The Benefits of Facial Rolling

Facial rolling is not simply the latest fad. The method stems from the ancient practice of gua sha, meaning "scraping," which causes tiny ruptures in cells to release stagnant blood, thought to be the source of many ailments. According to ChinaCulture.org, the deep scraping or pushing of underlying tissue helps draw toxins from the underlying muscles and moves lymph and other fluids by increasing blood flow. Facial rolling is less intense than this earlier form of East Asian medicine but creates a similar detoxifying response while encouraging the delivery of fresh nutrients to the skin. Skin rolling is a gentler form of such stimulating therapies as acupuncture, massage, and cupping.

According to a 2018 article in the journal, Complimentary Therapies in Medicine, facial rolling encourages blood flow to the skin and improves vasodilation. Improved blood flow delivers cell-healing nutrients, such as oxygen and antioxidants, to the skin while helping to remove free radicals that can cause loss of elasticity, wrinkles and other sun- and age-induced damage. Vasodilation improves the cell's ability to receive nutrient-rich blood and lowers the amount of effort the heart needs to distribute blood.

Collagen is the building block for the connective tissue under the skin. Loss of collagen results in sagging skin, eye bags and loose jowls. According to licensed aesthetician Erin Foster, facial massage can help increase collagen production.

Skin rolling doesn't take a degree in aesthetics. All you need is a simple skin roller, usually made with a particular type of stone such as jade or rose quartz. According to Abigail James, author of Love Your Skin (Kyle Books, 2018), start with clean skin and use an up-and-down rolling motion all over your face and neck, using stronger pressure on the upward-motion to help tone facial muscles. Start from the middle of the face and roll outwards to encourage lymph drainage. Roll for at least five minutes to encourage maximum blood flow. Because you don't need to apply a serum, facial rolling can be done anywhere - in the car, at work, in bed or anywhere you have a few minutes. However, if you want to apply a facial cream or serum, the roller helps move product deeper into pores, which is why starting with a clean face is so important.

Whether you believe in the healing power of crystals or not, each stone has its own unique properties. When choosing a facial roller, you may want to consider the following:

• Rose quartz, also known as the romance stone, is associated with the heart. It comes in a light, marbled pink and has a silky smooth surface with a Moh hardness of 7, making it very durable. Some prefer the light pink color over jade's pastel green.
• Jade is a generic term for both jadeite and nephrite, two minerals with slightly different properties. Jade has a Moh hardness of 6.5 - 7, so it is very durable. According to the National Institutes of Health, jade powder radiates far infrared rays (FIR) which aids in the production of collagen and elastin. Increased collagen and elastin helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and helps tone skin.