Figuring out how to use jade rollers is more challenging than taking a cute picture of them. If your introduction to jade rollers and scraping tools comes from a cursory scroll through Instagram, you'd be forgiven for thinking they're more of a flat focal point than anything else. Jade, marble and rose quartz skin care tools are not new phenomena; their origins go back centuries. But the methods I'm familiar with have also undergone a gradual evolution through social media. My childhood version of scraping (gua sha) included spoons, loose change, and a lot of Tiger Balm, which is a far cry from what's in my feed now.
While I can think of many Instagram-backed products that are nothing more than empty hype, dermatologists and estheticians agree that these tools can provide legitimate skin benefits. The thing is, you need to know how to use a jade roller properly to get the most out of it.
If you're looking for more detailed instructions on facial rollers, ice rollers and shaving tools for your bathroom counter, consider this as your definitive guide.
How to use a jade roller (and other facial rollers)
The phrase to remember here is "lymphatic drainage," which is a form of massage that pushes fluid into the lymph nodes, which then process and filter it out of your system. When you perform this technique consistently (i.e., with your face roller of choice), it should result in reduced swelling and a brighter complexion. And, it feels really good.
There are two key things to keep in mind when learning how to use a facial roller. "It doesn't make sense to roll your face expecting a draw if you don't start with your neck first," she says. "You need to rotate your neck to clear the lymphatic channels before you start washing your face." Next, she cautions against pushing too hard. Use a light hand; the weight of the roller will do the rest.
Hayes echoes these sentiments, explaining that too much pressure can actually irritate your skin and break down capillaries, a warning I've heard repeatedly from estheticians. "If you reuse the roller at home, be sure to sanitize it with alcohol," she adds.
1. First I cover my collarbone area with an up-and-down motion.
2. Next, I rolled up and down on my neck.
3. followed by the jawline. Here, I switched to a back-and-forth roll, starting at the center of my jaw and moving toward my ears, repeating all the way to my cheekbones. both Hamdan and Hays told me to massage from the neck up, using sweeping strokes across the outer edges of my face.
4.On my forehead, I repeated the vertical roll, starting in the middle of my face and moving outward to my temples.
5. I flipped the tool over to use the smaller attachment under my eyes - moving horizontally to my temples. This is easier to do with a double-sided jade roller like the Herbivore.
6. To complete the routine, I again use the smaller roller under my nose, moving it horizontally.
Do the scraping from the neck up, following a similar sequence to the facial rolling. However, the motion here is different. I scraped the tool across my face (hitting my chin, cheeks and forehead) and then switched into a zigzag motion around my laugh lines and mouth.
During my experiment, I found that scraping (unlike rolling) significantly reduced the tension in my neck and jaw. Since I'm used to doing the latter on my body, I included the back of my neck and shoulders in the demonstration. A little mobility is required here, but not superhuman flexibility.
This was probably my favorite part of the ritual, as it significantly reduced the soreness in my neck and shoulders. Once I moved to the front of my body, I found that certain edges of the tool fit better in certain areas of my face, so I flipped it accordingly. Hamdan told me to repeat each movement three times.
