The beauty world is now talking about stones. From jade rollers to sculpted shaving tools, these tools are touted as the secret to firmer, younger-looking skin.
While jade rollers are popular, people have been using facial rollers and carving tools made of smooth jade for centuries. The technique originated in China, where it was known for healing and purifying.
So what is a jade roller?
According to Monica Li, a board-certified dermatologist, jade facial rollers are sculpting tools with complementary rollers on each end that contour the face. They can be made of jade or quartzite. It is believed that jade rollers help with lymphatic drainage [moving fluid that accumulates under the skin], which can have a decongesting effect. But is a jade roller used to massage the face and apply skin care products really a miracle fix for good skin?
What are the benefits of jade rollers?
Dr. Lee says that if you want more radiant, fuller skin, these skincare tools can help boost blood circulation to the face. Jade rollers are also said to do anything from sculpt, tone and firm skin to enhance radiance, reduce puffiness, diminish fine lines, improve elasticity and detoxify the skin.
When paired with a serum or moisturizer, the jade roller helps skin care products penetrate better - plus, it makes it easier and smoother, she says. Compared to other facial sculptors such as gua sha, "the jade roller is better for sensitive skin because it doesn't apply too much pressure," adds Joyce Park, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in the Bay Area.
Does the Jade Face Roller really work?
Maybe. There are no clinical studies proving that jade rolling has any beneficial effect on the skin, so more research is needed to prove their results. It's the massage effect that actually produces any benefit, not the composition of the stones used themselves. However, these techniques may relax facial muscles and provide a cooling sensation to the skin, and the massage may produce a firming effect over time.
There are other great tools and proven techniques to get the swelling effect you want: Gua Sha does help with lymphatic drainage. It has a different end than the jade roller and can be nested at a right angle above the cheekbones for optimal eye lymphatic massage.
