Pro
Why it's worth it: Medicube Age-R Booster Pro is “a great all-in-one device for someone who wants to incorporate LED light, sonic vibration, and microcurrent into their routine,” Susca says. The four modes include “MC,” which uses microcurrent to plump up fine lines and wrinkles, and “Derma-Shot” mode, which uses electrical muscle stimulation to tighten and sculpt, “Booster” mode, designed to enhance product absorption, and “Air-Shot” mode, which cleanses the pores. Dr. Hogan signs off on the product’s efficacy, since it ”utilizes vibration to simulate acupressure, which increases circulation and decreases puffiness of the face,” she says. It’s also customizable.
Tester feedback: “Since there’s no need to use a special conductor gel with this tool, I used it on top of a simple hyaluronic acid serum and found it easy to activate with the push of a button,” says Berg, who tested it as part of her nighttime routine. “The tool has a built-in timer and audio cues to keep you posted as the minutes tick down, and the brand recommends using it for no longer than 10 minutes per session. (I started with five.) The tool really got my blood circulation going—as evidenced by my pink cheeks—and left me with a healthy-looking flush. It also made my skin smoother and overall tighter, especially on the forehead.”
Material: surgical steel head | Set includes: skincare device, user manual, USB charging cable | Who it’s for: all skin types
More depuffing tools we like:
Best Gua Sha: Yina Bian Stone Gua Sha
Why it's worth it: Designed by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, the Yina Bian Stone Gua Sha is handcrafted from Bian stone, which is said to contain dozens of minerals that improve skin health. Whether or not the stone has healing powers, this tool’s sculpting benefits are unrefuted by industry pros. “Its unique scalloped design is great for hugging the contours of the face,” says Susca. Palacios is also a fan. “This gua sha stone is the best,” she says. “It’s beautiful, perfectly sized, and smoothly carved to cover the curves of your face.” When using a gua sha tool, Palacios says to use a light facial oil to give the tool some glide. “Use gentle—very gentle—pressure to go through the motions,” she says. “Remember, your lymphatic system is located just under the skin, much shallower than the muscles and tendons, so light pressure and feather-like sweeping motions make a massive impact.”
Material: bian stone | Set includes: gua sha tool | Who it’s for: all skin types, can be used on the face and body
Best Ice Roller: Quiet Hours Facial Ice Roller
Why it's worth it: For a no-fuss, roll-it-out approach to a bloated face, the Quiet Hours Facial Ice Roller is tough to beat.“I love the sleek design of this ice roller—it is super ergonomic,” Susca says. “Plus, the stainless steel roller is perfect for maximum coldness.” Designed to soothe redness, firm the skin, and reduce puffiness all at once, the ice roller takes about 15 minutes to get frosty when stowed in a refrigerator or freezer. To use it, simply roll the device along the jawline, cheeks, and forehead, using upward motions. The roller comes with a protective silicone cover, too; make sure to cover the head when it’s not in use. Pro tip: The roller’s streamlined size makes it ideal for targeting puffy under-eyes.
Material: matte plastic handle, stainless steel roller, silicone protective cover | Set includes: ice roller | Who it’s for: all skin types
Best Multipurpose: Facify Beauty Wand
Why it's worth it: “This beauty wand is an esthetician’s dream,” Palacios says. That tracks—the tool was invented by sought-after Los Angeles esthetician Crystal Koro.“It combines cleansing, exfoliation, facial massage, and gentle lymphatic drainage into one perfectly sized and fairly priced device,” she says. The tool comes with different attachments, including silicone cleansing heads for the body and the face. “The Pulse Magnetic Therapy Attachment is what you’d use for lymphatic massage,” Susca explains. “Use a gentle gliding pressure from the center of the face outwards and then down towards the lymph nodes, paired with your favorite facial oil. It’s so easy, and it feels incredible.” Susca adds that the attachment’s five round spheres mimic the kneading of a professional facial massage.
Material: silicone and iron heads | Set includes: beauty wand, multiple attachments | Who it’s for: all skin types
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you drain bloating from your face?
Aside from deploying different temperatures, massage is key. “Manual light massage while cleansing is the simplest and most effective way to move built-up fluid out of the face and reduce the appearance of puffiness and bloat,” Susca says. “Creating a pathway for stagnant fluid to drain out of is the key.” Below, Susca outlines the best pattern to use while giving a lymphatic drainage massage:
- Neck: “Focus first on the neck, with a sweeping motion in a downward direction on either side below the ears and down to the collarbone,” she says. “Repeat this at least three times on either side.”
- Chin and Jaw: “Knead with knuckles underneath the chin and below the jawbone from the center of the chin, towards the ears, and back down the neck again,” Susca continues. “Repeat this three times, then move on to the cheekbone area.”
- Cheekbones: “Use circular motions to manipulate the skin from the sides of the nose, under the cheekbone, and straight out to the ears before moving back down the sides of the neck again.”
- Eyes: “Moving onto the eye area, use very light pressure and start at the outer lower corner and move inward toward the inner corner, up the brow bone, and out again in a counterclockwise pattern. Once fluid is moved into the lymph nodes for drainage, any tool can be used to enhance drainage and sculpting such as cryo sticks, microcurrent tools, or gua sha.”
Gentle massages during showers and morning and evening skincare routines can also reduce bloating and stimulate lymphatic movement, says Palacios. “It's the perfect time to work with the lymph nodes of the neck, chest, underarms, behind the ears, under the jawline and chin, and near the nose and upper lip,” she says. “Technique-wise, try a gentle tapping or pressing motion with the palms and fingertips to awaken the nodes, followed by a gentle massage from the inner face outwards, and then down towards the neck, chest, and underarms. That will do the trick!”
De-puffing tools aside, healthy lifestyle habits are never a bad idea. “Believe it or not, the most effective method for lymphatic drainage throughout the face and body is exercise because it stimulates movement and increases the heart rate, which helps lymph fluid flow through the lymphatic vessels,” Palacios says. “Finally, the most important tip for at-home lymphatic drainage massage is to drink water and stay hydrated! This is essential for reducing the build-up of toxins and filtering them from the body after any type of massage—either in-clinic or at home.”
Do lymphatic drainage tools work on the face?
Generally speaking, yes—but a lot of it comes down to how you use them. “Most tools do work, but the way they are used makes the difference," says Palacios. "For instance, cold tools work by stimulating vasodilation of the blood vessels and reducing heat inflammation in the superficial layers of the skin, whereas gua sha tools work as a medium for movement without pressure to push out the fluid beneath the surface of the skin.”
It can also do more than reduce swelling. “Consistent lymphatic drainage treatments can have significant benefits beyond just reducing swelling," says Dr. Lee. “It can also minimize inflammation, and irritation, helping to create a smoother, clearer skin texture.”
Meet the Experts
- Sara Hogan, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Cosmetica Dermatology in Washington, D.C.
- Nicole Lee, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Epoch Dermatology in Garden City, New York.
- Varuni Palacios, esthetician and founder of Studio Varuni in Los Angeles, California
- Samantha Susca, master esthetician at The Spa at Casa Cipriani in New York City, New York
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We are particularly discerning when writing about skin-care devices. This is because of the increased risks and, in many cases, the high price points, that accompany at-home dermatological tools and devices.
Each device undergoes extensive testing and must be approved by a senior member of our beauty team prior to appearing in Allure. Additionally, our editorial team consults board-certified dermatologists and cosmetic chemists about the science behind product claims and independently reviews any studies cited by brands. Testers consider performance across four primary categories: efficacy, safety (including ease of use), research and the science behind specific claims, as well as product value. To learn more information on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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