Does the most highly rated ice roller on Amazon really work?

If you’ve spent much time on the beauty and self-care side of social media, you’ve probably seen people running a chunky plastic roller over their faces. Most likely, the person is going on and on about the seemingly endless list of benefits of rolling your face with ice. 

From depuffing and tightening to anti-aging and acne clearing, millennials and Gen-Zers have attributed nearly every skin goal to their trusty ice roller. So to see if it lives up to all of the hype, I tested out one of the most highly rated ice rollers on Amazon: The Easrora Ice Roller. 

The roller comes in two styles: with a single plastic roller head or with an additional stainless steel head, which can be swapped out. Since I wasn’t convinced that the product would live up to expectations, I played it safe with the single roller. 

As soon as the roller arrived, I stuck it in the freezer, where it can be stored at all times (I love this because I don’t have to try to find space in the bathroom). Instead, the turquoise plastic roller finds a cozy home next to my frozen blueberries. As per the brand’s recommendations, I keep it in a zip-top bag for cleanliness. 

Many reviews recommend using the roller first thing in the morning (something about a healthy morning routine I guess), and as someone who often wakes up with puffy eyes, I was open to any solution to make me look more awake. 

My first time using the roller, it was a bit too big to use on my face. It’s bulky and a little awkward to get into the finer areas of your face, such as around your nose and right under the eye. It does roll smoothly over your cheeks, forehead, and neck, which all feel great in the morning. And it definitely feels good. The roller head is cooling, but not too cold, almost the exact temperature my skin wants after waking up. 

I did actually notice a slight reduction in puffiness, and the cooling effect first thing in the morning woke me up and helped me feel refreshed and energized. I rolled for about five minutes before the head started feeling less icy and closer to the temperature of my skin, so I had to pop it back into the freezer. It takes about a half-hour to refreeze (the manufacturer says it takes 10 to 15 minutes, but it doesn’t feel fully cold yet to me).

Though I bought the roller for my face, I learned that many people use it on sore muscles elsewhere. As a long-distance runner, I’m always looking for a way to quell aches and pains, so I gave it a try. Unfortunately, the roller isn’t quite cold or big enough to make a huge difference on large muscle groups, but it does feel good on the ankles and calves. 

In terms of other skin benefits, such as smoothing skin and fighting wrinkles, I have yet to see major strides. But I am a firm convert to the morning ice rolling routine as a way to perk up, de-puff, and take a minute for myself. 

And though I don’t suffer from headaches, many reviewers seem to have success using the roller for headache relief. I also see why people love the stainless steel head, which gets even colder and stays colder for longer than the plastic head. 

Bottom line, if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to up your self care routine, keeping an ice roller in the freezer is a great way to go.

Lizzy Briskin is a freelance food writer and product reviewer. She runs the content creation business Earthen Food Co (https://earthenfood.co/), where she develops and photographs recipes, shares food stories and her (usually strong) opinions about all things related to cooking and eating. She's also a trained chef and marathon runner who lives in Boston. Contact her at lizzy@earthenfood.co and follow on Instagram @lizzybriskin.