Lymphatic drainage for the face: puffy eyes and sinus pressure
A puffy face in the morning, bags under the eyes or pressure over the cheeks? Here is Rune’s face and sinus routine quoted in full, what gua sha and rollers can and cannot do, and when to see a doctor.
Expert reviewer: Rune Åbø, personal trainer and therapist · Last updated October 1, 2026 · How we compare
Owned by PainFreeU Technology AS (Norway). We have no commission deals with the stores linked here yet. Our own products, if any, are labelled “Our product”. About us
Start in 60 seconds
Start at the neck, not the faceLymph from the face drains down the neck. Do the general routine first.
Then the face routineFollow Rune’s sinus routine in the video below.
Cold helps puffy morningsA roller or gua sha from the fridge, light strokes outwards and down.
Know when to stopFever, pain in one eye or swelling that spreads – see a doctor.
Short answerStart at the neck: pinch the SCM muscle on the side of the neck, then use pressure on the cheekbones and eyebrows, and the eye-socket technique for puffy eyes. A cold roller can take the edge off morning puffiness. Gua sha is a pleasant habit, but the evidence is thin. A fever, severe face pain or swelling around one eye needs a doctor.
Quick picks for the face
Owned by PainFreeU Technology AS (Norway). We have no commission deals with the stores linked here yet. Sorted by need, not a test ranking – Rune has not assessed these products yet.
Puffy morningsKitsch Mini Spa Rollers (2-pack)From $16 · ★ 4.8 (1,268 ratings, Target) · checked Oct 1, 2026Rune’s verdict: coming
Lying flat at night lets fluid settle in the face; salty food, alcohol, allergies, crying and poor sleep add to it. It usually settles within an hour or two of being upright and moving.
Lymph from the face drains down through nodes along the jaw and neck to the collarbone. That is why Rune’s face routine includes the neck – the exit has to be open.
Rune’s face and sinus routine, with video
This is Protocol 2 from PainFreeU, quoted word for word. In the app, people get the two tips that best match what they describe, plus one video – you do not need all of them.
Quoted word for word from PainFreeU · method by Rune Åbø
=== PROTOCOL 2: SINUS ===
Tip 1 (standard): Quick sinus drainage — pressure technique on cheekbones and eyebrows
Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/ROU7-pWYeiU
Tip 2 (standard): Lymph node drainage at cheekbones and eyebrows
Video: https://youtu.be/3b281Jn6DGw
IF the user wants extended guidance: LIVE sinus tutorial (longer video)
Video: https://youtube.com/live/T5w7xXWFuw4
IF puffy eyelids or pressure AROUND THE EYES: Eye bag drainage — drain lymph around the eye socket
Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/gv6TuVrGICE
Alt A: Jaw — open up fluid flow
Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/8o7LknlTSJI
Alt B: Pinch the sternocleidomastoid (SCM)
Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/s_yFT1QplAg
Maintenance: "Do Tip 1-2 daily for a few days, or use the 2-minute routine when symptoms return."
Stop if you feel tingling, dizziness or sharp pain, and keep pressure off the eyeball itself.
Our own app · Ad: Rune’s routines, with the videos in the right order for what you feel, are also in PFU Pocket from PainFreeU. This is our own product.
For puffy eyes in the morning
Get upright and moveFluid that settled overnight starts draining once you are up.
Do the eye-socket techniqueFrom the video above – around the bony rim, not on the eye.
Add cold if you likeA cold roller or a cool spoon for a minute can reduce puffiness for a while.
Look at the evening beforeSalt, alcohol, late screens and short sleep often show up on your face the next morning.
Swelling around one eye with redness, pain or fever is not a puffiness problem – see a doctor the same day.
A 3-minute morning routine for the face
If mornings are your puffy time, this order works with the routine above:
30 seconds: neck firstPinch the SCM on both sides of the neck. The face drains down through the neck, so open the exit first.
1 minute: cheekbones and eyebrowsPressure under the cheekbones and along the eyebrows, as in the second video.
1 minute: eye socketsThe eye-bag technique around the bony rim. Never press on the eyeball.
30 seconds: cold, if you likeA cold roller from the centre of the face out towards the ears.
Do it after you have been upright for a few minutes, and drink a glass of water. Most people notice the difference within the hour; how much varies from person to person.
Gua sha and rollers compared
Sorted by need, not a ranking.
How we compare the products here
What the tool is made for, according to the maker
Price in US and UK stores, with the date we checked
Customer ratings as each store shows them – few ratings count for little
Whether it supports what actually moves lymph: muscle work, movement and pressure you control
Who it suits – and who should talk to a doctor first
The order is not a test ranking. When Rune has tried them, we will add his verdict. How we compare
Comparison table
Product
Best for
From
Ratings
Rune’s verdict
Kitsch Stainless Steel Gua Sha
anyone who wants a gua sha that will not chip or break and can be used cold
Ratings are shown as published by each store, with the store and count. We never combine other people’s ratings into a score of our own. Owned by PainFreeU Technology AS (Norway). We have no commission deals with the stores linked here yet.
The products one by one
Kitsch Stainless Steel Gua Sha
Best for anyone who wants a gua sha that will not chip or break and can be used cold
★ 4.8 of 5 from 39 ratings at Target · checked Oct 1, 2026
Type: Gua sha stone
Material: Stainless steel
Pros
Steel holds cold well from the fridge
Will not crack if dropped
Cons
Takes some practice to learn the strokes
Heavier feel than stone
Buyers praise: sturdy, a buy-once tool; feels calming when used cold. Buyers complain about: one buyer doubted it is really stainless; the technique takes practice. (Summarized in our own words.)
Rune’s verdict: coming
From $27 · Stores (prices checked Oct 1, 2026): Target $27
Best for puffy mornings – a cold roll along the drainage lines in under two minutes
★ 4.8 of 5 from 1,268 ratings at Target · checked Oct 1, 2026
Type: Face and neck ice rollers
Material: Stainless steel
Pros
Lowest-cost way to start
Over a thousand store ratings
Cons
Rollers are very small
Mainly a cooling effect
Buyers praise: cooling, eases morning puffiness; a cheap at-home spa moment. Buyers complain about: the rollers are very small; some felt little beyond the cold. (Summarized in our own words.)
Rune’s verdict: coming
From $16 · Stores (prices checked Oct 1, 2026): Target $16
Cold narrows small blood vessels and can reduce puffiness for a short time. Pleasant and cheap.
Weak evidenceGua sha
Studies are small and mostly about muscle pain. Enjoyable as a ritual; claims of “sculpting” the face are not backed by good evidence.
Weak evidenceRune’s pressure routine
Based on his clinical experience with 26,000+ people. A theory from practice, not a trial.
Stone does not matter much. Jade, rose quartz and stainless steel all work as a smooth, cool surface; steel stays cold longest in the fridge and does not break if you drop it. Choose a shape with a curved edge for the jaw and a notch for the cheekbones.
If you use gua sha, use a face oil, light pressure on the skin, and strokes towards the ears and down the neck. Skip it on active acne, broken skin, sunburn or if you bruise easily.
How we compare
Rune has not tried these products yet – no results are published.
We compare products on facts we can check: what the maker says the tool is for, the price in US and UK stores on a given date, and customer ratings as each store shows them. Nothing on this site is a lab test or a hands-on review.
Rune will buy each product himself and note price, weight and size.
Each one will be used for 14 days, five times a week, for 5–10 minutes, following his fixed routine for the back, shoulder blade, hip, calf and foot (or face, for facial tools).
After each session he will note how easy it was to reach the area, how even the pressure was, any discomfort, and how long it took.
He will judge material, grip, cleaning and how the product holds up to daily use.
Then he writes a short verdict per product with pros, cons and who it suits. Until then every product says “Rune’s verdict: coming”.
Most morning puffiness is harmless. These signs need a doctor:
Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing – call 911 (US) or 999 (UK)
Swelling, redness and pain around one eye, especially with fever
Sinus symptoms with high fever, severe headache, a stiff neck or changes in your vision
Sinus symptoms lasting more than 10 days, or that keep coming back
Puffiness in the face together with swollen ankles or foamy urine
If you are unsure, contact your doctor, urgent care, or NHS 111 in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
How do you drain lymph from your face?
Open the neck first by pinching the SCM muscle, then use pressure on the cheekbones and eyebrows, and the eye-socket technique for puffy eyes. Rune’s videos show each step.
Does facial lymphatic drainage help sinus pressure?
Many people feel relief from the cheekbone and eyebrow techniques. It does not treat a bacterial sinus infection; if you have a high fever or severe pain, see a doctor.
Does gua sha drain lymph?
Studies are small and mostly about muscle pain. It can feel good, but there is little good evidence that it changes lymph flow.
How long does facial drainage take to work?
Most people notice less puffiness within the hour. Remember the routine works with what fluid there is that day – it will not change your face shape.
Is jade better than stainless steel for gua sha?
No good evidence says so. Steel stays cold longer and is harder to break; stone is a matter of taste.
Do ice rollers reduce puffiness?
Cold can reduce puffiness for a short time. It is a quick fix, not a lasting change.
How often can I do facial drainage?
The routine suggests doing Tips 1–2 daily for a few days, or using the 2-minute routine when symptoms come back.
When is a puffy face a warning sign?
Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing – call 911 or 999. Swelling around one eye with redness or fever – see a doctor the same day.
