Figuring out about jade roller motions is more challenging than taking a cute photo of them. If your knowledge of jade rollers comes only from cursory introductions on Instagram, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’re more of a tiling role than anything else. Jade, marble, and rose quartz skincare tools are not a new phenomenon. Their origins go back centuries. But the methods I am familiar with have also undergone the gradual evolution of social media. My childhood version of gua sha (gua sha) consisted of spoons, loose change, and lots of jellyfish, which is very different from what I know now.
While I can think of a lot of Instagram-backed products that are little more than empty hype, dermatologists and aestheticians alike agree that these tools have legitimate skin benefits. The thing is, you need to know how to use the jade roller properly in order to maximize its benefits.
If you’re looking for more detailed instructions on rollers, ice rollers, and gua sha tools on bathroom counters, consider this your definitive guide. Below, celebrity aesthetician Karee Hays and Shiffa Beauty founder and CEO Lamees Hamdan, MD, break things down step-by-step.
How to Use A Jade Roller (And Other Surface Jade Roller)
The phrase to remember here is “lymphatic drainage,” which is a form of massage that pushes fluid into your lymph nodes, which then process and filter them out of your system. When you perform this technique consistently (via your facial roller of choice), it should provide de-puffing, skin-brightening benefits. And, it feels really good.
According to Hamdan, there are two key things to keep in mind when learning how to use a face roller. “It doesn’t make sense to roll your face in anticipation of drainage if you don’t start with your neck first,” she says. “You need to roll your neck to open up the lymphatic channels before you start your face.” Second, she cautions against pushing too hard. Use light hands; the weight of the roller will do the rest.
Hayes echoed these sentiments, explaining that too much pressure can actually irritate your skin and destroy capillaries, a warning I’ve heard repeatedly from beauticians (though traditional gua sha can often break capillaries, and is considered beneficial. But for facial grooming, it’s the exact opposite). “If you reuse a roller at home, you should stick to sanitizing it with alcohol before and after use,” she adds.
Hays recommends starting with a cleansed, moisturized face, and adding additional layers of the product if you wish; massaging will help push them further into your skin.
Jade Roller Motions
- First, I cover my collarbone area using an up and down motion.
- Next, I did an up and down roll around my neck.
- After this is the jawline. Here, I switch to rolling back and forth from the center of my chin towards my ears, repeating all the way to my cheekbones. Both Hamdan and Hayes told me to work from the neck up, with brushstrokes that swept across the outer edge of my face.
- Repeat the vertical roll on my forehead, starting in the middle of my face and moving outward to my temples.
- I flipped the tool over to use the smaller attachments under my eyes – in a horizontal motion towards my temples.
- To complete the routine, I again use the smaller scroll wheel down my nose, moving it in a horizontal motion.
Both experts told me that I should repeat the ritual daily for best results—or “at least 3 times a week,” says Hamdan. As for the time of day, it’s entirely up to you. Hamdan likes to roll jade in the morning, “because it helps remove puffiness, especially under your eyes.” But when to use it depends on your own habits.