If you struggle with a puffy face and eyes, especially during hay fever season, when travelling or after late nights, this new facial gadget is a must, says our beauty editor
Puffy eyes are definitely one of my beauty bugbears, and they are, I think, especially bad when I’m tried, have been on a long flight, or have hay fever flare-up. I’ve tried plenty of thing to try to help, from the best eye creams to trending injectables, but I think I’ve hit upon a smart new facial tool that really helps.
Therabody, maker of the popular muscle pummelling guns, has just launched the TheraFace Depuffing Wand, designed to decrease puffiness, sculpt the face and boost circulation. Available in two colours and priced at £125, this nifty tool delivers cold and hot temperatures to the face in minutes, giving instant results. Here’s what happened when I tried it out after a day of travelling back from holiday, when I was looking and feeling especially tired…
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First up, it’s nicely hand-sized and compact, and really easy to use: simply hold the cold button to start the cold temperatures then toggle through three intensities, and do the same with the hot button for warm temperatures. When cold, the device makes a slight whirring sound, but it’s minimal.
Then all you need to do is sweep the nozzle over the skin where it’s needed – in my case, under and around my eyes. The specially shaped tip fits neatly into all of your face’s nooks and crannies, and it feels instantly refreshing. The programs last for three minutes before flashing to indicate that you need to switch sides, then automatically turn off after six minutes, after which, I could definitely see an improvement in my eye area: it looked brighter, fresher and less tired.
Although similar results can be achieved with ice globes or a gua sha, the beauty of the TheraFace Depuffing Wand is that it never gets warm – something that I personally find annoying when I’ve used ice globes in the past – and giving optimum results for the whole treatment time.
One of advice I would give it to apply an eye cream or serum first, to avoid any dragging of the skin (I use it on top of the conductive gel after using my microcurrent face tool).
I also tried out the heat setting, focusing in particular on areas of blemishes to soothe them and attempt to draw out any gunk. While this did feel very nice, I don’t feel like there was any major benefits, and I probably wouldn’t use these warm settings very often.
TheraFace Depuffing Wand
A smart new facial tool delivering heat and cold therapy, designed to depuff, soothe and sculpt the face.
Decreases puffiness; stays cold throughout; quick and easy to use; fits neatly around the face; great for symptoms of hay fever
Expensive; I don’t feel like the warm settings do much
Is this cooling tool an essential item? No, but if you struggle with puffy eyes, hay fever symptoms, hot flashes or even migraines, this might just be a godsend this summer.
Alternatively you can buy face rollers make of actual ice for around £5 on Amazon (watch out for drips though!), and if it’s serious face sculpting at home you’re after, however, you need the ZIIP Halo. Although expensive at £379, I’ve found that it really makes an instant difference to how lifted and toned my face looks.