If you think facial rollers are all hype, consider this: dermatologists and estheticians agree that these tools can provide some truly legitimate skin benefits. Hey, even the biggest roller skeptics can't deny that it feels fabulous (read: very addictive).
While facial rollers have become a staple in the skincare world, here's a quick explanation. Facial rollers are usually made of "healing stones" - jade, rose quartz and amethyst are the most common - that have been smoothed and attached to a convenient handle. That's not to say they'll magically eliminate your eczema, but it's naturally cool to the touch and very helpful in reducing redness and irritation.
You'll notice the traditional roller has two ends - the larger side for the larger areas of the face (cheeks, chin, forehead) and the smaller side for the smaller areas of the face (dark circles, eyebrows, etc.). You can use it to roll your skincare serum onto your face to maximize absorption and ensure even product distribution.
But that's not all - the rolling motion itself also has benefits. It's great if your facial muscles are very tense, because the pressure acts like a deep tissue massage on your face. Another benefit: eliminating puffiness, as the massage action promotes lymphatic drainage by stimulating the lymph nodes to drain fluid from the face.
"We use the roller to help reduce the depth of wrinkles in the nasolabial folds, lymphatic drainage and reduce puffiness under the eyes," says Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, M.P.H., a board-certified dermatologist in Miami and founder of Dr. Loretta skincare. "In addition, the roller helps massage the skin and subcutaneous fat pads to move upward. I took pictures of my face before and after using the roller and the wrinkles from my nose to my mouth were visibly reduced."
Having said that, if you want to reap all of the above benefits, you must roll correctly. Otherwise, your scrolling could become pointless - or worse, have a detrimental effect. Here are some of the worst rolling mistakes you can make
Rolling Face Mistakes
01
Not using any product before rolling
For best results, you need to apply skin care products (i.e., serums) to your cleansed face before applying the roller. says Dr. Ciraldo, "The roller will enhance the penetration of the serum into the skin, and the added lubrication reduces friction and helps the roller glide over the face more easily."
02
Not cleaning the roller regularly
Yes, even if you're rolling on a clean cup. "Like any surface exposed to air, our rollers can harbor tiny contaminants like dust mites," says Dr. Ciraldo. "And because we press the roller along the skin, it can absorb naturally occurring microorganisms, such as trace amounts of fungi and bacteria present on the skin's surface." In other words, you'll need to clean that roller regularly - at least once a week - to remove any dirt that will build up over time.
03
Roll back and forth or down on your face
The direction of rolling is important - you should always roll from the center of your face outward. Moving back and forth will not help improve blood flow to your face, and rolling down is actually dragging your skin down - remember, you want to lift for a more youthful complexion.
04
Not applying enough pressure or applying too much pressure
"Without enough pressure, you're not optimizing possible collagen stimulation, lymphatic drainage or skin circulation," says Dr. Ciraldo. On the other hand, "too much pressure can injure superficial skin vessels (i.e., destroy capillaries) or exacerbate inflamed acne lesions." To prevent either of these from happening, use light but firm tapping and do not press into painful spots.
05
Microneedling or Dermal Rolling followed by Jade Rolling
We never want to overwork our skin, and facial rolling over microneedling or dermal rolling is complete overkill. "Use only one of these home procedures on your skin," says Dr. Ciraldo. "You never want to use other home devices at the same time."
How to use the facial scroll wheel
Now that you know what not to do, see the step-by-step tutorial below to learn how to turn your face the right way.
Wash your face. It's always important to roll on a clean face; otherwise, you're just pushing all the dirt and oil into your pores - not good.
Moisturize with your favorite serum and moisturizer to provide some slip. In other words, rolling should be the final step in your overall skincare routine.
Start on the jawline on the larger side of the roller and work your way up and outward up to your cheeks and hairline (think Nike Whirlwind). Continue ribbon-like sections until you've completed this on all lower surfaces.
For the forehead, start directly above the eyebrows and work your way up to the hairline in a vertical band distribution.
Switch to the shorter roller that fits your dark circles. Starting at the inner corner of the eye, gently press and roll outward and slightly upward.
Repeat this rolling process three to five times a week for best results.
