Facial massage tools are the best way to elevate your at-home facials – and you don’t need to be a professional to use them! There are a few different kinds but they all encourage circulation, relieve muscle tension, promote glowing skin and help tone and lift. They also help your skin better absorb products. So after cleansing, I like to apply moisturizer, serum and facial oil before I start massaging.
I like to use at least one tool twice a day (once in my morning routine and once in my nighttime routine), or more if I find myself having a little downtime during the day. There’s no wrong time to use them – but there is a right way! Here are my favorite facial massage tools and how to use them.
Jade and rose quartz rollers
Jade and rose quartz rollers have become the most popular facial massage tools – and they’re a good place to start if you’re looking to start! Rollers encourage lymphatic drainage, depuff and give glow-boosting benefits.
You want to roll in single strokes in an up-and-down motion and outward direction using light to medium pressure. Start with your neck first then work your way up to your jawline. Then move onto the center of your chin and roll towards your ear, repeating this all the way up to your cheekbones. When you get to your forehead, you’ll do a similar up-and-down motion starting from the middle of your face and moving outward toward your temples.
Stone and crystal rollers are usually double-sided, with one end being smaller than the other. I like to use the smaller roller around the more sensitive areas of my face like around my eyes and nose, moving it in a horizontal motion.
Gua Sha
Gua Sha was one of my 2020 wellness trends to take note of. It’s one of the most effective ways to naturally lift, sculpt and contour your face. You’ll be able to see immediate results if done correctly on a daily basis. Gua Sha increases circulation, reduces puffiness, softens fine lines, improves skin texture and elasticity and promotes healthier skin tissue and stronger facial muscles. It’s one of my favorite beauty products for anti-aging!
Gua Sha can be a little more complicated to use than other tools, but I love the benefits and results. It’ll get easier once you become more familiar with the different angles and what they’re for. Just like the rollers, you want to glide in the direction of lymph flow by starting at your neck – but you’ll want to stroke it DOWN to drain fluid. Holding the tool with the curved side to your face, stroke upward and outward. From the neck, move up to the jawline, chin and mouth area, massaging 3-5 times per area. Then hold the tool flat against the skin, under eye area or over any redness to soothe and depuff. When massaging around your forehead, using small horizontal strokes over your brow bone will help lift – and holding and pressing upward between the brows will help relieve any tension. Working the tool from your forehead back through your hair is also a good way to promote hair growth!
Uplifting rollers
Uplifting rollers are easy tools for boosting circulation and blood flow. They’re usually embedded with stones or designed with ridges to stimulate acupressure points for healing. You want to roll upward in single strokes using light to medium pressure. Start at your neck, moving up to your jawline, cheeks and forehead. Don’t worry if your skin starts to turn a little pink or red! It means there’s a boost in blood circulation, which gives you that glowing skin.
Some tips to keep in mind when using any facial massage tool: always sanitize the tools before each use, apply a moisturizer or oil before massaging and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water before, during and after any type of massage. I also like to keep my tools in the freezer to get that cooling effect!
Are any of these tools in your beauty routine? I’d love to hear your favorite ways to use them!
