I Tried The Gold Sculpting Wand Hailey Bieber Loves — & Now I’m Obsessed

As someone prone to facial puffiness, I find it my duty to review devices that claim to de-puff and ease inflammation — especially those as popular, and pricey, as the Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar, which goes for a cool $195. In this case, however, I tested this fancy product by mere coincidence, courtesy of a former sufferer of the puffy face plague: my skin care-obsessed grandma. (“My face was puffy until I was 60,” she insists.)

I had just flown home to Los Angeles with no intention of testing products, but my face had other plans: I looked and felt puffier than ever, thanks to swelling from the flight; plus, I had forgotten to pack my jade roller, my go-to device for easing facial inflammation up until that point. My grandma didn’t have a jade roller I could use, but she did have the Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Wand and suggested that I keep it — unknowingly cementing my obsession with sculpting wands now and forevermore.

Initially, I was starstruck: I’d only seen the 24-karat gold device in celebrity shelfies and beauty routines, like those of Hailey Bieber and Jennifer Aniston. And now, I had a chance to see if it was worth the hype...and hopefully cure my puffy face while I was at it. Read on for my honest thoughts.

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Fast Facts

• Price: $195
• Best for: Sculpting and de-puffing
• Your rating: 5/5
• Brand: Jillian Dempsey
• What we like: Instant de-puffing effect; luxurious feel
• What we don't like: Pricey

What Is Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar?

If you separate the Jillian Dempsey bar from the fact that it’s made from 24-karat gold and adored by A-listers, it’s really just another tool inspired by the centuries-old Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) gua sha tool. But that’s not to say it doesn’t work; in fact, quite the contrary. According to dermatologists, most forms of facial massage really do help the skin, regardless of which tool you use. “Facial massage can reduce [facial] swelling by aiding the processing of lymphatic drainage, and helping to relax tense facial muscles,” Dr. Brendan Camp, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, tells Bustle, clarifying that as a result, this improves the appearance of the neck and face skin.

How Does The Wand Work?

The Jilliian Dempsey wand also vibrates, which is especially advantageous when it comes to massaging the face. “Vibrating sculpting tools may provide a more robust facial massage than devices that don’t,” Camp says, also pointing to its ability to promote lymphatic drainage. Basically, the vibration boosts circulation and the effects of the massage even more. And it produces results quickly: My face was noticeably more sculpted-looking within a few minutes.

Do I think it works this well because it’s made of gold? No: I think the T-bone shape, easy-to-hold handle, and massage-boosting vibration are what makes the wand my facial massage soulmate (and, yes, the fact that it was free). The comfortable handle is, in fact, my favorite feature, because it allows me to navigate and glide the tool across my face sans hand soreness — which is unfortunately common with other massagers — so I can successfully tend to every single section in need of TLC.

My Skin

I’ve spent years cycling through jade rollers, ice rollers, gua sha, and countless other facial tools, and know that they work: I remain a firm believer in the power of facial massage and a devout fan of any and all devices that simplify the process. But today, I can confidently say that after six weeks of consistent use, the Jillian Dempsey gold bar is, hands-down, the most beneficial for easing facial inflammation in particular. The wand has made a huge difference in my face and skin, and earning itself VIP status in my morning, and occasional afternoon, routines.

It all started that especially puffy day in LA, when my face transformed back into its natural, un-puffy state after massaging for 20 minutes. Since then, I’ve used the wand every morning — unless I’m running low on time — massaging my face for five to 15 minutes after applying serum. This not only helps alleviate any inflammation that forms overnight, but pushes my skin care products further into my skin, magnifying their effects.

Is The Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar Worth The Price?

I just so happened to get my hands on the Jillian Dempsey tool, but most similarly-shaped devices, like the significantly less pricey SkinGym T-Bar Roller and/or Amazon options, will probably produce comparable results.

Final Verdict

Jillian Dempsey’s Gold Sculpting Bar is the first facial massaging tool that’s successfully combatted my facial inflammation, rapidly de-puffing my face without irritating my sensitive skin. It’s easy to use, comfortable to hold, and small and light enough to pack in your bag for facial massage on-the-go. I simply can’t imagine my morning skin care routine without this sculpting bar anymore, because it not only helps to de-puff my face, but has become a daily self-care ritual. I feel like I’m giving myself a fancy facial for the 10 minutes a day I used this product — and that’s something everyone deserves. Thanks, Grandma!

Studies referenced:

Nielsen, A., Knoblauch, N. T., Dobos, G. J., Michalsen, A., & Kaptchuk, T. J. (2007). The effect of Gua Sha treatment on the microcirculation of surface tissue: a pilot study in healthy subjects. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 3(5), 456–466.

Yang, M., Zhang, H., Yue, R., Shi, Q., & Bian, Y. (2018). Gua Sha attenuates thermal hyperalgesia and decreases proinflammatory cytokine expression in serum in rats with lumbar disc herniation induced by autologous nucleus pulposus. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan, 38(5), 698–704.

Yuan, Q. L., Guo, T. M., Liu, L., Sun, F., & Zhang, Y. G. (2015). Traditional Chinese medicine for neck pain and low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one, 10(2), e0117146.

Experts:

Dr. Brendan Camp, M.D., board-certified dermatologist