Yes, jade rollers are having a moment in recent years. If we look back, we can see that these tools are simply modern ways to replace the centuries-old tradition using your hands.
Tatcha is a skin care brand that Victoria Tsai, the founder, says, “Practicing facial massaging with your hands or a massage tool has been part of traditional Japanese wellness rituals since centuries. It has been shown to reduce puffiness and promote microcirculation. Tatcha was inspired by the products used in Japan by geishas.”
Natural beauty blogger and skin-care enthusiast, I love tools. I’ve tried the 24k Gold Wand, which is great, but I most often use my hands when applying makeup.
Over the five years that I have been practicing facial massage, there has been a lot to learn about what works and what doesn’t. Let’s first discuss why this is something you should try.
For the sake of your face
This is a great daily habit to have, especially if your goal is to keep your skin looking young and healthy. A facial massage aids in cleansing your skin from the inside out by promoting lymphatic drainage. The facial massage improves the appearance of fine lines and skin structure. It firms, tone, and tightens your skin.
A 2017 study echoed these results using 3D imaging. It noted visible improvements in smile lines, cheeks and lower eyelids in over half of the subjects. However, it is important to remember that this was a small study with only 12 people between 30 and 54 years old.
After a #SelfCareSunday massage, I felt the tension in my neck, shoulders, and face disappear. This is a relaxing process that can be incorporated into your self-care routine.
A home facial massage is much more affordable than going to the spa and it is completely stress-free if you are like me.
For soft skin, embrace the sweeping technique
Before you start, ensure your hands are clean and warm. Also make sure your fingernails have no sharp edges. Remove any rings.
After cleansing your skin, apply a carrier oil that is medium to slow-absorbing. This will create a slip that allows your fingers to glide over your skin without tugging or pulling. Micro tears can be caused by repeated tugging, especially in mature skin.
Get ready to use what I call the “sweeping method”
Use gentle to moderate pressure, particularly on areas of delicate skin. Too much pressure can cause broken capillaries or worsen existing ones.
Sometimes it can feel great to apply more pressure to relieve a headache, but not to cause permanent damage. Trust me, I have tried facial massage to relieve headaches and was not as gentle as I should be.
Directions:
- Use the tips of two to three fingers, usually the pointer and middle or the ring and middle, to sweep along your jawline, starting at the center of the chin. Your knuckles can also be used. You should do at least five to fifteen strokes on each side (or more if you wish) before moving onto the next area. If you want to work on both your faces at once, use both of your hands.
- You can move up and continue the motion starting at the corners of the mouth and moving towards your ears. Next, you will go from the sides to your ears and then to the sides of the nose. Finally, move from your nose toward your temples using large strokes.
- Continue to sweep upwards, starting at the cheeks. Next, move your fingers just below your eyebrows and then up towards your forehead.
If you have more time, you could start the massage at your base of the neck, which will help increase lymphatic drainage, as Dr. Mona Vand, a pharmacist, beauty blogger, and wellness consultant, recommends in her tutorial on face lifting.
P.S. It is always better to use more oil than you need. Spread excess oil over other areas, such as your neck, chest and elbows, if you have too much.
Use massage oils
You want to make this a part of your daily routine, but you don’t want it to take too much time. That’s exactly what I get!
A bottle of carrier oil straight from a bulk natural ingredients shop such as Mountain Rose Herbs might be worth your while. When using a new oil/ingredient for the first time, always do a patch test.
These oils are great for your skin. They are medium-to-slow-absorbing and have a shelf-life of at least one year.
- Apricot kernel oil
- Almond oil
- Avocado oil
- Jojoba oil
You can mix your oils and any moisturizer you like, but moisturizers absorb quicker and don’t offer as much slip than oils.
How often and when?
Tsai says, “It’s best if you do it every day – either in the morning or in the afternoon to stimulate lymphatic drainage.” My favorite time to use the Gold Akari Massager? In the morning. After applying my moisturizers, I cool it and then glide it around my eyes in circles. It melts away any morning redness and puffiness.
While I don’t do this every day (it’s more a once-or-twice-per-month thing), writing this out (and Tsai’s comments) has me tempted to try it daily!
Facial massage, along with a good skin-care routine, is what I believe makes my face look a little younger at 34 years old.
Are you always on the move?
It can also be used for this purpose. Tsai says, “Since my frequent travels, I have found facial massage to be a wonderful way of combating water retention from flying.”
Luxury can up the ante
You decide that facial massage is something you like. You want more than just your fingers in your daily life.
There are many fancy tools available, including crystal rollers and sculpting bars, as well as gua sha rocks and kansa wads. You can choose the one that feels right for your needs.
A facial massage tool has a major advantage: it cools down and helps to reduce puffiness, especially in the morning. Before you start your massage, place your tool in the refrigerator or add cold water to a small bowl. On a hot summer day, a cold tool can be gently massaged under your eyes.
You can warm some tools by placing them in hot water. A bit of warmth, combined with a light touch, can be very soothing when you’re holding tension in your face or have a headache due to sinus congestion.
Face wands for your roll:
- Jade Facial Roller via Herbivore ($30)
- Ayurvedic Kansa Wand via Floracopeia ($68)
- Akari Gold Massager via Tatcha ($195)
What if I use an oil massage to my skin?
It’s best to only add or change up one thing if you’re just starting out in the world of rejuvenating facial massaging. This rule applies to all products, so it’s a good general rule of beauty.
In a week, you can have a new toner, a new serum, ole oil, and facial massage. It is not something I would recommend. It can be difficult to determine which product is causing your skin irritations or breakouts. This was demonstrated in the 2002 study. In which women were offered a variety of beauty products at once.
It’s important to do it correctly – use clean hands, gentle massage, and skin-friendly oils. You’ll be able to see glowing, happy skin.
