He warns, however, that the reduced puffiness we see after cold therapy is likely to be temporary and cosmetic, rather than truly anti-inflammatory. “Ice rollers can be a useful tool to reduce puffiness, especially in the morning, but they are not a long-term solution as once the skin rewarms, the swelling often returns,” he says.

My experience using the Theraface depuffing wand

Aware of the scientific limitations of the device, but buoyed by the results I’d seen in my lymphatic drainage treatment, I was excited to get started with my own trial. I had a headstart in learning how to use the wand, thanks to the expert tutorial I’d received from lymphatic drainage therapist, Olivia Johnson, when she used it in my treatment.

But even if I hadn’t had that insight, a scan of the QR code on the box led me to a short tutorial that taught me almost everything I’d need to know. For a devotee of the 3-step simple skincare routine, it’s perfect. There are no additional attachments or complex setup processes involved.

“I could literally swelling melting away on my first use.”

TheraFace Depuffing Wand

In short, you use the cold setting whenever you feel puffy (which for me is usually in the mornings), and the warm setting following your serums or moisturiser to aid product absorption and support lymphatic drainage. You can play around with the routine that works for you, and can stack the hot and cold treatments back to back if you have a little more time to spare.

Most mornings, I used both the hot and cold settings to see the full effects of the product’s capabilities.

Before each use, I cleansed my skin with a gel cleanser, before applying a light serum and moisturiser. I then began with the heat setting, turning it to the warmest of the three settings. The temperatures range between 35 and 42 degrees, so my choice was based on personal preference.

Working from the middle of the face outwards, I followed the natural indentations of my skin to move the device outwards and upwards as Johnson had shown me. This direction of movement is designed to counteract the effects of gravity on the skin and moves fluid in the direction of the lymph nodes to stimulate lymphatic drainage.

It’s here that the design of the Theraface Depuffing Wand really comes into its own. The angled metal head is designed to fit into the natural crevices of your face, such as the corner of your eye and underneath your cheekbones and jawline.

It makes the whole process feel soothing and natural, provided your skin has enough moisture to work with. It’s why, for me, it didn’t work to use the product between my face serum and my moisturiser, as my skin was too dry and the device didn’t glide easily across my skin.

After three minutes, the device flashes orange to indicate that you should switch to the other side of your face. You can’t actually see the light unless you’re sitting in front of a mirror, which would present a challenge if you’re trying to use it on the move or at your desk. But for me, it became a really mindful part of my skincare routine, and I enjoyed watching the ritual unfold in front of me, as it helped me feel fully present and calm ahead of the day.

After six minutes of heat therapy, the device turns itself off. After allowing the fan to cool, I then turned it back onto the cold setting, repeating the movements, this time to depuff the skin. As Johnson suggested, I paused between strokes to dab on particularly puffy places on my skin.