Traditional Chinese medicine has made its way into the mainstream, and it’s no wonder that so many beauty lovers are falling in love with jade rollers. It’s believed that a jade roller not only promotes a relaxing experience, but it also boasts a number of anti-aging benefits. It’s no wonder it’s always present on every Instagram feed.
What Is a Jade Roller?
A jade roller is a handheld massager made of jade or other stones, and it dates back to seventh-century China.
There are many types of face rollers, with jade being the most common. You’ll also find face rollers made out of rose quartz and amethyst. Jade is a much softer stone than rose quartz, but rose quartz can hold its temperature for a long period of time.
Benefits of jade rollers
1. Improves blood circulation
Any form of massage helps to increase circulation, and a face roller can help to stimulate circulation to your face. Healthy blood circulation means an increase in the amount of oxygen and nutrients flowing to your skin, and this then translates to a brighter and youthful flow.
Photo by Jhon Vivas on Unsplash
2. Clear stuffy sinuses
Stuffy sinuses are quite uncomfortable, but preliminary research suggests that a jade roller can help clear your sinuses and relieve any pain associated with nasal congestion.
3. Reduces puffiness
If you’re constantly battling with puffiness and under-eye bags, a jade roller is exactly what you need come morning.
A massage is a great way to reduce puffiness as it helps stimulate lymphatic drainage. It also helps if your jade roller is cold as this helps to constrict the blood vessels.
4. Helps you apply your skincare products
There’s no point in using effective skincare products if they’re not properly absorbed into the skin.
Using your favorite face oil or moisturizer with a jade roller will not only help the tool glide across your skin, but it will also help deliver the active ingredients deeper into your skin.
5. Relieves anxiety
We’re living in quite an anxious and stressful time, so if you’re battling with any corona anxiety, then pick up your jade roller.
Research published in Biomedical Research found that facial massages can help reduce anxiety levels.
6. Detoxifies the body
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Facial rolling helps to stimulate lymphatic drainage, and research published in The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy suggested that anything that stimulates the lymphatic system helps to encourage the removal of toxic buildup in the body.
7. Relieves facial tension
Your face contains over 40 different muscles and repeatedly stretching out these facial muscles can lead to the formation of fine lines.
Thankfully, a jade roller can help to relax facial muscles, reducing the risk of fine lines forming and maintaining a smoother and more youthful complexion.
How do I use a jade roller?
After using a face oil, serum, or moisturizer on your skin, follow these facial rolling steps, courtesy of Healthline:
- Start at the neck and roll upward. For best results, roll up, not back and forth.
- Roll from the jawline to the ear on both sides using gentle pressure. You can continue this motion all the way from the jaw to the cheekbone.
- Roll from the forehead up toward the temples, only in the upward direction. It’s the same gentle pull that you would use if you were using your hands to pull the skin taut and wrinkle-free.
- Roll flat over your eyebrows horizontally, which may feel especially relieving if you have a headache.
As for how long you should massage your face, one study found that just 5 minutes of facial rolling can help stimulate blood circulation in your face.
Don’t forget to clean your jade roller by wiping off any excess product with a soft, clean washcloth, and washing with soap before patting dry.
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Should I keep my jade roller in the fridge?
The combination of a massage and a cooling temperature can help to tighten the skin even more, so it would be advisable to place your tool in the fridge overnight and use it on your face in the morning.
Buying a jade roller
Not all jade rollers are created equal as some rollers that are sold as jade aren’t actually jade. The last thing you’ll want is to use a stone on your face that has been chemically dyed or treated in order to appear as jade.
So, to ensure that your jade roller is actually jade, it’s best to simply touch your jade roller as if it’s real jade, it will feel cool to the touch. You can go further by scratching the surface of the roller lightly with your fingernail as real jade won’t leave any marks.
Want to know more?
Jade rollers aren’t the only way you can cater to your skin. Another great way to care for your skin is by getting enough sleep. Believe it or not, sleep is one of the best age-defying treatments.
References
Fernández, J. M., Santaolalla, F., Del Rey, A. S., Martínez-Ibargüen, A., et al. (2005). Preliminary study of the lymphatic drainage system of the nose and paranasal sinuses and its role in detection of sentinel metastatic nodes. Acta oto-laryngologica, 125(5), 566–570. https://doi.org/10.1080/00016480510036457
Miyaji, A & Sugimori, K & Hayashi, Naoyuki. (2018). Short- and long-term effects of using a facial massage roller on facial skin blood flow and vascular reactivity. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 41. 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.009
Vairo, G. L., Miller, S. J., McBrier, N. M., & Buckley, W. E. (2009). Systematic review of efficacy for manual lymphatic drainage techniques in sports medicine and rehabilitation: an evidence-based practice approach. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy, 17(3), e80–e89. https://doi.org/10.1179/jmt.2009.17.3.80E
