Skincare goes beyond creams — any beauty enthusiast will tell you that! If you want to refresh and rejuvenate your face from the inside out, you must try the face roller — a device that’s taking the beauty world by storm.
This little beauty tool is a game-changer as it can help to boost circulation, promote lymphatic drainage, and reduce puffiness for a smoother, more lifted appearance. Whether you're a skincare junkie or a beauty novice, incorporating a face roller into your routine is an easy way to take your skin to the next level. So, roll your way to beautiful skin with our guide to everything you need to know about face roller that can transform your skincare routine.
What Is a Face Roller?
A face roller, facial roller or beauty roller is a tool that’s used to gently massage the facial muscles and relieve facial tension just like a body massage.
While it’s risen in popularity only recently, it’s hardly a new invention. It traces its roots back to the gua sha — a traditional Chinese practice in which a smooth-edged tool was used by wealthy Chinese women to promote circulation in their skin and sculpt their faces.
The face roller is its more modern and practical counterpart. The tool features a handle with a jade stone or semi-precious crystal on each end. There are also variants with a stone at one end only.
What is the difference between face rollers and ice rollers?
When it comes to boosting circulation, reducing puffiness, and giving your skin a radiant glow, face rollers and ice rollers are two popular tools in the beauty world. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are some key differences between the two.
A face roller typically has a smooth, rolling surface made of materials like jade, rose quartz, or metal, which is used to massage and stimulate the skin. An ice roller, on the other hand, is designed to be kept in the freezer and used to cool and soothe the skin. It gives you a cooling sensation and helps to reduce redness and inflammation.
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How Does Face Roller Work?
Facial rollers have de-stressing and de-puffing benefits; here’s how they work:
All muscles — including the ones on our face — hold tension which you can release with face rolling. When you move the tool over certain areas, it creates a light pressure that boosts circulation and oxygen flow, ensuring easy delivery of nutrients to the skin on your face. It also drains excess fluid in the lymphatic system, reducing puffiness in the face and tightening the skin, making it look radiant.
How To Use a Face Roller
A face roller can give you a high-end facial massage — but only if you use it correctly. Here’s a step-by-step guide that’s sure to help you tap into this beauty tool’s full potential:
Refrigerate the tool for 2 to 3 hours before use for enhanced cooling effects.
Prep your skin correctly. Wash your face with a cleanser formulated for your skin type. It will rid it of dirt, dust, product build-up, and other impurities, leaving you with fresh skin. Dry your face with a soft, clean towel.
Perform your skincarer routine to allow the roller to more easily slide over the skin and ensure better penetration of your skincare products. You can also use it with a cream or oil.
Start rolling along the jawline, upwards and outwards with gentle pressure. Avoid rolling up and down or back or forth.
And that’s it. You’re all set!
How Often Should You Use It?
Use a face roller for 5 minutes a day. Consistency will help you see a noticeable difference.
What Are the Benefits of Face Rolling?
Using a face roller offers incredible calming benefits including, but not limited to:
Reducing Stress
Massage can relieve stress and a face massage is no exception.
A 2008 study revealed that a 45-minute facial massage can reduce psychological distress and increase sympathetic nervous activity, helping you look refreshed. It also has the potential to lower cortisol levels. Since excessive levels of cortisol are associated with aging, incorporating face rolling in your routine could help you achieve a more youthful appearance.
Decreasing Facial Puffiness
Facial puffiness happens when fluid builds up in your facial tissues. This could be because of a number of reasons, including excess salt consumption, weather, allergies and lack of exercise. You can use a face roller to promote drainage of excess fluid and waste buildup in your lymphatic system which could reduce puffiness and give you sharper facial contours. By placing roller in the fridge, it can help reduce morning puffiness and provide relief on a hot summer day.
Giving You a Natural Glow
Face rolling dilates blood vessels and stimulate blood flow, ensuring a steady flow of nutrients to different parts of the face. With increase blood flow, it can spur collagen production, making your skin look plump, radiant, and refreshed. In addition, it can reduce the size of the blood vessels under your eyes.
Enhancing Absorption of Skincare Products
When you use the tool after packing your skin with good-for-you serums and moisturizers, the rolling action spreads the products evenly on your skin, helping skincare ingredients provide more concentrated results.
Toned and plump complexion
With stimulated blood circulation and ease facial tension, you can have a more toned and plumped complexion.
What To Look for When Shopping for Face Rollers
It’s easy to find different face rollers on the market, but which is right for you? Well, the answer lies in what you want the tool to do for you. Face rollers are made with different stones — each with its own benefits. We’ve included our top favorites to help you make a more definitive choice.
Material
Face rollers can be made from a variety of materials, including jade, rose quartz, and stainless steel. Consider the benefits and drawbacks of each material, such as the cooling properties of jade and the durability of stainless steel.
Amethyst
Amethyst has a calming energy that can do wonders for your wellness. It reduces under-eye puffiness, tightens the skin, regulates circulation, and reduces irritation and inflammation, making it perfect for acne-prone skin.
Jade
Jade is a cool-to-the-touch stone that soothes irritation, improves circulation, and gets rid of wrinkles and blemishes to make your skin glow. However, when shopping for a jade roller, make sure it is made from real jade. One of the simplest way is ensure the jade is real is by touch. It should be cool to touch and do not have any air bubbles.
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz has healing properties. It can reduce signs of inflammation, eliminate negative energy, diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, brighten your complexion, and give you a clearer, more youthful appearance.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel has natural cooling properties that can help soothe and calm the skin. Stainless steel roller can be especially beneficial for reducing inflammation, puffiness, and redness. Plus, stainless steel is non-porous, which means it doesn't harbor bacteria or germs that can lead to skin irritation or infections.
Size and shape
Face rollers come in different sizes and shapes, which can affect how they feel on your skin and how easy they are to use. Look for a size and shape that is comfortable to hold and fits well on your face.
Type of roller
There are several types of face rollers, including single rollers, double rollers, and rollers with multiple heads. Consider the benefits of each type, such as the versatility of a double roller and the targeted massage of a single roller.
How To Clean and Care For Your Face Roller
Dirt, bacteria, and other build-up accumulate on your face roller over time which could spread on your face and make matters worse.
Hence, it’s vital to care for your beauty tool. Here’s how to do it:
Clean your face roller with a soft, clean washcloth before and after use.
Use a gentle cleanser to kill bacteria. Make sure you don’t use hot water, as it can damage the stone and make it ineffective.
Gently wipe the roller with a clean cloth.
Keep in mind that face rollers are extremely fragile, so they must be stored properly — preferably in a cool, dry place where it won’t fall.
