Quartz or semi-precious stone rollers are a skincare tool that has been on-trend in recent years.
But, what does it really do to our facial skin if we use them continuously? If, like me, you are a fan of these beautiful instruments and want to know more about them, or have not yet decided whether to try them or not, keep reading because this article is for you.
Of Chinese origin, the jade roller was a ‘must have’ among the aristocrats of the Asian country because, in addition to being related to the loss of toxins, they attributed to a meaning of abundance, longevity, health, and wealth.
In addition to the Chinese culture, others such as the Mayans and the Egyptians used this type of stone for massages and meditation techniques.
What exactly is a face roller?
Known as an ancient tool, and as its name indicates it is an instrument that is made up of a roller which is generally made from jade (it can be rose quartz, amethyst, white quartz, onyx, to name a few) and that It is used as a facial massager to generate various benefits on our skin, which we will explain later.
How to use it, step by step
Here is an easy tutorial to follow.
1- Sanitize your roller:
You can start the ritual by washing your face and hydrating it with the moisturizer that you usually apply in your skincare routine. However, something that is also very important is that you use alcohol to clean your roller and eliminate any type of bacteria it may have.
If you wish, you can add any type of serum and massage your face with the roller, this action causes the product to penetrate your skin more efficiently.
2 – The massage begins
Although you have surely seen most of the people using their face roller only on the face, you should know that you can also use it in the area of your neck and clavicle.
One of the ways to start with this massage is to place the roller below your clavicle and start with downward movements, these movements must be firm but without feeling that you are hurting yourself, remember that another of the objectives of this ritual beauty is making you feel relaxed.
If you detect knotted areas, take your time and repeat the movement.
3 – Chin
When you start to massage your face, we suggest you do it in the chin area. Start in the center of your chin moving the roller outwards towards the jaw area, you must repeat the movement between 3 to 5 times.
Remember to do it with firm movements but without hurting yourself. Continue with the area under your ears, also repeat the movements, and make sure to do it on both sides of your face.
4 – Cheekbones
Now it was time to massage your cheeks and cheekbones. To perform this step you can start from the center of the chin towards your cheekbones and cheeks making movements up and down. Be careful: every time you reach the highest part of your cheekbone and finish the movement, it is important that you detach the roller from your skin and place it back at the starting point of the movement.
5 – Nose and lips
To massage the nose area, start from the area of the bridge, massaging outwards and direct the roller towards your ears.
As for the lips, you should massage all over your lower and upper lips; You do this by making movements along horizontally, once you finish you can do it vertically.
6 – Front
Start by placing the roller in the center of your forehead, closest to where your eyebrows begin.
Perform the movements from the bottom up, starting from the center outwards (the area of your temples) repeat 3 to 5 times and continue with the center part, also repeat 3 to 5 times, and finish with the other side of your forehead.
7 – Eyes
With the opposite part of your roller, the one with the smallest roller, you can treat the area of your eyes, remember that this is one of the most sensitive areas of the face since the skin is a little thinner.
To begin, close your eyes and start the movement of the inner corner of your eye outwards towards the area of the ears.
[infographic] How to use a face roller
How to clean your ‘face roller’?
Just like the brushes that you use to create your makeup, your “face roller” also requires constant cleaning; Virtually any tool or instrument that is going to touch the surface of your face needs excellent hygiene since being in contact with various surfaces can be filled with bacteria that can cause various ailments.
Here we share the best tips to keep your roller free of dirt and bacteria.
- Previously we mentioned that you can perform this cleaning with a little alcohol, however, there are other ways to do it according to dermatologists.
- Lamees Hamdan dermatologist and founder of the skincare brand Shiffa suggests that you clean with a damp, soft-touch towel, you should never clean with very hot water or immerse it in water.
- In case you want to carry out a more thorough cleaning, you can use a mild soap in order to eliminate other products and bacteria.
- After cleaning and before storing the roller, it is recommended that you place it on a towel for a few minutes to allow it to dry completely.
- Dermatologists mention that you should clean your ‘face roller’ every time you use it, especially if you have a condition such as acne.
- By nature, the semi-precious stones with which facial rollers are made tend to stay fresh to the touch, however, if you wish, you can place it in the refrigerator in order to increase the degree of freshness and help reduce inflammation more visibly.
4 Benefits of a face roller
Believe it or not, the use of this type of stone with which the facial rollers are made goes far beyond the appearance of the instrument.
Both jade and the other stones mentioned above are considered cold stones that, in addition to feeling pleasant to the touch when combined with a certain type of pressure on the face, provide other benefits when used correctly.
1 – Improves skin tone
The skin of your face has the capacity to generate 6000 vibrations per minute, which causes a good stimulation to firm the area.
This in the long run can be seen reflected in a much more elastic skin, as well as the contour of the muscles that surround the neck, eyes, and forehead.
2 – Helps eliminate toxins
Increased blood circulation helps the lymphatic system eliminate toxins from the body.
3 – Increase blood flow
Through massage, the use of the face roller is an excellent way to support blood circulation in areas such as the neck and face.
This brings oxygen to the skin cells, even helping to improve skin tone and texture.
4 – Reduce inflammation
Inflammation in various areas of our body generally occurs due to the accumulation of fluid.
By massaging your face with a cold roller you can decrease inflammation in the eye area and even diminish the appearance of pores.
Types of ‘face roller’ and what is each one for
In the most recent years, we have seen that the beauty industry little by little looked for a way to return to its origins by manufacturing products with natural ingredients. This, perhaps, could be one of the reasons why the use of crystals and quartz for the care of our skin has become so popular.
Each stone or crystal radiates different vibes or energy and each one has a different objective:
Jade
The jade roller is recommended to be used in the morning, as it is a stone that helps revitalize the skin and reduce the appearance of fatigue.
Pink quartz
It is recommended to use it in your night skincare routine as it helps to de-stress the skin and renew skin cells.
Obsidian
The roller of this stone, known for its black color, is a tool that contributes to the
Collagen production, circulation, reduce puffiness, detoxifies the skin, drains lymph, improves acne-prone skin, and reduces breakouts.
When should you avoid the use of ‘face rollers’?
Beautician Debra Krueger who is based in New York and owns Debra Krueger Skinstudio mentions that we should avoid using the roller when we have skin that is too sensitive to rashes, cold sores, and severe acne cases.
