Introducing a face massage tool into your everyday beauty routine can help to lift your complexion, relax overworked facial muscles and relieve tension.We all know that a facial massage feels wonderful. But aside from making you feel good, the best massage face tools also serve to boost your lymph system, break down toxins and improve the absorption of your favourite face creams and serums.If you’re working hard to tone and tighten your skin, or simply want to relax and soothe your soul (and we can all benefit from a little extra self-care!) then consider adding a jade roller or gua sha tool to your wellbeing routine.  Read on to discover how these face massage tools work, what they can do for your skin, and understand the key face massage tool benefits of jade rollers and gua sha stones.

What is a jade roller?

A jade roller looks a little like a mini paint roller and is used to massage the skin. Jade rolling is not a new phenomenon – it can be traced back to ancient Chinese beauty regimes, where jade was widely thought to have mystical properties. In more recent times, celebrities such as Kim Kardashian have been promoting jade roller benefits on their socials. This has made them one of Instagram’s most popular skincare aids, having been tagged over 200,000 times. Is it really worth the hype we hear you ask? Read on!

Do jade rollers work – and what are the beauty benefits?

Jade rollers can help to increase facial circulation and bring nutrients to the skin cells. By boosting the circulation with a jade roller, you can expect a rosy, radiant complexion, giving the appearance of more youthful, tauter skin.The shape of a jade roller is designed to target and stimulate muscle tone and awaken your lymphatic drainage system, reducing puffiness and boosting the blood flow to the face to give you a healthy glow. With regular use, jade rollers can help to sculpt facial features and tighten slack muscles, which means we can all spend less time, money, and effort on applying contouring makeup. Win-win!We all lead increasingly busy lives, and taking some time out to invest in our personal wellbeing is incredibly important. Jade is a mineral stone that is believed to have calming and soothing properties, which promotes relaxation.  In fact, post-Covid sales of self-care and skincare products have increased up to 300% according to the McKinsey survey ‘How Covid 19 is changing the face of beauty’, showing just how serious many of us are about maintaining our wellbeing.

How to use a jade roller

The key to maximising the benefits of a jade roller is knowing how to use them correctly. Keep in mind that your goal should be to ‘roll’ any fluid locked in your skin cells towards the lymph nodes where it can drain away.Your touch should be quite firm, working on one side of your face at a time. Here’s a step by guide to using a jade roller effectively:

• Cleanse your face with your usual skincare products.

• Apply your preferred serums and moisturisers.

• Start using the jade roller at the bottom of your face in the centre of your chin.

• Roll upwards and outwards towards your ear lobe.

• Move the roller to the side of your mouth and stroke upwards towards the eye.

• Repeat the action, but this time begin at the side of your nose.

• Roll under your eye, from the bridge of your nose to the temple, and above the eye over the eyelid.

• Move to the forehead and use smooth strokes from the brow to the hairline.

• Repeat on the other side of the face.

What is gua sha?

Gua sha is an alternative massage treatment that involves gently scraping the skin with a flat stone of jade or rose quartz, gliding it over the skin in smooth strokes.Derived from traditional Chinese medicine (‘gua’ means ‘scrape’ and ‘sha’ means ‘sand’), the facial treatment is designed to promote tissue drainage and relax taut muscles.

What are the gua sha benefits?

Our faces can experience tension in the form of a clenched jaw or furrowed brow, and gua sha is a technique designed to relieve the stress in the face and loosen tight muscles. Using a gua sha facial tool regularly can help to untangle knotted muscles for relief from tension.Practitioners have also reported that gua sha can help alleviate facial pain, as well as increase blood circulation and the energy flow to the face.While gua sha is sadly not a silver bullet for eradicating fine lines and wrinkles, it can temporarily improve the look of laughter lines and reduce puffiness, making it ideal as a feel-good boost before a special occasion or party.

How to use a gua sha massage tool

Using your gua sha tool is amazingly simple. Cleanse your skin, apply facial oil or moisturiser (it’s best not to use on dry, bare skin), and follow these easy steps:

• Use the tool with the curved side against your face. 

• Slide the gua sha upwards and outwards, starting at the neck – this helps to drain toxins and excessive fluids trapped in skin cells.

• Move onto the jawline, chin, and mouth, with short strokes in an upwards direction, press more firmly to reduce tension in these areas.

• Work delicately under the eyes to cool and de-puff.

• Move in small horizontal strokes over the brow bone and press the tool gently between the brows to release knotted muscles.

Book a lymphatic drainage massage at home

Jade rollers and gua sha facial massage tools are simple ways to rejuvenate your skin and the drain fluids that cause puffiness.  Secret Spa also offers a full lymphatic drainage massage to boost the whole body’s immune system, carried out in the comfort of your home.  Book your treatment online with our qualified team.