Creams and gels don't really solve puffiness. Try a Simple Cold Massage Instead | Sali Hugues

The degree of my facial swelling seems proportional to my age. The older I get, the greater my natural morning bloat. I've tried stacks of gels, masks and lotions, all designed to deflate – and indeed, my intention this week was to recommend a few here. But I honestly can't because even though some can help sometimes, I still think you get better and more satisfying results with a massage tool, which has the added bonus of never running out.< /p>

You've seen it, I'm sure. “Cryoglobes” are all the rage. These are gel-filled glass orbs that you keep in pairs in the freezer, ready for some basic self-facial massage. The idea is that the combination of light pressure (supposed to help fluid drainage) and low temperature will reduce puffiness common in the morning - or the next day - of the eyes and cheeks.

I've seen cryoglobes for £35, £300 and all the rest, and I can't identify much difference in quality or effect - they're all good. Where I see a difference is between these and the metallic 'cryosticks', designed to do the same thing in the same way, but looking more like a pair of stubby golf drivers (again, you can spend a fortune, but mine were £20 -odd on Amazon).

My cryosticks are constantly alongside peas and potato waffles and I find myself more in addition to looking for them. One in each hand, I press the cool, rounded edges outward from the center of my face, behind the ears, down to my neck, then inward from the outer corners of my eyes, toward the ducts tears. Their deflating effect is really noticeable.

The temperature is shocking at first, but I find that I acclimatize quickly and start to feel refreshed. The effects are all temporary so it's best done daily, but it quickly becomes a pleasure rather than a chore, and for those who aren't usually at their best in the morning (I sympathize, being 90 myself %owl), the effects can be therapeutic as well as cosmetic, to the point where cryosticks become harmless and addictive. ="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement" class="dcr-11ra563"/>

All that said, I wouldn't pass a bean without first seeing if your pockets respond to a simple massage with something cold. Ada Ooi, a brilliant facialist and expert in gua sha massage (a traditional Chinese therapy that involves stroking and pressing the skin with a smooth-edged tool or object), suggests using the lid cleaned from a jar of jam.

You can also throw a few tablespoons in the fridge and try them. Both are always, for me, a better bet than anything sold in a tube.

Model: Grace Acladna at Body London. Assistant photographer: Bruce Horak. Hair and makeup: Sarah Cherry