The Benefits of a Face Roller Massage

A comprehensive self-care routine should include taking care of the face as well. One way to give your facial muscles some well-deserved TLC is through the use of a proper tool: a

.

Face rollers are all the rave nowadays when it comes to beauty tools — with beauty bloggers, social media influencers, skincare experts and dermatologists affirming its benefits, who wouldn’t want to join in the bandwagon?

What Does a Face Roller Do?

For those who don’t know what is a jade roller, it’s a stone rolling device made of the semi-precious stone, jade. Used traditionally in skincare for decades, its origins can be traced back to China where jade was regarded for energy-healing properties.

Benefits of Face Roller

There are several myths and facts surrounding the benefits of a face roller massage.

Cools and soothes your skin

For those who store their facial roller

in the refrigerator or use a naturally cold stone like jade, you already know of this benefit — the skin feels cool on contact, especially when you’re using a face roller around your eyes. This can also calm the skin and tighten your pores.

Distributes skincare product

Because face rollers are typically used with an oil or moisturiser (this makes your crystal face roller glide smoothly across your skin), some dermatologists say that this can deliver the product deeper into your skin. However, other experts disagree that this should be counted as one of the

benefits of face rollers

— according to them, there is no research to support this claim.

Face Roller Benefits Science

In recent years, more and more research are published to support earlier claims of the benefits of race rollers, and so far here are the more promising findings:

Decreases puffiness

Facial rollers are known to decrease puffiness (like hard-to-handle under-eye bags) by stimulating

lymphatic drainage

. This is beneficial because our lymphatic system is responsible for balancing the fluid between the blood and tissues in our body. If the lymphatic system will not drain excess fluid, our tissues would swell, blood volume would be lost and pressure would increase.

When you apply pressure to your face with your face roller, this will push lymphatic fluid (the liquid that can make you look puffy in the morning) towards the lymph nodes, thus helping in lymphatic drainage.

Improves blood circulation in the face

While face rollers may be associated more with a beauty regimen, it supports a

healthy skin blood flow

as well. Clinical studies have found that performing short-term facial massages with a roller can stimulate blood flow, and as a consequence, the skin looks brighter and feels firmer.

Helps unclog stuffy sinuses

Another one of the face roller benefits is that it

helps clear sinuses

. The research may still be in its early stages, but scientists are looking into the lymphatic drainage system of the nose to better understand the factors that affect nasal congestion.

Improves mood

You may have already experienced the facial roller’s relaxing effects when using it after a long, tiring day. There is a science to back this up, as research suggests that a facial massage can

reduce anxiety

and negative moods.

The Popular Choices: Jade Roller vs Quartz Roller

If you find yourself torn between the jade roller vs quartz roller, consider the following factors before you make your decision:

Their similarities:

What they’re made of:

For thousands of years

jade rollers are made from the nephrite jade coming from the four key regions of China. Nowadays, there are other versions, which are softer and easier to carve (also known as false jade) and they come from India and the Afgan region. The jade is soft enough that jade rollers are traditionally hand-carved by expert artisans.

Rose quartz, on the other hand, is found in abundance in many deposits throughout the world. It is harder and more brittle than jade and so is harder to carve. This makes it more prone to shattering during the carving process. However, some would also say that this could make it less prone to wear and tear (unlike jade rollers) and that a rose quartz roller may last longer.

Their costs:

They say that because rose quartz is harder to carve, this makes quartz rollers more expensive than jade rollers.

Traditional beliefs:

In ancient China, Jade symbolised beauty, wealth and power. Because of its rarity, it was only worn by men and women of high status. It’s been said that jade rollers have been a part of beauty routines among Chinese elites since the Qing dynasty because it was believed that jade has a special ability to heal and soothe.

Meanwhile, Ancient Egyptians believed that Rose Quartz crystals possess anti-ageing properties. More popularly known as the love stone, it is valued for its vibrations of unconditional love, joy, healing, self-care, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Do facial rollers really work?

Face Roller and Gua Sha: What’s the difference?

Though they can be both made of the same mineral, the jade roller and gua sha are two distinct tools that function differently. Face rolling targets your lymphatic system through a massage, while gua sha targets the fascia or fibrous tissues. When used correctly, gua sha works a lot deeper and can be much more powerful against wrinkles or deeper cystic conditions.

Nonetheless, the appeal of facial rollers, like the jade rollers, comes from their simple and relatively straightforward use.

Do Face Rollers Really Work?

Ultimately, facial rollers like jade rollers can give a relaxing facial massage and because they aid in lymphatic drainage, they can do wonders for your skin. To enjoy these benefits, make sure that you are doing it properly: gently rolling or massaging the delicate skin on your face, neck, and clavicle to help increase the blood flow. With many different types of facial rollers to choose from, a crystal face roller like this

White Jade Face Roller

is definitely a good choice.

Beauty experts advise you to move the jade roller in an upward sweeping motion (not rubbing). Make sure also that you are not making back-and-forth motions on your face with your facial rollers.