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If you're looking for a skin care tool that de-puffs your face, boosts glow, and helps you chill out, try jade rollers. Learning how to use a jade roller is so easy, you can become an expert in a matter of minutes. But if you still need more reasons to add one to your routine, they're also travel-friendly, come at accessible price points, and offer a long list of benefits. It's why you've seen them all over your Instagram feed, though they've been popular for centuries longer than social media has been around.
"Jade rollers may seem like the newest trend, but they actually have been used in
Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries," says Gudrun Snyder, acupuncturist and founder of Moon Rabbit Acupuncture in Chicago. "Not only do they de-puff your face, they also improve blood circulation and relieve facial and jaw tension. Moreover, jade is suitable for sensitive or irritated skin because it can calm inflammation."
Not all jade rollers are actually made of jade; you can now find plenty designed with rose quartz, obsidian, or stainless steel. Whichever material you choose, just keep a few tips in mind to make sure you're maximizing its benefits. Below, the ultimate guide to using face rollers and jade rollers, according to experts.
What is a jade roller?
“The practice of using jade tools to promote health and beauty dates back to the Qing dynasty,” says Charlotte Yau, founder of Muihood, a skin care brand rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). “Jade rollers have roots in TCM.” Yau explains that the material has been “valued for centuries for its healing properties and is believed to have balancing and protective qualities, making it a revered material in Chinese culture.” Fast forward to 2024 and their branding may have evolved a bit, but they're still used as a popular beauty tool.
Jade rollers are typically used on the face, neck, and chest, says Snyder. That's why many of them are dual-ended: “one side with a larger roller for broad areas like chest, cheeks, and forehead and the other a smaller one for delicate areas such as around the eyes and nose,” she explains.
Courtesy of Gudrun Snyder
You may have seen rollers often used together with gua sha boards, another beauty tool with centuries of history. So what's the difference in form and function? “A jade roller is a handheld tool with a smooth, rolling stone for gentle facial massage, while a gua sha tool is a flat stone used to apply more pressure for deeper tissue massage and sculpting,” says Stephanie Zheng, holistic esthetician and the founder of Mount Lai, a beauty brand rooted in TCM. “These are two very different tools, but both are rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and offer incredible results.”
Snyder explains that gua sha boards can have either smooth or serrated edges and are made with a variety of edges to target different areas of the face. Yau also loves gua sha spoons, which are shaped with a flat edge and rounded tip for acupressure.
