Drena
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How to Do Lymphatic Drainage on Your Face at Home (With an iPhone App)
Step by step
- Start with clean hands or a gua sha stone and a little oilFacial routines in Drena run by hand or with a gua sha stone. The route is the same; the grip, the pressure and the safety notes differ.
- Clear the neck firstOpen the Face morning routine in Drena. It begins by clearing the neck, so fluid from the face has somewhere to go.
- Stroke the jaw to the ear, both sidesFollow the drawn path from the chin along the jaw to the ear. Use feather-light pressure and slow strokes.
- Stroke the cheeks to the ears, both sidesMove from the cheeks toward the ears, again following the arrow on screen.
- Finish by clearing the neck againSweep from behind the ear down the side of the neck to the collarbone. Lymph moves toward nodes, never away from them, so the final direction is down.
Free to download on the App Store, with a free trial of Drena Pro.
Drena vs other apps
Competitor details are taken from their public App Store listings (US storefront, October 2026) and change often; check the listing before you decide. Drena does not use your camera or any AI face scan.
| App | Price | Good at | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drena | Free to download; free trial of Drena Pro, prices shown in the app | Daily Morning Score across four zones, personal trigger map, 3 day-by-day programs (7-day de-puff, 14-day gua sha, 21-day face yoga), 26 drawn routines with the stroke direction shown | Check-ins and programs need Drena Pro; no AI photo analysis; iPhone only |
| FaceYogi | Free to download; the listing states $9.99 per week or $49.99 per quarter (US App Store, Oct 2026) | Large user base (about 16,000 ratings, 4.8 average in the US store, Oct 2026), a personalised 7-day face yoga program, about 8 minutes a day | Built around face yoga courses; its listing does not describe a daily puffiness score or a trigger analysis |
| Luvly | Free to download; the listing states $19.99 for 1 month with a 3-day trial and $29.99 for 3 months (US App Store, Oct 2026) | 100+ face yoga exercises and massages, 15-minute daily rituals, content reviewed by a face yoga specialist, about 20,000 ratings (4.6 average) | A broad face yoga and skincare library rather than a puffiness tracker; no per-morning measurement in its listing |
| Depuff AI | Free to download; subscription terms are in the App Store listing | Analyses daily face photos for bloating patterns and scans meal photos; about 15,000 ratings (4.8 average) | Relies on AI photo analysis, which Drena deliberately does not do: Drena asks you to rate your own mornings |
| Puffi | Free to download; subscription terms are in the App Store listing | A guided lymphatic drainage app focused on depuffing the face and jawline in a few minutes each morning | A guided routine app; its listing does not describe a trigger analysis of your own mornings |
Frequently asked questions
Does lymphatic drainage detox the body?
No. Lymph does not flush toxins; your liver and kidneys do that. Face drainage moves fluid that is already there, which is why the effect is short-lived and why Drena frames puffiness as fluid, not toxins.
How long does a face drainage routine take in Drena?
The Face morning routine is 3 minutes. The gua sha routines run 3 to 5 minutes.
Which direction should face drainage strokes go?
Toward the ear and then down the side of the neck to the collarbone. In Drena every stroke is drawn on the face as a path with an arrowhead because the direction is the part that matters.
Do I need a gua sha stone?
No. The facial routines run by hand or with a stone. The route is identical; pressure and grip differ.
How hard should I press?
Very lightly. The morning de-puff routine in Drena uses feather pressure on most strokes, and the under-eye stroke is described as barely touching.
How long does the effect last?
Hours, not weeks. Drainage moves fluid that is already there, so Drena treats puffiness as a daily thing and gives you a daily Morning Score instead of a number that climbs forever.
Is this medical advice?
No. Drena is a wellness app for everyday puffiness. It does not diagnose or treat anything, including lymphoedema. If swelling is sudden, one-sided or painful, see a doctor.
Related guides
- How to Get Rid of a Puffy Face in the Morning (and Find Out Why It Happens)
- Best Gua Sha Routine App for iPhone: A 14-Day Plan and How the Options Compare
- Best Face Yoga App for iPhone: 21-Day Plan and an Honest Comparison
- Bloating and Face Puffiness Tracker for iPhone: Find Your Personal Triggers
Free to download on the App Store, with a free trial of Drena Pro.