Jade rollers became very popular around 2018, dominating skincare conversations with promises of sculpting, lifting, smoothing wrinkles, de-puffing, radiant skin, and eliminating sagging skin… But do they really work?
Jade rollers are said to have been used since the 7th century CE by Chinese royalty. This ancient beauty ritual is purported to have health and aesthetic benefits in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system, but nowadays the practice is supported with bold promises by people across the world. Traditionally, the tool is said to be used to manipulate “qi” (energy) in the body to provide a host of health benefits. Outside of energy medicine, it’s more recently offered as an “anti-aging” supertool.
Unfortunately, jade rollers can’t provide anywhere near the host of aesthetic benefits they’re frequently claimed to. The few benefits that jade rollers do offer are better served by other holistic beauty tools.
How Jade Rollers Work
Outside of the TCM system, jade rollers are primarily used for lymphatic drainage. The tool is swiped from the centre of the face outward to the lateral edges, gently guiding lymph through lymph vessels to de-puff the face and support healthy lymphatic flow.
Lymphatic drainage has myriad aesthetic and health benefits, from tightening and brightening skin to boosting immune function and reducing anxiety. It is undoubtedly one of the most beneficial and most neglected health practices we can do at home. Given that 60-70% of our lymph nodes are in the head and neck, face care is a vital piece of this holistic health powerhouse.
Jade rollers can provide some lymphatic stimulation and drainage benefits, but those benefits are severely limited compared to other modalities like massage, cupping, and dry brushing. Rolling might moderately de-puff and brighten, but will not provide much in the way of the deeper benefits of lymphatic drainage, including smoothing lines and wrinkles, sculpting the face, and reducing and preventing sagging.
How Jade Rollers Compare to Other Tools and Techniques
Jade rolling feels nice, and stimulates a bit of lymphatic flow, but jade rollers can only move minimal amounts of lymph fluid. If you really want to move lymph and enhance your radiance and the appearance of your skin, you need to use more effective techniques.
When it comes to enhancing collagen production and improving product absorption, facial cupping and manual facial massage are far more effective. Jade rollers have not been proven to enhance collagen production, whereas facial massage and cupping have proven benefits in this area. Jade rollers may increase blood flow to the face, which can enhance skincare product absorption and efficacy, but the effect is minimal compared to massage and cupping. If your aim is to smooth and prevent wrinkles and lines, jade rollers will not release facial adhesions or give you the collagen boost required, nor will they enhance the effect of anti-wrinkle skincare.
Jade rollers can minorly enhance lymphatic flow, resulting in less puffiness, more radiant skin, and health benefits, but you won’t get enough lymph movement to prevent sagging or a double chin, nor will you get much of the amazing health benefits of lymphatic drainage techniques. Dry brushing, cupping, and massage are all shown to enhance lymphatic flow much more.
If your goal is to lift and sculpt your face, jade rollers simply don’t provide enough lymphatic drainage, or fascia manipulation to provide the results you’re looking for. Facial massage and cupping are significantly more effective, and combining these techniques with a personalised facial exercise routine will give you noticeable definition and sculpture. Jade rollers simply can’t combat muscle atrophy, fascial adhesions, and lymphatic stagnation in any major way.
What ARE Jade Rollers Good For?
While jade rollers alone will not provide noticeable and long-term aesthetic and health benefits, they can be a luxurious addition to your skincare regimen. Jade rollers are used by many experienced professionals to support relaxation, and provide supportive qualities when combined with other modalities during professional facial treatments. A cold jade roller is especially nice for soothing redness and excess heat produced by facial massage treatments. Jade rollers are a nice addition to at-home self-care routines and TCM protocols, but they can be tricky to clean, and they can harbor bacteria when not cleaned effectively.
While there are few downsides to using jade rollers, they simply won’t provide dramatic aesthetic or health benefits when used alone. Combined with other modalities, they can be a beautiful addition to your face care routine when time allows.
Looking for more effective tools?
Try facial cupping, facial massage, or dry brushing instead.
The Holistic Facelift Starter Kit includes all of these tools and techniques, and gives you the perfect routine to get all of their unique and powerful benefits.