Counting A-listers including Selena Gomez, Jennifer Aniston and Hailey Bieber as fans, lymphatic drainage is the buzzy wellness trend that everyone is talking about right now.
For decades, this hands-on massage technique has been used to treat conditions like lymphedema and post-surgical swelling, but in recent years, beauty lovers have flocked to the method, calling it a secret weapon for de-puffing, relaxing, and de-stressing.
Thankfully, you don't need to spend thousands at a private medical spa to reap the benefits. With a host of new tools and gadgets arriving on the beauty market this year, it’s never been easier to tap into the trend at home.
What exactly is lymphatic drainage?
As the name suggests, lymphatic drainage involves ‘draining’ a build-up of excess fluid from your body’s lymph nodes, using a gentle, rhythmic massage technique. The idea is that kneading the bean-shaped nodes helps to flush out excess liquids and toxins from the face and body, combating swelling and water retention in the process.
“There are hundreds of lymph nodes running throughout the body’s lymphatic system, primarily located in the neck, armpits, and groin,” says Cosmetic Doctor Dr Paris Acharya who is the founder of The Ardour Clinic. “As a clear liquid called lymph passes through each node, it filters out toxins and adds immune cells called lymphocytes, which help to fight against bacteria and viruses.”
According to experts, lymph can sometimes flow inefficiently while it’s travelling from node to node, which is exactly where the massage technique can be beneficial, helping to get things moving again. It’s slightly different from your regular Swedish back rub, though: “These techniques are very targeted, providing ongoing stimulation to the lymph vessels under the skin, encouraging them to work harder and find new pathways to drain away the lymph from the swollen area,” says Acharya.
The result, she says, is a reduction of puffiness and swelling that can manifest as a more sculpted jawline, less obvious eye bags, lighter-feeling limbs, and an overall reduction of cellulite, depending on the area of the body you choose to hone in on.
What types of tools are available?
Ranging from handbag-friendly, palm-sized gua shas to full-body compression boots, lymphatic massage tools come in all shapes and sizes.
If you’re looking to reduce fine lines or de-puff the tell-tale signs of a hangover, there are cooling rollers, Ayurvedic stones, and geranium jade wands that can help to soothe swelling around your cheekbones, eyes and jawline. Microcurrent devices have emerged as a popular trend in recent months too; hand-held tools that use mild electrical currents to mimic the body's natural bioelectricity, which can give skin a lifted, firmer appearance.
As with most beauty trends, prices can vary widely, from budget-friendly options around £20 to advanced wellness tech costing several hundred pounds.
How we tested
We tested this list of tools over a period of four weeks, rating them on ease of use, value for money, comfort and convenience, and, of course, the overall aesthetic results. We evaluated how intuitive and user-friendly each tool was, considering factors such as setup, handling, and the clarity of the instructions provided.
Whether you’re on the quest for a snatched jawline or you need to de-puff after a long-haul flight, we’ve got you covered in our pick of the best lymphatic drainage tools.
Best lymphatic drainage tools at a glance:
- Best overall: Ziip Halo Microcurrent Device - £379, Currentbody
- Best for full-body massage: Helining 3-in-1 wood massage tool set - £24.99, Amazon
- Best for taking on holiday: Ranavat Ayurvedic massage tool - £70, Cult Beauty
- Best for beginners: Skin Gym sculptural body gua sha - £52, Skin Gym
- Best on a budget: Mio Body Brush - £15, Cult Beauty
- Best for athletic recovery: Normatec 3 Legs - £899, Hyperice
- Best for ease of use: MZ Skin Tone & Lift geranium facial roller - £70, Lookfantastic
- Best deskside massage: Sarah Chapman Skineiss The Facialift roller - £22.50, Lookfantastic
Ziip Halo Microcurrent Device
Best: overall
Microcurrent facial devices are all the rage on TikTok right now, and the ZIIP Halo is the frontrunner for good reason. Founded by Jennifer Aniston's go-to facialist, this bean-shaped tool features two metal probes that conduct electrical microcurrents and nanocurrents across the skin, which are said to flush out trapped lymph fluid and stimulate collagen production for a firmer appearance.
The gadget itself comes with a sleek accompanying app preloaded with a menu of treatments to target different skin concerns; simply make your choice, follow the on-screen demo, and let it work its magic. After four weeks of use, this device delivered the most effective results on our skin, providing a subtle lift and glow. It’s worth noting that the device can only be used with Ziip’s hydrating conductive gel, which costs an extra £35 for 80ml.
While it's by no means the cheapest option on this list, it’s a worthwhile investment if you’re a skincare enthusiast looking to take your routine to the next level.
Buy now £379.00, CurrentBody
Helining 3-in-1 wood massage tool set
Best for: full-body massage
If you’re hesitant to add yet more tech into your life, this set of hardwood massage tools is a lo-fi solution that won’t break the bank. Bundling together a wooden massage cup, a huge gua sha massager, and a 9-wheel roller, this trio of traditional wood therapy tools is surprisingly effective at relieving pressure when swiped across the arms, thighs, and legs with a generous splash of body oil.
While all of these tools felt rejuvenating, the ridged edges of the circular roller felt particularly blissful after a long day, especially when applied to the thighs and hamstrings with firm pressure. Elsewhere, contoured handles make for easy gripping, while the wood’s smooth surface means there’s no scratching during use. Lightweight and compact, they’re easy enough to clean with soapy water and can be neatly stored away in a cupboard afterwards.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
Ranavat Ayurvedic massage tool
Best for: taking on holiday
Inspired by the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, Ranavat’s handheld facial tool is handmade in Rajasthan by a family of artisans who have been working with sacred metals for over 900 years. This massager stands out for its compact size, making it easy to throw into a suitcase if you fancy a spot of self-care while on holiday.
Weighty and luxurious, this tool is perfect for deeper strokes, and features a signature head made from kansa; a type of copper-infused metal that is thought to be more healing than gold or silver. Working fluid motions over the energy points on the forehead, as well as the jaw and cheekbones, this beautiful massager joyfully glides over the skin with minimal effort. The finished effect is a brighter, more awake complexion.
Buy now £70.00, Cult Beauty
Skin Gym sculptural body gua sha
Best for: beginners
With two unique edges, this multi-use gua sha is sure to be the hardest-working beauty tool in your makeup bag. Targeting a menu of different skin concerns, the long and medium edges on this stainless steel gua sha can be used to sculpt and snatch fluid from the legs and arms, while the handy ridged edge is great for getting deeper into the glutes and backs of the thighs.
After a few weeks, we really noticed a difference from implementing a five-minute treatment daily. Gua sha can be slightly tricky to get to grips with at first, so if you’re new to the game, this is a great affordable starter tool for learning the technique. It also comes with a handy pouch for storing away afterwards.
Buy now £52.00, Skin Gym
Mio Body Brush
Best for: on a budget
Dating back thousands of years, body brushing is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that might not sound as glamorous as some of the more high-tech treatments on this list, but it’s stood the test of time for a reason. Not only does massaging dry skin with a bristle brush exfoliate dead skin cells, remove product build-up and reveal smoother skin, but it can also stimulate the lymphatic system to help drain fluid.
This cheap and cheerful option from Mio ticks all the boxes, with a secure hand strap that allows for big, circular brushing motions. Pleasingly, it’s made from ethically sourced FSC-certified wood and undyed natural cotton and it’s vegan-friendly too. FYI: body brushing should never be carried out on the face, where the skin is more sensitive and can irritate easily.
Buy now £15.00, Cult Beauty
Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs
Best for: athletic recovery
If you’re a regular Instagram user, you’ve probably already seen celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid wearing Hyperice’s viral compression boots, as well as athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The wearable tech works by using inflatable sleeves that intermittently inflate and deflate, applying and releasing extra pressure to the limbs to help stimulate fluid flow.
The brand’s signature Normatec 3 Legs are surprisingly easy to slip on and inflate, using a nicely designed partner app to pick from a menu of energising treatments designed to eliminate waste products from the lymphatic channels. With seven compression levels and five different target zones to work on, the sleeves gently pulsate as they deliver a relaxing massage technique up and down the legs.
We found that they were incredibly effective at reducing the feeling of painful post-exercise DOMS, and we felt lighter on our feet after just a 20-minute treatment. Once you’re done, they can be packed down into a backpack-sized box that can easily be slipped under a bed or on top of a wardrobe.
Buy now £899.00, Hyperice
MZ Skin Tone & Lift geranium facial roller
Best for: ease of use
Traditional gua sha tools take some practice, and if you don’t have the patience to learn the technique, this rolling wand is a good alternative. Ideal for perking up your skin first thing in the morning, this feels instantly reviving on those days when you need to look and feel more awake.
Just 60 seconds of rolling the manually rotating wand head in an upward motion was enough to depuff and stimulate blood flow. MZ Skin says that they craft this tool with germanium as it is a carbon metalloid that can balance the skin’s overexposure to positive ions. Pro tip: store this one in the fridge to amp up the cooling benefits.
Buy now £70.00, lookfantastic
Sarah Chapman Skineiss The Facialift roller
Best for: a deskside facial
The great thing about this handheld device is that there’s no complicated technique to get to grips with; just push it from the chin to the ears for a more defined jawline. Putting the facialist in your pocket, the unusual-looking tool is designed to mimic the fast tapping, pinching and knuckling massage techniques you’ll generally experience in a signature Sarah Chapman Skinesis treatment.
With eight wheels and 48 nodules to roll over the skin, it therapeutically works to melt away tension in the jaw and drain fluid from the centre of the face. Thanks to its long handle, we found it was slightly less messy than oiling your face and going in with a traditional gua sha, making it a great deskside companion for those days when you need a quick pre-Zoom skin pick-me-up.
Buy now £22.50, lookfantastic
